If it was Ronaldo of World Cup Final in 1998, the greatest blunder committed yet in this edition was unleashed in Quarterfinal match of Germany and Argentina. Creator was none other than Argentina's coach Pekerman.
How did he do that? Argentina leading 1-0 and with 62% possession and controlling the game and here he comes up with 2 substitutions - Cambiasso coming on for Riquelme and Cruz on for Crespo. The game changed with Germany henceforth dominating an eventually equalising and then losing on penalties, Cambiasso missing his penalty. Ok, let's excuse Cambiasso of this penalty miss, he did gave us the best goal of the tournament, may be in history of tournament. But why were these put on when only 18 minutes were left. And why for losing sake - Riquelme? He was back in control, dictating the game to Germans in German half. Was Riqueleme injured? No, so far no such reports have come out. Then why Cruz on for Crespo? What was Pekerman trying to do here, nothing but trying to give chances to Germans. Why not Messi or Saviola? How come Argentina got into defensive strategy when you know that Germans were giving more and more space at their backyard. Whatever it may be, tactical move or normal changeover, it was worst possible decision and nothing but move to lose, which eventually did happen.
Pekerman resigned just after the match but not before leaving doubts if he did play any intentional spoil sport. I hope this is simple case and not the case of Ronaldo's mysterious subdued game in the final of 1998. Ok Football is beautiful game, then he has disappointed all of us, be it Argentina fans or people looking for an El Classico between Brazil and Argentina.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
FIFA listen - Get the Ivory Coast in
Get the bloody teams out, if there is something called Fair Play. Both Portugal and Holland should be shown the door. Police should be called in to stop the pandemonium happening in the ground. Even the referee should be shown the card he already took out four times already if not the caution one used already 16 times. Referee if did caught 12 incidents right didn't caught 5 other important ones where there was necessity of his second favorite card this day.
Nevertheless, Scolari and Basten both have not shown any great gestures and their fellas have simply brought great disrepute to this beautiful game. Figo head putted but survived, Deco fouled, Cocu fouled but survived and story goes on and on and simply neither referee nor the Fifa were in-charge.
England are already 25% in the semis thanks to their next round opponents, huffing, puffing, wounded, injured, barely breathing side Portugal, but beware there could be another battle, Battle of Nurenberg shifting to Battle of Gelsenkirchen. Please bring my beautiful game back please. Get the Ivory Coast in place of these bloody teams. Brazil where are you, please continue your art, I have lost my faith and more so as i expect another bloodbath between Aussies and Italians.
Nevertheless, Scolari and Basten both have not shown any great gestures and their fellas have simply brought great disrepute to this beautiful game. Figo head putted but survived, Deco fouled, Cocu fouled but survived and story goes on and on and simply neither referee nor the Fifa were in-charge.
England are already 25% in the semis thanks to their next round opponents, huffing, puffing, wounded, injured, barely breathing side Portugal, but beware there could be another battle, Battle of Nurenberg shifting to Battle of Gelsenkirchen. Please bring my beautiful game back please. Get the Ivory Coast in place of these bloody teams. Brazil where are you, please continue your art, I have lost my faith and more so as i expect another bloodbath between Aussies and Italians.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
World Cup 2006 : FCUK - French Connection of Under (K)conduct
Raymond Domeneche, Henri Michel, Roger Lemerre are three of the 32 coaches who lined up their squads for the biggest extravaganza of the world in Deustchland. But after 2 weeks, Henri Michel's squad is already out, though after giving the toughest challenge to all the opponents; Domeneche's squad the champions of 1998 are staring down the barrel and picture is gloomier for Lemerre.
There is something terribly wrong with these coaches that has undermined the performance of their squads. Either it has to do with their own playing careers or their tactics still lingering to olden times and no looking for the latest happenings and ignoring latest developments.
Coach Domeneche has clearly been the most reserved of all in his approach. French in there 180 minutes have never looked like scoring. Somebody please tell him there are mid fielders and forwards also in a team. It looks like there is no team playing out there but 11 players sent out to touch the ball somehow. Henry and Zidane look foolish in this bunch of play. Zidane's World Cup might end if other teams play to oust France here, who do not look like to do anything extra. If the game against Switzerland was not an eye opener, game against Korea proved it that Domeneche has total defensive vision as if they were taking it for granted that pre-quarter berth is assured from this group without even scoring a goal. When the whole world knows that Korea scored almost 90% of its goals in 2nd half, how can a team think they can win on a 1-0 lead, but Coach Domeneche did think as he took off Wiltord from attack and put in Ribery a midfielder in, when the strategy should have been to score more goals. Coach completed the drudgery by putting on Trezeguet for final 2 minutes as if Henry who could not score for so long would help Trezeguet in these 2 minutes. Thanks to Barthez's lazy thighs who stuck and Koreans aimed at those only and not the goals. It was a shameful performance if looked closely, as French seemed to be playing against a powerhouse and instead of themselves putting on the opponents.
