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Sticker books have been around for what seems like an eternity and, like everything else, have moved with the times with FIFA and Panini launching an online version of the popular pastime. I completed my one and only Premier League sticker book as a nine year old back in 1994 after months of haggling and […]
Franck Ribery’s eyes are firmly on the ball as France train in the Alps…. …but not without a spot of trekking through the snow. Eye’s on the prize garcon. Ledley King and co are put through their vigours behind the beautiful backdrop of Austria. The South African players are stretched to their limits. Reach for […]
In the first of BackPageFootball’s World Cup scouting articles, Matthew Wood looks at players to watch from Algeria and Argentina. Once proclaimed as the ‘next Zidane’ by supporters in France (and no, it’s not Bruno Cheyrou), now playing in Serie A with Lazio, Mourad Meghni could provide the creative spark to boost Algeria’s aspirations of […]
There are just 39 days before the event of the year, the World Cup, kicks-off in South Africa. Continuing on our series listing the top fifty players to keep an eye out for, we finally reach the final half as names get bigger, better and more familiar. Issue one, #50-#38 >>> Issue two, #37-#26 >>> […]
A little later then expected, here is part two of BPF’s Top 50 players to watch out for at the World Cup. Making an appearance in this section of the list is a marauding Brazilian full-back, a Serbian making waves around Europe, one of Chile’s biggest emerging talents and a rising star of English football. […]
With an astonishing 89 days before South Africa and Mexico kick-off the 19th World Cup in Johannesburg on June 11th, BPF hand pick fifty players everyone will have to keep an eye out for in a four-part series. From some of the world’s top players, to some emerging talent, to some national favourites, these fifty […]
A goal from Plymouth Argyle striker Rory Fallon has sent New Zealand to the World Cup for the first time since 1982 as they overcame Bahrain 1-0 on aggregate in a playoff today. With the sides level at 0-0 after the first leg, Fallon sent the Wellington crowd wild with a headed goal in the […]
World Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has returned to the helm at South Africa following Monday’s departure from the post of Joel Santana. Perreira, who guided Brazil to glory in 1994, left the job 18 months ago but has been pursuaded to return to help end a slump that has seen the World Cup […]
A stunning Liam Lawrence free kick was enough to give the Republic of Ireland a 1-0 victory over South Africa in a friendly at Limerick’s Thomond Park last night. Stoke City midfielder Lawrence struck his first international goal in the 35th minute to complete a good week for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side following Saturday’s 2-1 win […]