Remembering Pele

I try from time to time post something for the classical trianble, Maradona, Pele and Zidane. I think I posted the least for Pele. Here are something of the best I seen for Pele, mostly rare





and the second of this collection worth enjoying




nice dribble


Another solo dribble goal
And this is friendly vs. Germany, putting the ball between Beckenbauer legs in 1963
Finally, this compilation has many of the usual stuff, but I think it is a nice collection and clear images
Click here to watch it

Almost, one of best goals in history

Here are five great missed chances in this clips, any of them would have been one of best goals in history.

The chances are:
1. Brazil vs. Scotland 1974 WC, game ended 0-0 with so many chances.
2. Marco Van Basten vs. Germany Euro 1992, game ended 3-1 for Netherlands
3. Maradona vs. England in a 1980 friendly in Wembly, England won 3-1. Maradona always jokes about this chane, he says after six years in Mexico, when he did exactly the same, he decided that he will round the keeper too.
4. Pele vs. Uruguay 1970 WC, but this is not the very famous play of rounding the keeper. It is something I like more. Brazil won 3-1.
5. Marcelo Balboa USA vs. Colombia 1994 WC, USA won 2-1.

Pele talks "bla bla bla bla"

I am watching currently Al-Jazeera sport channel, in the pre-match analysis, and here is interesting discussion about Pele negative comments on Brazil

Bebeto is saying "Pele is a player that won everything with Brazil. I am not sure why he is saying that, but it is better for him not to talk"

Tarek Dhiab (best ever Tunisian player, captain of 1978 golden team that did big hit in that Mondial) "trust me, Bebeto knows exactly what he is saying, and trust me, I am sure that Dunga and the players don't give any attention to Pele comments"

then Tarek adds "we saw Brazil 2006 with all the big stars, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Ronaldo and the others. what did they do? is this what you want as a beautiful football? I think Dunga is very smart and learned the lesson very well. Yes, Ronaldinho is a big star with a lot of skills. But, if he is with the team, he would kill something of the team spirit"

Nabil Maloul (another skillful midfielder Tunisian, played a lot with his mind) "who is saying that Brazil is not providing pleasure in watching, he is not watching or does not know how to watch football, even if he was Pele"

I add my voice to Bebeto, Tarek and Nabil, Pele is a wonderful player to watch, and has no clue what so ever when he open his mouth and start talking about football

for the record:
- Pele nominated Columbia to win 1994. Columbia left 1994 from round 1.
- Pele nominated Spain to win 1998. Spain left from round1.
- Pele nominated France to win 2002. France left from round1.
- Pele nominated German to win 2006. Geramny didn't do it.
- Pele nominated Spain to win 2010. What a bad news for Spain :)

Professional opinion or Jealousy?

Recent Pele comment on Maradona: "Maradona accepted the job as he needed work and needed the money. I saw how Argentina qualified with difficulty. But it is not Maradona's fault; it is the fault of those who put him in charge."

Maradona replied back "Pele should go back to the museum and stay there"

I think this comment is more of a jealousy rather than a professional opinion.
DUH! I don't think any coach will coach a team for free. Maradona is a bad coach, I agree, but it is the Argentinian federation to blame. Pele himself is making all of his public appearance to build his image to charge million of dollars for advertising. It is well known that he does not appear publicly for the love of the game.

He turned his football history into a big business, which is not a shame, but don't blame Maradona if he is looking for money.

A worse comment came from Cameroon legend, Roger Milla on Samuel Eto:

Eto mentioned just before the World Cup and as Cameroon in the final preparation stage, that Eto had “brought lots to Barcelona and Inter Milan but never anything to the Cameroon team. It’s also a question of discipline. Cameroon is waiting for him to react,”

This comment can come from a careless teenager not from a great player with big history Roger Milla.

Roger Milla either jealous from Eto success (which in my opinion he is better than Milla) or he has no idea what he is talking about.

Roger Milla played 102 games scored 28 goals for Cameroon.

Eto played 98 games scored 44 goals for Cameroon.

We all know that African players who play in Europe don't show their best in African Cups, which is played in the midst of European season. Eto is one of the exceptions, he is the all times top scorer for Cameroon scoring 18 goals for Cameroon in all African cups. He won it with Cameroon twice.

In the last World Cup qualifications, he scored 8 goals, to be the top scorer for Cameroon group and lead Cameroon to qualify to the World Cup.

Sorry Milla, but I think your comments are of pure jealousy, and has nothing to do with reality.

Bad news for Spain chances to win the WC

Pele nominated Spain to win the next world cup. Everytime Pele predicted a world cup winner, the team ends up in a big upset.

- 1994: Pele insisted that Columbia would win the WC,  Columbia left from the group stages.

- 1998: Pele predicted Spain, and they left from group stages.

- 2002: Pele said France is the favorites, they left again from group stages.

- 2006: He said Brazil or England. Both were not impressive and were big upset to theri fans.

- 2010: Pele is hinting about Spain!!!!!!!!!!!! bad luck for Spain : )

well, speaking seriously, in my opinion, Pele is a PR brand, he sells his name to commercials by millions. So, all of his comments are not really related to soccer as much as PR diplomacy and media bla bla bla bla ....

I never take his comments seriously!