Second in line of fire should be Roger Lemerre. Tunisians however proud of their Coach, should realise quickly that reason they are not in second round is majorly due to the French approach. They were worse than Domeneche's, as they lost their leads twice, thanks to Zaidi they at least drew with Saudi Arab, otherwise it would have been 2 loses in 2 matches. Again here Lemerre did not learn from his previous stint with French squad in last world cup and thought that a 1-0 lead is enough against Saudi Arabia. If that was not enough, he thought same against the Spanish Armada. How on earth was he thinking that their defense can withstand against all attacking Spain attack force who had blasted the Ukrainian defense to pieces in last match. Instead of playing the ball in Spanish half, he made sure that Spanish were attacking with full force. How come Tunisians give such big space to Cesc Fabregas. With due respect to forthcoming greatness of Fabregas, he was given too much room to roam around and do anything with the ball. Lemerre might not be talking to Fabregas' Arsenal Coach Arsene Wenger but must have watched this youngster and should have stopped this on song. Alas, he simply waited for things to happen.
Third, Henry Michel, though undoubtedly would go as most successful French Coach unless Domeneche or Lemerre can inspire their squads to go much ahead in the run, which is very doubtful. Michel was in-charge of Ivory Coast who were regarded as Dark Horses of the tournament but were dealt well by Argentina nad Holland and thrown out of the tournament fighting. Now Michel had one of the best African team ever to be competing in World Cup. The match statistics of all the matches of this team show how much attacking this team was than famous Argentinians or Dutch. The only problem was that Henry did not make sure his team plays a slight different game against Dutch having learnt from their close undeserving defeat at the hands of Argentina. Apparently Marco Van Basten made sure they learn the Ivory Coast Game plan but Henry Michel failed to make any change in his plan. Result was same, agonizing defeat. Why? Because Ivory Coast was not finishing. Argument might come that finishing can't be learnt in a day. But a slight change could be made in either closing on Dutch attack and scoring first, rather than always chasing the 2-0 deficit. So many missed chance speak of themselves. Thanks to a Serbian depleted defense ivory Coast got 2 penalties to score a win finally but Henry Michel should have made slight change which was not in showing even in last match.
There is severe need to bring back the renaissance that was put forth by Coach Aime Jacquet, as French are capable of much better showing than this display of Coaching.
There is something terribly wrong with these coaches that has undermined the performance of their squads. Either it has to do with their own playing careers or their tactics still lingering to olden times and no looking for the latest happenings and ignoring latest developments.
Coach Domeneche has clearly been the most reserved of all in his approach. French in there 180 minutes have never looked like scoring. Somebody please tell him there are mid fielders and forwards also in a team. It looks like there is no team playing out there but 11 players sent out to touch the ball somehow. Henry and Zidane look foolish in this bunch of play. Zidane's World Cup might end if other teams play to oust France here, who do not look like to do anything extra. If the game against Switzerland was not an eye opener, game against Korea proved it that Domeneche has total defensive vision as if they were taking it for granted that pre-quarter berth is assured from this group without even scoring a goal. When the whole world knows that Korea scored almost 90% of its goals in 2nd half, how can a team think they can win on a 1-0 lead, but Coach Domeneche did think as he took off Wiltord from attack and put in Ribery a midfielder in, when the strategy should have been to score more goals. Coach completed the drudgery by putting on Trezeguet for final 2 minutes as if Henry who could not score for so long would help Trezeguet in these 2 minutes. Thanks to Barthez's lazy thighs who stuck and Koreans aimed at those only and not the goals. It was a shameful performance if looked closely, as French seemed to be playing against a powerhouse and instead of themselves putting on the opponents.
Second in line of fire should be Roger Lemerre. Tunisians however proud of their Coach, should realise quickly that reason they are not in second round is majorly due to the French approach. They were worse than Domeneche's, as they lost their leads twice, thanks to Zaidi they at least drew with Saudi Arab, otherwise it would have been 2 loses in 2 matches. Again here Lemerre did not learn from his previous stint with French squad in last world cup and thought that a 1-0 lead is enough against Saudi Arabia. If that was not enough, he thought same against the Spanish Armada. How on earth was he thinking that their defense can withstand against all attacking Spain attack force who had blasted the Ukrainian defense to pieces in last match. Instead of playing the ball in Spanish half, he made sure that Spanish were attacking with full force. How come Tunisians give such big space to Cesc Fabregas. With due respect to forthcoming greatness of Fabregas, he was given too much room to roam around and do anything with the ball. Lemerre might not be talking to Fabregas' Arsenal Coach Arsene Wenger but must have watched this youngster and should have stopped this on song. Alas, he simply waited for things to happen.
