Zidane back with a style

It was a friendly game in France in last November (2009) where Zidane played in a charity game of "Variety Clubs" in France vs. Amiens. A very interesting moment came: a free kick, and Zizo will kick it. He scored it.

Now, all of this could be normal. Well, the goal was wonderful one. Zizo scored it in a style, in a beautiful way, dailymail called it a "wonder free kick".

When I went to the YouTube to watch it, I smiled a lot, and here what is not normal:

The game was not broadcasted or recorded in TV. I found so many clips from the net, so many very clear great quality clips. All of them were by camera fans. They were from almost all angles of the field. The fans had so much trust that Zizo is still Zizo. They went to the YouTube and shared it in the next day or so. It was more than three years after his retirement.

Those were the ones that were shared on YouTube. I wonder how many more clips, were recorded and not
shared?

After filtering them, I am sharing here seven of these clips






and here are four more videos from four different fans, each with excellent quality, a different flavour of Zidane goal:

from the side angle, nice video
from the back of the net
from the backside of Zidane, very different angle
and last angle from the side again
Four

"Beating Barcelona is the greatest moment of my career"

Murinho: "Beating Barcelona is the greatest moment of my career"

This statement is so powerful to describe the passion of the game. Think with me: Murinho won two English leagues with Chelsea, one Italian League with Inter, UEFA cup with Porto, and a remarkable Champion League victory in 2004 with Porto beating Monaco 3-0 in the final.

So, beating Barca at a semi final in 2010 is more important to Murinho than winning the Champion League with a small home team (Porto when compared to the giant clubs).

He adds: " "For the players, me, the fans, it's the greatest. We were a team of heroes. We sweated blood."

and ironically "I love Inter and the supporters, but not Italian football. I respect it, but I don't love it."

I say 'ironically', because yesterday victory was by Portugese manager, Brazilian defenders and keeper, but, purely, an Italian special way. I was almost watching 2006 World Cup final.

The game had a single wonderful goal, a goal to watch again and again and again:



Few comments from my side:

- Big boost to the defensive tactics:
A tactical analysis football site described Inter victory as "one of the great defensive performances in recent footballing history." This game reminded me so much of 2006 WC or final, or Greek in Euro 2004 when defence had its final word. It is a boost to the boring side of football. I must add that Inter plays very beautiful that watching him in the quarter final reminded me of Brazil 1994 golden team. Very balanced team with big balance between defence and attack, and individual skills vs. team work.

Let's look into the figures:
Barca had 75% possession of the ball vs. 25% for Inter.
Barca had 12 shots on goals vs. 1 for Inter.
However, what it counts only this stats:
Barca 2 goals Inter 3 goals for goals aggregates, each got three points.

- Barca lost it from the first leg:
I think the semi-final was almost over from the first leg. Going two goals down, against a giant team, and in a semi-final of CL, is almost impossible to recover. Yes, they were very close to do it, but one thing is to be very close, and it is totally different thing to really make it happen.

I think Gardiola did big mistake was when he played very open game in the first leg. He let go the game. I could not believe my eyes that day. I would expect at least a tight defence after scoring the initial goal.

- Barca most critical week for the La Liga
Look at this:
- Wed 28 April: Barca faced one of toughest games every with big upset.
- Sat 1 May: only three days later, they will travel to face Villareal in Vila Real
- Tue 4 May: only three days later, they must face Tenerife in Camp Nou
- Sun 9 May: Barca need to travel to Sevilla in a very tough game

Within a span of six days, Barca will be playing three critical games, and the fourth one in only 10 days.
This is more than crazy. I think this type of schedules are destructive to the game.

- Brazilian mythes
Since about 15 years (early 1990s) and I debate with friends that Brazilian stereotyping that they don't play good defence, they don't have good keeper and they are not strong physically is just a myth.

Yesterday, was one of big proofs:
Inter introduced not just a world class, but a history class defensive game, thanks to three key players, Lucio, Maicon and the keeper Julio Caeasar, all of them are Brazilians.

When Brazil beat England in Qatar last November Capello said that in every single tackle on the game, Brazilians won the tackle physically, England must focus on strengthening their bodies.

Brazilians weak bodies and fragile defence is part of the past.

Three fascinating (must see) goals

No comments are needed, they are all joy to watch





and the third in this link for Lampard vs. Stoke City couple of days ago

Tales of Zidane 7th penalty

The picture of this blog is one of my favorites featuring an important moment in 2006 final, Zidane scoring his famous penalty against the best keeper in the world, that time, Gianluigi Buffon.

So much were written about this particular penalty and how great that penalty was. One of the Scottish players and a BBC bloggers desribed it as: "Surely, given the circumstances, there cannot have been a more confident penalty than that in the history of the game.".

