Beware of all international players who are currently injured or out of form. Beware. They might be the ones stealing the show in RSA.
Every World Cup has its upsets (Brazil being sent home in the round of 16 in Italia '90 is one example). That's why we watch it. Otherwise we would simply play it on paper. And, instead of 62 games, we'd watch Spain play Brazil (as the obvious 2 best teams, on paper) and just get on with our boring summer. But no, we long for these surprises caused sometimes by controversial red cards or wrongfully awarded penalties. Or, once in a while, some average footballer becomes, with 4 or 5 marvelous performances, one of the greatests of all time. This is more likely to happen this time around, as the level of International Football has never been this high. Gaps between teams have shrunk, and apart from North Korea (of which we know close-to-nothing), everyone has a good idea of what to expect from their opponents (Thank You footytube.com!). One can even argue that South Africa 2010 has more than one "Group of Death". The point here is that anyone will be in the position to shine.
The most important aspect of a footballer's game is his confidence. Confidence that he is sharper than his adversary, fitter, and ready to run non-stop like a mad man. That sort of belief comes easily with being sidelined with an injury for a month - getting massages and watching your mates killing themselves on the tube - or simply with having -possibly- the worst season of your career. Indeed, having nothing to play for in the last remaining weeks of a season removes any kind of pressure or expectation off a footballer's shoulders. Example please! -Liverpool are crappy this year, so is Steven Gerrard, their captain. They're playing for nothing, and I can't even remember what winning a game feels like anymore. So this morning, I didn't bother waking up to watch my boys play Burnley away in the PL. Result: the skipper scored twice, and the Reds crush freshly-relegated Burnley 4-0. No pressure? No problem. So now, expect a cracking Gerrard this summer when he wears the Three Lions shirt. The hottest transfer target of the summer has yet to revealed; while we wait, here's the list of players we know that may write their name in History:
-Wayne Rooney (England): Some much deserved rest for the hottest striker in the world, just in time for the Cup. Ferguson abused of Wazza all year long, even playing him while he was injured. But he's winning the race to fitness, and may well live up to his (overrating) nickname "The White Pelé", to the delight of his England boss, Don Fabio.
-Park Ji-Sung (South Korea): Having only played a total of 25 games for Manchester United in 09-10, Korea's captain will surely create a few surprises versus Argentina and Nigeria...
-Josmer "Jozy" Altidore & Clint Dempsey (U.S): the pair of strikers have had their share of time off the pitch, mostly through injury for the latter, and have already shown the World that they can beat the very best (Spain in the Confederations Cup in '09). Be prepared England!
-Franck Ribéry (France): Tendonitis kept him out of the Bayern Munich lineup all season long, and now, he's back. In top form. Domenech is delighted. Vas-y Francky, c'est bon!
-Miroslave Klose (Germany): Having lost his spot in Munich to Ivica Olic and Thomas Muller, the 2006 WC golden boot simply knows how to score for Germany. If he's on Joachim Lowe's 23, he will surely add to his WC goal counter and break down defenses in two months. Never dismiss the National Mannschaft's chances in a tournament.
-Robin Van Persie (Netherlands): RVP injured his ankle last November during a international friendly (that was both useless and boring) against Italy, and never came back. Until last week, when he came off the bench for Arsenal against Tottenham. Ten minutes later, Spurs keeper Gomes had to get to work to stop an RPG of a free-kick from RVP, quickly showing what the Gunners lacked all season. Along with Robben, who's also back from a long term injury, Van Persie will try to lead the Dutch to their first trophy since 1988, on a set a very fresh legs.
-Michael Essien (Ghana): The Chelsea super-midfielder with 5 lungs and strength like 10 men, will be back for his country after missing most of the season due to injury. I expect him to win the midfield battle against his club teammate, (the very tired) Michael Ballack when Ghana play Germany in the group stages.
-Yakubu & Martins (Nigeria): The Yak spent all year recovering from an achilles tendon injury, and will be fit for the Big Show. Oba Oba hasn't played much for Wolfsburg (less than 20 games). These two leathal finishers may cause more damage then expected to their underestimating opponents.
-Kakà (Brazil): Nothing much to say. He can be the best footballer in the world when fit. His manager at Real Madrid, and some members of the press claim that his recent injuries were fake and that he is simply resting his legs for the World Cup. Can we blame him for being far-sighted? Yes. Real pays his rent, not Brazil. But are we gonna complain when, he and the others on the list, crush (or deliver) our hopes and cause heart attacks this summer? Probably not.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Argentine (World Cup preview part I)
In less than two months, you will no longer be capable of reaching me on my cell phone. You'll have to leave a message. On June 11th, real life stops. For a month. Can't wait. I'm already hearing predictions from fans-turned-pro analysts about who's to win it all. I'm getting some good ones. I'll share some quotes with you in later posts.
