“The next young player who says he does not want to play for England should be ordered to ring the parents of a soldier who has died serving his...
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Roberto Baggio’s redemption: A story of two World Cup penalties
According to Buddha’s teachings, “it is not prayer, not grace and not sacrifice that brings redemption, but only knowledge. The knowledge lies within the power of the individual”. It...
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The top 10 Azzurri kits of all time
What’s your favourite Italy jersey? The question sounds simple, but the answer, and the thought process involved in reaching a decision, is anything but. When I asked writers and...
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Mario Balotelli: A portrait of adversity
The year is 1461 – Portuguese explorers have just sailed onto the shores of modern day Sierra Leone, just above the Gulf of Guinea. It’s the tipping point of...
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Crazy for football: How the beautiful game is helping psychiatric patients in Italy
Between February 23 and 29, 2016 in Osaka Japan, 12 Italian players aged between 20 and 50 took part in the first ever futsal World Cup for people with...
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Oriundi and national identity in a multicultural Italy
The last Englishman to win the football World Cup, certain wags will try to tell you, wasn’t born until 1977. You see, Simone Perrotta, the Roma and Italy midfielder...
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The nightmare of Korea: Italy’s biggest World Cup humiliation, half-a-century later
“They have won! Good heavens, they have won. What is going on here? This is fantastic,” bellowed Frank Bough, with the tone of a man struggling to come to...
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Patrick Cutrone: The Milan starlet hoping to avoid the fate of his striking predecessors
In terms of new signings, this summer has definitely been Milan’s most sensational in a long time. New players are turning heads and a Europa League qualifying round match...
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Alberto Aquilani: The little prince in the realm of regrets
Apart from talent, dedication and force of will, the life of every football player is defined by the moments he lives. In the era of media intrusiveness, no moment...
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The art of the biscotto: Delving into the Italian mindset
It’s June 22, 2004 at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimarães, Portugal. Having gone behind shortly before half-time, Italy are drawing 1-1 with Bulgaria in their final group...
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