Madrid 8 England 2
11.03.2026 20:49
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Madrid 8 England 2
English coefficient in absolute shambles this week
A reminder of my long form take on this from last week. Even taking out the politics, itβs hard to imagine how Iran at war can support a team at a World Cup hosted by, letβs be honest, its aggressors.
open.substack.com/pub/hyfprw/p...
Igor might be a worse Tudor than Mary.
New Writing
You've heard of Vasilije Kostov, but there's another Vasilije you should get to know - IMT's Vasilije Novicic...
If you like Chappell Roan but only the ballads, this'll be one of your albums of the year.
Intriguing listen today to the debut by Solya, βQueen of Texasβ.
While it didnβt blow me away (IMO, good but could have done with a little more upbeat stuff), thereβs a feeling youβre in on the ground floor or someone about to be massive. Certainly an artist to buy stocks in.
While fire is scarring the centre of Glasgow, important to remember that the conditions the fire service work under are terrible even before they go putting their bodies on the line. Funding must be better.
www.fbu.org.uk/news/2026/01...
Hard not to like Araujo - a player just always on the edge of something to get a reaction. At some point, thatβll show itself negatively in a ridiculous tackle, but while itβs good, heβs the most endearing character in a rotten side.
In conclusion, Garcia said to VejiΔ: - Don't compare us to Dinamo. Those who do that are selling smoke! Many say they love the club. I can also say that I love a woman after I hit her; maybe I don't know what love is. I try for those who want to change things.
Hajduk Manager Gonzalo Garcia with perhaps the oddest quote of the season:
Done and dusted. Dinamo almost certain to reclaim the title now.
The chance of at least one of Celtic/Rangers not getting out of European qualifiers while Falkirk are in a European group stage feels pretty high for next seasonβ¦
Production wise, that was a messy af end to Q1
If youβve not read my conjecture, then you can below but the non-conjecture footnote bears a wider audience - that the Croatian FA are telling the press (under anonymity) that they believe US action (ICE, Iran) has made fans choose not to go to the World Cup through βfearβ.
New Writing
Something a bit more serious this time, looking at the US action in Iran and how that impacts the World Cup
open.substack.com/pub/hyfprw/p...
This weekend saw the fastest goal in the history of the Montenegrin top flight - Jezeroβs Milivoje Raicevic becoming a record setter - and I doubt thereβs a better βfastest goal everβ than this
The papacy has made a moral argument against this conflict.
Arguably, its job is not to do that, rather, it is to make the theological argument that such conflict is contrary to faith. That might get the message across.
While Millenarianism is nothing new in US politics (see: the 1840s), if itβs military policy now then thatβs astonishingly dangerous and, on top of that, utterly heretical.
Serbia will host a intra-squad national team 2x30m friendly next week. Some may end up in the squad for the potential March friendlies but those games are in doubt given they were both to be held in Qatar.
Novicic the big name to remember from this list.
Tactically, this changes things a little because Diego Garcia can support heavy bombing runs.
Domestically? People want disentanglement from Trump and this acquiescence doesnβt look good.
Nemanja Motika with the mother of all botched panenkas vs Primorje this weekendβ¦
(Per the rules, double touch = indirect free kick to the defending team)
Motherwell, had they not started slowly, would be clear at the top. Theyβre fabulous to watch. Celtic is long term malaise, Rangers was just a terrible appointment in Martin. Hearts started well and took full advantage vs Rangers and Celtic but have definitely slowed down with injuries in Spring.
We are still a few steps away from this being as utterly mad as last seasonβs HNL title race.
But only a few steps away in what was a marathon of mental.
The state of things now. Celticβs game in hand away to Aberdeen on Weds, Motherwellβs away to Dundee next weekend so likely 7pts covering the four as of this time next week.
FT Rangers 2 Celtic 2
Game of two halves, etc.
Hearts and Motherwell the winners.
2-2! Penalty for handball, Butland saved from Hatate, saved the follow up but itβs third time lucky and weβre about to have a crazy injury time
Ten to go and remains 2-1 Rangers but this game is just the opposite of the first half now. Celtic have had the chances already to tie this up.
2-1 - Tierney header.
If this ends as a mirror of the New Year derby, I will be astonished.
Credit where itβs due, the two goals were excellent and both Rummens and Mikey Moore have rendered Celticβs right impotent, but Celtic havenβt put up a fight at all and the midfield battle has been a walkover.
HT Rangers 2 Celtic 0
Almost the entire game has been played within 40 yards of the Celtic goal. Pressing non-existent, attack non-existent. Rangers have been competent, Celtic have been pathetic.
