Latest news with #TotalFootball
RTÉ News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Total Football: Katie McCabe tells us about leading Ireland and what's on her bucket list
It's always risky saying that you saved the best for last, but when Katie McCabe hits your screens for the final Total Football of the season - it's true! Aisling O'Reilly went to London to meet the Ireland and Arsenal superstar. Tune in to Total Football, hosted by Aisling O'Reilly and Rasdi Nsimba, Saturday at 10am on RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player! Katie looks back on her life in football, from Kilnamanagh AFC to scoring in the Women's World Cup, not to mention a glittering club career with Arsenal. She tells us about becoming Ireland WNT captain at only 21 years of age. Apart from the serious football chat, Aisling has some craic too. There's some quick fire questions - press play up top to see what's on Katie's bucket list! As always, we pack a lot into the show, so here's what else is coming up. We hit the water on Lough Ree as social media stars Ciaran Duffy and Theo Hajji take on Nasti 2k (real name Jonathan Finlay) and Jonathan Morley in a skills test with a difference. After all the action Nasti has built up an appetite, so he makes a trademark spice bag in studio! The lads from Cork's Everton AFC are there for a taste of the action too. FAI coaches Heather Jameson and Cameron Molloy Moules have been with us all season and they join us to chat skills and staying with the game. They want you to keep trying your Total Skills coaches and to keep having fun. The story goes that Cork club Everton AFC were named as the club was founded when the English club were over in Ireland playing a friendly. But, we know for a fact that the Rebel lads have some skills they want to show us. And, they were up for some fun in studio too. Press the image above to see the club. Thanks to our friends in the FAI for all their help in making the show and to all the clubs around the country who did the home and away fixtures with Total Football. Don't forget to enter the Total Football competition where you could win a signed Ireland WNT or MNT jersey and 4 VIP tickets to the Aviva Stadium to watch the boys in green - click here for details.
The Herald Scotland
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Unseen Killian Phillips moment epitomises beauty of St Mirren team
It was simply one of those moments that evokes a visceral reaction. It's passionate, it's euphoric, in some ways it's an out-of-body experience where you don't even realise what is happening before it does. Some might even call it cathartic. Pause for a moment, regain full control over your voice and body, breathe and blink. It's just a throw-in. To an end, that's all it was. It wasn't a match-winning strike, it wasn't a penalty save, it wasn't the full-time whistle. But, boy, did it mean something - and not just the meaning which can be derived from the fury it created amongst the unhappy visiting supporters. It was the perfect representation of what it means. It was St Mirren all over, in recent seasons at least. Desire to win, commitment to the last and connection from the stands to the field. It's not the first time Phillips has celebrated a foul to relieve pressure or throw in to gain control, and those packing the SMiSA are desperate for it not to be the last. Under Stephen Robinson, there is a fat chance of it being the latter. Phillips was recently named Player and Young Player of the Year through a fan vote for the annual Black and White Army awards. It was recognition well deserved for a player who has demonstrated his undeniable quality this season. A physical presence, commanding in the midfield engine room but with quality to boot, Phillips is the microcosm of this St Mirren team. Just last week, after the 2-2 draw with Rangers, Robinson smirked: "Some fantastic play in our build-up, but you guys will never mention will just be that we were direct. "We played some super football as always." Read more: He's right. Heck, scroll back a few paragraphs, and the first quality of Phillips mentioned is his physicality. For too long, that has been the basis of any credit handed out to St Mirren. You could mark a bingo card with the cliches dished out about being resolute in defence, disciplined in the press or a quip about the back three really being a back five. This St Mirren team is far beyond stuffy and organised. Of course, the foundation is a solid defensive record, certainly, there are times when a longer pass is preferred to risky build-up play from the back, but simply offering a pat on the head to a so-called direct team? Give me a break. Watch Mandron's goal on Saturday, which demonstrated sublime technique, opportunism and killer instinct. It's fair to suggest Mark O'Hara's lofted ball into the box wasn't taken from the Total Football playbook, but the finish was expertly executed and that of an intelligent striker, not some big number nine type, as Mandron is often misrepresented. Take Phillips winning that throw, it comes from pressing, harrying, some physicality, but also some shrewd play, quick feet and unrelenting desire. Robinson is right that St Mirren don't get the credit they deserve for their qualities on the ball, but it's the work off it that resonates so strongly and makes this team a pleasure to watch for those inside the stadium and following them around the country. "That's credit to the players, to have that desire, and so they should," said Robinson after the 1-0 win over Aberdeen. "People pay good money to watch them every week, and we will never give anything less than that." Even if St Mirren go out and play like Barcelona this weekend, Robinson will still have the right to call out the lack of praise over the course of the season or, worse still, any condescending plaudits when they come. Given the choice between free-flowing, silky football and this St Mirren team? I'll stick with celebrating throw ins.
