After another calendar year of football, there have been some fantastic goals and LiberoFootball is back to look back on some of the best:
Martin Palermo – Best Header (04/10/09)
Before this goal, in a 3-2 win against Velez Sarsfield, Martin Palermo was most famous for missing a trio of penalties in a 1999 Copa America first round tie against Columbia in a 3-0 loss. He never wore the Argentina shirt until a call-up this year by a desperate Diego Maradona, where his last-gasp winner against Peru gave their faltering campaign a much needed boost.
Velez Sarsfield goalkeeper German Montoya came out of his box to clear the ball, which sailed harmlessly, at head height, towards the centre circle, where Palermo was standing, 38.9 metres from goal. The rest is history. The veteran striker said afterwards, “It always happens to me. When I look for similar stories of other players there aren’t any. Things happen to me that I can’t explain”.
UEFA have had massive publicity in the past week – mainly for the wrong reasons. Wednesday night’s Champions League qualifier at the Emirates Stadium was at the centre of the controversy. Eduardo dived after minimal contact from Arthur Boruc – that much is true. What followed is ridiculous.
Firstly, a charge was administered to the Brazil-born Croatian based on Article 10, paragraph 1c of their regulations which deals with ‘acting with the obvious intent to cause any match official to make an incorrect decision’. The prospect of a two-match ban is being mentioned for Eduardo, assuming he can be proven to have acted with intent and a desire to cheat and deceive the referee. While the player dived, there was minimal contact with Boruc. Can UEFA prove this clearly? It does seem unlikely.
It seems that UEFA have suddenly decided to pull out a rule barely referred to in the history of the Champions League. A cynic would argue this organisation is acting upon the media hysteria in Scotland and England. But that is exactly what is happening. The last time a player was banned for diving also involved a Scottish side. Lithuanian Saulius Mikoliunas did so against the national side. Of course the coincidence has led to Wenger claiming the Scottish influence at UEFA has led to the charge being administered. UEFA general secretary David Taylor, a Scot, said of Wenger’s comments:
“It’s our duty to apply the rules without fear or favour. We simply refer the matter to the disciplinary committee, which is independent.”
Wenger’s dismay at how UEFA informed Arsenal of the charge is understandable. A number of senior officials were in Monaco for the CL group stage draw and could have easily been informed by UEFA. Instead a fax was sent to the club, where it was only spotted by a junior worker, who informed Wenger of UEFA’s rash decision.
The retrospective ban has opened the door to a dangerous path for UEFA. When a player is caught simulating a tumble by the referee on the pitch, he is in most cases cautioned. Why the sudden increase in punishment if the action has been taken after the match? It makes little sense and lacks any consistency.
The Russian side has been the most vocal in the January transfer window, alongside Garry Cook and his failed attempt to sign Kaka and Adriano Gaillani’s desire to keep David Beckham. From the various voices at the club, vastly differing news has come out of St. Petersburg. Together with Andrei Arshavin’s talkative agent Dennis Lachter (the Guardian compiled evidence of his tendency to speak when a mike is put before him); the move of the Russian playmaker has led astray the media who appear to be changing the state of the move to Arsenal with every passing day until the February 2nd deadline.
If Liberofootball.com was an employee of BSkyB or ITV, it would be looking for every single angle to sensationalise yesterdays Champions League draw for the round of 16.
The Anglo-Italian ties have made the headlines as Claudio ‘Tinker-man’ Ranieri returns to Stamford Bridge to face his former side Chelsea with Juventus. The 54 year old Italian tactician has been heavily criticised for his moment of madness against Monaco in 2004: Hasselbaink on the right wing? Clearly the tabloids haven’t gotten over the fact that managers make mistakes.
If there was a Venn diagram to describe Luiz Felipe Scolari, it would involve Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger. The Brazilian coach has formed a side which encompasses parts of the ethoses of both the ex-Chelsea coach and the Arsenal manager. There were doubts of the manager’s credentials in club football, having never managed in Europe. Apparently winning a World Cup with a Brazil side that many have called the worst ever to do so is not enough.
There has been a great deal of criticism concerning Arsenal recently. Player selection, tactical decisions and the failure to replace departed players adequately are all topics on the lips of Arsenal fans. The captivating 4-4 draw with rivals Tottenham Hotspur portrayed all the strengths and weaknesses of a side that remains very much a work in progress.
The midfield and its workings have been subject to great criticism. Initially, there were doubts that Walcott, Nasri, Fabregas and Denilson could withstand a physical battle. Soon afterwards, the balance of the quartet was called into question. There are doubts concerning the defensive capabilities of Nasri, still only 21 and adapting to a new country and intensity of football, and Walcott. Both seem to shirk from aerial battles and occasionally do not press their opposing player. This seems to have exposed their respective full backs in Clichy and Sagna. Yet the biggest debate remains with the central pairing.
This is a new feature on Liberofootball.com, looking at all the latest talent cropping up in world football at the moment. Here are a number of prodigous talents, ranging from powerful defenders to lightening-quick wingers:
Mario Balotelli – Inter Milan (ST)
The young striker made such an impression in his debut season at the San Siro, that he began taking all the set pieces. Under Roberto Mancini’s tutelage, the black Italian scored a number of key goals in the Coppa Italia, including a brace away to Juventus. His height, pace and strength, combined with exquisite technique has made him a feared opponent for any side. Of Ghanaian heritage, he has committed to his adopted Italy, with the Azzurri desperate to recruit ‘Super Mario’ to their cause. Now with Jose Mourinho, Balotelli is having to play the waiting game.
Many have claimed the Champions League is losing the ethos of attacking football or even questioning whether it was ever present in the first place, with sides very concerned over conceding an away goal. Yet teams don’t need to worry about this in the Group Stage and it showed on Tuesday night. The games were played in a similar spirit to that of Euro 2008.
The signs were clear when Amantio Mancini departed for title rivals Inter Milan in the summer for a measly £8.7m. The replacement was John Arne Riise. Need I say more? Well, yes. After the 0-4 thrashing at the hands of Jose Mourinho’s Inter, Roma President Rosella Sensi was in tears.
It has been a long time. Actually it’s been eighteen years to be precise since Liverpool won their eighteenth league title. Since then, Manchester United’s dominance of the Premier League has threatened to overthrow the Merseyside club as most the successful domestic side in the country. Yet after a number of years, that has seen the style of play change, managers come and go and the club itself change hands to Americans, is 2008/09 finally the year in which Liverpool win the title?
