Cultured Football #171

Basque Exiles. Ode to Joy. Pass and Effing Move. Lost Generation. Cost of Injuries

Jul 20, 2024

By Forgotten Football

After being denied permission to play any more FIFA-affiliated teams due to the Spanish Civil War, the Basque Country national football team chose to remain in Mexico and participate in its domestic league. This is the story of their exile and resilience.

Ode to Joy

By Juliet Nottingham

Any football fan knows how infuriating it is to be told that ‘it is just a game’. Because, clearly, it is not if you’re dedicating so much time thinking about it. Football is more than a game. It is a universal language that bridges cultural and social divides, fostering a sense of connection and community among fans around the world. Whether it's celebrating a goal with strangers in a packed stadium or discussing match highlights with friends, football creates bonds that transcend everyday life inspire hope, offering moments of pure joy that remind us of the beauty and unpredictability of life.

Pass and F***ing Move

By Jamie Hamilton on Medium

During Euro 2024, Spain had a very distinct way of playing that won them games and admirers. England didn’t. And whilst the margins between victory and defeat are small, a team with a clear identity of play is always more likely to come out on top.

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Dead bodies in the rubble: Gaza’s lost generation of footballers

By Katherine Lucas for iNews

This is not an anti-Israel or Pro-Palestine piece. Rather, it is about the harrowing human cost of war.

The Cost of Injuries in the Premier League: 2023/24

By Jason McKenna for Analytics FC

It is easy to write off the complaints of managers and players’ unions about the increasing number of games but facts are showing that it is having a real impact. The injury burden has increased by 11% in the 2023/24 season compared to the previous season, as clubs struggled to manage their players' workload. Those running the game have a duty to do something about it.

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Every Saturday, Cultured Football brings you five great football articles you will enjoy reading.

Last Week’s Most Read: Football is Less Attractive

By Kyle Boas for Tactics Journal

“Football has more and more spectators, but it is becoming less and less attractive. What made this game the best game in the world at the time is not prioritized today…No matter how many people watch football, if you don’t ensure that what people watch is something pleasant, it will only benefit the business because the business only cares about how many people watch it. But in a few years, the players who deserve to be watched will be fewer, and the games produced will become less enjoyable. This current artificial increase in spectators will come to an end.” An examination of Marcelo Bielsa’s truth bomb.