It’s been another highly eventful year for football with its usual mix of controversy, park-the-bus tedium, David and Goliath shocks, and astonishing individual brilliance.
We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Looking back to January 2014 seems like squinting at a bygone era, to a time when Liverpool scored for fun and Arsenal hung their creative hat on Kim Kallstrom. Those were indeed the days.
To celebrate the passing of another fantastic twelve months of footy the Cutter – in association with Betfair – has compiled a devilish quiz. Dare you take it?
There is one point apiece for every question. Let us know how you fare by telling us on Twitter.
1/ What happened in the space of just six minutes on July 8th that shook the world?
2/ Why did the figure of £16,344 make the news this year?
3/ Who finished fourth from bottom in the Premier League in 2013/14?
4/ Name the three men who have been in charge at Crystal Palace in their last 20 games.
5/ Last season saw two 6-3 thrillers. One was Manchester City’s victory over Arsenal. Which two teams contested the other?
6/ The 2014/15 Aston Villa squad contains two players with surnames that are occupations. Can you name them?
7/ What is the connection between Manchester United’s summer signing Daley Blind and singer Robin Thicke?
8/ Who said “I lost my balance, making my body unstable, and falling on top of my opponent”?
9/ Who moved from Spurs to Fulham on loan last January and now plies his trade in Germany?
10/ Both FA Cup semi-finals went to penalties in 2013/14 with Arsenal and Hull City progressing. Can you name the unfortunate losers?
11/ Steven Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea in April was one of the most memorable moments of 2014. But who provided the pass?
12/ Which team knocked out two English sides from the Champion’s League having already beaten another domestic side in their qualifying group?
13/ Above is 19 year old Jordan Donnellan who wrongly believed back in March that he’d won £1m on a football accumulator. Why was his bet deemed invalid?
14/ Which manager referred to his team as a “little horse that needs milk” back in March?
15/ Who were the surprise winners of February’s African Nation’s Championship defeating Ghana on penalties in the final?
16/ In June Jack Colback made a shock switch from Sunderland to arch rivals Newcastle. Name the last player to move from Wearside to Tyneside in 2006.
17/ In November Lionel Messi made history by becoming La Liga’s all-time record goalscorer. A hat-trick took him to 253 but who was it against?
18/ How much did Chelsea pay Benfica for Nemanja Matic in January?
a/ £16m b/ £21m c/ £24m
19/ FIFA have short-listed their 2014 Ballon D’Or nominees down to a final three with the winner announced next February. Who is contending the award with Messi and Ronaldo?
20/ Name the Manchester United youngster above who made his Premier League debut this season before succumbing to injury after just 24 minutes.
21/ England played two friendlies back in June as preparation for the World Cup. They disappointingly drew both, one to the mighty Ecuador. Name the other country.
22/ After a relatively poor performance by Zlatan Ibrahimovic against Chelsea in the Champion’s League Gerard Houllier said “The problem is that he’s got people used to caviar. On Wednesday he only served ___”
Was it
a/ Smoked salmon
b/ Roasted halibut
c/ Fish and chips
23/ Which footballer tweeted “Get ya mum in, plays the field well son! #sket” resulting in a three-match ban this year?
24/ Juventus once again dominated Serie A this year convincingly securing the title by 17 points in May and looking on track to repeat the feat again. How many league games how they lost in the entirely of 2014?
25/ Earlier this month Sergio Aguero wasn’t the only superhero on display at the Stadium of Light as Manchester City beat Sunderland 4-1. Who was the other?
1/ Germany scored four of their seven goals against Brazil in the World Cup semi-final.
2/ It was the value of luxury watches given to various football officials at Fifa Congress in Sao Paulo.
3/ West Bromwich Albion
4/ Tony Pulis, Neil Warnock, and Keith Millen
5/ Cardiff and Liverpool
6/ Gary GARDNER and Nathan BAKER
7/ Blind’s girlfriend Candy-Rae Fleur (above) has danced professionally on stage with Thicke.
8/ Luis Suarez ‘explaining’ his World Cup bite on Chiellini.
9/ Lewis Holtby
10/ Wigan Athletic and Sheffield United
11/ Mamadou Sakho
12/ Bayern Munich
13/ Because he’d filled in the wrong form (a Weekend Result Rush rather than a Weekend Quickslip)
14/ Jose Mourinho
15/ Libya
16/ Robbie Elliott
17/ Sevilla
18/ b/ £21m
19/ Manuel Neuer
20/ Jesse Lingard
21/ Honduras
22/ a/ Smoked salmon
23/ Rio Ferdinand
24/ Two
25/ A pitch invader dressed as Spiderman
