It surprises me as much as it frightens me how, immersed in an economy of survival and even going through one of the most critical situations in the history of our sport, several of its protagonists seek to deepen the wound instead of covering it. For any ordinary child, playing football is simply a dream, …
Continue reading "Talent is inexhaustible but success is scarce"
Is it possible to make an illusion into something mundane? A child's dream turned into an adult's ordeal. That is the appearance with which the Tokyo Olympics will open tomorrow, although it does not necessarily equate with reality. A tournament of such impact, notoriety and history is idyllic for any athlete. However, like any great …
The title of the following article foreshadowed a harmony that this one will lack, since it will instead deal with a hot topic that has been generating a lot of noise, not music, lately. ABBA refers to a new proposal for the penalty shootout rule, whose sole purpose is to equalize and not to decant …
Let's be honest. Last night's final between two of the most exalted teams on the world scene today bore more similarities to the parallel fight in Las Vegas between McGregor and Poirier than to the match that both contenders seemed destined to give us. The two squads proved right all those who argue that finals …
How difficult and thankless it is to shine when the spotlight points elsewhere. A knockout tournament is always full of surprises, although more in its results than in its protagonists. The spotlight is usually focused on the strikers (the goal predators), the playmakers (the creators of play and chances), or even the goalkeepers when their …
A day of contrasts with a harsh reality check at nightfall, reminding us that, although success may sometimes seem permanent, it is always fleeting. Yesterday morning a hit song was playing on the radio that evoked the great achievements of the French national team and pushed them to pursue the next ones. Last night, however, …
Continue reading "Ramenez la coupe à la maison (la prochaine fois)"
Stamford bridge. May 2009 After a fierce duel in Barcelona that ended goalless, the second leg in London anticipated another great night. A Barcelona side on the edge of their seats were constantly under siege from Chelsea, who were chasing the goal that would certify their place in the Champions League final. That ambition turned …
We are incapable of being alone. By nature. We look for a thousand excuses to feel part of a group and give some meaning to our existence. On countless occasions we achieve this feeling of affiliation thanks to our hobbies, although we also owe it to the place we come from. How many times have …
We are tireless, inexhaustible, and therefore unhappy. We are only able to appreciate a good game when it reaches its last breaths. The same happens with life. To satiate that unhappiness, as opposed to palliate it, we seek to reflect ourselves in characters who can contribute little or nothing to us simply because they lead …
A new day is leaving and with it the agony of football fans who breathe a sigh of relief with the start of a new competition. It is not just any tournament since, beyond its international caliber, it will be the first to be played entirely with fans in the stands, an irreplaceable element for …
