When ur a big brand u release ur boots in a glass case! lol
Game on!
The sideline perspective of the match between UWI Women’s team and Trincity Nationals at the St. Augustine Campus on Saturday 26th May.
Source: fcbmessi
Alessandro Del Piero photo compilation :D :D
Here’s to Alex
In July 2000, I absolutely hated Alessandro Del Piero (gasp!). Yes, it was in wake of the Euro 2000 heartbreak and had it not been for his two pieces of profligacy, gli azzurri would have had an unassailable 3-0 lead in the final against France. That hatred was short-lived though, as there is something magical about this particular player that transcends the agony of defeat. In my opinion, Alessandro Del Piero is the greatest player ever to kick a football. Okay so maybe he isn’t, but he is my favourite player of all time and one of the best forwards I’ve seen with close competition from Kluivert and Henry. At the end of his career at Juventus, he has amassed one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, one Intercontinental Cup, eight Scudetti (yes, I included the calicopoli seasons), one Coppa Italia, four Supercoppa Italiana, one UEFA intertoto Cup and of course the infamous Serie B title. He is also a World Champion as well.
When I learned that he was being released from Juventus at the end of this season I realised this tribute was the least his accomplishments deserved. So I decided to highlight some of the highs and occasional lows of one of the greatest careers of all time.
Del Piero the Man
“Dellos” although known as a one-club man, actually came from Padova in 1993. Making an immediate impact he had two eventful seasons before winning the Champions League in 1996. The 97/98 season was one of his best as he scored 21 goals in the league and 10 goals in 10 appearances in the Champions League. Juventus lost to Real Madrid in the final at the Amsterdam Arena. At France ’98 he appeared off the bench initially then started in Italy’s last three matches, getting this assist in the match against Austria. Against Norway he showed good skill but lacked confidence in front of goal and didn’t do much in the elimination to France.
Several of the great players have had to battle with severe injuries, which added to their legendary statuses. Ronaldo was absent from the game for two years but then returned to steer Brazil to their fifth World Cup in 2002. Many people don’t know that Alessa missed virtually the entire 98/99 season due to a serious knee injury. However he was back the following year to thrill us with his spectacular creativity.
Among his requisites it must be said that his dead ball ability was unrivalled especially in his prime. Back then as a teenager while the world enthused over David Beckham and Roberto Carlos I often thought: what sort of a man was capable of a free kick like this: where the keeper is left standing and bemused? His consistent combination of power and technique from a dead ball is matched only by Juninho Pernambucano in the modern game. His confident penalty taking was also a joy to see. I have never seen him miss from the spot; yes there’s probably a miss here and there, but I’ve never seen it. And of course, his dribbling has been overlooked because of the fifa-induced stereotype that Italians can’t play attacking football.
But apart from his technical assets people still overlook his gentlemanly conduct which is just as important to the game has match-winning skill. It’s probably more relevant today with numerous players in the tabloids for issues that have nothing to do with the beautiful game. Then you have the chronic divers and exponents of gamesmanship that eternally plague the sport; particularly as FIFA and UEFA are incompetent with their sanctioning of that kind of conduct. Del Piero is one of the last gentlemen to leave the sport as he went about the task with dignity for 19 years.
There was a constant doubt about his worth to the national team; similar to Messi’s current dilemma. Alessa was the main man at Juve but just a supporting cast player with Italy most of the time. Francesco Totti was given the sorcerer-in-chief role ahead of him at Euro 2000 and Korea/Japan. But at Euro 2004 a spitting incident cost him and ultimately the team. Del Piero stepped in and dazzled against Sweden before the anal-retentive Trappatoni replaced him with Stefano Fiore. Donadoni even said that he had to prove himself in 07/08 to make it on the Euro 2008 squad. Del Piero proceeded to become the top scorer that season with 21 goals in the scudetto. Alas, Donadoni still kept him mainly on the bench in favour of Antonio Di Natale. Coaches never seemed to trust Il Pintrucchio a pattern that changed at a crucial time with the appointment of Lippi in 2004.
Glory in Berlin
I have been an azzurri supporter since France ’98. I have been on the roller-coaster with Alessa ever since. Jens Lehmann was not as intimating as Ollie Kahn but was solid enough to save Ayala and Cambiasso’s penalties in the quarterfinal shootout, as well as Riquelme’s against Villareal earlier in the season. So it goes without saying when I saw Alessa score this goal against Lehmann in the semi final in Dortmund, I choked up a bit. I felt like a proud father, sticking with my player and team even when the rest of the football world wrote them off “calciopoli” style.
There was that tense final. Even the replays for that match still keep me on the edge. Then there was that head butt and the dreaded penalty shootout which at that time Italy never won at the World Cup. We all know how that story ended with Del Piero lifting the trophy with his team mates and getting the missing trophy in his cabinet. It wasn’t his first piece of World Cup heroics though, as he bailed out the azzurri with a header glanced off his spit-curl in 2002 against Mexico.