There is so much that was going to in my head during that moment, and so much to say more about this penalty:

- Zizo had perfect record in PKs:
Missing a PK became a norm for the super-stars in the modern football. The list is long and includes very impressive names: Maradona, Platini, Socrates, Zico, Marco Van Basten, Beckham, Raul, Mathause, Roberto Baggio, Franco Barezi, Igor Belanov and the list is too long, but, in contrast

Zidane had 7 crucial penalties in his career, all of them with France, 4 in European Cups and  3 in World Cups, and his record was a perfect one: scoring seven penalties out of seven penalties. Something impressive that is very rare to happen in modern history. It is something to tell about Zidane: He got the nervs and confidence of a football champ.

I searched so much, I only found one penalty missed by Zidane, that was prior to 2006 WC friendly against China, and it was when he slipped while taking the PK, so we should not count it. First, it had no importance at all, second, it was a funny accident:

Zidane: penalty raté
Uploaded by L_art_rab. - More professional, college and classic sports videos.

- Best player in the world vs. Best keeper in the world:
When I was watching, I told my friends, Zizo will sure kick to the right side of Buffon (left side of Zizo).
I was wrong??!! Not exactly, Buffon had the same thought as mine as well. Whenever I thought about it, I always thought that Buffon took the right decision, and Zidane did the right decision, both in selecting which side of the goal to focus on.

Let me explain.

Before that moment, Zidane took six crucial PKs in his life, let's review them:
1- France x Holland in Euro 1996 Quarter Final:
Zidane took the first PK to give France 5-4 victory
Zidane kicked it to the right side of the keeper

2- France x czech in Euro 1996 Semi Final:
Zidane took the first PK and scored it, but france lost 5-6 and was knocked out.
Zidane kicked it to the right side of the keeper, I could not find a video for this penalty.

3- France x Italy in 1998 WC Quarter Final: (check at 03:26 minutes)
Zidane again took the first PK and scored it, exactly, to the right side of the keeper. France qualified to the semi final with 4-3 victory

4- Next, two years later, in Zidane best game ever (in my opinion) vs. Portugal in the Euro 2000 Semi Final.

After an amazing tough game, Zidane had to take a penalty at the extra time and during the "Death Goal" years. It was tremendous pressure moment. Zizo never looked more confident, he scored it,

and again, it was to the right side of the keeper

5- France x England in Euro 2004 first game:

Zizo did his routine again, his right foot to the right side of the keeper. Well, England had a bad keeper, so we might expect a lot of him.

But, the sixth crucial penalty is different:

6- France x Portugal in 2006 WC Semi Final:

Zidane did it again, with exactly same way. But, now, it was a wonderful smart Portoguese keeper. He had big role in Portugal qualifying to the Semi Final and he was able to read Zizo mind. Ricardo almost saved the penalty.

7- Now, we reach the seventh important penalty in Zizo career. At that moment, he is facing one of the smartest and most competent keepers in the history of the game, Buffon. Zizo scored all of his famous six penalties the same way, to the right side of the keeper.

Is he willing to change his style?

I think, Buffon did his right guess, taking the game of chances, he jumped to the right side.

Zidane did right decision too, he changed his style, he knew he didn't need the power this time, as he usually did in the past. But, he needed the smartness.


Zizo penalty in the final of the last mondial, was much more than a PK, it had so much history and characters behind it. I have to add something weird, considering he is my favorite ever player, and so much wow said about that PK:

I liked Zizo decision (changing the side), but I didn't like his way of taking the PK. In such an important game, I think style and art is not what we need. What is needed is precise power and focus to score. I think it was bit careless, that he might missed it.

Same thing I say about 1990 Maradona PK vs. Italy in the Semi Final, esepcially few days after missing one with exact artistic style in the QF vs. Yugoslavia. Same thing I say about Totti PK in Euro 2000 vs. Holland. Tottai was lucky that he missed it the stupid way in a normal game, that no one remembers.

BONUS MATERIAL:
Zidane 2006 PK from fans camera
Zidane talking about his Euro 2000 SF PK (very nice)
Zidane vs. Malaga PK, same routine, two months before 2006 WC

Double Double Kick Goal

These people are crazy in Argentinian league, a wonderful goal for Gimnasia La Plata against Boca Juniors.

What is interesting is the great passion for skills in Argentinian football, two players think alike at the same meoment to have a great way to score a goal.

Maradona best goal with Napoli in a new video

This could be the best goal every for famous goal among 115 goals scored with Napoli in 7 seasons. You might seen the goal, but I never seen it in a good video. Always the video is toooo short, or only a replay.

This is the first time, I see the goal in a good edited video,
enjoy it :)

Champion League SF by statistics

Bayern and Inter had big step towards the CL final, and we can say that they already put one foot on Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. Of course, still, CL taught us that everything is always possible.

