1) It’s FA Cup quarter-final time. Arsenal are travelling to Manchester United, so no compendium would be complete without a mention of this Ryan Giggs effort from 1999. Of course that was a semi-final replay, this is the quarter-final, so maybe this is more apt, when a United team containing seven defenders swept past a full-strength Arsenal side. But perhaps nothing is more associated with a Cup clash between these two than the name Sunderland, and five minutes of utter, glorious madness.
3) If anyone embodies the spirit of “if you fail, try, try again” it’s Jimmy White. And the Whirlwind is clearly still living by that motto if this scarily good escape against Ken Doherty on the seniors tour is anything to go by. He misses it first time. Misses it again second time. But at the third time of asking the blue is well and truly smacked.
4) With England looking for inspiration for their crucial match with Bangladesh on Monday, this might not help. The 2011 World Cup and Bangladesh need 57 runs from 62 balls, there are two wickets remaining. Up step Shafiul Islam and Mahmudullah Riyad. Fifty-six balls later and the 58-run partnership has sealed the match for Bangladesh. If you’re looking for omens for England’s strugglers, this is not a good one.
5) Lukas Podolski isn’t having much fun in Italy. No goals. And now this. Poor lad. At the other end of the scale, Tony Watt and Jordan Cousins take time-wasting to the next level against Nottingham Forest, to the evident distress of the Forest defence.
6) England’s women seem to be having a hard time of it at this Six Nations – so a week off may do the world champions some good. In the break why not enjoy some happier times. World Cup final 2014, England 21-9 Canada. Keep an eye out for Danielle Waterman’s try after a lovely passage of passing across the whole width of the pitch at around the 1min 30s mark.
Our favourites from last week’s blog
1) Everyone loves a goalkeeper scoring a last-minute goal.
2) The dangers of playing hockey.
3) Dude. Srsly? Chris Hau plays electric guitar while wakesurfing.
Spotters’ badges: TheCedarRoom, chillinb and BlackCaeser.
