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History in Malta and dancing on the streets of Andorra
History in Malta and dancing on the streets of Andorra

The Guardian

time16-07-2025

  • Sport
  • The Guardian

History in Malta and dancing on the streets of Andorra

Bigger Cup is up and running, baby, as we officially wave goodbye to 'last season' and welcome 'this season'. The question of when we enter a new campaign is eternally asked; it's like the quandary of where the north of England starts (anything above Bristol Stoke, if you were wondering), and Football Daily is happy to provide the definitive answer of … roundabout now. Tuesday's first qualifying round second legs brought the drama Uefa desperately needs to make the competition entertaining before the drudge of matches from September to January. Unfortunately for the suits in Switzerland, almost certainly none of the teams currently playing in the qualifying rounds will reach the league stage but we should let Hamrun Spartans, Lincoln Red Imps and Drita dream … for a bit. At the same time, the prospect of facing Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and FC Basel is over for another year for the likes of The New Saints, Differdange 03 and Virtus, who will have to wipe away the tears, pull their socks up and go again in Tin Pot. Permanent Welsh champions TNS went down to a 116th-minute own goal against Macedonia's Shkendija to lose 2-1 on the night and on aggregate. Football Daily might even have watched it on S4C due to our commitment to the underdog and love of Welsh commentary. 'There is one thing everyone can be proud of through the club, it's that everyone gave everything that they had,' chirped manager Craig Harrison. 'No one could give anything more and sometimes that's all you can ask.' There was greater cruelty for Lithuania's Zalgaris, who last won a two-legged Big Cup tie in 2000, as they were sent packing by Malta's mighty Hamrun Spartans 11-10 on penalties after 28 spot-kicks. It is the first time a Maltese side have made it beyond this round, becoming part of football history in the process. Even in defeat there can be triumph. Andorra's national team are ranked 173rd in the world, therefore when their best and brightest, Inter Club d'Escaldes, drew Romanian giants FCSB, who won the competition back in the 1986 by beating Barcelona, when they were known as Steaua, no one gave them a chance. Inter Club d'Escaldes obviously lost over two legs because FCSB possess the former Tottenham defender Vlad Chiriches and ex-Port Vale man Dennis Politic. Respectfully beaten 3-1 in the Romanian capital, a lesser team would have given up and gone through the motions. But Inter Club could not let down the 509 fans inside the Nou Estadi Encamp and ran out 2-1 winners, exiting by a single-goal margin. The names of Sascha Andreu and Alexandre Llovet will be sung on the streets of Escaldes–Engordany for years to come. Dynamo Kyiv, Slovan Bratislava and Crvena Zvezda enter in the next round, readying themselves to bring their lesser-known rivals back down to earth and restore the natural order at the top of the second qualifying round tree. Come May, the ending will doubtless be the same given that the biggest clubs win the biggest prizes, but the summer months provide a reminder that football is more than just millionaires battling for trinkets and there is still glory to be had for those other professionals who can say they are Bigger Cup players. The evolution of the football season is well and truly under way. Join Sarah Rendell from 8pm BST for Euro 2025 quarter-final MBM coverage of Norway 2-1 Italy. 'As you may be aware, other clubs seem to go through much more protracted disputes with less severe outcomes. Many believe that this process has been opaque and disproportionately punitive. We hope you will take this matter seriously and act to uphold the principles of fairness, accountability, and integrity in sport' – part of the contents of a letter from seven Liberal Democrat MPs to culture secretary Lisa Nandy, urging her to intervene over Crystal Palace's demotion from Bigger Vase, following a fan protest on the streets of south London on Tuesday. Apropos the article on Puma's deal with Manchester City (yesterday's Football Daily), a shout out please for their retro-inspired 2025-26 strips produced for Port Vale's 150th anniversary. Pleasingly sponsor-free and designed by supporters (OK, the boss's son) rather than some PR wonk, they are the absolute business' – Rob Ford. Re: yesterday's Football Daily letters. For the last 30 years I've lived roughly a Rory Delap throw-in away from the Auld Triangle/Plimsoll in Finsbury Park. On a visit to the Irish Emigration Musuem in Dublin a few years ago, my daughter was surprised to see a faithful reproduction of the pre-gastro incarnation set up as an example of the type of pub that the Irish diaspora has created around the world. I've no idea if it is still an exhibit there, but possibly worth a trip for anyone who misses the old days. I don't think they have a replica Robbie doing the quiz, mind' – Brendan Mackinney. If you have any, please send letters to Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is … Rob Ford. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. Back to Crystal Palace, albeit indirectly, after their former goalkeeper and troublesome dinner guest Wayne Hennessey called time on his playing career. 'I have amazing memories playing for both club and country,' declared the Welshman, who won 109 caps but also managed to get a David Squires cartoon based on his off-field actions. 'From my early days at Wolves, loans at Stockport and Yeovil, and my time with Palace, Burnley and Nottingham Forest, each club shaped me both on and off the field. Having been born and raised in north Wales, it was always my dream to play at the highest level. It was a privilege to play in the Premier League and for my country over 100 times.' It will be clubmate v clubmate when England face Sweden in the last eight of Euro 2025, but Arsenal's Leah Williamson is looking forward to colliding with Stina Blackstenius. 'It's rare that I get to play against Stina in this setting. I enjoy it, I like Stina,' she grinned. 'It's tough to remove all of that to just go at it, you don't want to focus on it too much … but I think I've known Stina long enough now that I know who she is and it's time to focus on us.' Technical problems with Fifa's online Mr/Mrs 15% exam have prevented candidates from completing the test, with many told they will have to wait 12 months and try again. 'Lots of people have put loads of time and effort into revising and to not be able to take the exam is really unfair. It's a shambles,' whispered a source. Manchester United want Bryan Mbeumo. Big Sir Jim Ratcliffe isn't keen on going north of £65m. Brentford want nearer £70m. On it goes. Ethan Nwaneri, one of Arsenal's breakout tyros from last season, is poised to commit his future to the club and sign a lucrative new contract. Leicester have plumped for former QPR boss Martí Cifuentes as the best option to succeed Ruud van Nistelrooy. 'This is a fantastic club with a proud history and it's a privilege to me to be asked to help write the next chapter,' cheered Cifuentes. And Australia winger Nestory Irankunda hopes a move from Bayern to Watford can reboot his flamin' international career in time for the World Cup. 'I have to be playing minutes and I wasn't playing,' he sighed. 'The Championship's also a world-class league. The best thing for me was to go somewhere else.' Wing, Back. Utaka. The Knowledge looks at players whose names are similar to their positions, the hottest English match on record and plenty more. Will the Norway of Hegerberg, Graham Hansen, Reiten et al finally fulfil their potential at Euro 2025? Tom Garry previews their quarter-final with Italy. Euro 2025 is shaping up to be a great success, reckons Suzanne Wrack, but we could still do with an upset or two. Suzanne also shines the spotlight on the importance of England's game-finishing 'clique'. And with half the Scottish Premiership now under US ownership, Graham Ruthven analyses the growing American investor interest in fitba. Touching their hero, children from the Sacred Heart primary school, which adjoined the Middlesbrough's training ground, mob new signing Juninho after he completed his first full training session with the team in October 1995.

