World Cup Nuggets – 18th January 2023

Photo © Jono Vernon-Powell Exactly a month ago, one of, if not the greatest World Cup finals reached a breathtaking endgame. With a nonchalance betraying the occasion and his relative inexperience (this was his 22nd international), Gonzalo Montiel stroked home the winning penalty. The 25-year-old had entered the frenetic match as a substitute in extraContinue reading “World Cup Nuggets – 18th January 2023”

World Cup semi-final Nuggets Part I

Argentina take on Croatia this evening, a match that has been characterised as the meeting of two players who are heading for Roger Milla’s Last Chance Saloon. The battle of the legendary LMs – Lionel Messi versus Luka Modrić. It is understandable that these two are the headline act although there is so much moreContinue reading “World Cup semi-final Nuggets Part I”

World Cup – Fair Play Trophy

England’s quarter-final elimination to the French was hard to take for Harry Kane as an evenly matched game swung on his skied penalty six minutes from the end of full time. If the England captain is looking for a tiny sliver of a silver lining, Gareth Southgate’s side look odds on to pick up theContinue reading “World Cup – Fair Play Trophy”

World Cup Nuggets – The quarter-finals Part I

It has been a hellish two days without any World Cup action so thankfully the quarter-finals now are here and each one has something to attract our attention and get us excited. The wait is almost over and the even better news is that we have Nuggets aplenty. We start with an absolute humdinger thatContinue reading “World Cup Nuggets – The quarter-finals Part I”

World Cup Nuggets Day 13

The Round of 16 started with relatively straightforward wins for Netherlands and Argentina who now meet in a mouth-watering encounter in the quarter-finals on Friday. DUTCH CONSISTENCY – The Dutch have now reached at least the last eight in seven of their last nine appearances. The Oranje have not lost in 90 minutes in 18Continue reading “World Cup Nuggets Day 13”

World Cup Podcast – Day 6

With qualification from the groups now beginning to materialise the matches begin to carry an added significance. Argentina and Germany face crucial tests over the weekend, the heat is on. You can pick up a copy of the World Cup Nuggets book directly from the publishers, Halcyon https://bit.ly/3eXfV2y or via Amazon https://amzn.to/3TKD1J0 25 November IRANIAN TRANSFORMATION Iran rebounded from theirContinue reading “World Cup Podcast – Day 6”

World Cup Nuggets – Day 2

As the World Cup kicks off I’ll be posting a Nugget every day here to keep you all bang up-to-date with the latest facts and stats from the tournament. Keep coming back for your daily dose and remember – A Nugget a Day keeps the Doctor away. 20 November QATAR MAROONED The match between Qatar andContinue reading “World Cup Nuggets – Day 2”

World Cup Nuggets podcast

Welcome to the World Cup Nuggets podcast, with a host of fascinating facts and startling stats about each of the 32 countries competing in Qatar. The next six episodes cover mighty Morocco, nearly Netherlands, punchy Poland, pugilistic Portugal, querulous Qatar and secretive Saudi. Listen out for the question that is set about every country at theContinue reading “World Cup Nuggets podcast”

World Cup Nuggets Daily

Welcome to the World Cup Nuggets Daily podcast that features choice facts and stats about each of 32 countries competing in Qatar. There is also a question set about each country and a competition in which you can win a bundle of brilliant books from Halcyon Publishing. To get hold of the book that spawnedContinue reading “World Cup Nuggets Daily”

First European Championships Finals match in 1960 set a record that has never been beaten

The opening matches of major tournaments are traditionally cagey affairs with neither side willing to risk too much so early on and consequently entertainment is often sacrificed for the sake of a solid, if unspectacular start. For example, in the last four European Championships there have been nine goals scored in total in those quartetContinue reading “First European Championships Finals match in 1960 set a record that has never been beaten”