1) England v Scotland is the oldest game in international football, older even than the tradition of embroidering poppies on to football shirts. Here’s Barry Davies talking us through the 1921 altercation, played at Hampden Park and won 3-0 by the home side. Seven years later, Scotland arrived at Wembley to field a curious, controversial team, whereupon a dazzlingly technical and imaginative performance devastated England to the tune of 5-1, making the Wembley Wizards immortal. But they were rivalled in 1967 when England, protecting an unbeaten run stretching back 19 games, were despatched 3-2 by a team inspired by the righteous indignation of Denis Law. Scotland declared themselves unofficial world champions, the game further entrenched in folklore thanks to Jim Baxter’s need to rub it in. And then there are the off-pitch incidents: Nick Collins pratfalling in 2013, the Irn Bru advert of 2014 and, extremely tangentially, Burnistoun on the Wayne Rooneys of this world.
2) Barry Davies, you say? No, Barry Davies we say, and here are some of his finest moments: “Leeds will go mad and they’ve every right to go mad”; “Interesting ... very interesting!”; ya dun know; Micky Walsh; “Oh! Ohh whatagoal!”; “Test of his pace, now test of his finish; on Toto Schillaci; “I bet even he can’t believe it”; “Giggs ... still Giggs”; exhibition turd polishing; “Gazza!”; the ultimate goalgasm. And, as an extra treat, here’s a collection of everyone.
3) Complicated times call for simple brilliance. Thus consider the free-kicks of Juninho Permanbucano, 75 of them between 1994 and 2012 including this one against Sedan, which bends twice and in opposite directions. And, while we’re at it, here’s Branco’s fluke for Genoa against Liverpool, captured by the most telling angle in the history of cinematography.
4) The Grand Slam of Darts gets underway this weekend. Here’s the joy of Peter Wright’s walk-on at last week’s World Series final. And here’s Adrian Lewis throwing a blind 180, with a bunch he missed ready to be enjoyed here. Meanwhile, here’s Phil Taylor chucking two nine-darters in the Premier League final of 2010, as wondrously narrated by the late, great Dave Lanning and the late, great Sid Waddell, both of whom can be enjoyed in Universal’s new documentary, House of Flying Arrows, a clip of which can be enjoyed here.
5) Steph Curry is a record breaker. Dedication, ooh dedication.
6) There’s a fair amount of skill on show in this squash rally.
Highlights from last week’s blog
1) Josh Lewsey has a quiet one with Mat Rogers.
2) Leicester City and Southampton try water polo.
3) The Terry Butcher Phoenix from the Flames.
5) Last-minute goals you probably haven’t seen.
6) Klose against Argentina in 2006 and Klose against Argentina 2012.
Spotters’ badges: EmperorMing, StuartRG, Edgeley, whobroughtoranges, blutgraetsche.