Two seasons in a day: the Champions League and Club World Cup overlap
Two seasons in a day: the Champions League and Club World Cup overlap

The Guardian

time07-07-2025

  • Sport
  • The Guardian

Two seasons in a day: the Champions League and Club World Cup overlap

Football Daily would prefer not to have to think about Copa Gianni at all but we have a certain professional obligation to do so and have never knowingly been found shirking in the face of our responsibilities. To keep things simple, we prefer to view the tournament as a stand-alone competition that's taking place between the end of the last season and the beginning of the next one, but the fact that it's being contested by clubs instead of countries leaves plenty of room for debate. Watching Kingsley Coman 'sprint' on to a through-ball from Harry Kane during Bayern Munich's defeat by PSG as if he was running in knee-deep wet cement, we were presented with the sight of a player in next season's kit who was quite clearly exhausted by the exertions of the one that may or may not have ended before the tournament in which he was playing started. Does the goal he didn't score go down in the official xG column of last season, next season, or neither? If as seems likely, Copa Gianni goes down in the official record books as part of last season, then it will overlap with European football's next season, which officially starts … on Tuesday! Designed in part by Fifa to disrupt and devalue the gleaming jewel in Uefa's crown, it will go down as a matter of historical record that last season's Copa Gianni will conclude at the end of the same week next season's Bigger Cup began. Over the next two days no fewer than 28 teams will line up to play in Bigger Cup qualifiers, with The New Saints, Shelbourne and Linfield representing Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively. And while it would be little short of a miracle for any of the three sides to make it to Bigger Cup proper, at least one of Shels and Linfield will make it into the next qualifying round because they've been paired against each other. Until very recently managed by Damien Duff, who won the League of Ireland Premier Division with them last season before resigning a couple of weeks ago following a typically forthright but extremely coruscating public take-down of his players, Shels will be managed by Duff's former assistant turned replacement, Joey O'Brien. 'He made his call and then it was up to me to make my call and I did,' said the former Bolton Wanderer of his decision to take over from his pal. 'Hopefully we can write new memories again. With the players, we have a great squad. Great lads. That's why I wanted to hang around.' While fans of both Shels and Linfield had almost certainly hoped for a more exotic Bigger Cup away trip than a two-hour coach trip up and down the M1 to Belfast or Dublin respectively, the good news is that the winners can look forward to an away day in Baku, Azerbaijan. Qarabag await the victors and are a team the Northern Irish side and their manager, David Healy, have faced before in what is now known as Bigger Vase. Meanwhile in Wales, they'll be dancing on the streets of The New Saints if the famous side formerly known as Total Network Solutions can see off North Macedonia's Shkendija to tee up what looks certain to be a second qualifying round tie against FCSB, the even more famous side formerly known as Steaua Bucharest. While TNS are well aware Shkendija is a tough place to go having lost there 5-0 seven years ago, their manager Craig Harrison is hopeful they can exact some revenge. 'It's going to be a really tough game out there,' blathered the former Middlesbrough defender. 'It's going to be really hot and humid and it will be like it was in Montenegro against Decic.' Decic, of course, being the team TNS beat at this stage of Bigger Cup at the start of last season. Unless, of course, it was the end of the season before. Join Sarah Rendell for Euro 2025 updates on Spain 4-0 Belgium at 5pm (BST), while Will Unwin will be on hand at 8pm for Portugal 1-1 Italy. There's me being able to walk down the stairs after I've played 90 minutes of football, there's me in the future when I have children being able to walk around properly, being able to bend down and pick up toys, there's me being able to do normal life things like put on socks without being in pain and, for the first time in a long time, I genuinely didn't think about the response of the public because that just wasn't a priority' – Millie Bright reveals how she is feeling better in her mind after taking the decision to miss Euro 2025 and prioritise her recovery from a knee injury. Sometimes Mauricio Pochettino wants it to be a penalty, sometimes he doesn't. There's just no pleasing some people. Extra moaning points for Poch insinuating that the officials were swayed by the pro-Mexico crowd for a game that USA USA USA were playing at home. P.S. A doff of the cap to Mexico for that uber cool black and gold kit …' – Noble Francis. With a tip of the cap to The Usual Suspects … the greatest trick Infantino ever pulled was turning me into a Chelsea fan for two hours rooting against Infantino's home team making the finals' – Harry Webb. I can't have been your only reader who paused between Friday's tea time email and big website's MBM coverage of the Jurassic reunion opening gig, to turn the dial of my retro digital transistors to the political satirical radio broadcast, Deadringers. I – and what I suspect to be 1,056 others – nearly choked on my fermented tofu when I heard a repeat of your dinosaur banter about the aforementioned group of monobrows. I assume the requisite phone calls were made – i.e. your people calling their people, etc – and payment made (four pack of budget Tin) before Tom Baker's closing remarks' – Nicholas Tipple. Please send your letters to Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day competition is … Noble Francis. