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Saturday, September 3, 2011
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Thursday, February 17, 2011
The Gunners bounce back (2-1)
Barça have lost away to Arsenal in a vibrant Champions League quarter final first leg. Two late goals cancelled out Villa’s opener, but all has yet to be decided at the Camp Nou.
Arsenal and Barça joined forces to provide London with a footballing feast this evening. Both sides stayed faithful to their typical styles, seeking to dominate the possession and playing ambitiously, and as a result we were able to enjoy an open, unpredictable encounter that had a little bit of everything, including an unexpected twist at the end. Barça had opened the scoring through David Villa, but Arsenal never gave up and got their reward with two late goals that mean they’ll have a head start when the two sides meet again at the Camp Nou.
English threat
Arsenal took the imitative, and were all over Barça for the first ten minutes. Their direct approach created the first chance for Van Persie in the 6th minute, but Valdés managed to get in the way. It took a good fifteen minutes before the FCB midfield finally settled into their rhythm, and started producing the kind of combination plays that defences find so hard to deal with. They may have made an impressive start, but Arsenal were struggling now, and Leo Messi looked to have scored when he broke through one-on-one with goalkeeper Szczesny, but his deft finish missed the target by inches.
Villa finds the net
Barça were finally showing their class, and Arsenal were pushed further and further back, having been forced to surrender possession to the Catalan side and rely instead on the counter attack. A brilliant defensive header from Abidal prevented Arsenal from doing just that, shortly before Villa finally opened the scoring by latching onto the end of a Messi assist. As the Emirates was subjected to an FCB onslaught reminiscent of the one last year, Szczesny was twice called upon to prevent Pedro from making it two, while Messi had a goal very questionably disallowed for offside.
The comeback
Arsenal started looking more and more dangerous as the second half wore on, and for a long period had Barça desperately against the ropes. Piqué and Abidal, well shielded by Busquets, were largely to thank for keeping the Premiership side at bay before Messi once again silenced the Emirates with what looked like a goal in the 67th minute, but his effort had only struck the side-netting.
It looked like Barça had finally regained control of the game and a second goal was very much on the cards. But then the game took an unexpected turn for the worst. In the 78th minute, Van Persie lost his defender and surprised Valdés with a powerful strike from the narrowest of angles to put the sides back level. Shortly after, Arshavin finished off a move that had been brilliantly started by Nasri and in just five minutes Arsenal had turned around a game that Barça looked to have won. For the neutral, it was a thrilling finale to a fantastic game of football, and the good news is that it will all be happening again in the second leg at the Camp Nou. Barcelona are going to have to bite back
Arsenal and Barça joined forces to provide London with a footballing feast this evening. Both sides stayed faithful to their typical styles, seeking to dominate the possession and playing ambitiously, and as a result we were able to enjoy an open, unpredictable encounter that had a little bit of everything, including an unexpected twist at the end. Barça had opened the scoring through David Villa, but Arsenal never gave up and got their reward with two late goals that mean they’ll have a head start when the two sides meet again at the Camp Nou.
English threat
Arsenal took the imitative, and were all over Barça for the first ten minutes. Their direct approach created the first chance for Van Persie in the 6th minute, but Valdés managed to get in the way. It took a good fifteen minutes before the FCB midfield finally settled into their rhythm, and started producing the kind of combination plays that defences find so hard to deal with. They may have made an impressive start, but Arsenal were struggling now, and Leo Messi looked to have scored when he broke through one-on-one with goalkeeper Szczesny, but his deft finish missed the target by inches.
Villa finds the net
Barça were finally showing their class, and Arsenal were pushed further and further back, having been forced to surrender possession to the Catalan side and rely instead on the counter attack. A brilliant defensive header from Abidal prevented Arsenal from doing just that, shortly before Villa finally opened the scoring by latching onto the end of a Messi assist. As the Emirates was subjected to an FCB onslaught reminiscent of the one last year, Szczesny was twice called upon to prevent Pedro from making it two, while Messi had a goal very questionably disallowed for offside.
The comeback
Arsenal started looking more and more dangerous as the second half wore on, and for a long period had Barça desperately against the ropes. Piqué and Abidal, well shielded by Busquets, were largely to thank for keeping the Premiership side at bay before Messi once again silenced the Emirates with what looked like a goal in the 67th minute, but his effort had only struck the side-netting.
