Cultured Football #21
Complete guide to all 622 players taking part in Euro 2020
As I think I’ve said before, I’m not really a fan of national team football so a competition like the Euro’s would not normally get me excited. Seeing games with football crowds present, however, is bringing me enough joy to keep on watching them. That said, I’ve tried to keep the Euro related content to a minimum. Of course, let me know if you’d like to see more of it. Enjoy!
The story of the minnows that went to North Korea masquerading as Brazil
This is the kind of article that you simply have to read to fully absorb the story. In summary, as the headline indicates, it is about a team that went to play a friendly in North Korea and were mistaken for the Brazil national team. But there is much more to it and the beauty of this story definitely lies in the details.
The Niklas Bendtner delusion
Contrary to every other article featured on Cultured Football, this one wasn’t published this week. Indeed, it is over two years old. But, given that the man in speaks about announced his retirement this week and that the overwhelming feeling of his talent being wasted brilliantly captured in the article, thought it worthwhile to make an exception.
The inside story of Ibrahima Konaté: From Paris to Liverpool
Liverpool’s purchase of Ibrahima Konate was not much of a surprise as the rumour that there was an agreement in place had been leaked weeks before the season ended. And, since those first stories, there have been plenty of articles written to talk about him and what he will bring to the club. What elevates this particular article, however, is just how deep it has gone, finding and interviewing the coach who plucked Konate from the suburbs of Paris as a 10 year old.
How Dundee went from trying to buy Dundee United to selling a painting from Dens Park to survive
It might be tempting to think that football clubs finding themselves in financial difficulties is a recent phenomenon. It isn’t. Nor do current club owners have a monopoly on coming up with bad ideas as they try to make more money. Take this as an example: thirty years ago, the Dundee owner announced a bid to buy Dundee United and then merge the two clubs into one. His argument was that the resulting team would be able to challenge the might of the two Glasgow clubs. He might well have been right, but that’s hardly the point is it?
Your complete guide to all 622 players taking part in Euro 2020
It is impossible to escape the Euros as it is what most people seem to be talking about these days so might as well embrace it. And the best resource to do so is this one that not only looks at the merits of each team but also provides a profile of EVERY player called up! An incredible effort.
Last Week’s Most Read
The story of Lille winning the French league despite the whole club falling to pieces and the financial might of Paris St Germain should be as celebrated as Leicester’s success in the Premier League a few years back. And, it seems, you appreciated that as it was last week’s most read. If you want to see how they managed this success and why it is unlikely that they will be able to build on it, here’s another opportunity to read that piece once again.