UPFROnT
T-shirt of choice for Star Tweet and A4 print of
choice for Spine Line, courtesy of Art of Football339 SPINE LINE: “‘Bootle and
Middlesbrough Ironopolis’ were in
the story on defunct clubs – they’re
the only two to have spent one year
in the Football League,” says David
Ashworth. Right! Got the Spine Line?
Enter via Twitter (#FFTSpineLine) or
email [email protected]WHAT’S OnE THInG YOU HATE ABOUT FOOTBALL?
WIN!
The phrase ‘big club’.
@1904IrrelevantsFans filming themselves during the
game. No more please.
@HutchTweetingArsenal, although they’re also what
I love about football. Go figure.
@byrninhoObstruction by defenders in the box
to let the ball run out. It’s a penalty.
@Lurcher2010Diving – it’s ruining the game. More
and more players don’t try to dribble
past an opponent or score, they just
take the easy option and dive to win
a foul. It’s getting unbearable.
@OR94941Phil Foden’s barber.
@BryanSTLThe money involved at the top- it’s excessive and disgusting.
There should be a cap on fees
and wages before we reach
the stage of seeing one player
sold for more than £200m and
pocketing £1m-plus a week.
@MumblinScotsman
Sky TV scheduling and changing
fixtures that make it impossible
for supporters to get to matches.
This game is there to entertain
people, not alienate them.
@dave_a_morrisMurderous warmongers being
allowed to buy clubs.
@JohnnyTheNicTrophies an individual player has
won. What’s that got to do with how
good a player really is? It’s easier
to play in a team put together with
oil money.
@JaiP72The fact that lots of fans view their
opinions as facts when it comes to
voicing them on Twitter...
@Darloww_THSigns asking for players’ shirts.
@WatchedToffee@FOURFOURTWO ASKS...
Martin Tyler shouting
“AND IT’S LIVE” every
single game. I know
how TV works!
@spudo33✱
STA R
TWEET
FourFourTwo July 2022 23OUT Rafael Soriano, manager of Brazilian club
Desportivo Ferroviaria, has been dismissed after
headbutting a female official during a matchYour international debut followed in
March 2021, then a spot in the squad
for the Euros. How was that?
I’ve framed my shirt, just like I did with
my first Ajax shirt and the one in which
I won the 2018 U17s Euros. I have very
fond memories of Euro 2020 – it’s great
that I was able to experience that as
a young player. We were really close as
a group, chilling together and playing
games. It’s just a pity the tournament
took place during corona time, because
we couldn’t do everything like usual.
What do you see as your strengths as
a footballer now, and what can you
still improve?
A strength is my dribbling ability, and
that I remain calm on the ball. I think
I can get better defensively, using my
body more effectively and becoming
stronger. Going forward, I can be more
precise in the final third of the pitch.
Your brother Danzell has played for
De Graafschap this term, after being
at Ajax and Reading. Did you ever go
and see him in England?
Yes, I visited him a few times when he
played for Reading. He’s given me lots
of advice - the most important things
he’s said have been to continue being
myself, trust my own quality and follow
my own path.
Ajax won the league title last season
and retained it this year. What’s that
been like to be part of?
We’ve had a good squad, with a good
coaching staff, and there’s a vision – as
players, we’ve all stood behind that. We
know each other’s qualities and have
fully utilised them. We’re well tuned on
the pitch. We’ve put in some excellent
displays in the Champions League this
season, like against Borussia Dortmund
- we defeated them 4-0 in Amsterdam
playing beautiful football.
How do you view next season? You’ve
been linked with some top European
teams including Bayern Munich, Real
Madrid and Manchester United, even
before Ten Hag agreed to become the
Red Devils’ new coach. Are you ready
for a move abroad?
You never know if you’re totally ready,
but at least I do feel ready to make the
next step in my career. I still have one
year left on my Ajax contract, but I’m
aware of the interest from other clubs.
Arthur Renard