The obvious favourites remain: Spain, Brazil. Yeah. In THAT order. But if you apply the 24-year rule (Brazil 1970-1994; Italy 1982-2006), it's Argentina's turn to be Champions, having won it at Mexico '86, 24 years ago. And considering that Diego is back, and that he's found his replacement (who, according to anyone who's seen him violate the Gunners in the Champions League last week, already surpasses his national coach), couldn't make it sweeter for the Albiceleste. Everything comes together so beautifully for Maradona's squad. Messi is in the form of his (very short so far) career; Gonzalo Higuain is outshining Cristiano Ronaldo (who?) at Real Madrid; Tevez is turning recently-known-to-the-world Manchester City into a Champions League side, and so on... Everything comes together so perfectly for Maradona's squad. Except Maradona himself.
His poor knowledge of the job may turn out to be the only thing that can stop Messi from shining for his country this summer. Once one of the most feared forwards in Football, Diego Armando Maradona has become a laughing matter at the International level, as a manager. After Argentina booked their spot in RSA at the very death, courtesy of veteran penalty-expert Palermo, one could only wonder which hand Maradona will play to turn his fortunes around as the national Boss, come summertime. No "Hand of God" will help against Nigeria and South Korea in the group stages. He'll have to know his opponents and not underestimate them. He's got to pick the right players (Javier Zanetti, Cambiasso and Riquelme all have to be back on the squad) at the right positions (sounds obvious? not to him). Otherwise, you can forget about the magic of Messi, the hard work of Tevez and the sharp finishing of Higuain and Milito...
It's going to be cold in South Africa,and games will be played at high altitude...
So, dear Diego, now is not the time to be proud and stubborn. Or you may find yourself with a mutiny on your hands during the knockout stages. Bury the hatchet(s), make peace with whoever you had beef with and deliver your fans from their agony. Let us have the discombobulating show we're expecting from Leo. And in return, we'll forget you even existed (no one seems to care about the past nowadays), for we'll no longer need memories when talking about Argentina as a great nation of Football.
This was my (very poor) attempt at ignoring Messi's praises and performances of the current calendar year. The kid is only 22. Give him time, to win multiple world cups and personal awards, or, like Portuguese center-back Pepe declared a couple of days ago: "Wait 'till he scores his 1000th goal" -he's at 133-. Then, will we have the right to compare him to the true greats of The Game. Like this dude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk-kXwjASEE
The obvious favourites remain: Spain, Brazil. Yeah. In THAT order. But if you apply the 24-year rule (Brazil 1970-1994; Italy 1982-2006), it's Argentina's turn to be Champions, having won it at Mexico '86, 24 years ago. And considering that Diego is back, and that he's found his replacement (who, according to anyone who's seen him violate the Gunners in the Champions League last week, already surpasses his national coach), couldn't make it sweeter for the Albiceleste. Everything comes together so beautifully for Maradona's squad. Messi is in the form of his (very short so far) career; Gonzalo Higuain is outshining Cristiano Ronaldo (who?) at Real Madrid; Tevez is turning recently-known-to-the-world Manchester City into a Champions League side, and so on... Everything comes together so perfectly for Maradona's squad. Except Maradona himself.
His poor knowledge of the job may turn out to be the only thing that can stop Messi from shining for his country this summer. Once one of the most feared forwards in Football, Diego Armando Maradona has become a laughing matter at the International level, as a manager. After Argentina booked their spot in RSA at the very death, courtesy of veteran penalty-expert Palermo, one could only wonder which hand Maradona will play to turn his fortunes around as the national Boss, come summertime. No "Hand of God" will help against Nigeria and South Korea in the group stages. He'll have to know his opponents and not underestimate them. He's got to pick the right players (Javier Zanetti, Cambiasso and Riquelme all have to be back on the squad) at the right positions (sounds obvious? not to him). Otherwise, you can forget about the magic of Messi, the hard work of Tevez and the sharp finishing of Higuain and Milito...
It's going to be cold in South Africa,and games will be played at high altitude...
So, dear Diego, now is not the time to be proud and stubborn. Or you may find yourself with a mutiny on your hands during the knockout stages. Bury the hatchet(s), make peace with whoever you had beef with and deliver your fans from their agony. Let us have the discombobulating show we're expecting from Leo. And in return, we'll forget you even existed (no one seems to care about the past nowadays), for we'll no longer need memories when talking about Argentina as a great nation of Football.
This was my (very poor) attempt at ignoring Messi's praises and performances of the current calendar year. The kid is only 22. Give him time, to win multiple world cups and personal awards, or, like Portuguese center-back Pepe declared a couple of days ago: "Wait 'till he scores his 1000th goal" -he's at 133-. Then, will we have the right to compare him to the true greats of The Game. Like this dude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk-kXwjASEE
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The Curious Case of Manuel Almunia
Arsenal's goalkeeper is English. But only according to his passport. "For me, Manuel Almunia is Spanish" - Fabio Capello. So, Deco (who was born in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil) isn't Portuguese; neither is Pepe (born in Maceió, Brazil); world cup winner (with Italy, the place of birth of Capello) Mauro Camoranesi was born an Argentine, and according to the England boss, will die one. Before we go any further, let's call this what it is: xenophobia.
