A touch of class from Lionel Messi

Barcelona lost 1-3 to Real Betis, which was a moral win as Barcelona qualified anyhow to the Semi Final as they won 5-0 in the first game. Messi scored a hatrtrick in the first game, and scored for his team a goal that is very difficult, but again, Miessi makes it look very easy

Neymar Superhattrick for Brazil vs. Paraguay

This superhattrick came just in the right time, few days after changing the name of my blog.
Brazil beat Paraguay 4-2 in South American Champion Chip under-20. The top 4 will play in Youth WC U20 that will be held in Columbia. The top 2 will also play in the summer Olympic Games.

Asian Cup memories - part 3

As this Asian Cup is getting nicer and nicer with very interesting goals and we are still in the group stages, I will continue these posts. Kuwait left very early with three defeats, scoring a goal and receiving seven. To understand how bad this is, I will take you long journey to the 1980 Asian Cup which was held in Kuwait.

Ibra and R.Carlos join goals of the week

This week is very rich with wonderful goals. Even in Asian Cup, we seen four great goals so far. After Villa Real great goal couple of days ago, Ibra scored a super goal vs. Lecce



I am amazed not only by the magical finish, but also his fight for the ball. Usually, these type of balls are lost to defenders.


The other goal is again a crazy one from Roberto Carlos for Corinthians against Portuguesa (2-0). It was a very smart one from Roberto. Difficult angle and he saw that the keeper is not paying attention to this angle. Also, the Brazilian player who let the ball pass through his legs did it very smartly

Great free kicks day in Asian Cup

Today, two memorable goals were scored in the Asian Cup 2011. Qatar beat Kuwait with three nice goals. The third goal was a very special free kick


but the best goal came from China vs. Uzbekistan in a 2-2 draw. Uzbek scored a wonderful second goal but the Chinese free kick to make it 2-2 was a great wonderful goal

Tribute to Syria

In the past, I used to dislike seeing an unusual country advance in football. In 1994 I said, I cannot stand seeing the Americans win in football. In 1998, I was shocked when I saw a new team raise the World Cup, France.

Today, I am totally the opposite, I cheer and love when I see a new country develop their football. I start cheering for countries like Japan, Korea and USA in the World Cup. And in the Asian level, I cheer so much for Syria and Jordan that managed to embarrass biggest teams in Asia.

Most likely Syria won't make it to the second round tomorrow after group games. Yet, I tribute these great Syrian goals for their achievement. These are recent goals when Syrian football did big leaps,





a great goal vs. Iraq in 2008



and some goals vs. Kuwait by the star Firas Al-Khateeb


Just as a reminder, Syria was not always a bad team. In 1984 Asian Cup, they beat South Korea 1-0 and lost hardly to Saudi team 0-1. They were about to reach 1986 World Cup. They had to play two legs with Iraq. Tied the first 0-0 but lost 3-1.

They never came into big achievement before, but never as well had big humiliations. They always lost to big teams by a goal difference, and sometimes managed to get a tie.

Finally, this great goal in a friendly vs. South Korea

Goal of the week

I think it is difficult to pick a goal better than this one for this week
Cani scores a great goal for Villa Real vs. Osasuna

Thierry Henry cool goals with Monaco

I found these interesting videos from 1995 when Thierry Henry was playing with Monaco. Look at his look, lol, very different from the Henry we know of 1998 onwards



And this interesting clip is his touches vs. Newcastle the next year

Qatar beat China in a sensational way

Qatar had a great game vs. China and the 22 years old player Yousef Ahmad scored both goals, the first goal was a stunning great one. Game ended 2-0 but it could have been much more.

This summarizes the difference between the Saudi and Qatari team. The first changed the coach as they lost 1-2 vs. Syria. Qatar, with intense pressure, of having the whole world looking at them after the World Cup bid, and Qatar being the host ..... and with that, they kept on their French coach Bruno Metsu.