The Guardian
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Psychodrama of José Mourinho's ‘most beautiful defeat' changed game for ever
Has there been a Champions League tie since that has felt more consequential? As Inter travel to Barcelona for Wednesday's semi-final first leg, the mind turns inevitably to their 1-0 reverse at the Camp Nou 15 years ago – 'the most beautiful defeat of my career' as José Mourinho has described it. Playing with 10 men for a little over an hour, Inter secured a 3-2 aggregate victory. Suddenly it became apparent that it didn't matter whether you had the ball or not: you could win even with 19% possession. But the outcome was only part of it. The whole tie was played out amid an apocalyptic atmosphere symbolised by the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, whose eruption made it impossible to fly over western Europe, forcing Barcelona to travel to Milan for the first leg by bus. For some it was good against evil; for others an upstart rebel daring to challenge the empire of aesthetic order. It felt fundamental. At the time, Barcelona, with Lionel Messi in his early pomp, seemed invincible. Pep Guardiola had won the treble in his first season and, more than that, had revolutionised how football was played. The game suddenly became an enormous rondo, supreme technique allying with developments in playing surfaces so first touches could be taken for granted and superiority was achieved by the manipulation of space on the pitch. It was Total Football reimagined for the modern age, and its devotees took its principles with a zeal that at times tipped into sanctimony. For Mourinho, being overlooked for the Barcelona job confirmed in his mind that in his time as a coach at Barcelona under Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal he had never truly been accepted. They had called him the Translator, not only because that was what he had initially been, but to highlight that he had never been a player, that he was not of the club, that he was an outsider. He was not, as Guardiola was, one of their own. There had always been a cynical streak to Mourinho's football but at Porto and Chelsea his grounding at Barcelona had been apparent. His side had pressed and been capable of dominating games by controlling possession. But at Inter he began the move to becoming the anti-Barcelona: if they want the ball, we will play without it; if they want to press high, we will sit low. There were still moments of counterintuitive attacking, but the shift to the 'he who has the ball has fear' phase of his career was under way. Barcelona would end that season in La Liga with 99 points; they lost only four games in all competitions. They seemed almost invincible, dominant and revolutionary, likely to become the first club in the Champions League era to successfully defend the European title. Whatever impact that 14-hour bus journey had on Barça, Inter played brilliantly in the first leg. Pedro put Barça ahead but Wesley Sneijder levelled before half-time. Mourinho told his players that if they kept playing as they had they would win 4-1. He was one off, as Maicon and Diego Milito hit second-half goals. Milito had been just offside and Barça probably should have had a penalty, which allowed them to claim they had been unfortunate, but Inter had won comfortably. That weekend, having been left on the bench for a game at Villarreal, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a big-money signing from Inter the previous summer, raged at Guardiola in the dressing room, kicking over a metal skip that was used to transport kit. Guardiola simply picked it up and walked out. For Ibrahimovic, this was proof of Guardiola's beta status: he was a 'frightened little overthinker' with his team of 'obedient little schoolboys', far removed from the charismatic leadership of Mourinho. This was football as soap opera and psychodrama, subplots everywhere. Mourinho named the same starting XI as in the first leg but, shortly before kick-off, it emerged that Goran Pandev had been injured in the warm-up and he was replaced on the left of midfield by the Romanian full-back Cristian Chivu. It was probably happenstance rather than being part of the some great Mourinho plot, but it fitted the narrative of him as some great Machiavellian puppet master. Inter were absorbing the pressure well when, with 28 minutes gone, Thiago Motta was shown a straight red after a slight flex of the fingers in the face of Sergio Busquets. The Barça man clearly overreacted, at one point peeking between his fingers to see what action the referee was taking. But Motta, who had already been booked, did (lightly) push him in the face; a second yellow would have been entirely reasonable. