The beautiful game

Africa Cup of Nations: a “ludicrous finale” to ...

Simon Kuper World Cup Fever A footballing journey in nine tournaments 352pp. Profile. £20. Jonathan Wilson The Power and the Glory A new history of the World Cup 608pp. Abacus. £25. In 1994, a column

Had qualification for the World Cup been decided by population, Spain would only just have made it for the past seven tournaments. Ranked 31st by that metric, they lag behind Myanmar, Sudan and Colomb

After the FA lifted their ban on women playing at Football League grounds, England’s Lionesses played their first international in 1972 – two years later, Liz Deighan won her first cap against France

JOHN DUERDEN Asia Finalists…Jordan players celebrate after beating ...

The end. The collapse. The exhaustion of 11 Arsenal players, slumping to the turf against the glittering backdrop of a Toon foil display. Mikel Arteta’s thousand-yard stare. Granit Xhaka’s chevron bro