“Why Asia? First of all, I went there because it was far, it gave me the impression of a place where there was still something to discover. I went...
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The stories behind Gianluigi Buffon’s five finest saves
Orson Welles once said that in this life, nobody gets justice. It’s either good luck or bad luck. Last Saturday, the Citizen Kane of goalkeepers lined out at the...
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Paulo Dybala: Rooted in Poland, made in Argentina, polished in Italy
Read | Paulo Dybala: Rooted in Poland, made in Argentina, polished in Italy “Paulo, come to Poland. I invite you” (Henryka Pałasińska, Dybala’s grandmother) World War II brought about...
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Gianfranco Zola: The Italian magician who left Stamford Bridge spellbound
In the modern age, England’s Premier League enjoys a truly global reputation. There are few corners on the planet where its games are not watched or its teams not...
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Restoring Italian glory by placing faith in youth
On 9 July 2006 inside Berlin’s Olympiastadion, 120 minutes of football were not enough to decide a victor between Italy and France. In the resultant penalty shoot-out, holding the...
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When Calcio Ruled the World: Il Soldatino, Angelo Di Livio
Angelo Di Livio is a joke. That is harsh on a man who won three Scudetti, two Coppe Italia and the Champions League, but the former Juventus and Fiorentina...
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Juventus vs. Napoli: A tale of Italy’s regional divide
Juventus versus Napoli is one of Italian football’s classic rivalries. On the field, it has pitted some of Serie A’s finest players against each other; the goal-scoring genius of...
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William Garbutt: Italy’s first Mister
When thinking of Italian football’s pioneers, William Garbutt may not be the first name that springs to mind. Born just outside of Stockport in 1883, Garbutt was a professional...
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Masters Versus champions: British Perceptions of Calcio in the Fascist Era
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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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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