By Lim Wei Hao, Tan Kwang Yu
Football fans are a difficult bunch to please. Our idols are expected to perform on the pitch day in, day out. Some say they are in a position of privilege – getting paid to do what they love. The advent of social media has allowed fans to vicariously live out some of these experiences.
Yet, what we see on the social media pages of clubs or players are heavily curated. What do players really think about their rivals or the playing styles of other teams? How do teams prepare in training? What is life like in the dressing room? How is a club really run?
Enter Netflix. In recent years, Netflix has produced top quality football-related documentaries – think First Team: Juventus – where fans are given unprecedented access to La Vecchia Signora (Old Lady) as they seal the 2017/2018 Serie A title but fall short in the coveted UEFA Champions League – or Sunderland ‘Til I Die – where The Black Cats try with all their might to gain promotion back to the English Premier League. Most recently released, Antoine Griezmann: The Making of a Legend gives viewers a peek into the life of dimunitive Grizo, who, alongside Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé, are earmarked to lead the French team into the next decade of glory.
What was most fascinating about First Team: Juventus was the obsession with winning at the highest level and this philosophy is ingrained in the players right from the academy through to the first team. Juventus had done it all in the domestic league and are the most successful Italian club in history. Yet, through interviews with the manager, Massimiliano Allegri, or with players such as Gonzalo Higuain or Gianlugi Buffon, you sense the feeling of regret and helplessness. The elusive Champions League title will remain a dream. Their chances this season have been bolstered with the signing of Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo – the very man who knocked Juventus out in last season’s quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Number of episodes: 6
Rating: 3.5/5
Verdict: With equal emphasis on the highs and lows of the team, First Team: Juventus demonstrates why Juventus are a class above the rest in the Serie A. The lack of a domestic challenge somewhat, sees over dramatisation at points. Pretty long-drawn out and should be watched over a few sittings.
On the other hand, Sunderland ‘Til I Die is a classic example of an English side’s fall from grace. Relegation from the English Premier League in the 2016/2017 season saw a massive loss of revenue coupled with key player departures such as Jordan Pickford and Jermaine Defoe. A terrible start to the new season saw the team pick up only one win in their first 15 league matches as gaffer Simon Grayson was shown the door. Defeated and in low spirits, Chris Coleman had a mammoth task on his hands to lift morale. Points were few and far between and with the added difficulty of keeping players motivated and happy, fans were crying out for a miracle which never came. Lewis Grabban’s departure and Jack Rodwell’s inability to play as a result of long-term injury are but just a few subplots in the demise of Sunderland’s season.
With the camera crew granted almost full access to affairs at the club, it was clear that former CEO of Sunderland Martin Bain was never a popular figure. The Stadium of Light has never been a darker place and the series ends as the team are relegated to League One.
Number of episodes: 8
Rating: 4/5
Verdict: Undercurrents of friction between players, manager and management, and the apt articulation of the struggles of life-long suffering Sunderland fans deem this a great watch. A fresh perspective given that attention is hardly given to the lower league clubs, let alone clubs outside the top 6 in the English Premier League.
3. Antoine Griezmann: The Making of a Legend
Antoine Griezmann and ‘legend’ aren’t words that you normally use in the same sentence. The 28-year-old has always been recognised as a talent, sure, but he has never been mentioned in the same breath as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Unbeknownst to me, this documentary does a wonderful job of proving me wrong – all aboard the Griezman hype train.
The story of a scrawny boy and the village it took to raise him up is an inspiration to youngsters with dreams of becoming a footballer. Griezmann had been turned away numerous times for his size. A decision taken together with his family saw Grizo being sent to train with Real Sociedad – a tale of sacrifice and pure determination to succeed.
A few years later, Griezmann made the step up, realising his full potential and became widely regarded as one of the stars of LaLiga. A missed penalty against Real Madrid in the 2015/2016 Champions League final saw him finish second-best and that season was particularly tough on the Frenchman. In the November 2015 Paris attacks, Griezmann and the French team were playing Germany at the Stade de France. A mass shooting at the Bataclan theatre had Griezmann fearing the worst, as he knew his sister, Maud, was watching a concert on that exact same day. Thankfully, she survived the attacks. In July, expectations were high as France hosted the Euro 2016. Alas, Les Bleus fell at home to Portugal at the last hurdle as they lost the final. The Gods were harsh on the young man.
A documentary that brings out Griezmann’s personality, the way he popularises the “Take The L” goal celebration, his tears and quips of sheer confidence shows the personality he has. The French team knew that the World Cup was theirs to lose, and the belief the team collectively had bordered audacity. With no disrespect to Croatia, after Les Bleus defeated Belgium in the semi-finals, Grizemann quipped “I knew we won it”. Legend? Maybe not yet, but definitely a cult hero in the eyes of the French.
Number of episodes: 1
Rating: 5/5
Verdict: Goosebumps and tears, the highs and lows, a story of Griezmann’s struggles and sacrifices, culminates in the lifting of the World Cup. This makes you want to play the Beautiful Game. A must-watch.
Do you agree with us? Tell us what we should watch next!
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