Third, Henry Michel, though undoubtedly would go as most successful French Coach unless Domeneche or Lemerre can inspire their squads to go much ahead in the run, which is very doubtful. Michel was in-charge of Ivory Coast who were regarded as Dark Horses of the tournament but were dealt well by Argentina nad Holland and thrown out of the tournament fighting. Now Michel had one of the best African team ever to be competing in World Cup. The match statistics of all the matches of this team show how much attacking this team was than famous Argentinians or Dutch. The only problem was that Henry did not make sure his team plays a slight different game against Dutch having learnt from their close undeserving defeat at the hands of Argentina. Apparently Marco Van Basten made sure they learn the Ivory Coast Game plan but Henry Michel failed to make any change in his plan. Result was same, agonizing defeat. Why? Because Ivory Coast was not finishing. Argument might come that finishing can't be learnt in a day. But a slight change could be made in either closing on Dutch attack and scoring first, rather than always chasing the 2-0 deficit. So many missed chance speak of themselves. Thanks to a Serbian depleted defense ivory Coast got 2 penalties to score a win finally but Henry Michel should have made slight change which was not in showing even in last match.
There is severe need to bring back the renaissance that was put forth by Coach Aime Jacquet, as French are capable of much better showing than this display of Coaching.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
World Cup 2006 Predictions
It is prediction time so i've my cents thrown in too.
My semis line up -
- Brazil ,Czech, Argentina,
4th one I thought hard... hmmm i give it to Holland over Ivory Coast (African teams are not able to finish but this century belongs to Africa for sure) ...
- Italy should meet Brazil in pre-quarters,
TOP HALF
Prequarters -
Germany - Sweden - (Germany wins because it has to reach quarters it being hosts)
England - Equador
Though my vote goes for Equador to top Group A but anyhow it would not matter much in disturbing the Semis line-up. But please take notice of Equador, they are deadly finishers.
Argentina - Mexico
Portugal - Holland
Quarters -
Argentina - Germany
Holland - Eng/Equ
BOTTOM HALF
Czech - Aus/Cro (Somehow soceroos are my favorites)
Brazil - Italy
France - Ukraine (This might change but any team comes Czech should beat them by the way Czechs are topping the Group ahead of Italy)
Spain - Sui/Kor (I prefer Suiss)
QUARTERS
Czech - France
Brazil - Spain
Though all predicitons have gone for a ride so far, let's see how it goes this time.
My semis line up -
- Brazil ,Czech, Argentina,
4th one I thought hard... hmmm i give it to Holland over Ivory Coast (African teams are not able to finish but this century belongs to Africa for sure) ...
- Italy should meet Brazil in pre-quarters,
TOP HALF
Prequarters -
Germany - Sweden - (Germany wins because it has to reach quarters it being hosts)
England - Equador
Though my vote goes for Equador to top Group A but anyhow it would not matter much in disturbing the Semis line-up. But please take notice of Equador, they are deadly finishers.
Argentina - Mexico
Portugal - Holland
Quarters -
Argentina - Germany
Holland - Eng/Equ
BOTTOM HALF
Czech - Aus/Cro (Somehow soceroos are my favorites)
Brazil - Italy
France - Ukraine (This might change but any team comes Czech should beat them by the way Czechs are topping the Group ahead of Italy)
Spain - Sui/Kor (I prefer Suiss)
QUARTERS
Czech - France
Brazil - Spain
Though all predicitons have gone for a ride so far, let's see how it goes this time.
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Fan following
April 04 - UEFA Champion's League Quarterfinal Second Leg at San Siro - AC Milan's Inzaghi scored againt run of play to lead the leg 1-0 but Lyon's Diarra scored back in next 5 minutes to make it level and I was happy for this equalizer. Suddenly realizing that AC Milan is the team that has been my favorite since childhood. I've been longing to wear its red-black t-shirt and how happy I was when I saw the San Siro. But here, I was supporting the rivals. What had happened to me.
Was I moving from a straight fan follower to take a more generalistic approach of following better football? Or, I was just supporting another team that had no stars and thus was a weaker side, what if they were French Champions by far or what if they dominated the game for 85minutes and were few minutes away from creating club history of reaching semi-final stage.
