The Artful Nutmeg

FIFA: Larger Than Life

Episode 8 of the Artful Nutmeg is all about FIFA, how it’s structured, and how it depends on associations and confederations to organize everything. This episode will be dense with information, but we hope to add some interesting tidbits to help you digest it.
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Links and Further Reading
The Structure of World Football (Soccer Made Simple)
2015 FIFA Corruption Scandal (Britannica)
About CONCACAF (Official Website)
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News and Riff Raff 
Women's Ballon d'Or 2023 Power Rankings (Goal)
PSG Won’t Offer New Deal to Messi Amid Suspension (ESPN)
Concacaf Council discusses proposal to launch Concacaf women’s club competition (CONCACAF)
Man United Struggles to Win on the Road (Goal)
Chelsea are closer to relegation than top 4, what has gone wrong. Lampard on verge of the 007 (Sky Sports)
Whats your prediction for who gets top 4 and who gets relegated? (BBC Sport)
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The Artful Nutmeg is the newest project by a couple of friends who share a deep love for soccer. This show explores the deeper world of soccer by examining some of the greatest stories and the lesser-known moments that have shaped the game. This podcast requires no prior knowledge of the game. Instead, this is a chance to build up appreciation for the game, its history, and the people who play for the love of it.
 
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Music by Hot_Music from Pixabay

Will Still: The Uncanny Manager

Will Still is a football manager for French Ligue 1 club Reims. Born in Belgium to English parents, Will Still has lived a unique life, which has helped him develop into one of the most impressive young managers in European Football. At only 30 years of age, Will Still combined his experience with the famous Football Manger and Championship Manager video games along with a university coaching degree to take an uncommon path in his career. Join Dan and Tom on this deep dive and analysis of the latest news stories.
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Show Notes
Will Still Profile (Wikipedia)
Will Still has made the jump from Football Manager to Preston to Ligue 1 (The Guardian)
Will Still: The 30-year-old English boss proving a hit at Ligue 1 Reims (BBC Sport)
Will Still flexes his multilingual coaching style (Youtube)
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Interesting News Stories
UEFA Champions League could be coming to the United States in the future. (Where would you expect it to be first) (The Guardian)
Manchester City vs Arsenal - Who’s winning the league? (Pause in case Daniel starts crying)
Man United set to face Man City in FA cup final
The WSL - Man United hold the top spot as Chelsea lurks in the shadows (4 games to go for Man U) - Chelsea have two games in hand (RTE)
'The USMNT will be feared' - US Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker (Goal)
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The Artful Nutmeg is the newest project by a couple of friends who share a deep love for soccer. This show explores the deeper world of soccer by examining some of the greatest stories and the lesser-known moments that have shaped the game. This podcast requires no prior knowledge of the game. Instead, this is a chance to build up appreciation for the game, its history, and the people who play for the love of it.
Follow The Artful Nutmeg on Twitter and Instagram
Music by Hot_Music from Pixabay

Football’s Big Brother

On this week's episode of the Artful Nutmeg podcast, Dan and Tom take a deep dive into the Video Assistant Referee system or VAR. For those who don't know about the process, we have a helpful guide for understanding how it works, how it came to be, and why it's so controversial. 
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Episode Chapters:
:00 - Introduction
3:36 - The History of VAR
6:06 - How VAR Works
16:41 - VAR Today
36:18 - FootballNews & Analysis
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Show Links & References
Soccer’s Big Brother (Soccer Made Simple)
IFAB Laws - Law 12.3 Disciplinary Action (IFAB Laws)
Tata Martino earns a red card for VAR interference (Youtube)
VAR creates as much confusion as clarity in Confederations Cup final (ESPN)
ESPN VAR Review, A Weekly Look (ESPN)
Michael Salisbury Dropped from PL Duties (Eurosport)
Interesting News Stories
USWMNT Announce WWC Tune-Up Friendly Against Wales (Goal)
Manchester City Dominates Bayern Munich, Defense is Unlikely Star (CBS Sports)
Red Bulls' Dante Vanzeir Found to have used Racist Language Against San Jose (ESPN)
Bayern Munich Condemn Racist Abuse Towards Dayot Upamecano (The Athletic)
Golazo Network launches on Paramount+ and Pluto TV (CBS Sports)
Golazo Network First Impressions (World Soccer Talk)
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The Artful Nutmeg is the newest project by a couple of friends who share a deep love for soccer. This show explores the deeper world of soccer by examining some of the greatest stories and the lesser-known moments that have shaped the game. This podcast requires no prior knowledge of the game. Instead, this is a chance to build up appreciation for the game, its history, and the people who play for the love of it.
Follow The Artful Nutmeg on Twitter and Instagram
Music by Hot_Music from Pixabay

