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Nowhere is defeat celebrated more passionately than in Saint-Étienne. Despite winning 15 major trophies between 1962 and 1981, Les Verts’ golden age is defined by the 1976 European Cup final loss to Bayern Munich. A defeat fans attribute to Hampden Park’s goal frame. At 0-0, Dominique Bathenay and Jacques Santini struck the square planks that made up post and bar; efforts that Les Verts’ supporters insist would have resulted in goals had the posts been rounded. Les Poteaux Carrés now carry almost religious significance in Saint-Étienne, having become the symbol of one of France’s greatest, and most important, teams...

Late August 2017. Zinedine Zidane arrives for his bikram yoga class accompanied by his wife, Véronique. His entrance is characteristically low key, the Frenchman carrying himself with the usual discretion that we’ve come to expect of him over the years. As a player, it’s common knowledge that Zidane was among the finest to have ever graced the game, but you wouldn’t know it given the understated manner in which he typically makes his way into a room. He’s not the only member of the Real Madrid staff taking part today – current director of public relations Emilio Butragueño is also a bikram fanatic. A boyhood fan of Los Blancos, Butragueño spent eleven years as a first team player at Madrid in a celebrated career and knows all about the pressures of life at the Santiago Bernabéu...

When you think of Canada, certain stereotypes and quips might immediately enter your mind. The regular jokes about everything being answered with an ‘I’m sorry.’ Maple syrup is usually mentioned, and for good reason given that the province of Quebec is the world’s largest producer of the popular culinary commodity. Cold weather, Tim Horton’s, a love of beer, Europe’s first true point of contact with North America, and under-appreciated contributions in the Second World War are other common associations with the United States’ not-so-noisy northern neighbour. But, very quietly, the nation is mad about sport; particularly hockey, and of course, football...

November 8th, 2015. Estadio Sausalito. Viña del Mar, Chile. 56th minute. Following a cross from Chinedu Madueke, Victor Osimhen scores the opening goal of the final of the U17 World Cup. His last goal of the tournament, after finding the net in each of the previous six games on the route to lifting the trophy, breaking the record for the most goals in a single edition with 10. A record that still stands...

On 29th August, USL Dunkerque welcomed Ligue 2 football back to the Stade Marcel-Tribut for the first time in 24 years. Back in the professional ranks of French football, this should have been a cause for great celebration. However, the occasion was overshadowed by the tribute paid to former USLD player and coach and son of the city Alex Dupont, who had passed away earlier in the month, after suffering a heart attack...