The biggest rivalries in football are rarely just about football. Most are rooted in geography, history or identity that runs far deeper than a scoreline.
For decades treated as a footnote by European broadcasters, the Africa Cup of Nations has grown into one of the most closely followed tournaments in the sport.
Every few tournaments, a team with no business reaching the later rounds does exactly that. Here is why those runs happen, and what they tend to have in common.
Modern goalkeepers are expected to pass, dribble under pressure and cover space outside the box. That expectation has a specific tactical origin.
Knockout football hasn't always been settled the way it is now. Replays, coin tosses and golden goals all had their turn before penalty shootouts became the standard.
High pressing looks chaotic from the stands but is one of the most heavily drilled patterns in modern coaching. Here's what teams are actually trying to do.