Cultured Football #180

North Korean Dominance. Management More Than Tactics. Too Much Football. Next German Surprise. Bad Numbers at Arsenal.

North Korea and women's youth football: A perfect match

By Jonathan Harding for DW

Totalitarian regimes have long used sport to promote nationalistic pride, control public sentiment, and project an image of strength and unity both domestically and internationally. So it isn’t surprising that North Korea is trying to do the same. That they should opt for women’s football is only surprising until you think about it. Whatever the reason, they seem to be doing a great job with North Korea once again winning the U20 World Cup.

Bonus Pick: Keeping to the same theme, here’s the six standout players to follow from the 2024 Fifa U-20 Women’s World Cup. [

Emma Tobiasson

x

The Cutback

]

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Unai Emery exclusive interview: ‘Management is more than tactical’

By Adam Bate for Sky Sports

The job that Unai Emery has done in transforming Aston Villa has not only fully rehabilitated his reputation in England but marked him as one of the most influential managerial appointees of the past decade. This success is built on a keen understanding of the importance of the psychological side and a refreshing attitude to the importance of reading.

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The "too much football" tipping point

By

Grace Robertson

for

Grace on Football

With an increasing number of elite players speaking about the possibility of striking due to the increasing number of games, it is clear that football has reached a breaking point. The only ones who do not see this are those running the game whose only ambition is that of making more money. Clearly they have no qualms about killing the goose that is laying golden eggs.

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Karlsruher SC: The Bold Overachievers Leading the Zweite Bundesliga Promotion Charge

By

Adam Khan

for

The German Football Weekly

Last year St Pauli surprisingly romped to promotion from the Zweite Bundesliga. If early season form is anything to go by, Karlsruher SC could be the next to clinch an improbably promotion and a return from the brink.

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Arsenal's numbers aren't good. So what?

By

Adam Rae Voge

for

Cannon Stats

Whilst Arsenal have been impressive this start of season, their underlying numbers apparently leave something to be desired. Should this be cause for concern? Are they really a team that struggles to create and focused more on absorbing pressure?

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Last Week’s Most Read: English Football's pyramid scheme

By Sam Parry for

NTT20.COM

It is often assumed that the ultimate ambition for every club outside the Premier League is to make it to the top flight. And that is largely the case. Yet when you’ve achieved that ambition (and been dumped back down) you come to appreciate the value of the lower leagues, how competitive they are and why the Premier League is not all that it is made out to be.