The tension was palpable as the players walked out of the tunnel onto the arena at the Soccer City in Jo'burg. 80,000 plus spectators and millions of viewers across the globe watched, as the drone of the vuvuzela rose above the pitch setting the scene for the final battle,one of epic proportions in every sense as the Oranjes took on the La Furia Roja!
This the World Cup of many firsts was all set to crown a first time champion in it's 19th edition!
The journey thus far had been challenging for both teams.
The Dutch came into the tournament on the high of an unblemished qualifying campaign. Some of their biggest stars were in prime form following successful seasons at the club level. The early part of the tournament saw them put in impressive performances. But the eternal dark horses came into their own when they delivered a knock out punch to the Samba Boys. coming from behind they showed their grit and mettle, to send a shock wave across the planet. The world had final awoken to the real threat the Oranjes posed!
European Champions Spain on the other hand had a mixed bag. Their qualifying campaign had been spotless, but they came into the tournament with injury worries to some of the key players, hitman Fernando Torres and creative midfielder Francesc Fabregas to name a few. With an opening loss to Switzerland and an inability to deliver in front of the goal, it was only in the semi final against Germany did they come into their own.
So the question on every one's mind was :Would it be the beautiful tika-taka of the Spaniards or the efficient, tough tackling of the Dutchmen?
As the game kicked off, all the action seemed to emanate from policeman Webb. A flurry of fowls saw the referee, Webb brandish card after card as the Dutch attempted to emphasize their physical prowess and stifle their opponents free flowing game. And so they did, as the usually sublime Spaniards found it difficult to string the passes together. This therefore meant that they had to rely more on the set pieces. Opportunities were few and far between and the notable chances fell to effervescent right back Sergio Ramos who seemed to have come with no intention but to wreck havoc amongst the Dutch ranks. David Villa also got a look in, but the real deal fell to Dutch playmaker Arjen Robben, who latched onto a through ball from Wesley Sneijder but couldn't keep his composure when faced by Iker Casillas in front of the Spanish post.Subsequently Robben got another golden opportunity when he darted forwards capitalising on his speed and agility. He almost seemed to have the first break of the match, buy yet again, the finish was poor. The Spanish defending in this case was questionable though, with Puyol tugging at Robben.
But as the match unravelled, it was less of a thriller in terms of goals and oppurtunities but more of a tactical one where the two mid fields battled to assert supremacy. Having studied each other's game closely, this comprised of smaller battles... Robben's pace vs Puyol's experience, van Bommel attempting to curb Spanish passes and Xavi, and Heitinga, Mathijsen patrolling the area to stem any dazzling pieces of play from Villa, Pedro and Iniesta!
In the latter stages along came the substitutions with the Spanish changes seeming to have a more conspicuous effect. Navas infused new life into the game, yet the deadlock wan't shattered!As the game crept into extra time,super sub- Cesc Fabregas came close to scoring twice!
Finally 116 fiercly contested and at times ugly minutes later, Andres Iniesta shot a precise Fabregas pass into the back of the net.
Yet another 1-0 victory for this Spanish team, and the coveted, long awaited title was their's.
Despite not being prolific scorers, the Spanish had undoubtedly stamped their brand of football on the tournament. And despite a less than stellar finale, the new champions were both deserving and hugely popular winners!
And on the night of the 11th of July, 2010 as fireworks lit the sky and the streets were painted in the red and gold of the Spanish armada, Iker Casillas rose to lift the Golden trophy and for the very first time in history, Espana were befittingly crowned 'Campeones del Mundo'!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
THE BIG FINAL
This, the 2010 FIFA WC has is one of many firsts and the greatest of them all will be set in stone tonight as a new Champion will be crowned at the effervescent Soccer City in Jo’burg.
A month ago, when the World Cup kicked off in South Africa, there was much speculation about who would be champions.
Would it be Brazil, the eternal favourites? The samba boys under Dunga sure looked good! What with the likes of Robinho, Kaka in their side.
