On 2 April 2013, Paolo Di Canio entered the pressroom at the Stadium of Light to begin his first press conference as Manager of Sunderland AFC. The line of...
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Chievo Verona: The Donkeys who dared to fly
“When donkeys’ll fly, we’ll have a derby in Serie A,” chanted the gleeful fans of Hellas Verona. Year after year, decade after decade, they poured scorn on their long-suffering...
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When Calcio Ruled the World: Abel Balbo
Think of a time before Totti was having an impact and imagine Roma? It feels nearly impossible as the great man’s tenure has been long and great, but there...
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The transfer that sparked a riot: Baggio to Juventus (1990)
Transfer dealings between rivals often leave fans feeling resentful or betrayed – take Miralem Pjanic’s departure from Roma as a suitable recent example. Few moves, though, incite urban riots....
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C.S. Lebowski: Continuing their project in the face of adversity
Locked away among the pedestrianised streets in the San Frediano district of Florence lies an open green space where local children play football. This in itself is not an...
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When Calcio Ruled the World: Gabriel Batistuta
Diego Maradona claimed that Gabriel Batistuta was the best striker that has ever graced the face of the earth. No greater praise can be heaped on the man known...
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On the march with Tally’s Army: Stand up for the Boys in Green
On New Year’s day, when an ex-student of mine, a proud Veronese with a curious west coast drawl, asked if I would be interested in going to France for...
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Familiar Foes: Italy and Ireland renew acquaintances
It is a small country on the fringes of Europe, a country whose people have spread knowledge, ‘craic’ and a deal of mischief to the four corners of this...
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Golden Heartbreak: Italy at Euro 2000
Despite a laudable haul of four world cups, Italy have only won the European Championships once – back in 1968, when they played at home in a tournament comprised...
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Gigi Riva: The silence before the thunder
“Knocks from defenders are like caresses when compared to the beatings of mourning, loneliness and deprivation.” Those strong and poignant words were uttered by a man better known for...
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