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Bharat Singh

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Soccer

The beautiful game of 1980

By Bharat Singh | February 25

If the modern football fan took a time machine to the year 1980, they’d notice a few similarities but a lot more differences. Arsenal, just as they did last weekend, lost to West Ham 1–0, only in a game with higher stakes, the FA CupFinal. Nottingham Forest won their second consecutive UEFA Champions League, then known as the European Cup, against Hamburger SV –– two finalists with contrasting current situations. Forest is third in the Premier League and dreaming of returning to Europe, whilst Hamburg is first in the 2. Bundesliga, Germany’s second division.

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Sports

Isco: A poetic reunion

By Bharat Singh | February 21

Tucked less than 20 km west of Málaga on Spain’s Southern Costa de Sol lies the quiet town of Benálmadena. In addition to its quintessential Andalusian beaches and historic architecture, the town is home to one of Spain’s greatest midfield talents: Francisco Román Alcarón Suárez, known to the world as Isco.

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Arts

‘Gladiator II’: A brave sequel in the shadows of its original

By Bharat Singh | December 10

Disclaimer: This review contains spoilers for “Gladiator II.”“I will see you again, but not yet. Not yet,” Djimon Hounsou’s character, Juba, muttered in an empty Colosseum as the closing line of Ridley Scott’s 2000 masterpiece “Gladiator.” To the backdrop of Lisa Gerrard and Hans Zimmer’s riveting “Now We Are Free” track, a lone soldier’s arm gently ruffles through a wheat field lit by soft golden rays — a moment etched in cinematic history.

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Sports

The Final Whistle: The Bernabéu’s Turkish prodigy

By Bharat Singh | November 14

Turkish talent has dazzled European clubs with its brilliance for over a decade. From La Liga veteran Arda Turan, a key member of Atlético Madrid’s 2014 title-winning side, to Nuri Şahin, the former Borussia Dortmund star who now manages the club, to Hakan Çalhanoglu, who continues to spearhead Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan, Türkiye is a talent factory on an upward trajectory on both domestic and international fronts. Its leading clubs, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, have rich histories. Its latest and possibly most promising icon is Real Madrid’s 19-year-old Arda Güler. With Madrid facing a mid-season crisis, the spotlight could shine brighter than ever on the boy from Altingad.

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Columns

The Final Whistle: David De Gea’s golden gloves

By Bharat Singh | October 18

A collective wave of groans echoed throughout the Stadio Artemio Franchi as the referee pointed to the spot. A quick passing combination had released Christian Pulisic into space as he darted towards goal. Despite losing his balance, the American was able to swiftly direct the ball towards Tijjani Reijnders before he was fouled by Luca Ranieri — penalty to A.C Milan. Fiorentina’s early graft for a 1–0 lead now seemed pointless as Theo Hernandez steadied himself at the spot.

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Columns

The Final Whistle: Karim Adeyemi, Dortmund’s latest wunderkind

By Bharat Singh | October 3

A combination of neat triangle passes deep into the Dortmund half was broken by the Celtic press, as Gregor Kobel launched a long ball forward. Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy was the first to react, steadying himself before gently caressing the soccer ball towards Julian Brandt with a deft touch. With runners on each side and a scrambling Celtic backline, Brandt threaded a pass into the path of Karim Adeyemi. Signal Iduna Park roared their star on as Adeyemi buried the ball beyond veteran goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. 2–1.

Federico Chiesa is pictured shooting in a 2021 game against FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.
Soccer

Merseyside welcomes Federico Chiesa

By Bharat Singh | September 19

The last noteworthy Italian to grace Anfield was Mario Balotelli. Enigmatic to say the least, widely remembered for his title-winning assist to Sergio Aguero for Manchester City Football Club and a scintillating 2012 UEFA European Football Championship campaign, Balotelli was a breath of fresh air for a stale Liverpool Football Club.

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Soccer

The pride of Cúcuta: James Rodríguez

By Bharat Singh | July 14

La Maracanã is bouncing in full force. Pockets of blue are roaring in a sea of yellow and red as the flickering lights from a thousand lenses capture a duel for the ages. The Round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup. A South American classic: Uruguay vs. Colombia. Twenty-eight minutes in, a wayward clearance from the Uruguayan box was headed back toward 22-year-old James Rodríguez, who in one motion gently caressed the ball from his left shoulder onto his left foot before striking it toward goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. A shot that swallowed a stadium for a few seconds, a collective gasp as the ball kissed the underside of the crossbar. The net rattled, Muslera was beaten and a star was born. If the dictionary had pictures, the word “volley” would have this image next to it. Rodríguez had just scored the goal of the tournament. He went on to win theGolden Boot as the World Cup’s top scorer with six goals, despite Colombia falling short to host Brazil in the quarterfinals. For context, he had outscored Lionel Messi, Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. and the two previous winners, Spain and Italy. Ten years after that magical Maracanã moment, James Rodríguez is one game away from lifting the Copa América.

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Sports

A German-Spanish classic: Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund

By Bharat Singh | May 30

A lot has changed since the last time German soccer team Borussia Dortmund was in a Champions League final in 2013. Their then-manager Jürgen Klopp is now more widely known for bringing his “Gegenpressing” style to Liverpool, where he’d reignite one of England’s strongest sides. Dortmund’s lethal marksman Robert Lewandowski would also switch allegiances, joining arch-rival Bayern Munich before testing his trade in La Liga with FC Barcelona. In 2013, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were still at their peaks, and Kylian Mbappé was entering high school. In the same year, Dortmund’s fellow 2024 finalists, Real Madrid, or “Los Blancos,” had yet to win La Décima, referring to their iconic 10th Champions League title; however, this time around the Spanish team is aiming for their 15th. The only constants are Dortmund’s Mats Hummels and Marco Reus, German legends who will face off against the Champions League’s most feared team on June 1. This final will be Reus’ last game for Dortmund. 

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