Then again there was, Argentina with Leo Messi (any adjective used here shall sound repitative, hence I shall refrain from doing so!), Tavez and the eccentric genius Diego Maradona at the helm. All the talk centred around what the plight of the rest of the teams would be in Argentina’s wake!
Next came the European power houses Italy and France, and despite not looking as good as the cracker units that had contested the final in ’06, pundits and fans alike were weary of writing them off!
Germany, off course could never be taken lightly, after making it to the final 4 in both the previous editions and to the finals of Euro ’08 as well, Joachim Loew’s side, despite missing inspirational captain Michael Ballack, were brimming with young blood and a hunger for success!
So who next…? Well, there was Ivory Coast, and despite being packed in the group of death alongside Brazil and Portugal, they had the unstoppable Chelsea- man Didier Drogba. Portugal themselves posed a decent threat, pin up boy Christiano Ronaldo and the less hyped but equally potent Nani, Deco could all dazzle. A piece of inspired play or a moment of individual genius could well see these teams pull out a few upsets!
So that left little else, yes of course there was European Champions Spain and the perennial dark horses Netherlands, but one could always count on them to choke, goof-up, falter and fade when pitted against the above mentioned goliaths of world football!
Spain, despite having an unrivalled league and talent enough to raise a footballing army had always faltered when it counted! Not even having made a final in any of their previous attempts, the odds were stacked against them.
The script for Netherlands at each WC read pretty much the same story. Runners up twice, the underachievers tag was firmly pasted on their backs!
But fast-forward to South Africa 2010, on the eve of the greatest sporting spectacle in the world, and we could not have asked for two worthier finalists. Riding on the high-tide of Arjen Robben's and Wesley Sneijder's scintillating form, the Oranje mean business. But the Dutchmen's chances tonight probably hinge more on the industrious Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong than their flamboyant attackers. Faced with the formidable prospect of keeping Spain's deliciously creative midfield at bay, van Bommel has his work cut out. And there are not too many out there better than he is at the dirty-work that will be needed of him tonight. He will be the key to ensure that that midfield is kept quiet, and thereby cutting off supply to the lethal David Villa.
But the task will not be easy for van Bommel and de Jong. Modeled on the Barcelona philosophy of making football beautiful again, the Spaniards are artists at what they do. Their precise passes are like artful strokes on the canvas, and they are here to paint South Africa red tonight. Unsurprisingly, six out of the eleven that started in the 1-0 victory over Germany ply their trade in Barcelona, not counting Villa as their latest addition. And all six of them are pure-bred Catalonians, produced by their famed academy. Though the Spaniards haven't quite got going attack-wise, it is important to keep in mind that with that central midfield, a goal is always on the cards. With the misfiring Fernando Torres unlikely to be risked on such a big stage, Spain will revert back to 4-5-1 with the impressive Pedro likely to start again in midfield, with Villa leading the line.
The great Zinedine Zidane once said, in the days when he was working his magic at Madrid, that "if Spain start winning, they will never stop". His words have certainly proven true so far. Ever since their dominant display at the Euros two years ago, the Spanish flag has been waving high. They came to South Africa as favorites, and barring their opening game, they haven't disappointed. But a formidable orange wall stands firm between them and their first world title. The Dutch will be equally up for it, for they too have dreamt of success for far too long. For the first time since the '70s, they have a sniff at success, and they sure as hell will be ready! It will be an intriguing and well-fought battle. A battle of wits. A battle of skill. And what better time to do it, with the world watching.
A month ago, when the World Cup kicked off in South Africa, there was much speculation about who would be champions.
Would it be Brazil, the eternal favourites? The samba boys under Dunga sure looked good! What with the likes of Robinho, Kaka in their side.
Then again there was, Argentina with Leo Messi (any adjective used here shall sound repitative, hence I shall refrain from doing so!), Tavez and the eccentric genius Diego Maradona at the helm. All the talk centred around what the plight of the rest of the teams would be in Argentina’s wake!
Next came the European power houses Italy and France, and despite not looking as good as the cracker units that had contested the final in ’06, pundits and fans alike were weary of writing them off!