This beautiful game raised many more questions about this fan following. How was I different from all sitting in San Siro and making a deafening noise for Forza Milan or Forza San Siro? How could anyone support Chelsea life long? Ok they might be champions, then how could anyone follow and support Sunderland when i guess 99% know they will relegate themselves or be close to it in Premiership? Moving to a different sport, how could anyone get behind Scuderia Toro Rosso, when we are sure they might still not get points if all other cars crash out in Formula One?
These and many more questions that neurons raised in something we call as mind, have been troubling me and i would like to find answers and give arguments and contradict a few times, to find some concrete answers to such questions raised by fan following.
Was I moving from a straight fan follower to take a more generalistic approach of following better football? Or, I was just supporting another team that had no stars and thus was a weaker side, what if they were French Champions by far or what if they dominated the game for 85minutes and were few minutes away from creating club history of reaching semi-final stage.
This beautiful game raised many more questions about this fan following. How was I different from all sitting in San Siro and making a deafening noise for Forza Milan or Forza San Siro? How could anyone support Chelsea life long? Ok they might be champions, then how could anyone follow and support Sunderland when i guess 99% know they will relegate themselves or be close to it in Premiership? Moving to a different sport, how could anyone get behind Scuderia Toro Rosso, when we are sure they might still not get points if all other cars crash out in Formula One?
These and many more questions that neurons raised in something we call as mind, have been troubling me and i would like to find answers and give arguments and contradict a few times, to find some concrete answers to such questions raised by fan following.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Fantasmo Gentlemen's Game
Sunday being Sunday, it was surprising that i woke up early and then was not disappointed when I was turned down by courier agency while i badly needed to send a package. Not sure was it intuition that there was huge fun to come by. And what an entertaining fun session it was.
It started at about 1330 IST while i was slurping through heavy lunch. Kangaroos were going to bat first at Wanderers and i just remembered murder of Indian bowlers in 2003 World Cup Finals at the same ground. Wanderers ground nick named as Bullring, famous for crowd trouble but there was no sign of Aussies being intimidated while the whole work was done by Gilchrist,Ponting and rest Aussie punters. Only intimidated ones throughout the match were a species called bowlers, who seemed to go extinct with only endangered versions being absent in form of McGrath and Pollock.
The ease with which aussies shaped the blitzkrieg made it difficult to shuffle channel to watch the Formula One as that was an entertaining prospect as well. With Ferrari horse power back in reckoning but here it was a totally different horse power at play. The smiling face of Smith as aussies crossed 420 mark as well, or the thousands of smiles across the Wanderers, told that a strange sense of relax and watch aussies breaking more records had prevailed. Little did anyone believe what saga would unfurl after the break! Aussies had complied an incredible 434 runs in 50 overs. Talks of a 200 run defeat were commonly mentioned even by cricket pundits sitting as commentators.
Dippenar departed quickly and i had a sense of relief as it could only do good as it no more sheet anchor role required here. In comes Gibbs in the ring with fight heavily against him and his teammate were supposed on the ropes.
I went out at 1900 IST as Smith and Gibbs completed their 50s and run rate touching 8 but still 350+ runs required. THat msut have been startled both as how much they were hitting and task was still huge.
At 1950 IST while in a shopping mall, i got a call saying Gibbs is on 150. If it took 100 runs for Gibbs' next hundred, contest was on. Was Gibbs onto something, were proteas going for it reallyyyyyyyyyy.
Anyway i could not resist and made my way out and was stopped by a small crowd of about 10-12 people standing outside a shop catching the live action coming through a TV playing in the shop. Me and my friend added ourselves to the crowd.
Crowd was always growing very different from what van der Wath was doing. He took it from 77 off 42 required to 35 from 24.
Proteas please don't lose from here.
2 incidents happened as we came to last over.
Scene I - Situation - On Residency Road 15-20 people including me and friend watching the match through a TV placed inside a shop and proteas needing 32 from 24 or so balls.
A couple comes from right and guy says "ek ball dekhne do" bandi... holding his hand and drags him forward while saying no no no... chalo chupchaap.
Mere aur friend ki aankhein mili aur muh se nikla ek kantap do... aisi bandi mili to usi time kantap khaayegi aur muh se nikalega KAT LO. (How come you be so insane to ignore sport and an event like this.)
Scene II - Situation - Same venue with 50odd ppl now craning their necks as proteas have lost 9th wicket and with 3balls to go and 2 runs needed for win.
A car comes by and stops and guy on wheel asks for score and when he gets the score... WATTTTTTTTT only 2 runs from 3 balls and one wicket.. woooooooooo. He told her bandi (wife or girlfriend) the situation and said dekhte hain yaar. pops out of the door and stands tall while bandi tries to stand on the car door but can't see, so comes on the pavement with car standing on the road (as if to heck with traffic, watch the match..) then they see the historic win and go away.
