THE BEAUTIFUL GAME
DISPATCHES FROM THE HILL ⚽️
Where Was King Richard III When You Needed Him?
By Laurent Bellaiche and Daniel Kennefick
Richard III, King of England, died in August 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Strikingly, his remains were lost for more than 500 years, until they were discovered in 2012 under a car park in Leicester. And from that moment on, miracles happened for Leicester’s football team, the Foxes.
Forza Inter! Musings From Fan and Scholar Perspectives
By Leen Samman
Here, I explore a team not commonly thought of as “great.” A lesser-known team, albeit relatively popular, but not a household name like Chelsea or Arsenal. This team is Inter Milan, and I will examine it from fan and scholar perspectives.
'Beer and Cheese': My Interview with Soccer Legend Eusébio
By Todd Cleveland
Eusébio quickly discovered that I wasn’t going to ask him about his toughest opponent, his favorite victory or his bitterest defeat. Rather, as a social historian, I wanted to know what these migrant laborers–as I consider them in my book–did before and after they left the pitch.
They Never Walked Alone: The Ups and Downs of Liverpool FC
By Carson Duca
Ultimately, Liverpool Football Club has an extremely rich history, and even though all clubs go through underwhelming periods, fans of Liverpool are privileged to support a club that is consistently competitive and challenging for the most highly coveted trophies in the sport.
A History of Spurring? The Story of Tottenham Hotspur FC
By Miller Bacon
One of the founding Members of the Premier League, Tottenham Hotspurs FC has consistently ranked a top team since the Premier League’s creation. The history of this “Big Six” football club, however, dates further back. Founded in the 19th century from a boy’s cricket club, Tottenham Hotspur has remained a major force in football.
The Laurent 5
By Laurent Bellaiche
The Jackson 5 was a famous pop band formed by five brothers of the Jackson family, namely Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and the child prodigy, Michael. But, we are not here to talk about music and the Jackson 5 but rather discuss soccer and what we will call here: the Laurent 5. This discussion is also timely because the Laurents are celebrated all around the world on August 10.
The Foot of the Angels
By Laurent Bellaiche
One should never think of the hand of the devil but rather of the foot of the angels when describing lefties. Definitive proof is that the Argentinian player, Di Maria, who helped Lionel Messi win the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup for his country has a magical left foot and has the following first name: Angel. Are you fully convinced now?
How Soccer can Save the Soul of a Nation
By Shittu Doyin Samuel, Ajibade Adedoyin Esther and Carmel Dansou
It was in a moment of uncertainty and pain for Nigerians that the Men’s National Soccer team, Super Eagles of Nigeria, rose to stardom and placed the country on the map as one of the best soccer teams in the world.
The Women’s World Cup Through the Eyes of Thucydides, Gide and Aragon
By Laurent Bellaiche
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is over after a month of festivities. How do we talk about it after so many journals have already done so? By consulting with an Athenian general, a French writer and a surrealist poet.
From Squirrels to Cheetahs: the Changing Names of the Benin National Team
By Carmel Dansou
Many in Benin believed that the name would set the national team on a bright destiny in soccer. With squirrels as the name, the national soccer team should go on to write the world soccer story.
Football 101: the Game’s Gear and Equipment
By Laurent Bellaiche
Let us discuss some of the kits and equipment typically needed to play a (real) football game, along with some anecdotes about them.
The Moses of Football
By Laurent Bellaiche and Daniel Kennefick
One wonders if figures like Moses exist in the world of football. Does the history of football include players who were recognized leaders of their nations but did not witness one of their greatest moments of glory?
The Parallel Universes of Football and Football
By Laurent Bellaiche
The concept of multiverses implies the existence of parallel universes that all satisfy the same laws of Physics. Here, I will explore some uncanny resemblances between two specific universes: those of football and football.
Michels mes Beaux: The Beatles Were Almost Right
By Laurent Bellaiche
To start with this article, it is imperative to listen to the opening lyrics of the Beatles song “Michelle.” When applied to soccer, these lyrics should be slightly changed to recall the meeting and association of one remarkable coach, Michel Hidalgo, and an extraordinary player, Michel Platini.
Soccer as a Tool for Social Change: an Interview with Filmmaker Jesús Muñoz
“The way soccer has changed these children’s lives is truly remarkable: they learn perseverance, discipline, respect, teamwork and greatly increase their self-esteem. It prepares them for the most important contest of their lives: to take control of their future as children of Mexican immigrants in the pursuit of the American dream.”
The Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss of Soccer
By Laurent Bellaiche
“The name Gauss is now overlooked in physics though he is responsible for the first two fundamental equations of classical electromagnetism. A similar slight has affected French soccer’s Bernard Genghini, who is now overlooked, though his career deserves to be remembered.”
Studying Soccer Statistics: an Interview with Dr. José Luis Pierrend
“Our major goal is collecting all kind of statistics, in particular league tables from all over the world, on football, and making this information available to those sharing our interest.”
Was it Destiny or Fate?
By Laurent Bellaiche
The question for today’s assignment is which quote about destiny or fate relates the most to the stories below, which all happened on the biggest stage on Earth: the FIFA World Cup.
The 1960 Scandal
By Laurent Bellaiche
This article aims to reflect on such a miss, which can be considered a bad joke since Ferenc Puskas was born on April 1 (in 1927) but above all as a terrible injustice.
Does “Mens sana in corpore sano’’ apply to soccer players?
By Daniel Kennefick and Laurent Bellaiche
“Let’s look at those who combined athleticism with scholarship. We will consider the ones who were fortunate enough to enjoy true happiness, according to the dictate of the Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus, who said “What man is happy? Whoever has a healthy body, a sophisticated mind, and teachable nature.”
When Getting There (and Back) Was More than Half the Fun
by Todd Cleveland
“The ride back was every bit as joyful and cacophonous as the ride to Birmingham had been, marked by serial engagements with passing fans in passing cars, smiling, waving, beeping, singing and just celebrating – the win, the loss, whatever.”
From the Ballon d’Or to the Presidency of Liberia
By Carmel Dansou
George Weah’s remarkable journey from a poor slum of Monrovia to becoming a global soccer icon and a political leader is a testament to his talent, determination and far-reaching influence on the world stage.
Playing with No Regrets: an Interview with Nordine Kourichi
Fabien Bellaiche (brother of Laurent Bellaiche) interviews friend and former international soccer player, Nordine Kourichi, who played for the Algeria national team at the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
Part I of the Six Princes of Austria-Hungary: Árpád, Hugo and Matthias
Soccer is by no means exempt to have possessed geniuses, all born during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. For instance, four great coaches and two exceptional players were all from Austria-Hungary. Today, we are going to tell the stories of three of them, with the remaining three discussed in an upcoming article.
Playing for Portugal and a Power 5: An Interview with Sierra Cota-Yarde
“Women’s soccer in general has been making leaps and strides in the right direction but there is still a long way to go before we reach the same level of respect and exposure as Men’s soccer is granted.”
Gurkhas on the Pitch: Nepali Footballers Playing in Europe
By Swikar Pyakurel and Suyash Rijal
“But why are the Nepali people, who are praised for their performance in battle and mountaineering, not excelling at football? Does it take different genetics to perform in football compared to battles and mountaineering?”
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