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. The Football Weekly podcast has a tribute to Diogo Jota. As transfer stories go, West Brom winger Mikey 'Jinky' Johnston to Flamengo is pretty wild. A signing to soothe Fla fans now that bitter rivals Fluminense have gone further in the Copa Gianni? Perhaps not: Johnston's move is reported to be off after fan protests in Rio de Janeiro. Still, the Irishman has got the game's cognoscenti talking in Brazil, so much so that Vampeta, the 2002 World Cup winner, phoned up old Internazionale teammate Robbie Keane for the skinny on Jinky. The pair bonded on the San Siro bench – Vamps playing just eight matches, Robbie six – and the former midfielder, now a radio host, dialled up his old mate on air. 'The fans will like him because he is really fast and skilful,' replied Robbie, descending into that weird accent English speakers use when speaking to foreign friends. 'Roberto Carlos is here,' announced the programme's host, Thiago Asmar. 'My best friend, I love him,' cooed Robbie. 'Keane, I love you too, man,' cheered Vampeta, hanging up. Despite such love-in and Robbie's Kitemark of quality, Mikey will not be moving to Rio. Trent Alexander-Arnold has described his former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota as 'someone who lit up a room'. The defender, now at Real Madrid, added: 'It goes without saying he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in all our memories for the amazing man and player he was.' In scenes that could have been avoided had there not been an extra tournament slap bang in the middle of the summer break, Bayern Munich have announced that Jamal Musiala has 'sustained a fracture of the fibula [a bone in the lower leg] associated with a broken and dislocated ankle' after a collision with PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma at the Copa Gianni. Lauren Hemp has backed the Lionesses to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat against France in their absolutely must-win group game against Netherlands on Wednesday. 'This team, a lot of the time, we thrive under pressure,' she said. ' Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Euro 2025 roundup: Switzerland have kept their tournament alive after Géraldine Reuteler and Alayah Pilgrim scored to knock out Iceland, while Caroline Graham Hansen's late winner downed Finland and put Norway into last eight. Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Viktor Gyökeres, which is all well and good apart from the fact that they haven't agreed a fee with Sporting. Arsenal are hoping to strike a deal for less than the £68m asking price. Crystal Palace have agreed a deal to sign Borna Sosa from Ajax for about £3m, with the Croatia defender due to cough for the doctor on Monday. And it has taken Jhon Durán just six months to realise that moving from Aston Villa to Al-Nassr in a £71m deal might have been good for the bank account, but probably wasn't so beneficial for career development. He's joined Fenerbahce on a year-long loan, where renowned nurturer of youth José Mourinho will get him back on track. Forget Black Friday in November, the best time and place for super-discount deals is right now in New Jersey, baby. Yep, you can get a bumper 97% off the price of entry for Tuesday's semi-final between Chelsea and Fluminense after tickets were slashed from $473.90 to $13.40. Fifa has used 'dynamic pricing' for the 63-game wheeze in the hope that the USA USA USA had a fever over football like the one marketing genius Gianni experienced when he dreamed up the bloated thing. Pity the saps who have paid full whack to attend. Sid Lowe on Arsenal's shiny new signing, Martín Zubimendi, and why 'there is no one like him'. Luke Taylor explains how a Colombian podcast shed light on Bobby Moore and the 'bracelet of Bogotá'. Max Rushden writes on why transfer news has lost its sense of wonder and surprise. Crystal Palace are in the dark over whether they have qualified for Europe next season. Ed Aarons untangles the details and the web that John Textor has woven around the London club. And click here for today's Rumour Mill, which features a fetching picture of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the 2022 Milan fashion week (the striker is linked with a move to Manchester United). And check out all the latest men's and women's moves in the summer window. 5 November 2000: former Tottenham midfielder Micky Hazard poses in his black cab, having taking up work as a taxi driver five years after retiring as a footballer.

