As if saving a penalty isn’t hard enough, the International Football Association Board has decided to further handicap goalkeepers with a penalty rule change coming into effect on July 1. The amendment, which was introduced in the IFAB’s 2023/24 law... [READ MORE]
GK Analysis: Why the EFL Cup final was the perfect redemption game for Loris Karius.
It’s not often that a player completely overshadows a major cup final in the build-up. But that was the case in the days leading up to the 2022-23 EFL Cup Final between Newcastle United and Manchester United...
7 more goalkeeper pairs you forgot were once teammates.
Two years ago, I wrote about some sets of goalkeepers most people probably didn’t know played together. The piece featured some of the biggest names in goalkeeping, including Jan Oblak, Gianluigi Buffon and Nelson Dida. The piece did surprisingly well... [READ MORE]
GK Analysis: What can children’s TV teach viewers about goalkeeping?
It all started with a Postman Pat skills compilation. I’ve never published a write on April Fool’s Day, largely because I couldn’t come up with a premise... [READ MORE].
GK Analysis: How penalty-killer Stephanie Labbé backstopped Canada to victory in Japan.
Oh Canada, you big, golden beauty! For the first time in Canadian soccer history, our women's national team has won Olympic gold. The Canadian women’s soccer team defeated reigning silver medallists Sweden in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic... [READ MORE]
Top 10 goalkeepers in Serie A history.
To celebrate the website's two-year anniversary, goalkeeper journalist Mouhamad Rachini is ranking the 10 best goalkeepers of all time from each of the big five European leagues. This is the Serie A edition. [READ MORE].
Top 10 goalkeepers in Premier League history.
To celebrate the website's two-year anniversary, goalkeeper journalist Mouhamad Rachini is ranking the 10 best goalkeepers of all time from each of the big five European leagues. This is the Premier League edition. [READ MORE].
Top 10 goalkeepers in Ligue 1 history.
To celebrate the website's two-year anniversary, goalkeeper journalist Mouhamad Rachini is ranking the 10 best goalkeepers of all time from each of the big five European leagues. This is the Ligue 1 edition. [READ MORE].
Top 10 goalkeepers in La Liga history.
To celebrate the website's two-year anniversary, goalkeeper journalist Mouhamad Rachini is ranking the 10 best goalkeepers of all time from each of the big five European leagues. This is La Liga's edition. [READ MORE].
Top 10 goalkeepers in Bundesliga history.
To celebrate the website's two-year anniversary, goalkeeper journalist Mouhamad Rachini is ranking the 10 best goalkeepers of all time from each of the big five European leagues. This is the Bundesliga edition. [READ MORE].
The top goalkeepers in the history of the Big 5 European leagues.
On April 25, 2021, Between the Sticks celebrates its two-year anniversary. In honour of the milestone, goalkeeper journalist Mouhamad Rachini is ranking the 10 best goalkeepers of all time from each of the big five European leagues: the German Bundesliga, the Spanish Liga Santander, the French Ligue 1, the English Premier League, and the Italian Serie A.
GK Analysis: Why Juve’s wall (not Szczęsny) was largely at fault for conceding Oliveira’s free kick.
Juventus fans, you might want to look away. Despite scoring four aggregate goals against FC Porto, the reigning Serie A champions were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by the Dragões... [READ MORE].
GK Analysis: 3 things that make Emiliano Martínez one of the Premier League’s top shot-stoppers.
Game after game, week after week, Emiliano Martínez continues to prove he’s no one-season wonder. On Feb. 27, the Aston Villa goalkeeper picked up his third clean sheet in his last four Premier League... [READ MORE].
Taking a break.
I’m going to step away from this website and my Twitter account (@BlameTheKeeper) for a while. Hopefully, I'll be back online soon.
Why didn’t these goalkeepers win the Ballon d’Or?
On this day in 1963, Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin was awarded the Ballon d’Or, which is a prestigious individual accolade that recognizes the footballer perceived to be the year’s best player. The Ballon d’Or had only been awarded for the eighth time that year, but Yashin’s victory meant... [READ MORE].
GK Analysis: A goalkeeper breaks down Sergio Ramos’ penalties.
Try as he might, Neto just could not reach Sergio Ramos’ penalty shot. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the FC Barcelona man became the latest in a long list of goalkeepers tasked with trying to save a Ramos penalty attempt... [READ MORE].
Classic GK Analysis: Roman Bürki defies logic with stunning Slavia save.
The chaaampiooons! Ahh, it’s going to feel so good hearing that again. On October 20, the UEFA Champions League returns with its first batch of group stage games. Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Club Brugge and Dynamo Kiev... [READ MORE].
GK Analysis: Breaking down Édouard Mendy, Chelsea’s newest addition. (Part Two: Aerial ability, distribution & sweeper keeping)
One of the biggest criticisms Kepa Arrizabalaga faced last season was his reluctance to attack crosses and set-pieces. The Spaniard was very reserved -- he rarely, if ever, left his line, and it was even rarer to... [READ MORE]
GK Analysis: Breaking down Édouard Mendy, Chelsea’s newest addition. (Part One: Shot-stopping)
Chelsea fans, your wish has been granted. With the current season already underway, the Blues have finally found a new goalkeeper in Édouard Mendy. Days after Chelsea manager Frank Lampard confirmed the 28 year old's medical... [READ MORE]
Bernd Leno or Emiliano Martínez? It shouldn’t even be a debate.
It was the dream start to Arsenal’s 2020-21 season. On August 29, the Gunners defeated reigning Premier League champions Liverpool in the FA Community Shield. Arsenal, who qualified for the match as 2019-20 FA Cup champions, won... [READ MORE]