I recently met an Englishman at a sports bar in Montreal, and after ordering a second pint of "the black stuff", I turned to him and asked if he thought Almunia should be England's goalkeeper. He quickly replied:"Of course not." Why not? - "He's just not English mate!" - But his passport says he is... -"Yeah but..." Thank you, no further questions. You just wanna go to South Africa with real Englishmen wearing the Three Lions shirt. It doesn't matter if they lack talent. Now I get it.
So, in a time when everyone, even Germany is opening their borders, the English are closing up their minds, and their chances of making it anywhere at the World Cup. Because no one wins a Mundial with keepers like Robert Greene (in a relegation battle with West Ham), or David James (in a relegation fall with Portsmouth). Joe Hart is okay, but he's no Manny Almunia. The true question remains however, whether Capello was bullied into his current position on the matter by the idiotic public opinion created by tabloid wannabe-reporters, or is he simply an old-fashion Italian who believes naturalization should be the affairs of terrorists, and spies only? He said he already knew who his number 1 will be, come June. That was before the almost-perfect performance(Zlatan's first goal was his fault) Almunia had against Barcelona in the first leg of their UCL clash, preventing a 8-2 thrashing of the Gunners at home against the Reigning Champions of Everything. "For me, Almunia is Spanish". Shut up old man! I want Steven Gerrard to lift the Cup! I will not survive watching John Terry cry on a pitch one more time. It's way too pathetic.
Almost no one in Football spoke on the matter, and the few ones who wrote about the Almunia case, rapidly dismissed the possibility of him representing England. "because he's just not English, mate". Shut it young lad! He is! Ask the Foreign Office! And the first thing an international coach has to do: choosing the best 23 players holding a passport of a nation (preferrably the same one for all 23), then picking out a leader (or captain) for these men (Let's not talk about that other fiasco - Terry).
Manuel Almunia is by far the best goalkeeper in the world eligible to play for England. And he's not England's keeper. Because, even though he is eligible, he sorta isn't. Get it? Neither do I.
England is not going to win the World Cup. A costly keeper mistake will sink them in the quarterfinal, again. I'll try (and fail) to drink my sorrow away. And, when I'm pissed drunk crawling on the floor, I'll lift my head, smile and think: "I bloody told you so".
I recently met an Englishman at a sports bar in Montreal, and after ordering a second pint of "the black stuff", I turned to him and asked if he thought Almunia should be England's goalkeeper. He quickly replied:"Of course not." Why not? - "He's just not English mate!" - But his passport says he is... -"Yeah but..." Thank you, no further questions. You just wanna go to South Africa with real Englishmen wearing the Three Lions shirt. It doesn't matter if they lack talent. Now I get it.
So, in a time when everyone, even Germany is opening their borders, the English are closing up their minds, and their chances of making it anywhere at the World Cup. Because no one wins a Mundial with keepers like Robert Greene (in a relegation battle with West Ham), or David James (in a relegation fall with Portsmouth). Joe Hart is okay, but he's no Manny Almunia. The true question remains however, whether Capello was bullied into his current position on the matter by the idiotic public opinion created by tabloid wannabe-reporters, or is he simply an old-fashion Italian who believes naturalization should be the affairs of terrorists, and spies only? He said he already knew who his number 1 will be, come June. That was before the almost-perfect performance(Zlatan's first goal was his fault) Almunia had against Barcelona in the first leg of their UCL clash, preventing a 8-2 thrashing of the Gunners at home against the Reigning Champions of Everything. "For me, Almunia is Spanish". Shut up old man! I want Steven Gerrard to lift the Cup! I will not survive watching John Terry cry on a pitch one more time. It's way too pathetic.
Almost no one in Football spoke on the matter, and the few ones who wrote about the Almunia case, rapidly dismissed the possibility of him representing England. "because he's just not English, mate". Shut it young lad! He is! Ask the Foreign Office! And the first thing an international coach has to do: choosing the best 23 players holding a passport of a nation (preferrably the same one for all 23), then picking out a leader (or captain) for these men (Let's not talk about that other fiasco - Terry).
Manuel Almunia is by far the best goalkeeper in the world eligible to play for England. And he's not England's keeper. Because, even though he is eligible, he sorta isn't. Get it? Neither do I.
England is not going to win the World Cup. A costly keeper mistake will sink them in the quarterfinal, again. I'll try (and fail) to drink my sorrow away. And, when I'm pissed drunk crawling on the floor, I'll lift my head, smile and think: "I bloody told you so".
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