WELCOME

Well, we’ve waited this long – just the

DARREN BENT

“I like Theo Walcott, but being left  out of the World Cup for him felt  like a slap in the face. He hadn’t  even made his debut for Arsenal”

MEANWHILE IN …

…the Netherlands, fans of De Graafschap have been busy turning the second tier into the real Farmers League

GAMES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

Austria 1 Wales 1 April 29, 1992 Friendly

THE NON-LEAGUE FINNS

Once they were at Boston and Braintree – now it’s Euro 2020

THE ULTIMATE QUIZ

What do you get when you cross mad seasons, Premier League heroes and pop stars? This quiz, of course

25 BEST PLAYERS WITH FIVE OR FEWER GAMES IN PREMIER LEAGUE

FFT assesses the finest stars who made a fleeting appearance in England’s top flight – ranking them on their achievements over the rest of their career

COLOMBIA: THE CURSED COPA AMERICA HOSTS

The South American country has faced chaos whenever it’s tried to stage a major tournament in the past – and this summer’s grand event has been no different

HENNING WEHN

The German comic recalls road trips with Lothar Matthaus, CSKA Moscow calendars, Spanish third-tier beauty spots, Jesus abuse and more

NEXT, IN 2022...

England is set to host the Women’s Euros – let the countdown begin

READING REQUIRED

TRUE GENIUS Wayne Barton (Reach Sport, £20) ●●●●●

THE FOOTBALL GRID

A month of TV viewing lies ahead at Euro 2020, and these pundits will be among those with plenty to say

GROUND HOPPER

CAMPO GERINI 

THE VIEW FROM THE STANDS

TAKE THAT Newell’s Old Boys star Pablo Perez was unamused when a drone interrupted a match at Rosario – so stamped on the machine to destroy it

THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS

Conquering the world in 2018 was just the start: at 22, Kylian Mbappe is on the verge of more history with France, knowing that Euros glory puts him in contention for the Ballon d’Or. Win that, and a decade of dominance awaits

SHARP

Roberto Martinez inherited a team booed by its own fans after Euro 2016 and took them to the top of FIFA’s world  rankings. Belgium’s gaffer tells FFT why winning style awards isn’t enough for a group desperately seeking silverware

“SO... WHAT’S THE BEST ROUTE FROM PRESTOn TO MOnGOLIA?!”

Shadab Iftikhar has proved no job is too far away in his globe-trotting quest to land a gig in the UK, his persistence earning some illustrious admirers. This summer he’ll be working with Belgium, after some dogged grafting in Wigan

THE TWO-MAN TEAM

Belgium’s golden generation are close to becoming sepia-tinged history, with the focus shifted to a pair of icons who now carry a nation’s hopes alone. That one them isn’t Eden Hazard, though, speaks volumes of his bleak spell in the wilderness where much has changed

ICON LEADER RECORD BREAKER

Back home, they’re uttering the unthinkable. Cristiano Ronaldo may be on the verge of international immortality, but not everyone thinks the 36-year-old should be in Fernando Santos’ starting XI this summer. Here’s why…

TEACHER’S PET?

WHO YOU CALLING

“DECLAN RICE TELLS ME WE CAN’T BEAT ENGLAND. I JUST SAY TO HIM, ‘REMEMBER YOUR LAST GAME AGAINST US!”

Once ignored back home and forced to train  amid dog muck; now helping to propel West  Ham up the Premier League table, Tomas  Soucek has come a long way fast. And he’s  ready to inflict some more misery on England

MENTALITY MONSTER

Tomas Soucek isn’t the only man with England in his sights. Former Liverpool centre-back Dejan Lovren also has previous when it comes to humbling the Three Lions – but there’s a lot more to this altruistic two-time refugee than meets the eye

“DON’T LET THE ACCENT FOOL YOU! MY BLOOD IS SCOTTISH”

Australia-born Lyndon Dykes grew up with rugby league dreams, but heads into Euro 2020 with his parents’ beloved Tartan Army. No longer tied to the 9-5, he’s found a way to make a living…

WHY CAN’T THE WORLD LOVE SERGIO RAMOS?

At 35, football’s ultimate bastard stands on the precipice of international history – soon to become its all-time highest-capped player. But after a career of winning at all costs, the art-loving anarchist is no neutral’s favourite

SOME THINGS ARE WORTH THE WAIT...

Goran Pandev made his international debut 20 years ago, then scored the goal that took North Macedonia to their first major tournament. Needless to say, the former Inter treble winner is an untouchable idol back home – and he’s got a few things to tell FFT before his emotional final bow

I WOKE UP TO FIND 16,000 EMAILS IN MY INBOX. THEY WERE ALL IN ENGLISH – DEATH THREATS AND INSULTS

Referee Urs Meier found himself the unwitting victim of tabloid hatred after disallowing Sol Campbell’s late goal for England against Portugal at Euro 2004: intimidated, abused and then bundled into hiding. This is his side of the story

368 DAYS THE FALL OF YUGOSLAVIA

Prosinecki, Suker, Mijatovic & Co had been fearsome

AROUND THE GROUNDS

EFL • NON-LEAGUE • SCOTLAND

THE FINAL GOODBYE

After 695 games in 17 years with Doncaster, James Coppinger’s playing days are at an end. Next up, a statue? As long as it’s not like that one of Ronaldo

BEST & WORST MIDDLESBROUGH

Rob Nichols, editor of Boro fanzine F ly Me To The Moon, celebrates Massimo Maccarone and mutton chops

BOY’S A BIT SPECIAL

LOWDOWN No wonder Hull hastily made Wilks’ loan

THE UNLIKELY LADS

BARNET (2012-14) CREDENTIALS A European Cup winner with

WHO ARE YA? | EVERSLEY & CALIFORNIA

COULD BE ’70s US detective duo who refuse

IAN HOLLOWAY

FFT’s columnist has twice tasted success in the Championship’s play-off showpiece, and knows the kind of pitfalls that await the winners. Don’t try to change too much too quickly – but definitely don’t be scared

THE ACCEPTABLE FACE OF YOUTUBE

Stretford Paddock FC aren’t in it for the shouty rants – they mean real business

CLAIMS TO FAME DUNDEE UNITED

1 BARÇA’S TERROR United have a 100 per

“MASSIMO CELLINO IS STRANGE – FIRST HE ASKED ME TO BE SPORTInG DIRECTOR, AND THEN THE CHEF!”

Pasta was on the menu during a stellar spell with Sheffield Wednesday, before a bizarre request came his way at Leeds

“LOSING TO GREECE IN THE EURO 2004 FINAL WAS HARD – WE KEPT TRYING, BUT THE BALL JUST WOULDN’T GO IN”

The striker’s winner against England kick-started a new Portuguese era, but glory eluded them on home soil

“PREMIER LEAGUE GAMES WERE SO TOUGH – 15 MInUTES In , I’D ASK, ‘HOW LOnG’S LEFT In THIS HALF?’”

After turning to religion, the midfielder enjoyed happy days with West Brom and Fulham – then struck for Hungary at Euro 2016

“THE OLD FIRM DERBY WAS MAD –THE REF GOT HIT BY A COIN AND I ASKED, ‘IS THIS NORMAL HERE?’”

The American had his eyes opened by Scottish football, then headed south – where he was subbed for a keeper

MY PERFECT XI

The former England, Chelsea and Liverpool man picks a terrifying side of team-mates – and is still bewitched by his right-back’s breathtaking locks