El Clasico

On this episode of The Artful Nutmeg, your hosts take a dive into the history of El Clasico.  It's the classic rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona that's steeped in history. We look at some of the most important moments and players that have made an impact on the world's biggest derby.
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SHOW NOTES LINKS/REFERENCES
Did General Franco halt Barcelona transfer? (BBC Sport)
Real Madrid Fans Applaud Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta In ‘El Clasico’ (NESN)
The Record Breakers of El Clasico (La Liga)
History of El Clasico (Barcelona FC)
El Clásico: A historic tale (AS)
Fear and Loathing in La Liga Review (The Guardian)
THAT Goal by Gareth Bale (Youtube Video)
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NEWS AND INTERESTING BITS
A brief recap of Wednesday’s El Classic (CNN)
Graham Potter was ousted from Chelsea Sunday morning. (The Guardian)
Why Graham Potter was the wrong choice (ESPN)
The Premier League becoming a dead end for managers? (Deadspin)
Frank Lampard Returns to Chelsea (ESPN)
Arsenal Women Come Back Against Man City (Goal.com)
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The Artful Nutmeg is the newest project by a couple of friends who share a deep love for soccer. This show explores the deeper world of soccer by examining some of the greatest stories and the lesser-known moments that have shaped the game. This podcast requires no prior knowledge of the game. Instead, this is a chance to build up appreciation for the game, its history, and the people who play for the love of it.
Follow The Artful Nutmeg on Twitter and Instagram
Music by Hot_Music from Pixabay

Snakes on the Pitch

Football is a sport of loyalty where players honor the club and the badge they wear on their kit. But not all players are cut from an honorable cloth. There is a certain kind of player that prefers to play for the highest wages and have no problem with leaving for rival clubs. We call these players "snakes on the pitch." In the first of a series, Daniel and Tom discuss some different kinds of snakes who have betrayed their clubs in one way or another.
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SHOW NOTES LINKS/REFERENCES
Ashley Cole: For a Few Dollars More
The Wayne Rooney Transfer Saga
Robin Van Persie Transfer Saga: Finding the Truth Amongst the Fiction
Carlos Tevez Transfer Saga: A Deal Better Left Undone
When Ian Wright Celebrated Against Crystal Palace
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NEWS AND INTERESTING BITS
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger Inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame
Why Antonio Conte was Never a Good Fit for Tottenham Hotspur
The Four-Way Race in the Women's Super League
Sir Alex Ferguson Plays Mind Games with Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney
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The Artful Nutmeg is the newest project by a couple of friends who share a deep love for soccer. This show explores the deeper world of soccer by examining some of the greatest stories and the lesser-known moments that have shaped the game. This podcast requires no prior knowledge of the game. Instead, this is a chance to build up appreciation for the game, its history, and the people who play for the love of it.
Follow The Artful Nutmeg on Twitter and Instagram
Music by Hot_Music from Pixabay
 

Home of the Brave

This week, your hosts cover the history of the United States Men's National Team. From humble beginnings to perennial World Cup competitions, the Yankees have developed into a force in the football world. The national team's best performance came in 1930 when they fell just short of World Cup greatness, falling to Argentina in the semifinals for 3rd place. The team faced near obscurity throughout the middle of the 20th century but resurged in the 1990s with a better developmental plan. Now, the team has more superstars than ever before. Could this mean they have an honest chance in 2026 when they co-host the World Cup with Canada and Mexico? 
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SHOW NOTES LINKS/REFERENCES
10 Greatest Moments in USA World Cup History
USMNT Great Moments
What’s the USA’s Best Finish at a World Cup?
Call it Football or Soccer: The US is Claiming it as its own
USMNT 5 Most Pivotal Moments
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INTERESTING NEWS STORIES
Anthony Hudson Tapped to Lead USMNT on Interim Basis About Anthony Hudson (Wikipedia)
MLS vs Europe used to be a big USMNT divide, according to Tim Ream
USMNT camp returns: Dike, Zendejas and good vibes before Nations League
Q&A: Anthony Hudson Discusses March USMNT Nations League Roster
24 Players Called into 2023 USMNT March Camp
Folarin Balogun meets with USA Coach and Players in Florida
Antonio Conte goes off on Tottenham Hotspur
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The Artful Nutmeg is the newest project by a couple of friends who share a deep love for soccer. This show explores the deeper world of soccer by examining some of the greatest stories and the lesser-known moments that have shaped the game. This podcast requires no prior knowledge of the game. Instead, this is a chance to build up appreciation for the game, its history, and the people who play for the love of it.
Follow The Artful Nutmeg on Twitter and Instagram
Music by Hot_Music from Pixabay

Our Soccer Mt. Rushmore

One of the hosts of the show claims South Dakota as his home state. While it’s not known as a hotbed of soccer (though it has a small, exciting community), it is home to one of the great American monuments. Mt. Rushmore is a tribute to four of America’s most impactful presidents, so we will discuss the most impactful figures in soccer. 
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SHOW LINKS
U.S. Soccer says Gregg Berhalter eligible to coach men's team after investigation
What the World Cup will look like in 2026: 48 teams, more groups, more venues, more games
Grimsby's dream FA Cup run is lifting the town and worrying Premier League opponents
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The Artful Nutmeg is the newest project by a couple of friends who share a deep love for soccer. This show explores the deeper world of soccer by examining some of the greatest stories and the lesser-known moments that have shaped the game. This podcast requires no prior knowledge of the game. Instead, this is a chance to build up appreciation for the game, its history, and the people who play for the love of it.
Follow The Artful Nutmeg on Twitter and Instagram
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Music by Hot_Music from Pixabay

Leicester City: From Sinners to Winners

The summer before Leicester City's improbable championship season nearly caused the club to implode. What should have been a routine tour of Asia, it upended the lives of three young players. Leicester found itself in uncharted territory, but fortunes changed when the club hired a new manager to lead the team.