Both teams deserved winning their games. Does reading statistics tell you much about the game? I would say, yes, but not alone. Let's see what the numbers said about both games:

Numbers said Bayern Munich had double the amount of correct passes as Lyon. When you see the game, you see it clearly. It was red dominating the field, and controlling the game, even when they were one player down. Bayern didn't translate it to more than one goal, they let few goals to go.

Let's see Barca Inter battle:

Barca had much more correct passes than Inter, and Xavi as usual in the front. Numbers say that Xavi is the number one in correct passes any stats. What's interesting that Ibra and Abidal who had least number of correct passes in Barca were the ones to be taken out during the game.

But Inter clearly outplayed Barca. Barca defence was pathetic, and I think Gardiola did big mistake in making the game too open for Inter. Barca was too tired, and playing an open game requires very good physiques.

Despite the passes patterns, Barca didn't do enough short passes as usual. They lost too many long passes.

Finally, the most important statistics during the game, is the number of goals scored in every net : )

Moroccon girl caused Ribery to miss the final

Many people were astonished by the bad tackle of the French player Frank Ribery at the 37th minute today in Champion League semi-final vs. Lyon. He got an immediate red card.



Ribery under immense pressure these days because of a sex scandal outbreak in last few days that might cause him a lot. He is 27 years married to an Algerian woman with two kids.

He admitted that he had sex with a Moroccon/French prostitue paying 2000 pounds per night. And he kept doing that for several months. The scandal erupted when Police raided Cafe Zaman at Champ Elysee in Paris.

The legal scandal issue is not because of prostitution, which is legal in France, but because 'Zahia Dehar' was under 18 years old. She was earning 20,000 pounds per month going with rich people, many of them famouos footballers. She used to fly to Germany or Dubai in elite hotels as part of her duty.

"Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema, and Sidney Govou, had all treated me with utter respect and should be left alone."

Wow, the scandal covers, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Lyon clubs.

The most interesting part, that Zahia is living in peace with friends in Paris, and since she cooperated with the police, she is totally okay. Since she already turned 18 now, this means she might continue developing her successful career, while the famous footballer can face up to 3 years jail and hifty fine if accused guilty.

Two wonder goals from this month

As I was away a bit, I come back with something very valuable, worth the waiting, two wonder goals

the first is tribute to Kamel (sorry Kamel for Juventus)
an amazing volley with great peice of skills and control of the ball from Magicon in a 2-0 victory for Inter vs. Juvy



The second is not any less, from Dany Rose in a 2-1 victory for Tottenham against Arsenal



and here is something interesting, the goal as been caught by a camera fan

Messi or Maradona? (Part2 of 2)

It is said that great players are too types:
- one who makes you feel that football is a very tough game.
- other who makes you feel that football is very simple one.
Maradona belongs to the first group, Messi to the second.

One thing kept striking me in the last 3 months everytime I see him playing, and with every goal he scored, that he plays really really simple football. Most of his recent goals came out of simple touches that requires  little to normal physical efforts, but huge foot sensitivity and brain skills.

At this age, he is reaching quick maturity, he is ahead of his age I think. The way he distribute his effort during the game, making spaces, and scoring with the least sweat in his shirt, is awesome.

Everytime I see him, I wonder, how can they don't mark him? You often see him alone. I never seen any star left alone like him. Is it the era he is in, or it is because of his positioning skills?

With some thoughts, Messi can be much better than Maradona (only at age 22):

- He did far much better than Maradona at 22. He got La Liga title, Champion League title and Club WC title, and Messi was a main part of getting all of these titles scoring decisive goals in them. At that age, Maradona only had the Youth 1979 WC, which Messi already won too.


- Messi goals far more than Maradona. Without counting, Messi just scored 2 hatricks and 1 superhatricks within last few weeks. Opps, we almost forgot a hatrick vs. Real Madrid in 2007. All of these goals without a single exception were with a wonderful style, cleverness and elegance. If I am not mistaken Maradona had one hatrick in his career, and that was with Napoli when he became mature enough.

- All of that in a game that is more dynamic, tougher, faster pace and less spaces compared to that one 2 or 3 decades ago. What would Messi do if he came at Maradona era?


- At 22, Messi is far more mature than his master at that age. The positioning inside the game, his balance, tricking opponents balance, spending efforts in a way to benefit the team not to get fans cheers.

but, wait, look at these pictures

That picture to the left won the football photo of the century in FourFourTwo English magazine. It was in the 1982 WC opening vs. Belgium. Six players chasing Maradona. Another one vs. Peru, also six players around him.

Here are the reasons, why Maradona for sure is a much better player:

- Maradona faced every type of legal and illegal violence. Yes, the game back then was slower, but for Maradona, he never had a chance to breath without every type of kicking, pulling and chasing. Stars were not protected. German keeper Schumacher broke Battiston ribs, teeth and sent him in a coma, and still was allowed to play the final. Two years later Maradona broke his ankle in Spain.