Thomas Frank and the problem with daring to do too much at Tottenham
Thomas Frank and the problem with daring to do too much at Tottenham

Yahoo

time10-06-2025

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Thomas Frank and the problem with daring to do too much at Tottenham

LET'S BE FRANK As the wait goes on for Thomas Frank to be announced as Tottenham Hotspur's new manager, Football Daily can't help but wonder what exactly is causing the delay. On Sunday it was reported that personal terms between the Dane and Daniel Levy had more or less been agreed, a compensatory fee in the region of £10m for Brentford was deemed to be adequate and all that was left to be decided was how many of Frank's coaching staff would be joining him. But while the Daily holds Keith Andrews – who has successfully muscled his way in to the pantheon of camera-hogging set-piece coaches with great hair in recent months – in the very highest of regard, we're going to go out on a limb and guess the former Ireland international's inclusion in any exit package almost certainly isn't a deal-breaker. Advertisement What might be troubling Frank, at this potentially crucial juncture in his career, is that Spurs, not content with sacking managers for not winning trophies, have just got rid of the bloke who secured their first one in 17 years. Given the comparatively snakebelly low expectations he shoulders in his current role, Brentford's manager could be forgiven for wanting to know exactly what will be expected of him in N17 and more pertinently, if the Spurs hierarchy actually have any clear idea. Given that winning Bigger Vase and qualifying for next season's Bigger Cup was not deemed good enough for Ange Postecoglou to keep his job, the Tottenham board have ostensibly made it clear that finishing higher up the Premier League than 17th is quite literally all that concerns them. 'To dare is to do,' as the club motto says, just so long as you don't dare to do anything so audacious as win a cup and seat at European football's top table. Among a small handful of top-flight managers who are almost universally liked and admired, Frank has long been renowned as a very straight talker. So much so that in any interview scenario between him and a prospective new employer, it is not difficult to imagine the Dane asking the more probing questions while his headhunter squirms in the face of a barrage of interrogatory projectiles. The second-longest serving manager in the Premier League behind Pep Guardiola, Frank ticks a number of the apparently requisite boxes for Spurs in so far as he has never won anything, hasn't been relegated, doesn't wang on about knack all the time and doesn't say 'mate' in a passive-aggressive way when the world is conspiring against him. And while his slow starts at Brondby and Brentford, where he won two out of his first 18 matches combined, may perturb a fanbase who are not exactly famous for their patience, he seems as good a choice as any for a club that increasingly seems to have little or no idea what it wants or who it needs to help them achieve it. LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE Join Rob Smyth at 7.45pm (BST) for red-hot friendly updates on England 0-0 Senegal. QUOTE OF THE DAY The level will increase immediately once we are playing against Portugal or Spain. We will rise to the occasion. This will come. It will bring out the very best in us' – Thomas Tuchel, there, wrapping up some words in a big white sheet with two eyeholes cut into it, and inviting them to come back and haunt him. FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS Following last week's balanced piece in Football Daily on how Cristiano Ronaldo's ego continues to destroy Portugal's chances of success, readers will look forward to some acknowledgement of that side's Nations League victory. Perhaps focusing on how a 40-year-old Scotland captain, say, would be viewed if he had just led his country to a tournament final victory over England, scoring eight goals along the way including one in the final and the winner against Germany in the semi-final' – Brian Broderick. Re: transfer speculation concerning Granny Bellingham (yesterday's Football Daily – full email edition); I have it on good authority the next target in the family will be Lynda – I got it from a reliable sauce' – Andy Korman. Advertisement If you do have any, please send letters to Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is … Rollover. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. PEP TALK When it comes to Manchester City's succession planning, the question is always the same: how on earth do you replace Pep? Well, how about with another Pep. You see, the club have nipped in to appoint Pepijn Lijnders as Guardiola's No 2. It's a move that seemed highly unlikely a year ago, when Jürgen Klopp's wingman at Liverpool followed the German out of Anfield and took the top job at RB Salzburg. Unfortunately for the Dutchman, he bombed, and was sacked before Christmas. But if he now studies under Guardiola at City, having already absorbed the best of Kloppball, you'd imagine Ljinders could be one hell of a skilful coach in a few years' time. He's still only 42 and has plenty of time left to have a proper stab at a managerial position once again. We can already guess how Liverpool fans will feel about their one-time fist-pumping assistant bringing his intense methods to the Etihad. They'll be wishing him all the best won't they? And if it does all go wrong for Ljinders at City, he's always got his career as a writer to fall back on. RECOMMENDED LOOKING Here's David Squires on … the buildup to Gianni Infantino's big, beautiful Club World Cup in the land of Trump. NEWS, BITS AND BOBS Hey Jobe, don't be afraid, go to Dortmund, just like your brother. The £32m midfielder may even face his sibling at the Club World Cup. Advertisement Nottingham Forest have chucked their two pennorth into the Crystal Palace multi-club ownership wrangle, and have written to Uefa arguing that Palace are in breach of its MCO rules. Shy and retiring head-honcho Evangelos Marinakis, who also owns Olympiakos, put his own Forest shares into a blind trust before the end of the season. And the club that would take Palace's place should they be hoyed out of Bigger Vase? Why, Nottingham Forest of course. Dean Huijsen has checked in at the Bernabéu and his days at Bournemouth already seem like a lifetime ago. 'I've wanted to be here since day one,' sobbed the defender. 'Since Madrid called, I've had no other team in mind.' Chelsea could be looking elsewhere for another new keeper after failing to agree a fee with Milan for Mike Maignan. Meanwhile, the Blues have thrown in a fresh £42m bid for Dortmund's Jamie Gittens. In more transfer deadline day (part one) news: Kieran Tierney has left Arsenal to rejoin Celtic on a five-year deal. 'To be here with the strip on again just feels amazing,' trilled the full-back. Advertisement Arsenal will play all their WSL home fixtures at the Emirates next season. 'Bringing every WSL match [here] is another step for more supporters to be part of this special journey,' cheered Gunners boss Renée Slegers. Though Wales were beaten 4-3 by Belgium in a thriller, Sorba Thomas knows who the real winners were. 'Even though we lost the game, I feel like we won it in our own heads,' he honked. It says here that Che Adams scored a hat-trick (subs, please check) as Scotland stormed the Rheinpark Stadium and dished out a 4-0 beatdown to Liechtenstein last night. And perhaps after reading yesterday's Football Daily, Claudio Ranieri has dilly-dinged and dilly-donged himself out of the running for the Italy job. MOVING THE GOALPOSTS There's an interview with Brighton's Tanzanian trailblazer Aisha Masaka in the latest edition of our sister email, which you can read right here. STILL WANT MORE? Chilled-out entertainer Bukayo Saka talks about feeling 'more balanced about football and life', writes Andy Hunter. Advertisement 'I'd be a bit gutted if you ended up winning a Club World Cup competition and not being there.' Will Unwin talks to Manchester City and Chelsea fans ignoring the scepticism and apathy to travel to the Club World Cup. Jonathan Wilson is very much in the 'no' camp though, and warns that it's another step towards a global super league. Leander Schaerlaeckens on why another dose of sports dad drama is the last thing the USMNT needs. And which big clubs are poised to swoop for Bournemouth's Semenyo and Zabarnyi? The Rumour Mill sifts through today's tittle-tattle. MEMORY LANE Admittedly, we're struggling for context, but here's Fabio Capello getting into the spirit of things at the Circus Medrano for the Epiphany in June 2003. BUBBLING UP, BUBBLING UP

