Din Havolli, Author at The Cult of Calcio

The History of The UEFA Euro: 1984, Platini’s Edition to Remember

May 14, 2021 Din Havolli Denmark, Euro 2020, Euro Cup History, Europa! Europa!, European Championships 2020, France, History of The Euro Cup, Portugal, Spain, West Germany

Euro 1984 is fondly remembered by many avid viewers of the game as one of the greatest international tournaments to date. This was in no small way attributed to Michel Platini’s heroics. The Frenchman went on to score in every single game his side took part in, leading host country France to the title and tallying an impressive nine goals in the process.

The History of The UEFA Euro: 1980, The Belgium Challenge

May 11, 2021 Din Havolli Belgium, Euro 2020, Euro Cup History, Europa! Europa!, European Championships 2020, Germany, History of The Euro Cup, West Germany

UEFA Euro 1980 would see an introduction to a new-look tournament featuring eight teams. Italy did not make it past the group stage but cemented the base of a side that would go on to become World Cup champions two years later. Belgium's golden generation proved to be the tournament surprise despite losing to mighty West Germany in the Final.

The History of The UEFA Euro: 1976, The Year of The Panenka

May 7, 2021 Din Havolli Czechoslovakia, Euro 2020, Euro Cup History, Europa! Europa!, European Championships 2020, Germany, History of The Euro Cup, Netherlands, West Germany, Yugoslavia

Euro 1976 seemed set to give us another chapter of an unfolding football rivalry as West Germany and the Netherlands found themselves together at the latter stages of a European Finals for the first time. However, the stage was stolen by Czechoslovakia and a mostly unknown player whose name would eventually go on to become a verb: Antonin Panenka.

The History of The UEFA Euro: 1972, Dream Debut for West Germany

May 4, 2021 Din Havolli Belgium, Euro 2020, Euro Cup History, Europa! Europa!, European Championships 2020, Germany, Hungary, USSR, West Germany

Belgium seemed to be a fitting neutral host nation in the climate of Cold War relations and it was perhaps for that reason that it was chosen to host the European Championship in 1972. The tournament retained the four-team format that had by now become familiar and there was no doubt as to which team went into it as favorites: Gerd Muller's debuting West Germany.

The History of The UEFA Euro: 1968, A Year of Firsts and Lasts

May 1, 2021 Din Havolli England, Euro 2020, Euro Cup History, Europa! Europa!, European Championships 2020, Italy, The Azzurri, USSR, Yugoslavia

This week we look at UEFA Euro 1968, a year of firsts, a year of chance and a very different competition to the tournament we know today. Italy were the host nation and went on to win their only European championship to date in a pretty unconventional manner - making their way past the USSR by means of a coin toss and beating Yugoslavia in a Final that was played twice.

The History of The UEFA Euro: 1964, Spain’s Forgotten Glory

April 27, 2021 Din Havolli Denmark, Euro 2020, Euro Cup History, Europa! Europa!, European Championships 2020, Hungary, Spain, USSR

Before Xavi and co. had ushered international football into an era of Spanish dominance, you would have been forgiven for not recalling the last name to come close to landing some silverware for La Roja. The Euro 1964 hero, Luis Suarez, managed to bring the best out of his teammates on the way to lifting the only trophy Spain would claim for the next 44 years.

The History of The UEFA Euro: 1960, The Humble Beginnings

April 23, 2021 Din Havolli Czechoslovakia, Euro 2020, Euro Cup History, Europa! Europa!, European Championships 2020, France, USSR, Yugoslavia

In the lead up to the UEFA Euro 2021, The Cult of Calcio will be turning over the extraordinary moments that have been a part of one of the greatest events in international sport. Today, we begin with a look at the very beginning, a tournament that would belong to one man: USSR's legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin.

Assi di Coppe: Atalanta Travel To Valencia as UCL Show Goes On

March 9, 2020 Din Havolli Assi di Coppe, Atalanta, Champions League, European Cups, Italian Football, Valencia

After squeezing through to the knockout stages, Atalanta’s Champions League debut is gathering pace. After a stellar performance at home by the hugely talented Italian side, they seem poised to go through. It would take a feat of epic proportions for Valencia to overturn the 4-1 advantage in a second leg which will be played behind closed doors due to coronavirus.

Assi di Coppe: Inter Miss UCL Knockout Stages Train

December 13, 2019 Din Havolli Assi di Coppe, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Champions League, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Italy, Juventus, Liverpool, Napoli

This weeks’ Champions League roundup sees three Italian sides through the knockout stages but perhaps not exactly the teams you’d expected. Inter went into the game against Barcelona knowing that only a win would aid them in their attempts to progress, but a weakened Spanish eleven offered no solace to the Nerazzurri's hopes of European qualification.

Assi di Coppe: Napoli Secure UCL Progression as Ancelotti Is Sacked

December 11, 2019 Din Havolli Assi di Coppe, Champions League, European Cups, Italian Football, Napoli

After a valiant performance at Anfield where Ancelotti’s men held on for a hard earned point, Napoli secured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League in emphatic style at home to Genk. Hours later Carlo Ancelotti was out of a job, his dismissal immediately overshadowed by President Aurelio De Laurentiis' swift appointment of Gennaro Gattuso.

Assi di Coppe: A Roundup of Italian Champions League Efforts

November 29, 2019 Din Havolli Assi di Coppe, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Champions League, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Italy, Juventus, Liverpool, Napoli

In Champions League Round 5, Juventus beat Atletico Madrid to cement their place in the knockout rounds, while Inter grabbed the win they needed to remain in contention for qualification. Atalanta dispatched of Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb, whereas Liverpool and Napoli settled for one point which still leaves the Partenopei with hope of snatching top spot.

Adriano, The Emperor’s Short-Lived Reign

November 17, 2019 Din Havolli Brazil, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Italy, Serie A

Adriano Leite Ribeiro’s meteoric rise coincided with a grand epoch in Italian football. He was already on his way to featuring on the cover of video games in 2003, as the Champions League hosted an all-Italian final. Transfer records were being broken and the world’s hottest footballing prospects had their eye on eventually reaching the pinnacle of calcio.

Author: Din Havolli