Germany, off course could never be taken lightly, after making it to the final 4 in both the previous editions and to the finals of Euro ’08 as well, Joachim Loew’s side, despite missing inspirational captain Michael Ballack, were brimming with young blood and a hunger for success!
So who next…? Well, there was Ivory Coast, and despite being packed in the group of death alongside Brazil and Portugal, they had the unstoppable Chelsea- man Didier Drogba. Portugal themselves posed a decent threat, pin up boy Christiano Ronaldo and the less hyped but equally potent Nani, Deco could all dazzle. A piece of inspired play or a moment of individual genius could well see these teams pull out a few upsets!
So that left little else, yes of course there was European Champions Spain and the perennial dark horses Netherlands, but one could always count on them to choke, goof-up, falter and fade when pitted against the above mentioned goliaths of world football!
Spain, despite having an unrivalled league and talent enough to raise a footballing army had always faltered when it counted! Not even having made a final in any of their previous attempts, the odds were stacked against them.
The script for Netherlands at each WC read pretty much the same story. Runners up twice, the underachievers tag was firmly pasted on their backs!
But fast-forward to South Africa 2010, on the eve of the greatest sporting spectacle in the world, and we could not have asked for two worthier finalists. Riding on the high-tide of Arjen Robben's and Wesley Sneijder's scintillating form, the Oranje mean business. But the Dutchmen's chances tonight probably hinge more on the industrious Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong than their flamboyant attackers. Faced with the formidable prospect of keeping Spain's deliciously creative midfield at bay, van Bommel has his work cut out. And there are not too many out there better than he is at the dirty-work that will be needed of him tonight. He will be the key to ensure that that midfield is kept quiet, and thereby cutting off supply to the lethal David Villa.
But the task will not be easy for van Bommel and de Jong. Modeled on the Barcelona philosophy of making football beautiful again, the Spaniards are artists at what they do. Their precise passes are like artful strokes on the canvas, and they are here to paint South Africa red tonight. Unsurprisingly, six out of the eleven that started in the 1-0 victory over Germany ply their trade in Barcelona, not counting Villa as their latest addition. And all six of them are pure-bred Catalonians, produced by their famed academy. Though the Spaniards haven't quite got going attack-wise, it is important to keep in mind that with that central midfield, a goal is always on the cards. With the misfiring Fernando Torres unlikely to be risked on such a big stage, Spain will revert back to 4-5-1 with the impressive Pedro likely to start again in midfield, with Villa leading the line.
The great Zinedine Zidane once said, in the days when he was working his magic at Madrid, that "if Spain start winning, they will never stop". His words have certainly proven true so far. Ever since their dominant display at the Euros two years ago, the Spanish flag has been waving high. They came to South Africa as favorites, and barring their opening game, they haven't disappointed. But a formidable orange wall stands firm between them and their first world title. The Dutch will be equally up for it, for they too have dreamt of success for far too long. For the first time since the '70s, they have a sniff at success, and they sure as hell will be ready! It will be an intriguing and well-fought battle. A battle of wits. A battle of skill. And what better time to do it, with the world watching.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
World Cup Disappointments
This here is a list of some of the top footballers who achieved almost
everything a footballer can,everything except, one trophy which may not be as big as
the trophies but its significance is unmatched.
1)Alfredo de Stefano
In the Madrid dynasty of the 50’s he was the king. De Stefano and Goals
went hand in hand. He was instrumental in Real Madrid's domination of
European football during the 1950’s.He won 8 la liga titles and 5 consecutive
European cups, a record that probably will never be broken.In spite of this
success De Stefano never got a chance to play in the world cup,which left
the footballing fans wondering of “what might have been”.
2)Ferenc Puscas
Puscas and distafano, the 2 words opposition clubs feared the most.Like
de Stefano, Ferenc puscas enjoyed great success with Real Madrid winning
5 la liga titles and 3 European cups.He was the leader of the Hungarian
side that inculcated fear into the minds of opposition during the early
1950’s.Unfortunately in a potential banana peel in West Germany, Hungary
lost in the 1954 world cup final leaving one of the greatest strikers of all
time without the trophy he dreamed of lifting ever since he was a little boy.
