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Mail & Guardian
Barney Ronay

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Barney Ronay

Vardy-less Leicester face major bump on road to title

It is still a little startling what an excellent player Vardy has become, not to mention an unusual one.

On Tuesday, Danny Rose (L) told the Lockdown Tactics podcast: “I’m dying to get back to football but with the things that are happening, people are going through the coronavirus pandemic a lot worse than me.”

Spurs win title for most watchable

The team’s achievements under Mauricio Pochettino this season deserve at least some of the adulation being lavished on the fairytale champions-elect.

Blame Arsenal’s injuries on the Gulliver Theory

It’s that time of year when Arsène Wenger’s men succumb to their seasonal injury crisis. But why is it always Arsenal?

Awie de Swardt, managing director of Futura SA Administrators

Strolling master Fabregas shows where his loyalties lie

How Chelsea’ season would benefit from more glimpses of rhythm and bite from their chief attacking quarterback.

Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nation last February.

Brute strength can be beautiful

Dismiss Jose Mourinho’s tactics as negative if you like – but the tumultuous tussle at the Etihad was, in fact, a great spectacle.

The Arena Beira-Rio stadium in Brazil’s southern city of Porto Alegre is set to be completed in January.

Brazil’s goal for 2014: Score big

Beyond all the corporate flummery, this year’s sporting centrepiece remains a beautifully pure football occasion.

Alex Ferguson: Never to be Fergotten

Sir Alex Ferguson changed football – and he’s leaving his successor with the hardest of acts to follow, writes Barney Ronay.

Ronaldo in action against Manchester United.

Ronaldo’s goal heading for the hall of fame

Headers: they’re so hot right now and Cristiano Ronaldo’s headed goal, in particular, seems to have inspired a folkish reverence in the English media.

Marketers take over the cricket pitch

Test cricket will fill the sporting year, but these might be its last days in the sun. India has reinvented the sport as ‘crickertainment’.

‘Vampire’ gets bloody ban

On Monday Harlequins wing Tom Williams was banned from rugby for a year for the footling offence of feigning injury.

Hand-holding and the touchy-feely side of football

Men holding hands, while no longer entirely taboo, is clearly still very funny. Images of Liverpool players hand-in-hand during a team bonding exercise this week drew a…