From f-word rants, to full-on haymakers, to a failure of humour: what happens when the man in the middle fights back? After this Russian ref got physical with a player before brandishing his cards, FourFourTwo examines the times refs have bitten back – or at least when they’ve been alleged to. Little double about it in the case of Saad Al… Read more →
The 18-year-old Italy international may have boosted his transfer value even further after this superb reflex save. Serie A’s second-placed side Roma secured a convincing 4-1 win over Milan at the San Siro on Sunday night – but it could have been even worse for the Rossoneri had Gianluigi Donnarumma not pulled off a stunning save in the first half. Roma… Read more →
The former France international and two-time Champions League winner recalls his most memorable matches for club and country August 26, 1986: Nantes 3-0 Bordeaux Making my debut for Nantes was a great achievement, a great moment, a great sensation… wow! I was in the youth academy at Nantes from 13, combining school and football. We all dreamed about becoming professional footballers;… Read more →
Seb Stafford-Bloor was at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday to watch Swansea climb out of the relegation zone. There probably shouldn’t be a Premier League stadium in Swansea. The walk from the train station, up the hill, over the overpass, and down through nondescript suburbia is no rainbow on the way to a pot of gold. But then, that’s how… Read more →
Tottenham have gone on a nine-game winning streak, but still look set to finish second behind Chelsea this season. Greg Lea picks out the other terrific runners-up who came so close to ultimate triumph 1. Newcastle 1995/96 A team featuring Les Ferdinand, Peter Beardsley and David Ginola played some exhilarating, attacking football Everyone’s seen the interview. “When you do that… Read more →
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid frontman remembers his most significant matches May 1986: v.v. Nooit Gedacht Geffen (2-1 victory) “I can’t remember the exact date or who it was against, but playing for my village team in Geffen in an under-10s cup final was very special. The whole school came to watch and all the kids made banners. “It… Read more →
Tony Adams won’t want to see this… Following Real’s convincing 3-0 victory over fierce rivals Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, Los Galacticos’ attention now turns to domestic matters as they prepare to face Adams’ already-relegated Granada side on Saturday evening. But the former Arsenal defender has every right to be fearful of his team’s… Read more →
Former Manchester United youth team coach Paul McGuinness reveals how the club develop resilience in their next generation How important is mental resilience if a player wants to make it to the top? You’re always trying to develop the end profile of a player – whether it’s skills, decision-making, game understanding and obviously part of the whole package is mental… Read more →
Who would have thought one Marcus Rashford free-kick would lead to the most ridiculous of arguments? Speaking on the Alan Brazil breakfast show on talkSPORT, former Chelsea and QPR midfielder Ray Wilkins was not impressed with Celta Vigo goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez and how he failed to save Marcus Rashford’s free-kick in the Europa League on Thursday night. The goal was… Read more →
Football phrases roll off the tongue so naturally that we barely stop to think about how weird and wonderful some of them are. Where do these odd idioms come from? And can FFT really stake a claim to one? Over the moon Football folk who aren’t sick as a parrot may well be over the moon. The phrase’s origins lie with… Read more →