3)George Best
With great names like Beckham,Cantona,Ronaldo hogging the lime light,
it is easy to forget the man who put Manchester United on the World
map.George Best is probably the first man who was daring enough to
believe that a single man can terrorize any defence-AND SO HE DID!
When the goal was in his sight he just ran past everyone .He helped Man Utd win
their first ever European cup in 1968.Best represented Northern Ireland
where he continued doing what he did 'best'.But he was the big fish in a small
pond,which made it easy for the opposition to stop him and his world cup dreams.
4)Eusebio
While Best terrorized defenders in England,Eusebio was doing the same
in Portugal.Under Eusebio’s leadership Benfica became the team everyone
wanted to avoid.Eusebio won an unprecedented 11 titles with Benfica and
1 European cup.He was the top scorer in the 1966 world cup.In an aging Portuguese side the 1966 World Cup was their best chance to achieve glory on the world stage.They failed to do it leaving Eusebio,the most prolific striker of the
1960’s without a World Cup Winner's title to add to his resume.
5)Johan Cryuff
Johan Cryuff is the man that introduced the word playmaker into the
footballing dictionary.He orchestrated many an attack that was instrumental
in the dutch reaching the finals of the 1974 world cup. He is probably the
best product of the world renowned Ajax Youth Academy.He enjoyed great
club success with Ajax and Barcelona.
In the 1974 world cup Cryuff was the heart of the midfield.Every attack emanated from him which is why the germans resorted to MANMARKING to put an end to the fairy tale run of the dutch in the 1974 world cup.This was the first instance of man-marking in any form of football.
6)Ian Rush
Liverpool dominated Europe in the 1980’s,winning almost everything they
laid their eyes on.Ian rush was not only the focal point of their attack but
also an inspirational leader.But just like George best Ian rush was a Big
fish in a small pond called Wales who were never strong enough to mount a
challenge on the world stage.
7)David Beckham
Whatever be said about David Beckham,that he was always a pin up boy,
a man who spent more time with hairspray than a football,one cannot
ignore his achievements.He was the man that everyone loved to hate.People
criticized David of being a movie star rather than footballer.In spite of all
this David Beckham did what he did best, play and win! He Was a part of
the Manchester dynasty of the 1990’s that won everything in English football
including the coveted Champions League…Coaches loved to hate him but David stuck
to his game…even at Real Madrid where he fell out of favour. But when everyone
around him faltered David Beckham raised his game,thereby helping the
galacticos win their 1st title in 5 years.He is the most capped English player.Who knows,had people actually given him the chance to concentrate on his football, he could have been the man to bring the World Cup back to England.
8)Michael Ballack
People might argue about the inclusion of Michael ballack in this list,but
what this young man did at the turn of the century cannot be ignored.He
single handedly took Bayer Leverkusen to the Champions League final in
2002. Leverkusen were a team that lived in the darkness for many years.He
was probably Germany’s best attacking player which helped them reach the
World Cup finals of 2002.He helped Bayern Munich Become the undisputed
kings of Germany.But as you can see the words “helped reach the finals”
is mentioned too often. Twice in 2002 and again in 2008 with Chelsea
and Germany Michael suffered finals heartbreak. He is regarded as one of the
most unluckiest players in professional football,but people still remember
him as the wonder kid that could inspire everyone around him.
9)Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano ronaldo burst onto the footballing scene in 2003 with Manchester
United. At first he was a flashy,trickster who could never sleep without stepover on the field.Later as he matured he became the most prolific striker in the premier league.With the help of Wayne Rooney he brought the glory days back to Old Trafforded with 3 consecutive titles and the champions league title in 2008.After leaving for Real Madrid in 2009 Ronald0 continued where he left of!But his international career never took off.The Portuguese team were always considered as a team that faltered when it was time to perform….Even though he has a long career ahead of him,his world
cup dreams look like they might never materialize..Portuguese football is on
the decline and if they are to ever pull of the unthinkable, Ronaldo will have
to do the impossible!
