By Nick O’Prey STATELY, trim Giovanni Trapattoni puts down his razor and surveys the face looking back at him in the mirror. He allows a brief moment, eye to eye, with his image and turns away. His heroic minute complete, he is ready to face the day with all the...

By Phil Blundell WORLD Cup winners in 1998, European Champions in 2000, World Cup runners-up in 2006. It seems strange to think that despite having played a part in the other tournaments between 1998 and now, France haven’t actually won a single knockout game outside...

THEY'RE among the more mysterious contenders for the Euros, seemingly as likely to have a run to the semis as they are to crash out without a single goal to their names. With just a few days until the Croats kick off their campaign against Ireland, take a look at the...

IN A world where ‘great' goals are scored week in week out by every Tom, Dick and Crouchy, it's time to reclaim the term. A great goal - a truly, truly great goal - must always be a sum of parts, a collection of moments. It needs setup and delivery, patterns unfolding...

by Neil Scott FOOTBALL, these days.  Be honest, it’s rubbish. It’s all holding and diving and waving invisible cards, unfathomable kick-off times, extortionate ticket prices and painstakingly choreographed goal celebrations. It’s ‘anthem jackets,’ obscene salaries and...