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion No matter: pro-Mourinho forces and those weary of Barça's occasional self-righteousness cried scandal, an early example of football's descent into a post-truth world. Inter held on until Gerard Piqué, having been thrust up front, eventually got one back with six minutes remaining. Bojan Krkic then had the ball in the net for what would have been an away-goals winner, but the goal was ruled out for a handball by Yaya Touré, a decision that could have gone either way and was debated just as furiously as the red card. As Mourinho charged on to the pitch in celebration, Barcelona turned on the sprinklers. That, perhaps, was his greatest triumph: to reduce the club that had spurned him to an act of pettiness. Their halo had slipped and it was he who had dislodged it. Mourinho, having shown he could tame Barça, got the Real Madrid job as a result, leading to perhaps the most all-consuming drama football has ever known as Guardiola reached his apogee, winning a third straight title and another Champions League, then resigned, exhausted, after Mourinho's Madrid had claimed the league the following season. Madrid, once a club obsessed by señorío, doing things the right way, became seduced by the consolations of imagined persecution, a trait they have still not shaken off. That 2010 semi-final was a thrilling, operatic tie that had profound consequences. Teams learned to ignore the siren call of Barcelona's possession, to stay in shape and play without the ball, as Chelsea did in beating them in their 2012 semi-final. And clubs and fans realised that you could choose your own truth, live in your own world of alternative facts. Football has never been quite the same.
RTÉ News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Total Football: Aisling O'Reilly meets Celtic stars Liam Scales and Adam Idah, Arklow Town, kicking kings and much more
Aisling O'Reilly is a massive Celtic fan, and that's why she was buzzing to make the trip to the Glasgow club's Lennoxtown Training Complex for Total Football to meet two bhoys in green - Liam Scales and Adam Idah. This Saturday, at 10am on RTÉ2, you can watch the full interview as Aisling hits the lads with some quickfire questions, and we get to know more about Glasgow Celtic and Ireland pair. She finds out who is most likely to be late (there are fines!) and who is most likely to scream during a horror movie... Also on the show, we go back to Arklow Town FC, Liam Scales' first club, to put their skills to the test. They join us in studio with alongside more great guests like Celtic superfan Paudie O'Callaghan. We go from one superfan to another - let's follow Shels fanatic Kayleigh to a League of Ireland match. There's a kicking challenge with a difference thanks to Tadhg and Darragh Leader. The brothers are making NFL dreams come true! No matter the sport, practice makes perfect, that's why Heather and Cameron are back with Total Skills. And speaking of skills, a record-breaking freetstyler is in to show off - Charlie Shakesperae was born to perform! And, we are out on the grass with Vanessa and Nadine who try out some crazy football games - from foot gold to football darts and bubble ball. Tune in to see who will win!! Tune in to Total Football, hosted by Aisling O'Reilly and Rasdi Nsimba, Saturdays at 10am on RTÉ2 and stream any time on RTÉ Player. Liam Scales made the jump from UCD, to Shamrock Rovers and on to Celtic, but we go back to the start with our Club of the Week - Arklow Town FC. Press play up top to see how we got on at their home pitch! They come in to studio for some craic and a special kicking competition. Maybe one of them will catch the eye of the Leader brothers, Tadhg and Darragh, who are always scouting for talent for the NFL. Aisling LOVED her trip to Glasgow and we meet another Hoops fanatic - Paudie O'Callaghan. The Limerick lad travels to see the team all the time! There's more Total Skills with FAI Coaches Heather and Cameron. This time out they show us how to turn and get away from someone with the ball - that's always handy! Watch the show and get out to play as much as you can!!