It looked like Barça had finally regained control of the game and a second goal was very much on the cards. But then the game took an unexpected turn for the worst. In the 78th minute, Van Persie lost his defender and surprised Valdés with a powerful strike from the narrowest of angles to put the sides back level. Shortly after, Arshavin finished off a move that had been brilliantly started by Nasri and in just five minutes Arsenal had turned around a game that Barça looked to have won. For the neutral, it was a thrilling finale to a fantastic game of football, and the good news is that it will all be happening again in the second leg at the Camp Nou. Barcelona are going to have to bite back
Monday, February 14, 2011
Top 10 Ronaldo Moments
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, Il Fenomeno, will announce today his retirement after an 18-year career in which he played for six teams, won two World Cups and was three times the best player of the year, among many other accolades.
Despite being hampered by many injuries, Ronaldo gave us many great moments. Here is a recollection of some of his best
Just one year after his professional debut with Cruzeiro, a 17-year Ronaldo was included in the Brazilian squad for the World Cup United Stated 1994.
He didn't play in this tournament, but hey, he was part of a World Champion squad as a teenager. That definitely counts as a big moment in his career.
He didn't play in this tournament, but hey, he was part of a World Champion squad as a teenager. That definitely counts as a big moment in his career.
After being released by AC Milan due to his recurring injuries, Ronaldo signed with Corinthians in December of 2008, a very controversial move as in the previous months he had been training with Corinthians rivals Flamengo, the team he had been fan of as a child.
Anyway, he made the right choice. Just months after his arrival he won the last titles of his career, the Campeonato Paulista and the Copa do Brasil.
Anyway, he made the right choice. Just months after his arrival he won the last titles of his career, the Campeonato Paulista and the Copa do Brasil.
Despite an injury-shortened season with PSV, Ronaldo managed to average almost one goal per game with the Dutch team and then with Barcelona in 1996. That year he won the Dutch Cup before been transferred to the Catalan side for a then record amount of 17 Million USD.
He became the youngest player ever to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award and was runner-up in the voting for the Ballon D'or.
Stu Forster/Getty Images
He became the youngest player ever to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award and was runner-up in the voting for the Ballon D'or.
Stu Forster/Getty Images
If anybody had doubts about Ronaldo being the best player of the world in the previous year, the Brazilian striker made sure nobody would question him in 1997.
He finished his one-year stint with Barcelona scoring 47 goals in 49 official games, helping Los Culés to win The UEFA Cup Winners Cup and the Copa del Rey before leaving for Internazionale Milano.
Getty Images/Getty Images
He finished his one-year stint with Barcelona scoring 47 goals in 49 official games, helping Los Culés to win The UEFA Cup Winners Cup and the Copa del Rey before leaving for Internazionale Milano.
Getty Images/Getty Images
Ronaldo never won the UEFA Champions League, but he did won one Intercontinental Cup with Real Madrid, also in that 2002 marvelous year.
He scored the first goal in the 2-0 victory over Paraguayan Olimpia and was named Man of the Match. A few days later he got his third FIFA World Player of the Year award.
He scored the first goal in the 2-0 victory over Paraguayan Olimpia and was named Man of the Match. A few days later he got his third FIFA World Player of the Year award.
After five years in the Serie A, Ronaldo signed with Real Madrid for the 2002-2003 season, but he had to wait almost two months to make his debut due to an injury.
He made up for the time lost in his first appearance in La Liga, coming from the bench against Alavés on October 6th. He scored his first goal just 60 seconds after entering the field and added a second 14 minutes later. Real Madrid won 5-2.
At the final whistle the striker walked off to a standing ovation from the 75,000 crowd at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
Ben Radford/Getty Images
He made up for the time lost in his first appearance in La Liga, coming from the bench against Alavés on October 6th. He scored his first goal just 60 seconds after entering the field and added a second 14 minutes later. Real Madrid won 5-2.
At the final whistle the striker walked off to a standing ovation from the 75,000 crowd at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
Ben Radford/Getty Images
It's hard to believe it, but Ronaldo had to wait 10 years since his debut to win his first league championship.
Real Madrid had chased Real Sociedad for most of the season, finally taking over the lead in the week 37 thanks to a 0-4 victory against Atlético Madrid in the Vicente Calderón stadium combined with Real Sociedad's 3-2 defeat at Celta de Vigo.