Now me and friend say... nahin scope hai.
The record that had stood for 10 years was broken two times in 4 hours.
Gibbs washed away the sin for catch of Gilchrist he dropped earlier in the match, but I’m sure he would be feeling free of guilt of dropping the World Cup and the whole squad would feel the difference of winning whenever the euphoria sinks in after few days.
Tag of chokers has been swept away in same fashion as Gibbs swept fastest bowler Lee 20 rows back from the fence, though the pundits and whole world watched them struggle and signs of choking making appearances like advertisements in between the movies.
Salute to you 22 people fighting inside the ropes of Bullring, what a high you provided. This was true masterpiece as even creators can't believe the art craft they have chiseled.
It started at about 1330 IST while i was slurping through heavy lunch. Kangaroos were going to bat first at Wanderers and i just remembered murder of Indian bowlers in 2003 World Cup Finals at the same ground. Wanderers ground nick named as Bullring, famous for crowd trouble but there was no sign of Aussies being intimidated while the whole work was done by Gilchrist,Ponting and rest Aussie punters. Only intimidated ones throughout the match were a species called bowlers, who seemed to go extinct with only endangered versions being absent in form of McGrath and Pollock.
The ease with which aussies shaped the blitzkrieg made it difficult to shuffle channel to watch the Formula One as that was an entertaining prospect as well. With Ferrari horse power back in reckoning but here it was a totally different horse power at play. The smiling face of Smith as aussies crossed 420 mark as well, or the thousands of smiles across the Wanderers, told that a strange sense of relax and watch aussies breaking more records had prevailed. Little did anyone believe what saga would unfurl after the break! Aussies had complied an incredible 434 runs in 50 overs. Talks of a 200 run defeat were commonly mentioned even by cricket pundits sitting as commentators.
Dippenar departed quickly and i had a sense of relief as it could only do good as it no more sheet anchor role required here. In comes Gibbs in the ring with fight heavily against him and his teammate were supposed on the ropes.
I went out at 1900 IST as Smith and Gibbs completed their 50s and run rate touching 8 but still 350+ runs required. THat msut have been startled both as how much they were hitting and task was still huge.
At 1950 IST while in a shopping mall, i got a call saying Gibbs is on 150. If it took 100 runs for Gibbs' next hundred, contest was on. Was Gibbs onto something, were proteas going for it reallyyyyyyyyyy.
Anyway i could not resist and made my way out and was stopped by a small crowd of about 10-12 people standing outside a shop catching the live action coming through a TV playing in the shop. Me and my friend added ourselves to the crowd.
Crowd was always growing very different from what van der Wath was doing. He took it from 77 off 42 required to 35 from 24.
Proteas please don't lose from here.
2 incidents happened as we came to last over.
Scene I - Situation - On Residency Road 15-20 people including me and friend watching the match through a TV placed inside a shop and proteas needing 32 from 24 or so balls.
A couple comes from right and guy says "ek ball dekhne do" bandi... holding his hand and drags him forward while saying no no no... chalo chupchaap.
Mere aur friend ki aankhein mili aur muh se nikla ek kantap do... aisi bandi mili to usi time kantap khaayegi aur muh se nikalega KAT LO. (How come you be so insane to ignore sport and an event like this.)
Scene II - Situation - Same venue with 50odd ppl now craning their necks as proteas have lost 9th wicket and with 3balls to go and 2 runs needed for win.
A car comes by and stops and guy on wheel asks for score and when he gets the score... WATTTTTTTTT only 2 runs from 3 balls and one wicket.. woooooooooo. He told her bandi (wife or girlfriend) the situation and said dekhte hain yaar. pops out of the door and stands tall while bandi tries to stand on the car door but can't see, so comes on the pavement with car standing on the road (as if to heck with traffic, watch the match..) then they see the historic win and go away.
Now me and friend say... nahin scope hai.
The record that had stood for 10 years was broken two times in 4 hours.
Gibbs washed away the sin for catch of Gilchrist he dropped earlier in the match, but I’m sure he would be feeling free of guilt of dropping the World Cup and the whole squad would feel the difference of winning whenever the euphoria sinks in after few days.
Tag of chokers has been swept away in same fashion as Gibbs swept fastest bowler Lee 20 rows back from the fence, though the pundits and whole world watched them struggle and signs of choking making appearances like advertisements in between the movies.
Salute to you 22 people fighting inside the ropes of Bullring, what a high you provided. This was true masterpiece as even creators can't believe the art craft they have chiseled.
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