As the 2025 Championships kick off, Pacific island nations continue to defy the odds — proving that population size is no barrier to producing world-class sport, writes JAMES NALTON
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Lula makes debut as football pundit
Football fan: Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva holds a Brazilian football shirt in 2009
[Agencia Brasil/cc]
In a town shaped by hardship and history, a grassroots boxing club led by Andrew McFarlane gives purpose to the next generation — including a rising champion, writes JOHN WIGHT
BRAZIL’S jailed presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has made his debut as a football pundit.
Behind bars, he wrote a column for Workers’ Party TV on Monday criticising Brazil’s performance in the 1-1 draw against Switzerland at the World Cup.
“Qualifying is one thing. The World Cup is different, Switzerland was strong in defence, playing rough, and didn’t allow Brazil to perform. They also stopped Neymar by fouling him again and again.”
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