10)Lionel Messi
He is without a doubt the best player on the planet at this moment!He has the ability to run past everone in his way with absolute ease.He is often compared to
the great Diego Maradona and rightly so.With Barcelona he has Won
almost everything.With Messi leading the way Barcelona look set to be the
greatest football club ever..But again club success doesn’t guarantee national
success.In an Argentinian team filled with talent, people wonder why they
never win anything.Over the next 10 years, Lionel Messi looks set to seal his place as the greatest player that ever lived..If anyone deserved a fairy tail ending it is
Messi…It's as simple as this: if he wins the world cup he will be known as the
greatest footballer that ever played the game,but if he fails to do so,it
will be without a doubt the biggest disappointment in world football...!
everything a footballer can,everything except, one trophy which may not be as big as
the trophies but its significance is unmatched.
1)Alfredo de Stefano
In the Madrid dynasty of the 50’s he was the king. De Stefano and Goals
went hand in hand. He was instrumental in Real Madrid's domination of
European football during the 1950’s.He won 8 la liga titles and 5 consecutive
European cups, a record that probably will never be broken.In spite of this
success De Stefano never got a chance to play in the world cup,which left
the footballing fans wondering of “what might have been”.
2)Ferenc Puscas
Puscas and distafano, the 2 words opposition clubs feared the most.Like
de Stefano, Ferenc puscas enjoyed great success with Real Madrid winning
5 la liga titles and 3 European cups.He was the leader of the Hungarian
side that inculcated fear into the minds of opposition during the early
1950’s.Unfortunately in a potential banana peel in West Germany, Hungary
lost in the 1954 world cup final leaving one of the greatest strikers of all
time without the trophy he dreamed of lifting ever since he was a little boy.
3)George Best
With great names like Beckham,Cantona,Ronaldo hogging the lime light,
it is easy to forget the man who put Manchester United on the World
map.George Best is probably the first man who was daring enough to
believe that a single man can terrorize any defence-AND SO HE DID!
When the goal was in his sight he just ran past everyone .He helped Man Utd win
their first ever European cup in 1968.Best represented Northern Ireland
where he continued doing what he did 'best'.But he was the big fish in a small
pond,which made it easy for the opposition to stop him and his world cup dreams.
4)Eusebio
While Best terrorized defenders in England,Eusebio was doing the same
in Portugal.Under Eusebio’s leadership Benfica became the team everyone
wanted to avoid.Eusebio won an unprecedented 11 titles with Benfica and
1 European cup.He was the top scorer in the 1966 world cup.In an aging Portuguese side the 1966 World Cup was their best chance to achieve glory on the world stage.They failed to do it leaving Eusebio,the most prolific striker of the
1960’s without a World Cup Winner's title to add to his resume.
5)Johan Cryuff
Johan Cryuff is the man that introduced the word playmaker into the
footballing dictionary.He orchestrated many an attack that was instrumental
in the dutch reaching the finals of the 1974 world cup. He is probably the
best product of the world renowned Ajax Youth Academy.He enjoyed great
club success with Ajax and Barcelona.
In the 1974 world cup Cryuff was the heart of the midfield.Every attack emanated from him which is why the germans resorted to MANMARKING to put an end to the fairy tale run of the dutch in the 1974 world cup.This was the first instance of man-marking in any form of football.
6)Ian Rush
Liverpool dominated Europe in the 1980’s,winning almost everything they
laid their eyes on.Ian rush was not only the focal point of their attack but
also an inspirational leader.But just like George best Ian rush was a Big
fish in a small pond called Wales who were never strong enough to mount a
challenge on the world stage.