In the last round of the league, Ronaldo scored two goals to lead Real Madrid's 3-1 victory overt Athletic Bilbao, good for Los Merengues' 29th league title.
Technically, Ronaldo was part of the 2006-2007 Real Madrid squad that won the league, but he had left to sign with AC Milan in the winter transfer market.
Real Madrid had chased Real Sociedad for most of the season, finally taking over the lead in the week 37 thanks to a 0-4 victory against Atlético Madrid in the Vicente Calderón stadium combined with Real Sociedad's 3-2 defeat at Celta de Vigo.
In the last round of the league, Ronaldo scored two goals to lead Real Madrid's 3-1 victory overt Athletic Bilbao, good for Los Merengues' 29th league title.
Technically, Ronaldo was part of the 2006-2007 Real Madrid squad that won the league, but he had left to sign with AC Milan in the winter transfer market.
With this goal against Ghana in the Germany 2006 round of 16, Ronaldo reached 15 in World Cups to break Gerd Muller's record.
It was also the last goal for Ronaldo with the verdeamarelha. Four days later, Brazil lost against France in the quarterfinals and Il Fenomeno never played for his National Team again. He finished his International career with 62 goals in 97 caps.
It was also the last goal for Ronaldo with the verdeamarelha. Four days later, Brazil lost against France in the quarterfinals and Il Fenomeno never played for his National Team again. He finished his International career with 62 goals in 97 caps.
October 2nd, 1996. That was probably the day the world became aware Ronaldo was already the best player of the world.
He had an excellent performance against Compostela, scoring three and giving one assist, but the highlight of the night was his second goal of the night, probably the most iconic image of him on the field.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
He had an excellent performance against Compostela, scoring three and giving one assist, but the highlight of the night was his second goal of the night, probably the most iconic image of him on the field.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
The Phenomenon Calls It a Career
Today the game of football or soccer is expected to lose one of the greatest talents in the history of the sport as Brazilian forward Ronaldo plans to announce his retirement.
The 34-year-old has been playing for Brazilian club Corinthians since 2009. It was recently eliminated from the Copa Libertadores in the early stages, which angered many of the club’s fans.
While some players are still going strong, Ronaldo’s trouble to stay fit has finally caught up with him to the point that he longer feels like he can continue to play as has.
Ronaldo has been an interesting character, but also a player that was simply incredible was he was healthy and in top form.
The accolades he earned are incredible. He participated in four World Cups, winning twice. He was a 17-year-old in 1994 for the World Cup in the United States, but did not see any field action. He is the all-time leader in career goals scored at the World Cup with 15. He scored both goals in Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Germany in the 2002 finals.
He played 97 times for the Brazilian National Team, scoring 62 goals.
He is one of just two players to have been a three-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Ronaldo played for the two biggest clubs in Spain in Barcelona and Real Madrid and two of Italy’s elite three in Inter Milan and AC Milan.
He is one of just two players to have scored for both sides in the Milan derby with the other being Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
This list goes on and on.
People will have different ways of judging him.
But if you put everything aside and look at pure talent, there is not more than a handful of players in the history of the game that have had more talent.
Whether people are willing to admit it or not, Ronaldo will certainly be missed.
The 34-year-old has been playing for Brazilian club Corinthians since 2009. It was recently eliminated from the Copa Libertadores in the early stages, which angered many of the club’s fans.
While some players are still going strong, Ronaldo’s trouble to stay fit has finally caught up with him to the point that he longer feels like he can continue to play as has.
Ronaldo has been an interesting character, but also a player that was simply incredible was he was healthy and in top form.
The accolades he earned are incredible. He participated in four World Cups, winning twice. He was a 17-year-old in 1994 for the World Cup in the United States, but did not see any field action. He is the all-time leader in career goals scored at the World Cup with 15. He scored both goals in Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Germany in the 2002 finals.
He played 97 times for the Brazilian National Team, scoring 62 goals.
He is one of just two players to have been a three-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Ronaldo played for the two biggest clubs in Spain in Barcelona and Real Madrid and two of Italy’s elite three in Inter Milan and AC Milan.
This list goes on and on.
People will have different ways of judging him.
But if you put everything aside and look at pure talent, there is not more than a handful of players in the history of the game that have had more talent.
Whether people are willing to admit it or not, Ronaldo will certainly be missed.
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