Inter and a Munich mauling that led to a one-man welcome home
Inter and a Munich mauling that led to a one-man welcome home

Yahoo

time02-06-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Inter and a Munich mauling that led to a one-man welcome home

DESOLATION ROAD With the romantic underdog tale of a plucky autocratic nation state's eye-wateringly expensive, relentless, often hilarious but ultimately successful pursuit of Bigger Cup glory after 14 years of trying being covered at great length elsewhere on Big Website, it behoves Football Daily – a publication more readily associated with abject failure – to sift through the wreckage of Inter's dismal effort to give PSG anything resembling a game in Munich. A team that less than six weeks ago fancied their chances of winning a league, cup and Bigger Cup treble has just finished the season empty-handed and, while all available evidence suggests there is every chance they would have lost against the gegenpressing dervishes from Paris even if they'd given a good account of themselves, so dismal was the effort of Simone Inzaghi's senior citizens that they found themselves on the wrong end of the biggest hiding ever meted out to any finalist in the competition's history. Advertisement So much so, that the only person on the pitch who wasn't wearing an Inter shirt to show them any mercy was the referee, who blew his final whistle bang on the 90-minute mark in order to end their humiliation at the earliest opportunity. 'Tonight we were more tired than PSG,' sighed Inzaghi in the final's aftermath. 'We weren't fresh on the second ball. We contested our league until last Friday, they won it with two months to spare. They have great quality, a great team. Technically they are stronger than us, we knew that, so we had to be more clever but we weren't organised, and we deserved to lose. That's the bottom line.' While it was his clearly fatigued players who pulled off a passable imitation of rabbit-shaped training cones caught in very bright headlights on Saturday night, it is Inzaghi who has shipped most of the blame for the manner in which they had rings run around them. And though the Italian's refusal to adapt his tactics or lineup to counter PSG's almost psychotic approach to winning back possession is worthy of criticism, describing Inter's performance as 'a disgrace for Italian football', as one writer in La Gazzetta dello Sport felt compelled to put it, might have been over egging the linguine carbonara just a tad. Not everyone was as critical of Inter's apologetic effort and upon their return to Milan Malpensa Airport, the club's disappointed players received a boost in the form of a welcome committee comprised of one person. 'I'm the only idiot here but they still deserve applause,' parped the solitary fan named Marco, according to the pink paper. Whether or not Inter's exhausted and embarrassed players appreciated his effort is not known but at least for them, a gruelling season has finally reached its end. A long summer of rest and recuperation lies ahead, until their opening game of the Club World Cup kicks off in a little over a fortnight's time. QUOTE OF THE DAY Everything came so quick. I was in year 10, playing League One. It was crazy. Very crazy' – Jordon Ibe, who is without a professional club, talks to Sam Dalling about overcoming tragedy, his turbulent time at Liverpool and how he wants to give his career one last push at the age of 29. RECOMMENDED LISTENING Join Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning and the rest of the Football Weekly pod squad as they chew over the Bigger Cup final and more. FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS Now that the football season is over following Qatar's win in the Bigger Cup, or to use Rio Ferdinand's words on co-commentary, 'a win for football' (or in everyone else's words, 'thank goodness Ferdinand is leaving TNT'), it's time to check in on the development of Major League Soccerball. Ah, yes, still the same comedy-fest but with added playing out from the back …' – Noble Francis. Congratulations to PSG. They really threw the kitchen cinque at Inter' – Peter Oh. There is no truth to the rumours that PSG intend to play blindfolded in their Uefa Super Cup match. Nope' – Krishna Moorthy. Advertisement Send letters to Today's prizeless letter o' the day winner is … Peter Oh. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here. NEWS, BITS AND BOBS Sarina Wiegman has no knack concerns before England's final Nations League group game against Spain. 'Everyone is available and everyone can start,' trilled the Lionesses' head coach. Ange Postecoglou has implored Tottenham not to settle for their Bigger Vase success despite not knowing if he'll still be flamin' manager next season. 'Think about what's next, you know,' he told Australian TV, explaining the meaning behind his 'season three' comment at the trophy parade. 