Best In Football Writing This Week: Marseille’s Problems, Darijo Srna & Claudio Ranieri

1 IN THE DEPRIVED CITY OF MARSEILLE THE FRENCH NATIONAL SPIRIT OF 1998 IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN

Ian Herbert for The Independent

When international tournaments come around, hosting countries do their utmost so that the best possible picture is presented to the world. Just like magicians performing a trick, eyes are directed towards the renovated and refurbished areas so that they do not see those that have remained untouched. What Herbert does here is refocus our attention so that we can understand a bit better the true realities of Marseilles. A brilliant piece of football led reporting.

Memorable Quote: “The miracle of 12 July — as Auclair described the day France lifted the greatest football prize of all — seems a very distant memory”

2 SUPER DARIJO A VERY PROUD SON OF HIS FATHER

Jonathan Wilson for The Guardian

One of the dangers of a tournament like Euro 2016 is that it can bring to the fore national stereotypes. Given the problems that marked their game against the Czech Republic, for instance, there is a strong temptation to judge all Croats to be violent thugs. Reality is that as in any nation in Croatia there is a mix of decent and not so nice people. What isn’t as easy to appreciate is the history that these people lived through and, in tragedy (the death of the father of the Croatian player Dario Srna) Jonathan Wilson has managed to work out something positive by retelling the story of what this man had to live through.

Memorable Quote: “I was always hungry. I saw my friends from school eating fresh bread and rolls, and it annoyed me, so I decided to become a baker.”

3 THE MAN BEHIND THE FAIRY TALE

The Goalden Times

A lot has been written about Claudio Ranieri over the course of the past few months but rarely has it been done as well as this. His career in management is relayed in detailed but what really catches the eye is the design of the article that transforms the piece so that it is more of an experience. A fantastic way of telling the story of a great manager (and a great man).