Messi celebrates the award with a special hattrick

Messi celebrates the player of the year award by scoring his third hattrick for the new season against Real Betis in the Spanish Cup.

The hattrick was scored in a very "Messi" way, however, in my opinion, the play of the game came with the fifth goal assist from Iniesta, with a very special cross to Seyodu Keita

Lionel Messi Deservedly 2010 Player of the Year

"To be honest, I didn't expect to win today, but it was already great to be here next to my two mates. To win it makes it even more special. I want to share with all of my friends, my family, all the Barcelonistas and the Argentinians."

I think I got this one right. I told my friends if I were to vote, I would vote for Messi, but I think he will find strong competition first from Iniesta, then Xavi. Unfortunately, my vote does not count : )
The award is based on coaches, captains and global journalists.

Messi became the first player to be named player of the year in a World Cup year without winning the cup.

Messi scored 60 goals in 2010 for Barcelona in an amazing run. 10s of them were jaw dropping performance.  I won't talk about his superhattrick vs. Arsenal, amazing dribbles, one-two goals, rather, I will post a goal from 2009 Champion League against Lyon. It is my favorite goal for Messi,


In the other award, Murinho won the coach of the year. I think it is a very deserved title, especially when you watch Inter Milan with exact same players, but without Murinho. Also, the way Inter managed to beat Barca in the semi-final second leg of the CL was a great performance, and it takes a lot of guts to do it.

Also, Hamit Altintop goal vs. Kazakhstan deserved its title. It is an amazing goal, in its technical quality, it is the first time I see a volley better than the Marco Van Basten 1988 goal. Of course, Basten goal had its own historical importance.



Here is the full list for the FIFA awards for 2010:
FIFA Men's World Player of the Year: Lionel Messi
FIFA Women's World Player of the Year: Marta
FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men's Football: Jose Mourinho
FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women's Football: Silvia Neid
FIFA FIFPro World XI of 2010: Iker Casillas; Maicon, Gerard Pique, Lucio, Carles Puyol; Xavi Hernandez, Wesley Sneijder, Andres Iniesta; Cristiano Ronaldo, David Villa, Lionel Messi
FIFA Puskas Award: Hamit Altintop
FIFA Fair Play Award: Haiti Under-17 women's team
FIFA Presidential Award: Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Video pick of the week

I think this wonderful goal for Freddy Guarín for Porto against Maritimo 4-1 victory deserves to be the goal of the week.



The game that ended 4-1 seems to be a wonderful one, and all the goals and missed chances worth watching (in this video)

Messi free-kick magic is back

Barcelona smashed La Coruna 4-0. Messi scored from an amazing free-kick. Since many months we are missing Messi great free kicks and I was wondering, did he lose that part of his skills?

Ariel Ortega career with River Plate is over

Ariel Ortega, the 36 years old midfield maestro and a key player for River Plate in the last two decades, was told by the coach Jose Lopez that he is not needed anymore in the team. Ortega missed the first day training session for the upcoming Clausura tournament, without a clear reason. When he came to training next day, he was told by Lopez on his decision.

Ortega joined River Plate in 1991 and stayed as a key player since them. He had his own transfer and movements around clubs in Europe and Argentina. River remained his main club.



Ortega had an alcohol and disciplinary problems in his career, but not in the last stage in recent years. So, the decision to end his career in a very cold way, won't be appreciated by sports fans and media.

Anyhow, Ariel is one of the players who didn't give all of what he had. His real peak started in 1994 when he played instead of Maradona in that World Cup after the drug test scandal. Despite the defeat vs. Romania 2-3, Ariel had a wonderful game that showed a very promising player. With his shirt number 20, Ariel penetrated the Romanian defence as he wished, created critical smart passes. It was sort of watching Iniesta today.

I remember World Soccer gave a big report on two key players after the 1994 WC: Ariel Ortega from Argentina and Ronaldo from Brazil. One made it very big in career, and one stayed at a normal level.

