Tony Cascarino and Juan Pablo Sorín to attend Thinking Football 2026
Tony Cascarino and Juan Pablo Sorín to attend Thinking Football 2026
The former Ireland and Argentina internationals will take part, respectively, in discussions after “Tony Cascarino: Extra Time” (Thursday, 18:00 CET) and “The Match” (Friday, 20:00 CET)
The Thinking Football Film Festival can confirm that Tony Cascarino and Juan Pablo Sorin will be attending the 2026 edition in Bilbao.
The former Ireland and Argentina internationals join Liverpool legends Bruce Grobbelaar and Sammy Lee, who, alongside director Asif Kapadia, will attend the festival’s opening screening: “Kenny Dalglish” (Monday, 19:00 CET*).
*All times are CET
Tony Cascarino, Thursday 12, at 18:00
Tony Cascarino (Kent, 1962) was a physically imposing striker, powerful in the air and a specialist in direct football. Although he was born in England, he played for the Republic of Ireland, making 88 international appearances and scoring 19 goals. He also represented the nation at the 1988 European Championship and the 1990 and 1994 World Cups. His career took him to clubs such as Gillingham, Millwall, Aston Villa, Celtic and Chelsea.
However, it was in France that he reached his peak. At Olympique de Marseille, he scored 61 goals in 84 league matches and became one of the most feared strikers in the French league. He subsequently shone at Nancy too. Cascarino epitomised the classic number nine of the 1980s and 1990s: combative, a thorn in the side for defenders and decisive in the box, eventually becoming one of the most recognisable figures of the finest Irish generation of the 20th century.
The former Irish international footballer will attend the screening of the documentary “Tony Cascarino: Extra Time”, directed by Sean Casey. The film looks back at Cascarino’s extraordinary career, from his early days as a barber’s apprentice to becoming one of his country’s greatest footballers.
Juan Pablo Sorín, Friday 13, at 20:00
Juan Pablo Sorín (Buenos Aires, 1976) will discuss one of this year’s Thinking Football highlights: The Match. It's a documentary that reconstructs the historic clash between Argentina and England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals. Through previously unseen footage and interviews with those involved, the film explores how that match transcended sport to become one of the most iconic moments in the history of football.
Sorín was a left-back and midfielder with boundless stamina, renowned for his energy, leadership and versatility. Having come through the ranks at Argentinos Juniors, he soon caught the eye in Europe and played for Juventus, although he made his name at River Plate, where he won the 1996 Copa Libertadores and several domestic titles. A full international for Argentina, he made 75 appearances and scored 11 goals, and captained the national team at the 2006 World Cup.
Sorín enjoyed a remarkable career, playing in Argentina, Brazil and Europe. He was particularly admired at Cruzeiro, where he achieved idol status, and also made a notable impact at Villarreal thanks to his attacking runs down the wing. With his unmistakable long hair, he embodied an approach to football based on both technical ability and commitment, becoming one of the most charismatic South American footballers of his generation.