Counterattack mitigation is probably the most important skill in any defensive midfielder's arsenal. Often tasked with protecting a vulnerable back line, elite defensive midfielders must get their spacing and decision-making correct every time.
Kieran Tierney has done everything for Celtic. The 20-year-old signed with his boyhood club as an adolescent and worked his way up through the youth development program. During that time, he served as a ballboy at Celtic Park, in Glasgow’s East End.
Over the past three-plus seasons, Tierney has forced his way into the Hoops’ starting XI at left back. And now, he’s added to his growing legend with a performance for the ages during Celtic’s League Cup knockout fixture against Kilmarnock.
Sorry Scotland, you’re not winning this one either.
England continued its dominance over Scotland on the pitch in both men’s and women’s football when Jodie Taylor scored a marvelous hat trick and England dismantled the poor Scots 6-0 on Wednesday.
Is UEFA blaming the victim?
Celtic seem to think so — at least with regards to the governing body’s response to crowd trouble during and after Celtic’s Champions League qualifier against Linfield FC in Belfast last week.
Media reports describe Hoops officials as “stunned and astonished” after UEFA leveled charges of “improper conduct” against the club and “provocation” against striker Leigh Griffiths following the heated first leg of the tie.
The Gegenpress got together with Total Football and gave birth to 100 children before dispatching them in a 33-33-33 formation for a 24-minute friendly against Scotland’s Dundee FC on Thursday. After six minutes of prematch handshakes, the latest footballing ideology smashed the opposition 5-2.
While many of you were out enjoying hot dogs, fireworks and America on July 4, Scottish club Rangers was busy embarrassing itself on the European stage.
Back in European football for the first time in six years, Rangers looked poised to advance past the first round of Europa League qualifying after taking a 1-0 lead in the home leg against FC Progrès Niederkorn.
Progrès Niederkorn, which finished fourth in Luxembourg, had scored all of one goal in its history in European competition coming into Tuesday’s match.
With the Russia World Cup less than a year away, we here at The18 asked ourselves who are the best (and worst) fans in the world.
We’ve compiled a list below of superlatives to break down what makes each country’s fans unique, for better or worse.
Note: We limited results to nations that are or have been regular World Cup qualifiers. Scroll to the bottom for the best and worst fans.
A lot of people like to moan about international football, but it can be really fun if you approach it with a no f**ks given attitude — just follow the example set by San Marino’s social media team during their qualifier against Germany. If you didn’t follow any of Saturday’s UEFA qualifying, here’s what you missed.
#1. Norway And Martin Odegaard Won’t Be At The 2018 World Cup
Mikey Johnston is only 18 years of age, but he has undoubtedly just had the best weekend of his life.
Whirlwind debut day for Mikey Johnston! #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/S5tOsL1EbO
— Celtic Football Club (@celticfc) May 8, 2017