Watched over garden fences in the middle of a bleak winter, Spurs’ FA Cup win was a rare occasion of comfort and uplift With 19 minutes gone at Rossett Park, and the score still 0-0 between Marine AFC and Tottenham Hotspur, something almost-brilliant almost happened.Neil Kengni, Marine’s right winger, took the ball on the halfway line, galloped forward into a pocket of space, took another step, then spanked a wonderful dipping shot on to the crossbar. Related: Carlos Vinícius's hat-trick for Tottenham ends Marine's adventure Continue reading...
Without supporters, Saturday’s FA Cup final will likely be the worst of all time. Never before have fans held such influence – just consider the change they could enact if they used itAs implausible and preposterous as it may be, let’s imagine a post Covid-19 world where football fans are finally allowed back into Premier League grounds but elect en masse not to go. Not because home drinking, tedious family Zoom quizzes and banana bread baking have eclipsed the sport in popularity, but because after months spent locked out of stadiums match-going supporters have realised the importance of their role cannot be overstated and unilaterally opt to stay away until certain conditions are met.Even before a ball has been kicked...
Midfielder’s superb FA Cup semi-final showing against Manchester City suggests a remarkable turnaroundWhen Granit Xhaka stalked off the pitch against Crystal Palace in October, flinging off his shirt and swearing at the fans booing him down the tunnel, it felt like the sort of yarn that normally has only one ending. And so it was no surprise to see him here nine months on, putting in a statement performance against one of the world’s great midfields in a resounding FA Cup semi-final victory at Wembley. Hang on. May have got my lines mixed up there. Will get back to you.Perhaps we should no longer allow ourselves to be surprised by things like this. After all, players mature and wither. Form...
Chelsea under their former player are regularly being undone on the counter, leaking goals in a manner that suggests Manchester United could take advantage in FA Cup semi-finalO n the opening weekend of the Premier League season, Chelsea went to Old Trafford, controlled possession for long periods, hit the woodwork twice and were beaten 4-0, shredded on the break again and again. The pattern for Frank Lampard’s first season in the Premier League was immediately set: Chelsea, good with the ball; not so good when they lose it. They have lost twice more to Manchester United since and, on Sunday afternoon, face them again in an FA Cup semi-final.Lampard is widely considered to have had a decent campaign. Even with...
Frank Lampard is building a free-flowing attacking style and the World Cup winner does not surprise in possessionThe trouble with N’Golo Kanté, you see, is that he’s too good at winning the ball. Other players tackle, block, deflect, get their foot in. Kanté actually goes and takes the ball for himself. The two or three seconds when Kanté spots a ball he can win, chases it down and then simply prises it away, like the skin from a roasted garlic clove, are some of the most thrilling seconds on offer in the sport. At which point you have a slight problem, in that – having won the ball – Kanté now has to do something with it. Related: Ross Barkley...