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55 Football Nations Updates

Ivory hosts

Ivory Coast was my third AFCON. Logistically, it was the most difficult. Not a single hotel outside commercial hub Abidjan was listed on booking sites. I used my dubious French, and used up my... READ MORE

In bed with Maradona

“Maradona or Messi?” was a question I was frequently asked in Argentina. It was hard to answer, but Buenos Aires was undeniably the greatest city I had yet to visit. And Argentina was something... READ MORE

Italian nineties

Marco skipped into my Milan hotel lobby sporting dark glasses, jeans and stubble. He gave me a hug. It had been five years since television director Marco had covered my visit to Crotone... READ MORE

Away from Tomé

Bats swooped through the airy rooms of the clapboard plantation house I was staying in. Elemental rain hammered the lush undergrowth and large fruits thudded to the ground. I walked down the middle... READ MORE

Eaten the World Cup

It all started with an Ecuadorian fish stew on the damp Holloway Road. Perhaps every World Cup should. My stew had depth and colour and blew away the dark night. On the pitch, hosts Qatar were overwhelmed by an... READ MORE

Eat the World Cup: foodline

I’ve watched the 2022 World Cup in London restaurants and bars from all 32 participating countries. The Eat the World Cup foodline details the locations, dishes and drinks sampled on this epic culinary football challenge. Number... READ MORE