Demotion to Serie B
The Calciopoli betting scandal proved to have dire implications for the teams involved. While Milan were allowed to stay in the top flight thus winning the Champions League that year, Juventus were dumped into Serie B. This caused an exodus of top players such as Ibra, Thuram and Gigi Zambrotta. Credit must be given not just to Alessa, but Buffon and Nedved, who all stayed with their club in the darkest hour. Del Piero became the top scorer in Serie B (obviously) and in six months’ time they were promoted to the Serie A as champions.
Proper Sending-off
With a return to the CL after Euro 2008, it seemed that Juventus were on course for great things once again as Del Piero ran a mock especially against Real Madrid. A series of stellar performances and goals in the two matches in the group stage against the Spaniards rolled back the years. However elimination to Chelsea started the wave of mediocrity that saw them miss out on Europe for two straight seasons after the 09/10 season.
This year was different however as the appointment of Conte along with the acquirement of Pirlo on a free from Milan changed the entire Juventus scope. They finished the season unbeaten and won the scudetto on the second to last match day at the expense of Milan. Del Piero didn’t figure much in the goals, but it was a fitting finale to his club career as his subordinates brought that final scudetto home for him. He still even showed that he still had some left in the tank against Roma in January with an amazing finish in off the bar.
Alessa, wherever next you go we your fans will always remember the magic you brought to the beautiful game, the critics you silenced, the amazing jaw-dropping “freak-kicks” you scored and above all; remaining loyal to one club and staying humble throughout. The game has truly lost one of its last gents.
Taylor
Career Stats:
Juventus
Serie A (6): 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2011–12 (also won in 2004–05 & 2005–06, but removed from Juventus due to calciopoli)
Coppa Italia (1): 1994–95. Runner-up: 2001–02, 2003–04, 2011–12
Supercoppa Italiana (4): 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003. Runner-up: 1998, 2005
UEFA Champions League (1): 1995–96. Runner-up: 1996–97, 1997–98, 2002–03
UEFA Super Cup (1): 1996
Intercontinental Cup (1): 1996
UEFA Intertoto Cup (1): 1999
Italy
UEFA Under-21 European Championship (2): 1994, 1996
UEFA European Championship: Runner-up: 2000
FIFA World Cup (1): 2006
Individual
ESM Team of the Year (3): 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98
Most Valuable Player Intercontinental Cup: 1996
European Footballer of the Year Under-21: 1996
UEFA Champions League Topscorer: 1997–98
Best Loved Football Player: 2001, 2008
Golden Foot to career: 2007
Serie B - Topscorer: 2007 (20 goals)
Scirea Award to career: 2008
Oscar AIC – Italian Footballer ot the Year(2): 1998, 2008
Serie A – Top Scorer: 2008 (21 goals)
USSI Silver Ball: 2008
Globe Soccer Award: 2011
Oscar AIC – Award to Career: 201
Records
Juventus All-Time Leading Scorer (289 goals)
Juventus All-Time Leading Scorer Champions League (44)
Juventus All-Time Leading Scorer UEFA Competitions (52)
Juventus All-Time Leading Scorer International competitions (53)
Juventus All-Time Leading Scorer in the Italian championships (208)
Juventus All-Time Leading Scorer Italian Super Cup (3)
Juventus All-Time appearances holder Serie A: (478)
Juventus All-Time appearances holder in the UEFA club competitions: (129)
Juventus All-Time appearances holder in international competitions: (130)
Juventus All-Time appearances leader (705)
Latest goal from kickoff in a FIFA World Cup match (121st minute)
Most Participations in UEFA European Championships (4) (Tied with 5 others)
Source: tennisdresses
The UWI Women’s team training on 24th May for the crucial clash v Trincity Nationals…
Filling the void: the Yoann Gourcuff story
With the European Championships on the horizon, Matthew Richards profiles the tumultuous career of Yoann Gourcuff, who was somewhat controversially called up to the most recent French squad, in part one of a look at his remarkable journey that has taken him from France to Milan, and back again.
Ever since Zidane chose to so ignominiously end his career in Berlin, French football has been left with a distinct void. Where Kopa and Platini reigned before the talismanic midfielder, there is now a long line of pretenders to the throne. Just as was the situation in Argentina for many years – though Messi appears to only be a strong World Cup away from near surpassing Maradona – there have been those chosen by the media and professed as the next in line; Henry, Ribéry and Vieira all bearing the responsibility at one point in their careers. Nothing yet, and the search continues. Welcome to Le Jeu des Trônes.
To be compared to Zinedine Zidane is both an honour and a hindrance. The similarities are plain to see: both Gourcuff and Zidane occupy the same area on the field, both burst onto the international scene with Bordeaux, both share the same on-pitch demeanour and style. “Don’t put too much pressure on the guy, and don’t ask him to be the new anybody,” said Zidane. “We can all see he’s very talented.” Here lies the drawback to the comparison. Gourcuff will never be able live up to the potential that others have decided that he has – and this is not to do his career a disservice; not many will ever equal Zidane. The pressure to live up to the mark is immense, and often insurmountable. Time will tell with Gourcuff, and his early appearances for France were promising, as were many of his performances for Bordeaux. If he’s looking to shed the comparison’s he’s often gone about it the wrong way, so good has he been on occasion.