'Don't settle for this. We've got a taste of it now. My players have got a taste for it. The club's got a taste for it. Well, let's make sure we're back here again.' Advertisement What's that coming over the hill, is it a monster, is it a monster? Yes, Oldham are back in the Football League after a 3-2 extra-time win over Southend in the National League playoff and manager Micky Mellon is dreaming big. 'It's a fantastic moment for us,' he cheered. 'This club is a monster. We were under a lot of pressure because we have a great family that back us – we needed to go up. It's massive, it's monstrous to get us in [the league]. Everything changes now.' Chelsea are this close to announcing the signing of Ipswich striker Liam Delap for £30m and they're also weighing up a £50m bid for the Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens. Brentford have reportedly agreed an £18m deal for Liverpool's top, top backup keeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Meanwhile, Ajax have nabbed Arne Slot's right-hand man, Johnny Heitinga, and installed him in the dugout at the Johan Cruyff Arena. And Neymar was sent off for a hands-on approach to trying to score a goal for Santos in their 1-0 defeat by Botafogo in what may be his final game for the club. 'I made a mistake, forgive me!' he wailed on some social media disgrace or other. 'Today, if I hadn't been sent off, I'm sure we would have gotten the three points. You can count these three points against me!' IN AND OUT OF LOVE 22 January: 'I think you always have your responsibilities and you are under contract. You have to be professional, you have obligations, not only towards [the club] as an organisation, you have an obligation towards your teammates and you don't let your teammates down, never' – Plymouth Argyle boss Miron Muslic hits out at forward Morgan Whittaker, accusing him of not turning up on time before their 5-0 gubbing at home by Burnley, which the player denied before joining Middlesbrough. Advertisement 1 May: 'I have fallen in love with the football club from when I had my first experience of it all those months ago … [this shows] how much I care for Argyle and the Green Army, and how committed I am to the club and its future' – Muslic reaffirms his commitment to the club as they head for League One. 31 May: 'Under his contract, a club wishing to speak with him needs Argyle's prior permission. We were unwilling to give such permission, but Miron informed us that under no circumstances was he going to return to Plymouth. Thus, we reluctantly gave the necessary permission' – Muslic breaks things off to take over at Schalke. STILL WANT MORE? It would not be a Bigger Cup final without all your favourite Big Website writers bringing you reaction, analysis and commentary. Barney Ronay writes on Désiré Doué, a Neymar/Lamine Yamal hybrid to lead PSG's coronation as kings of Europe and Viva Vitinha, the deep conductor who proved Lionel Messi wrong. Advertisement Jonathan Liew laments Inter's two finals losses to state-owned investment funds while Nicky Bandini reports on the Italian press's swift kicking of Simone Inzaghi. Nick Ames ponders whether the likes of Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola could be lured away from Paris after winning the lot and David Hytner pens an ode to the genius that is Luis Enrique. John Brewin's Bigger Cup team of the season includes an array of PSG players and a marauding Gunner. And finally our picture desk put together a snazzy gallery of all the best photos from PSG's triumph in Munich. Quiz time? Quiz time! Test your knowledge of one-sided European Cup finals. Brazil may have their first foreign coach in Carlo Ancelotti but he reconnects them to a tradition that made them five-time World Cup winners, writes Jonathan Wilson. Advertisement Goal Diggers FC's tournament amid FA ban on trans women brings solidarity to community writes Suzanne Wrack. Paul Mitchell's exit as Newcastle's sporting director leaves Eddie Howe in a position of strength, writes Louise Taylor. Brighton may have secured a fifth-place WSL finish but Dario Vidosic exclusively reveals to Tom Garry that his side 'want to challenge the establishment'. Suzanne Wrack gets personal as she pours her emotions into what it was like watching Arsenal win the Champions League at a packed Estádio José Alvalade as a journalist and a fan. And Ed Aarons takes you through 10 of the top talents that could be on the move this summer transfer window while the Rumour Mill returns with Will Unwin on the biggest transfer stories of the day including possible deals for Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Gonçalves and Florian Wirtz. MEMORY LANE January 2000: A rare shot of David Beckham before he got heavily into tattoos. The midfielder was taking a break on the Copacabana beach in Rio while Manchester United were in town for the Club World Cup. 'WEAR SUNSCREEN'

