Cultured Football #178

Scouting Ligue 2. San Marino. Unheralded Players. Murales of Diego. Fans vs VAR

Sep 14, 2024

By Mohamed Mohamed for Analytics FC

Remember when Leicester signed 22 year-old winger Riyad Mahrez from Ligue 2 side Le Havre and built around him the team that would go on to win the Premier League? Surely bigger clubs no longer discount the potential that there is in the French second division. Or do they?

The Internet’s Love Affair With San Marino

By
Josh TB
for
Football Waffle

Those who have been reading Cultured Football for some time know that I’m not the biggest of fans of international football. Yet even I am aware that San Marino did the apparently impossible and won a game of international football the other week. Even so, the reaction - indeed, the number of people following San Marino in recent months to see how they fare - still seems outsized. How did this internet phenomenon come about?

Tzolis to Sucic: unheralded players to watch in the Champions League

By Michael Yokhin for The Guardian

There is much that is new about the Champions League this season but it is undeniably an interesting experiment (if a confusing one) that might just limit the number of games that are of no interest. It also means that smaller sides have a bigger opportunity of making an impression and more players from their ranks to emerge.

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Murales di Diego: How Maradona Became a Global Symbol

By Emmet Gates for Destination Calcio

It is hardly surprising that Diego Armando Maradona continues to be idolised in Argentina and Naples, given the joys he gave to people there. But, his impact extends way beyond those two places, with murals of his spread all over the world.

Fans vs. VAR: Norway's fight for football's future

By Mark Ogden for ESPN

Fans in Norway have been protesting and causing disruptions at football games in opposition to VAR. So much that the Norwegian Football Federation is currently reviewing the use of VAR and may potentially abolish it which would set a precedent for other countries. Not everyone is happy about this, however.

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

Last Week’s (Joint) Most Read: Sven-Göran Eriksson, English revolutionary

By Jonathan Wilson for UnHerd

Sven-Göran Eriksson did not achieve the success that was expected of him whilst he was England manager but even so people seem to have largely positive warm memories of him. Judging by the words of his final interview he would be quite pleased by that. Even if, of course, he was a great manager who achieved some exceptional results during his career.

Last Week’s (Joint) Most Read: The Battle For The Soul Of Valencia

By Archie Willis for Futbolista

No club - not even Atletico Madrid - has managed to disrupt the duopoly of Real Madrid and Barcelona as Valencia did in the four year period between 2001 and 2004. Yet that is ancient history because for the past years the club has been struggling against mediocrity or worse. And the fans are no longer having any of it.