Cultured Football #267
World Cup Songs. Bangladesh loves Argentina. Italian ReBrand. Arabian Falcons. Newcastle.
A Brief History Of The World Cup Song
By Sohini Desai for Defector
The World Cup’s official songs have traded local identity that marked them out at the start for global familiarity. Tracing that evolution from Chile in 1962 to the present, this reflects on what has been gained and what has disappeared. It also confirms that nothing beats 1990’s Un Estate Italiana…
Maradona to Messi: Why Bangladesh loves Argentina’s footballers
By Masum Billah for Al Jazeera
As the World Cup unfolds an ocean away, parts of Dhaka resemble Buenos Aires. Rooted in memories of Maradona and renewed by Messi, Argentina’s hold on Bangladesh stretches beyond results and have become a cultural phenomenon.
The Calcio Brandemic
By Luke Taylor for FORZA CALCIO
Conscious that Italian football no longer carries the weight it once did, clubs are increasingly turning to modern rebrands in the hope of staying relevant. All they seem to be achieving, however, is alienating fans.
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Inside Arabian Falcons: The Dubai football side managed by Jonjo Shelvey
By Matt Hardy for City AM
Dubai has become a familiar destination for ageing footballers, but one ambitious club is trying to rewrite that story. Arabian Falcons are betting on young talent, English coaching and an unconventional model that aims to turn the UAE into a stepping stone rather than a final stop, with Jonjo Shelvey at the heart of the project.
After World Cup goals are last year’s signings finally set to deliver for Newcastle?
By Ciaran Kelly for the BBC
Newcastle's recruitment looked almost infallible until last summer's arrivals struggled to make the expected impact. Still, after encouraging World Cup displays from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa, there is renewed hope that patience, rather than panic, may yet prove to have been the wiser approach.
Each week on Cultured Football we pick the five great football stories from the previous seven days.
In Case You Missed It Here’s Last Week’s Most Read: Why every World Cup country wears the colours it does...
By Joey D’Urso
Have you ever wondered why international teams at the World Cup wear the colours they do? Well, wonder no more.
Thank you so much for including the latest FORZA CALCIO in this week's send, Paul. Appreciate it and the work you do with Cultured Football.