- Players today have more experience than in the past, this why they mature faster. If Maradona had the Champion League experiences, he would have produced much more fun at earlier age.

- Maradona used to play in about 70 to 80 meters of the field, inspiring the rest of the team with so many passes and moves, not only scoring goals. Messi only plays as a striker in about 35 to 40 meters of the field. In other words, Maradona influence the game much more than Messi.

- Messi got bunch of great stars next to him. Maradona never had this luxury. He barely had Careca in Napoli, and in Argentina, well ... he got only the coach next to him. Yes, there were Valdano and Burruchaga, but honestly, you can replace them with any good players and don't notice the difference.

When Messi plays in Argentinian team, he could not repeat those Barca magical moments.

Actually, this WC will be a repetitive of Maradona 1982 WC conditions. Lousy coach who carries passion and promises without plans. Bunch of stars, but without structure, and a fame that makes him a target for every defender.

So, who is better at age of 22?

When my friends tell me Maradona, I say I don't disagree.

When others say Messi, I say, I don't disagree.

My honest opinion:

- Messi has more influence to the game than Maradona only at the age of 22. So, I favour Messi at this age, especially in terms of maturity.

- Yet, we don't have to forget that no comparison is a fair one. Messi had better conditions and better team around him than that of Maradona one. No one can imagine what Maradona would do if he was 22 and playing with Gardiola squad next to Xavi and Ineista. May be he would surpass Messi by far.

Just as a reminder, this is Maradona vs. England, he was only 20

Irregardless of any unfair comparison. Messi got many years to give his best, and it does not really matter Maradona or Messi. He is there to be the next king of football.

Enjoy this Bicycle Kick

A goal to enjoy by Mladen Petric, Hamburg player vs. Standard Liege in Europa League.

Messi or Maradona? (Part1 of 2)

Since the last week most famous game in the Chamption League this year, and Barcelona (I mean Messi) beating Arsenal 4-1 and I didn't hear or read anything except about Messi. Every phone call with a friend on football, every talk in the corridor, and today I was at dinner feast, and it is all about Lionel Messi magic.

At the age of 22, he already changed the famous "Maradona or Pele?" debate into "Maradona or Messi?"
As timesonline described: "the little maestro, who, at the age of 22, is beginning to challenge the accepted wisdom that Pelé and Diego Maradona stand alone atop the pantheon of truly great footballers.

The quantity of Messi’s goals is incredible enough — his fourth was his 39th of a remarkable season — but it is the quality that takes the breath away.

None of his four last night was a collector’s item by his standards, but, witnessed in succession, they were testament to his myriad strengths: mesmerising footwork and close control, lovely balance, beautiful improvisation and, for someone who lacks physical stature, remarkable degrees of power and persistence."

What did Aresne Wenger said after the game?
"We lost against a team better than us, with the best player in world,He’s like a PlayStation player — he can take advantage of every mistake we make. Messi is the best player in the world by a distance. He’s not always in the game, but when he is he’s really dangerous. Once he’s on a run he’s unstoppable, the only player who can change direction at such pace and be a threat.”

Wenger said he did not know another player in the world who could have scored a goal like Messi’s fourth.

“He made the impossible possible,” the Frenchman said. “He has something exceptional. He has six or seven years in front of him, touch wood that nothing happens to him, and he can reach unbelievable levels. He’s very young, but he can achieve a lot.

So, who is better? or at least, who is better at that age?
Messi or Maradona?
I am not in favour of all of these comparisons, but what I am interested is the rational and analysis of this comparison.

I will post my own opinion in (part 2 of 2) of this post, but I will do it after watching tomorrow's big game vs. Real Madrid

Gardiola - mastermind behind Barca

Ibrahamovic again had magical moments scoring two faboulas goals against Arsenal last week in London. When I saw the goals I remembered a big analysis on "Champion League" magazine last December, and it was about Gardiola decision to purchase Ibra.

The analysis looked into 2009 marvelous run and despite the great achievement, Barca was not free of some faults and weaknesses:
- Barca won 0 away games in the knockout stage
- 64% of goals scored against Barca were in second half
- Messi is becoming the most marked man in the world
the article goes on and on in talking about the physique of Barca players, and that in many games, when the spaces are too tight, they wait sooo much to get into the score sheet, mostly with so many passes.

The luxury of having too many passes might not be always there. They needed stronger players, and someone who can get and fight in corner kicks and tight spaces to score. Ibra was a perfect choice (according to the magazine) and I don't disagree at all.

"Ibrahomvic is probably the first Camp Nou star since Stoichkov left in 1998 to offer the same blend of positive aggression, raw power and sublime technique"



and let's remember his goal vs. the royal club