He was famous by his accurate penetrating passes (as I said sort of Iniesta today) and his chip goals.

Another wonderful compilation for Ortega to watch

Which is better? The cross or the goal?

While browsing for some goals, I came across this interesting goal from Iran, I cannot leave it without sharing

Asian Cup memories of great goals-2

I continue posting some of historical goals in previous Asian Cups. I decided that I will write about the games after I see few games. Usually, Asian Cups are difficult to predict. Not all teams take it with same seriousness. In general, I think it should go to the FarEast or Australia.

Anyhow, from the memory of great goals, I start with the last goal scored in 1984 Asian Cup, by the Saudi legendary player, Majed Abdullah. The goal was against China and it secured the final with a 2-0 lead




Next goal was from the same tournament 1984 by a great Kuwaiti midfielder, Faisal Al-Dakhil.
It was in the group stages when Kuwait beat Syria 3-1


The last for today is from the Saudi Nawaf Al-Timyat. He did a great game vs. Kuwait in the quarter final of Asian Cup 2000. He already scored a goal and did another assist. The score was 2-2 and it was the extra time. Then, he scored this wonderful "Golden Goal" or "Sudden Death"

Two old NASL amazing goals

NASL stands for North American Soccer League, which was at the mid-70s to the mid-80s the final destination for so many soccer super-stars, like Pele, Beckenbauer, George Best, and much more.

The first goal was in 1983. I am not a big fan of what is called "the Scorpion Kick" or the back heel goals, as many of them depends on a lot of luck, more than a great piece of skill. But, this one got my attention big time.

Goal was scored by Roberto Cabanas from Paraguay, who also was the most valuable player in NASL for that year.

Cabanas was famous of his acrobatic skills and he scored in a famous 2-2 game of Paraguay vs. Belgium in 1986 World Cup. These two goals took Paraguay to the second round. Watch the goals.

And here is the second goal in the mid-70s. It was another acrobatic wonderful goal.

Another wonderful goal by Gareth Bale

The first day in the 2011 Totenham Hotspur beat Fulham 1-0, thanks to a goal by the new star who must be living his best days right now, Gareth Bale. The goal was from a great header from Bale on a very strong freekick. It is difficult to determine how much Gareth did it in intention.

Here is the goal as recorded by a camera fan



and here is as it was recorded by a TV cameraman
Click here to watch the goal

Video picks of the week

4: Pedro Rodriguez - a beautiful usual Barcelona move ended up with a wonderful strong finish by Pedro. He is becoming a great scorer, he reminds me a lot of Filippo Inzagi, but I think he is a better version of him lol.

3: James Morrison goal vs. Manchester United, a beautiful skillful shot


2: Christian Ricardo for Levante today vs. Barcelona (1-2). A beautiful volley


1: Goal of the week goes for Watford player vs. Portsmouth. He scored his first ever goal at senior league at age 24. A wonderful way to start counting memories.

Messi one-two-goals

One of the great qualities that Messi aquire is his ability to play team work, quick passes, and move around with "One-Two" passes. It is a very smart, unselfish way to get through defences using team-mates.

Not a lot of players, or big stars do that. You don't recall it a lot in players like Cristiano Ronaldo for example. But you find it in the best quality of players, some of the big names, Pele, Maradona, Zidane, Beckenbauer, Romario, Roberto Baggio, Zico and, of course, one of best them with skill: Lionel Messi.

Recently he scored a passionate goal vs. Real Sociedad with great set of "One-Two" passes



Here is a wonderful clip some of his best "one-two" goals



I was watching some old clips, and I saw this one for Maradona. It directly reminded me of this goal for Messi vs. Panathinaikos.



The way he received the ball, the quick swift one-two passes, his flexible body, the balance ..... one more way of similarities of the two players.
Here is the original version of the goal, by Maradona :)