Back of the net, Brian

TV pundits have invented all kinds of additional statistics to understand and predict football matches, but in the end the only numbers that count are goals in the back of the net.

Back of the net, Brian

Harry Kane’s missed penalty against France was the costliest kick of his whole career, but scientists at the University of Queensland could have helped him.

A World Cup of two halves

The soccer World Cup takes place in Qatar, that famous hotbed of football fervour, in November this year, when human rights will be in the spotlight as much as England’s inevitable elimination on penalties in the semi-final.

Strong men on and off the field

Saudi Arabia seeks to play an increasingly visible role in European football but the purchase of Newcastle United Football Club reflects the wider trend of authoritarian governments investing in international sports.