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Talking World Cup Rugby: New Zealand will thrash France in the final
I had lunch in Auckland yesterday with former Wallaby coach Bob Dwyer and, as ever, you hear a stream of what I would call rugby common sense coming across the table at you. Bob is in New Zealand with...
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Talking World Cup Rugby: The third-place play off exists just to make more money
Perhaps another format is needed if an extra match has to be played between the semi-finals and the final. Maybe a one-off game between the hemispheres, north against south, or the Barbarians against a...
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Talking World Cup Rugby: Referee Craig Joubert promises to treat finalists as...
Yesterday, dodging the huge showers which soaked Auckland virtually all day, I went into the city to interview the South African referee Craig Joubert who will handle the final. What a guy he turned...
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Is England’s win over Spain not worth celebrating?
When the final whistle was heard at Wembley on Saturday night, there was a general sense of disbelief in the entire stadium at the scoreline.
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North Korea claim Unofficial World Champions title
Today’s World Cup qualifier between North Korea and Japan, in which political tension was more of a focal point than the action on the pitch, ended in a 1-0 win for the home side in Pyongyang.
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Just how good is Clint Dempsey?
Yesterday the USA travelled to Genoa and beat Italy 1-0. It was the first time Team USA had beaten the four time World Cup winners. The goal scorer was Clint Dempsey.
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Michael Ballack – arrogant, in decline and ’still bitter’
“Still bitter” was the phrase used by “kicker” to describe the latest diplomatic furore surrounding Michael Ballack. A simple, but thoroughly apt headline to describe the sad decline of a man who was...
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What’s the best age to be an England manager?
Harry Redknapp said last week that the England manager role is "an older man's job". Is he right?
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Victor Buhler tells us why African football is “beautiful”
Award winning film-maker Victor Buhler talks to Christian Adofo about his new film, "The Beautiful Game", football in Africa and his hopes for the continent’s future.
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Beer: the mistake that beat the world
Britons tend to return disappointed from World Cups; the tradition is to skulk off amid bitter recriminations just as the real meat of the competition is getting started...but that's not how it always...
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Do France have any hope against Spain tonight?
Didier Deschamps’s men travel to Madrid tonight to face Euro 2012 winners, Spain, in a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier.
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Brazilian football’s big dog culture leaves Mano Menezes looking like a...
And so it goes. Brazilian football management proves once more that it is no country for level headed, if slightly ponderous, middle-aged men.
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End of the beginning: Confederations Cup an important World Cup yardstick for...
With apologies to Donna Summer, this time we know it’s (almost) for real. At least for Brazil.
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A view from the ground in Sao Paulo as the protests in Brazil continue to rage
On Monday, I joined thousands on the streets of São Paulo to protest against the brutality used by Brazil’s military police as they confronted students demonstrating against rising bus fares. Thousands...
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The Football Lawyer: What would the true cost of moving the 2022 World Cup to...
Sponsors and rival tournaments could be in line for compensation, while holding the Qatar tournament in the summer poses other costly problems.
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When was the last time England started with no Manchester United players?
An England line-up with no Manchester United players. When did that last happen?
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The Football Lawyer: Qatar 2022 compensation claims and the problem with quotas
The reality is that Fifa and Qatar cannot predict what a court might rule...
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Fifa threatens Brazil with World Cup expulsion (almost…)
June 12, 2014. England against Brazil in the opening game of the World Cup. Surprisingly the stands at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo are almost entirely empty...
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Ibet: Argentina Look The World Cup Bet At 13/2
Gareth Purnell takes a look at the outright prices in the World Cup betting market with a touch of value in mind
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