Source: afootballreport
Johan Cruijff: The father of the modern game.
LMAO!! Other plausible movies based on boardgames.
I made this joke before and nobody laughed. :cIt’s only a matter of time.
(via joshuadelong)
Source: memehermetica
On Chelsea and deservedness
By Max Grieve
Munich rocked; the Allianz Arena shaking in anticipation of the final whistle. It would come, as it always does, but brought with it a fresh burden. Drogba rose to meet the corner; Drogba fell back to earth, and sent millions into raptures. Thousands watched on in the city centre as the boom broke, and the Bayern support were plunged into a silence.
Deeper still into the match, Chelsea must have sensed that their remarkable run of fortune had come to an end. Beyond Robben’s missed penalty, Bayern found themselves 3-1 up in the shoot-out. Then, the tired clichés of Germany and spot-kicks collapsed. Ivica Olic was denied, and Bastian Schweinsteiger smacked his shot against the post. John Terry was safely confined to the stands, and Dider Drogba, rather than slip at the crucial time, sent Neuer the wrong way with cold perfection.
To a point, the result seems wrong. Chelsea won; their name was being engraved on the trophy as Drogba’s penalty settled in the back of the net, but it was always in Bayern’s control. Said Jens Lehmann following the loss to Dortmund last week; “I can’t see them making this many mistakes again. They’ll play with anger and even more determination. I’m rather optimistic about their chances.”
Source: afootballreport
Will Bayern make it a blue day in Munich for Chelsea? The bloggers think so…
It’s not quite what we expected. Bayern Munich edged past Real Madrid in a penalty shoot-out of epically comic proportions, and Chelsea saw off Barcelona in an incredible encounter at the Camp Nou. Now, the teams that beat arguably the best club sides in world football meet at the Allianz Arena in Munich, where Bayern will look to draw level with Liverpool on European Cups won, and Chelsea are after their first. Roberto Di Matteo has seen his side to a sixth-place finish in the league, but that matters little: if Chelsea win tonight, Tottenham, despite snatching fourth, will not qualify for the Champions League. The match has been overshadowed somewhat by the suspensions of key players on either side, and a refusal by UEFA to adapt the rules of the competition means that Terry, Badstuber, Ramires, Alaba, Ivanovic, Gustavo and Meireles all sit this one out. Bayern are regarded as favourites to lift the cup in their home stadium, but Chelsea pose a threat as underdogs, and have overcome greater obstacles on their way to this final. It promises to be a fascinating encounter.
Some of the writers at AFR, alongside a selection of talented bloggers have put their heads on the chopping block, and share their predictions for the final with you here.
Max Grieve – editor, The Substitution, Bayern Munich 3-1 Chelsea 1
Firstly, we need to forget the score in the DFB-Pokal from earlier in the week, where Borussia Dormund beat Bayern 5-2. There appears to be only one side in European football at the moment that has repeatedly proven themselves capable of handling Robben, Ribery and friends, and that’s Dortmund. Luckily for Bayern, it’s Chelsea they’ll be playing in the final, and although Roberto Di Matteo has turned the Blues’ season spectacularly around, it’s hard to look past some of the incredible fortune that they’ve enjoyed over the last couple of months. Bayern players and fans are running scared of a dangerous Dider Drogba, but a tendency to condense play when up against arguably superior opposition will hurt Chelsea: Bayern’s wingers will revel in any given space (though I don’t think either will score). Lahm, too, should be threatening in attack. I’d expect to see Mario Gomez’s name on the scoresheet – he’s scored every 96 minutes in the Champions League this season, so Chelsea will be hoping that there’s not too much injury-time (I know that’s not how it works).
That said, the llama backed Chelsea.
Source: afootballreport
Yoann Gourcuff included in France provisional squad for euro 2012. I still have faith in his potential. Hope Arsène scoops him up in the summer, it may change the fortunes for both AFC & YG.
Portugal Final squad for Euro 2012
Final squad
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (SL Benfica), Rui Patrício (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Beto (CFR 1907 Cluj).
Defenders: João Pereira (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Fábio Coentrão (Real Madrid CF), Bruno Alves (FC Zenit St Petersburg), Rolando (FC Porto), Ricardo Costa (Valencia CF), Pepe (Real Madrid CF), Miguel Lopes (SC Braga).
Midfielders: Raúl Meireles (Chelsea FC), Miguel Veloso (Genoa CFC), João Moutinho (FC Porto), Rúben Micael (Real Zaragoza), Carlos Martins (Granada CF), Custódio (SC Braga).
Forwards: Nani (Manchester United FC), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid CF), Hugo Almeida (Beşiktaş JK), Ricardo Quaresma (Beşiktaş JK), Silvestre Varela (FC Porto), Hélder Postiga (Real Zaragoza), Nélson Oliveira (SL Benfica).
courtesy uefa.com
25yr old Trini with a passion for all sports. This blog will showcase my freelance work, event coverage and any thoughts I have about any sport; I don't discriminate. 