The Independent
22-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
The Myles Lewis-Skelly moment that showed what England need under Thomas Tuchel
On the eve of Thomas Tuchel 's first England game, he insisted we 'can be sure' if he says something in the press he has already told his players, so the wonder is how blunt he was in the dressing room after this 2-0 win over Albania. The new manager didn't seem all that impressed with any of it, except Myles Lewis-Skelly. Tuchel went into surprisingly specific detail about why he didn't think the performance was especially good, and why the attack didn't work. This is the other side of a manager who has been praised over the last week for his openness and humour. It is complemented by a striking bluntness. Tuchel's publicly stated grievances were the following: Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden had little impact, the team were far too slow to get the ball up to them, England generally struggled to take the initiative, they couldn't really get beyond Albania's defence, and then seemed to lose confidence in the structure altogether in what he described as a disappointing second half. Worse, he said much of this - and particularly the point about Rashford and Foden - in three different interviews. Good to get the points on the board, then, Thomas? For the manager's part, bluntness shouldn't be confused with being downbeat. He was just saying what he saw, and it doesn't mean this squad can't eventually realise his vision. The new manager has only had three days to properly work with them, after all, and you're not really going to realise Total Football in that time. Tuchel similarly praised Albania's 'unorthodox' approach, and pointed to how all of Italy, Croatia and even Spain struggled to get past them at Euro 2024. They are no pushovers, and certainly a remove from the side that Gareth Southgate's England previously beat 5-0. This never got close to that, because England couldn't get close enough to goal. Tuchel even pointed to how the game-breaking moment, which was Lewis-Skelly's uplifting goal, came from a deep Jude Bellingham pass beating 10 players and the young full-back's initiative. Tuchel wasn't outright criticising individuals, mind, but more talking about what the team can do to help. He seemed most frustrated that the squad hadn't absorbed his main instructions. 'A bit too much passing, not enough driving the ball, not enough dribbling, not aggressive enough.' Hence a flatter display, where England didn't bombard the opposition in the manner he was aiming for. It was actually more like one of Southgate's more mundane games rather than the Premier League intensity Tuchel has spent a week talking about. The manager was instead left lamenting that his side didn't show enough creativity in their passes behind the backline. Perhaps proving his point, the crucial second goal - the game had still been in the balance before then - came from Declan Rice 's lofted pass. Tuchel's effusiveness about the manner of Lewis-Skelly's goal, as much as his general performance, was also conspicuous. 'He is full of courage, full of quality,' the German said. 'This little run behind the line to open this game for us.' In other words, Lewis-Skelly was one of the few offering this kind of vitality. "He was amazing in camp, full of confidence, full of humour, such an open and mature character. You see it on the pitch, he was immediately one of the group.' For all that Tuchel will now work on the details, and there will inevitably be better implementation with time and more days, there could be some personnel issues. The England manager is clearly thinking about Lewis-Skelly in midfield, given how he used him in the second half and then spoke about him there. "I think his best position is where he plays for Arsenal, in the double six. How he opens his body, and where he plays the passes, a very high understanding of the game." That could well be feeding one of his senior Arsenal teammates, as there looks no chance that Bukayo Saka won't be Tuchel's regular right-winger. Foden was in that position for this match, but it just doesn't fit him in the same way. The Manchester City forward always looks more of a cog for England, rather than the proper playmaker he is for his club. There might be another Arsenal option on the other side, given how everyone is talking about Ethan Nwaneri. Some around St George's Park and his club fully expect him to be in the England team by the summer. For now, Tuchel can only work with what he's got, and it is still one of the best squads in world football. He was literally the first to say this wasn't one of their best nights.
