Michael Gallwey

May 31, 2024 | footballchronicle.co.uk | Michael Gallwey

The Stade de France has a unique history with silverware. France’s national stadium has seen plenty of great moments and is a place that brings back mixed emotions for many. For some, the venue has glittering memories, having been able to see their side succeed in a final, while for others, there may be despair and regret, with the pain of losing a final looming large.

May 31, 2024 | footballchronicle.co.uk | Michael Gallwey

When most people think of Bayern Munich losing a European final, they think of Manchester United’s infamous comeback against the German giants in 1999, courtesy of two injury-time goals. But perhaps Bayern’s shaky nerve was rooted in the 1987 European Cup final against Porto, who were desperate to add a European title to their cabinet. Die Roten went into the match in Vienna as firm favourites, having won the previous two Bundesliga titles, including a league and cup double in the previous season.

May 30, 2024 | footballchronicle.co.uk | Michael Gallwey

Every so often in football, a single game encompasses more than just a match between two competing sides. It incorporates a clash of identity, a battle of ideology, often attacking against defensive football. The World Cup finals of 1954 and 1974 are perhaps the most notable examples, pitting the “romantic” favourites of Hungary and the Netherlands respectively against the more pragmatic West Germans.

May 30, 2024 | footballchronicle.co.uk | Michael Gallwey

It is true that there is always a negative to watching a seemingly unsurpassable moment. In its immediate aftermath, it can sometimes, juxtapositionally, feel like a nadir: as bewildering as the best nanosecond can feel, how could you carry on watching for the rest of time, knowing nothing will vanquish it? That was the emotion the majority of the 127,000-plus fans present at Hampden Park on 18 May 1960 felt on their way home having witnessed Real Madrid triumph 7-3 against Eintracht Frankfurt.

May 29, 2024 | footballchronicle.co.uk | Michael Gallwey |Karan Tejwani

As a small city on the Italian south coast, Crotone is of limited notoriety outside of Italians based nearby. Despite this, for a brief period in 2017, Crotone became the talk of the footballing world, a place afforded intense media spotlight due to the sudden and frankly remarkable upturn in the fortunes of their football team.