“[…] Diego was larger than life and he couldn’t go anywhere and relax. I’m sure it must be like that with Cristiano [Ronaldo] and Messi and Pelé. They have no lives. “You have to see it to believe it… It was unbelievable to think someone has to live like this, …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Mbappe runs Argentina out of Russia, Cavani collars Portugal as Messi and Ronaldo take leave
So, farewell to the G.O.A.T and the Goatee. The Russia 2018 World Cup will make do without football’s MVP trophy-grabbing duopoly of Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, after the pair were eliminated on the first day of the Round of 16 today. Messi’s return ticket was booked at …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Rojo delivers Messi’s mojo, as Argentina join Croatia, France and Denmark in next round
Somewhere in St Petersburg tonight, a dazed looking Argentine in a number 14 shirt might be heard asking medical staff: Did we win? Did we win? On another electric evening in the Russia 2018 World Cup, La Albiceleste squeezed into the Round of 16 at the death as they narrowly …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Argentina embarrassed after Willy exposed, Mbappe motors France into next round
Corporal punishment, evidently, is not illegal in Russia. Lionel Messi’s Argentina endured a hell of a caning in Nizhny Nivgorod this evening, as Croatia dismantled the South American hopefuls 3-0 in La Albiceleste’s worst World Cup group stage loss in 60 years. How bad was it? Mr Live Wire thinks …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Iran reluctantly let in Spanish inspectors, Suarez takes a nibble and Ronaldo chases Reshmi mark
“If you think of it like tennis, we had one match point today,” said Iran coach Carlos Quieroz, “and we will have another against Portugal [next Monday]…” It is just as well that Quieroz found an analogy for his team’s fate in another sport today, as there was precious little …
Read More »Sputnik 2018: Iceland expose Messi’s kryptonite, France’s cock crows and not-so-great Danes penalise Peru
If Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliant hattrick for Portugal yesterday was supposed to serve as a handover to Argentina wizard Lionel Messi, then it was the worst baton exchange since T&T’s disastrous 4×100 relay showing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Messi, as most Argentine and Barcelona football fans are aware, can do …
Read More »Jabz Hassanali: A very Messi prediction; four reasons why Argentina can win the 2018 World Cup
I want Argentina to win the World Cup. But I wanted them to win the last World Cup too and we all saw how that turned out. By all objective criteria, the team has regressed significantly since 2014. What’s more, other perennial favourites have noticeably strengthened within that same period. …
Read More »Ball is Life (Video): Mariah Shade on Marta magic, Messi-mania and W/Cup heartbreak
T&T women’s star Mariah Shade on Marta magic, Messi-mania, recovering from her own World Cup heartbreak and an inspirational centre forward who added extra bite to her game, in the second edition of Wired868’s five-part series, “Ball is Life!”
Read More »Cliff Bertrand: Going South!? If Neymar doesn’t do it in Russia, then Messi will
“Grouped with Costa Rica, Serbia and Switzerland, the Samba Boys will, I expect, put everybody else on the back-foot by the time the group stage is over. And then go on to beat all comers because they have a little matter of a big 2014 7-1 embarrassment to settle. “… …
Read More »Valentino Singh: Tite’s Seleçao to make all the noise in Russia
“Under former coach Dunga, the team lacked the samba rhythm for which the Brazilians had become known; the players seemed full of skill and ability but cohesion was non-existent. “What a transformation the current head coach has effected. “The man who guided Corinthians to the domestic, continental and world titles …
Read More »Shaka Hislop: Brazil, says my head, Argentina, says my heart, Achtung! warns experience
Who I’d like to see win the World Cup and who I think will win are two completely different things. I’d like to see Argentina win it. For Leo Messi. To take his rightful place on the “best ever” shortlist, Messi, who, in my opinion, is the best player of …
Read More »How the USA’s cut-tail and the night of upsets looked to a Trini south of the border
My interest in football is at best tangential. But I love drama in all its forms and last night I was perfectly placed to experience it all. As a Trini, I have over the years lived through the Soca Warriors’ ups and downs, and the Jack Warner horror show. As the …
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