Author Archives: skasiewicz

In the tumultuous world of Serie A one thing is certain: a revolving door of managerial arrivals and departures. Except this summer it was as if the usually brisk merry-go-round was cranked up to warp speed.  A raft of top class players exited Italy – including Euro 2020 hero Gianluigi Donnarumma, Inter striker Romelu LukakuContinue reading “Serie A Coaching Chaos”

September 2008 Rows of light grey stretch like an unfolded fan. The vast swathes of buildings shrunk to miniature. Bridges criss-cross the River Han as if stitched onto a sheet of blue fabric. Couples attach padlocks with signatures, some with initials and dates, others with timely messages on the fence below the observation deck. TheContinue reading “Seoul skyline 서울 스카이 라인”

September 2008 A parade of disaffected outcasts. A game of dressing up. A cathartic expression of individuality. A meeting place for like minded souls with shared interests in manga, anime, music and film. A marked message of defiance to parents and oldsters. A place where you could be uncomfortably comfortable. Somewhere to fit in whenContinue reading “Harajuku 原宿”

Captain controversy.  Not a new Marvel movie franchise. Instead, it’s the multi-episode saga of Luciano Spalletti and the men who wear the capitano armband. After a two-year absence from the frenetic world of calcio, the 62-year-old returned to Napoli at the end of May. Spalletti was not given much time to settle in as reportersContinue reading “Spalletti and the captain’s curse”

July 17-20, 2009 A posse of snow sprinkled peaks stand impassively, almost competing for attention. They stare out onto a sheet of water, a shade of turquoise in colour, basking in their own reflection as the glass like surface acts as a mirror. Usually this kind of spectacular landscape could only be witnessed in aContinue reading “Tromsø”

Cash in now or hold out for another year and potentially more money?  Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero would most likely be thrilled either way but the Damsgaard dilemma is one that will pain the long suffering Blucerchiati tifosi. Precocious Danish midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard was a familiar name to anyone who followed Serie A prior toContinue reading “Sampdoria’s Damsgaard dilemma”

Rescind the result. Stop the celebrations and hand back the trophy.  Italy cheated and the European Championship final must be replayed. Football needs to come home.  For one England supporter, if we can call them that, the Azzurri’s victory was all too much. Clearly the red mist descended in blinding waves when a petition wasContinue reading “Replay the Euro 2020 final. Or perhaps not.”

April 17-18, 2010 The reputation of some cities precedes them. Liverpool’s image seems to have been unfairly tarnished by decades of long held perceptions based on nothing more than ignorance and flimsy, unfounded stereotypes. What has been written and said about the city in the past is largely immaterial now though. I set off onContinue reading “Liverpool”

It’s coming Rome Italy were crowned European champions after a dramatic victory against England on penalties at Wembley. The Azzurri finished Euro 2020 as deserved winners, Gianluigi Donnarumma saving spot-kicks from Jaden Sancho and Bukayo Saka in a tense shoot-out to seal a memorable win in front of a hostile home crowd. Italy recovered afterContinue reading “The best of Euro 2020”