Inter and a Munich mauling that led to a one-man welcome home
Inter and a Munich mauling that led to a one-man welcome home

The Guardian

time02-06-2025

  • Business
  • The Guardian

Inter and a Munich mauling that led to a one-man welcome home

With the romantic underdog tale of a plucky autocratic nation state's eye-wateringly expensive, relentless, often hilarious but ultimately successful pursuit of Bigger Cup glory after 14 years of trying being covered at great length elsewhere on Big Website, it behoves Football Daily – a publication more readily associated with abject failure – to sift through the wreckage of Inter's dismal effort to give PSG anything resembling a game in Munich. A team that less than six weeks ago fancied their chances of winning a league, cup and Bigger Cup treble has just finished the season empty-handed and, while all available evidence suggests there is every chance they would have lost against the gegenpressing dervishes from Paris even if they'd given a good account of themselves, so dismal was the effort of Simone Inzaghi's senior citizens that they found themselves on the wrong end of the biggest hiding ever meted out to any finalist in the competition's history. So much so, that the only person on the pitch who wasn't wearing an Inter shirt to show them any mercy was the referee, who blew his final whistle bang on the 90-minute mark in order to end their humiliation at the earliest opportunity. 'Tonight we were more tired than PSG,' sighed Inzaghi in the final's aftermath. 'We weren't fresh on the second ball. We contested our league until last Friday, they won it with two months to spare. They have great quality, a great team. Technically they are stronger than us, we knew that, so we had to be more clever but we weren't organised, and we deserved to lose. That's the bottom line.' While it was his clearly fatigued players who pulled off a passable imitation of rabbit-shaped training cones caught in very bright headlights on Saturday night, it is Inzaghi who has shipped most of the blame for the manner in which they had rings run around them. And though the Italian's refusal to adapt his tactics or lineup to counter PSG's almost psychotic approach to winning back possession is worthy of criticism, describing Inter's performance as 'a disgrace for Italian football', as one writer in La Gazzetta dello Sport felt compelled to put it, might have been over egging the linguine carbonara just a tad. Not everyone was as critical of Inter's apologetic effort and upon their return to Milan Malpensa Airport, the club's disappointed players received a boost in the form of a welcome committee comprised of one person. 'I'm the only idiot here but they still deserve applause,' parped the solitary fan named Marco, according to the pink paper. Whether or not Inter's exhausted and embarrassed players appreciated his effort is not known but at least for them, a gruelling season has finally reached its end. A long summer of rest and recuperation lies ahead, until their opening game of the Club World Cup kicks off in a little over a fortnight's time. Everything came so quick. I was in year 10, playing League One. It was crazy. Very crazy' – Jordon Ibe, who is without a professional club, talks to Sam Dalling about overcoming tragedy, his turbulent time at Liverpool and how he wants to give his career one last push at the age of 29. Join Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning and the rest of the Football Weekly pod squad as they chew over the Bigger Cup final and more. Now that the football season is over following Qatar's win in the Bigger Cup, or to use Rio Ferdinand's words on co-commentary, 'a win for football' (or in everyone else's words, 'thank goodness Ferdinand is leaving TNT'), it's time to check in on the development of Major League Soccerball. Ah, yes, still the same comedy-fest but with added playing out from the back …' – Noble Francis. Congratulations to PSG. They really threw the kitchen cinque at Inter' – Peter Oh. There is no truth to the rumours that PSG intend to play blindfolded in their Uefa Super Cup match. Nope' – Krishna Moorthy. Send letters to Today's prizeless letter o' the day winner is … Peter Oh. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here. Sarina Wiegman has no knack concerns before England's final Nations League group game against Spain. 'Everyone is available and everyone can start,' trilled the Lionesses' head coach. Ange Postecoglou has implored Tottenham not to settle for their Bigger Vase success despite not knowing if he'll still be flamin' manager next season. 'Think about what's next, you know,' he told Australian TV, explaining the meaning behind his 'season three' comment at the trophy parade. 