First time in the finals but many folk believed the Bosnians might reach the last sixteen. Decisions went against them and they might well feel aggrieved – the hallowed halls felt more like Hallowe’en. At least against Iran, a sense of justice was retrieved – their latent promise finally was seen. But they fly home […]

Twenty one keen footballers, but one was even keener, dancing past defenders like a male ballerina, a Lamborghini up against a battered Ford Cortina, filling up the senses like a bottle of retsina, a leopard causing panic in the heart of the hyena, slicing through the back four like a knife through semolina, a baby-faced […]

There’s a beauty in his running, lightning speed and perfect balance, allied to a feral cunning, oft detracting from his talents. Straining every muscle, striving for a pass he’s intercepted. Shame his fondness for the diving means he’ll never be accepted. Electric speed leaves full-backs trailing, catch him, catch him if you can. Great control […]

A hunger for the game? Chew on a scallion, or maybe order up some fine linguine. The veal looks nice (though maybe it is stallion) together with some home-made tortellini. Maybe you might crave a beef medallion preceded by a plate of fettuccini? But if you have a yen for an Italian, I wouldn’t recommend […]

This is the way the World Cup ends, trying your best to make amends; seeing on whom the team depends; hoping to halt familiar trends; suddenly finding you have no friends; wond’ring what message your team sheet sends, though not really caring if it offends; no bonus of a Mercedes Benz; sweating in fear when […]