Tag Archives: Ace Magazine

F.I.F.A. World Cup, 2014: Greece V Ivory Coast, Match Report.

Originally published by Ace Magazine, June 2014.

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil is only the third time the country that gave democracy to the world has qualified for the final stages. There is though something very pleasing in that in their third tournament they upset the form book and make their way into the last 16 thanks to the man who has been a great servant to Celtic the last few seasons. As Georgios Samaras stepped up to take the penalty that would either send his team marching on or see them trip up in the group stages as they did in 1994 and 2010, what emotions must have been going through his head? What emotions must have been going through the mind of Didier Drogba and the Lion of African football, Yaya Touré?

F.I.F.A. World Cup, 2014: Greece V Ivory Coast, Match Report. full post

(1225 words, estimated 4:54 mins reading time)

F.I.F.A. World Cup 2014: Japan V Columbia, Match Report.

First published by Ace Magazine online. June 2014.

If the world of football, and its many critics, were shocked by events in the match involving Uruguay and Italy in the afternoon then surely there would have been many a smile on the same faces a few minutes before the end of the near one sided game involving arguably the best team from South America so far in this tournament and the men from Japan.

F.I.F.A. World Cup 2014: Japan V Columbia, Match Report. full post

(849 words, estimated 3:24 mins reading time)

F.I.F.A World Cup 2014: Match Report. Croatia V Cameroon.

Originally published by Ace Magazine, Liverpool online June 2014.

Every World Cup needs a villain, in the same way that hundreds of Pantomimes up and down the country require a Captain Hook, a wicked witch or rampaging giant or a Government finds it essential to for its people to fear another country somewhere in the world, so the football World Cup necessitates that a player must be the man that the negativity surrounds itself around. From Antonio Ubaldo Rattín  in 1966, Harold Shumaker and his rather disgraceful pole axing attempt on Patrick Battiston, Diego Maradona and the scandal that surrounded 1994 and for England fans his flagrant handball in Mexico in 1986, Zinedine Zidane and his over the top reaction and even England’s own David Beckham in 1998 against Argentina, the fan always loves a villain.

F.I.F.A World Cup 2014: Match Report. Croatia V Cameroon. full post

(952 words, estimated 3:48 mins reading time)

F.I.F.A. World Cup 2014: Mexico V Cameroon. Match Report.

Originally published by Ace Magazine online June 2014.

Unless something unimaginable happens, Brazil will qualify out of Group A with room to spare. On the basis of the first round of matches to be played, Brazil will qualify; but they won’t have made any friends outside of the confines of the homes, cities, towns and minds of the Brazilian nation. Mexico on the other hand, you can but hope make it at least into the round of 16 for their dogged determination and utter refusal to sink to the depths that they saw happen in the previous day’s game.

F.I.F.A. World Cup 2014: Mexico V Cameroon. Match Report. full post

(1207 words, estimated 4:50 mins reading time)

2014 World Cup: Brazil V Croatia, Match Report.

First published by Ace Magazine online, June 2014.

One game in of this 2014 World Cup and already there will be cynics of F.I.F.A. who might teasingly suggest that the straight line drawn by the Japanese official to mark out the 10 yards for Croatia to stand behind for a free kick was one of the very few acts in the game that didn’t have the whiff of something crooked about it.

2014 World Cup: Brazil V Croatia, Match Report. full post

(1795 words, estimated 7:11 mins reading time)

Manchester City 3-1 Sunderland: Comeback Sees Pellegrini’s Men Claim Season’s First Silverware.

Originally published by Ace Magazine on-line on 3rd March 2014.

In 1999, just after Manchester City had gained promotion via the playoffs and Manchester United had won the Champions League, there was a suggestion cheekily suggested by some journalists the national papers that there was something in the water to have produced two thrilling moments in football history. For Manchester City it was the start, a true beginning back to the land of redemption after years of lacklustre and almost abject football. Times change, City no longer have the tag of being a big time laughing stock but they don’t half cut it close to becoming so at times.

Manchester City 3-1 Sunderland: Comeback Sees Pellegrini’s Men Claim Season’s First Silverware. full post

(1719 words, estimated 6:53 mins reading time)