'Don't settle for this. We've got a taste of it now. My players have got a taste for it. The club's got a taste for it. Well, let's make sure we're back here again.' What's that coming over the hill, is it a monster, is it a monster? Yes, Oldham are back in the Football League after a 3-2 extra-time win over Southend in the National League playoff and manager Micky Mellon is dreaming big. 'It's a fantastic moment for us,' he cheered. 'This club is a monster. We were under a lot of pressure because we have a great family that back us – we needed to go up. It's massive, it's monstrous to get us in [the league]. Everything changes now.' Chelsea are this close to announcing the signing of Ipswich striker Liam Delap for £30m and they're also weighing up a £50m bid for the Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens. Brentford have reportedly agreed an £18m deal for Liverpool's top, top backup keeper Caoimhin Kelleher. Meanwhile, Ajax have nabbed Arne Slot's right-hand man, Johnny Heitinga, and installed him in the dugout at the Johan Cruyff Arena. And Neymar was sent off for a hands-on approach to trying to score a goal for Santos in their 1-0 defeat by Botafogo in what may be his final game for the club. 'I made a mistake, forgive me!' he wailed on some social media disgrace or other. 'Today, if I hadn't been sent off, I'm sure we would have gotten the three points. You can count these three points against me!' 22 January: 'I think you always have your responsibilities and you are under contract. You have to be professional, you have obligations, not only towards [the club] as an organisation, you have an obligation towards your teammates and you don't let your teammates down, never' – Plymouth Argyle boss Miron Muslic hits out at forward Morgan Whittaker, accusing him of not turning up on time before their 5-0 gubbing at home by Burnley, which the player denied before joining Middlesbrough. 1 May: 'I have fallen in love with the football club from when I had my first experience of it all those months ago … [this shows] how much I care for Argyle and the Green Army, and how committed I am to the club and its future' – Muslic reaffirms his commitment to the club as they head for League One. 31 May: 'Under his contract, a club wishing to speak with him needs Argyle's prior permission. We were unwilling to give such permission, but Miron informed us that under no circumstances was he going to return to Plymouth. Thus, we reluctantly gave the necessary permission' – Muslic breaks things off to take over at Schalke. It would not be a Bigger Cup final without all your favourite Big Website writers bringing you reaction, analysis and commentary. Barney Ronay writes on Désiré Doué, a Neymar/Lamine Yamal hybrid to lead PSG's coronation as kings of Europe and Viva Vitinha, the deep conductor who proved Lionel Messi wrong. Jonathan Liew laments Inter's two finals losses to state-owned investment funds while Nicky Bandini reports on the Italian press's swift kicking of Simone Inzaghi. Nick Ames ponders whether the likes of Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola could be lured away from Paris after winning the lot and David Hytner pens an ode to the genius that is Luis Enrique. John Brewin's Bigger Cup team of the season includes an array of PSG players and a marauding Gunner. And finally our picture desk put together a snazzy gallery of all the best photos from PSG's triumph in Munich. Quiz time? Quiz time! Test your knowledge of one-sided European Cup finals. Brazil may have their first foreign coach in Carlo Ancelotti but he reconnects them to a tradition that made them five-time World Cup winners, writes Jonathan Wilson. Goal Diggers FC's tournament amid FA ban on trans women brings solidarity to community writes Suzanne Wrack. Paul Mitchell's exit as Newcastle's sporting director leaves Eddie Howe in a position of strength, writes Louise Taylor. Brighton may have secured a fifth-place WSL finish but Dario Vidosic exclusively reveals to Tom Garry that his side 'want to challenge the establishment'. Suzanne Wrack gets personal as she pours her emotions into what it was like watching Arsenal win the Champions League at a packed Estádio José Alvalade as a journalist and a fan. And Ed Aarons takes you through 10 of the top talents that could be on the move this summer transfer window while the Rumour Mill returns with Will Unwin on the biggest transfer stories of the day including possible deals for Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Gonçalves and Florian Wirtz. January 2000: A rare shot of David Beckham before he got heavily into tattoos. The midfielder was taking a break on the Copacabana beach in Rio while Manchester United were in town for the Club World Cup.

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