7)David Beckham
Whatever be said about David Beckham,that he was always a pin up boy,
a man who spent more time with hairspray than a football,one cannot
ignore his achievements.He was the man that everyone loved to hate.People
criticized David of being a movie star rather than footballer.In spite of all
this David Beckham did what he did best, play and win! He Was a part of
the Manchester dynasty of the 1990’s that won everything in English football
including the coveted Champions League…Coaches loved to hate him but David stuck
to his game…even at Real Madrid where he fell out of favour. But when everyone
around him faltered David Beckham raised his game,thereby helping the
galacticos win their 1st title in 5 years.He is the most capped English player.Who knows,had people actually given him the chance to concentrate on his football, he could have been the man to bring the World Cup back to England.
8)Michael Ballack
People might argue about the inclusion of Michael ballack in this list,but
what this young man did at the turn of the century cannot be ignored.He
single handedly took Bayer Leverkusen to the Champions League final in
2002. Leverkusen were a team that lived in the darkness for many years.He
was probably Germany’s best attacking player which helped them reach the
World Cup finals of 2002.He helped Bayern Munich Become the undisputed
kings of Germany.But as you can see the words “helped reach the finals”
is mentioned too often. Twice in 2002 and again in 2008 with Chelsea
and Germany Michael suffered finals heartbreak. He is regarded as one of the
most unluckiest players in professional football,but people still remember
him as the wonder kid that could inspire everyone around him.
9)Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano ronaldo burst onto the footballing scene in 2003 with Manchester
United. At first he was a flashy,trickster who could never sleep without stepover on the field.Later as he matured he became the most prolific striker in the premier league.With the help of Wayne Rooney he brought the glory days back to Old Trafforded with 3 consecutive titles and the champions league title in 2008.After leaving for Real Madrid in 2009 Ronald0 continued where he left of!But his international career never took off.The Portuguese team were always considered as a team that faltered when it was time to perform….Even though he has a long career ahead of him,his world
cup dreams look like they might never materialize..Portuguese football is on
the decline and if they are to ever pull of the unthinkable, Ronaldo will have
to do the impossible!
10)Lionel Messi
He is without a doubt the best player on the planet at this moment!He has the ability to run past everone in his way with absolute ease.He is often compared to
the great Diego Maradona and rightly so.With Barcelona he has Won
almost everything.With Messi leading the way Barcelona look set to be the
greatest football club ever..But again club success doesn’t guarantee national
success.In an Argentinian team filled with talent, people wonder why they
never win anything.Over the next 10 years, Lionel Messi looks set to seal his place as the greatest player that ever lived..If anyone deserved a fairy tail ending it is
Messi…It's as simple as this: if he wins the world cup he will be known as the
greatest footballer that ever played the game,but if he fails to do so,it
will be without a doubt the biggest disappointment in world football...!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Indian Cricket… Headed The Way Of English Football?
Indian Cricket has, as in the past, has hogged much of the limelight off late. This despite the remarkable performances that other sportsman have put up (be it Somdedevvarman in tennis or Vijender Singh in boxing).
What’s new you may ask, it’s been that way since time immemorial. And if anything, the game has only grown in stature and size, especially since the inception of the T20 format and it’s highly entertaining ‘desi’ version, the IPL!
Then again, when you ask yourself, why has Indian Cricket been in the news in the recent past, it’s not been all pleasant. For starters the team has failed to get past the group stages in 2 consecutive ICC events this year, and despite their clinical performance in the emerald isle, their form has been far from convincing.
So why do I feel that Indian Cricket is following in footsteps of English Football?
The answer is, well, virtually inevitable!
The Barclays League, one of the best and most competitive leagues in the world has all the big names, the big money and the big players!
Yet, the English National Team is floundering like a fish out of water. The English Clubs have come into their own off late, especially on the European Stage, but who is waging their war?... Christiano Ronaldo (Portugese), who until recently player for Manchester United, Cesc Fabregas, Ferrnando Torres (both Spanish), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Andrei Arshavin (Russian), Emanuel Adebayor (Togolese) are the prized pawns of this league. Only a handful of Englishmen warrant a place in this elite list, namely Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Frank Lampard!
Not only are the players foreign, but even the big managers and club owners are also imported!
Sounds familiar? Well the Indian Premier League is in the same boat. Since it’s inception both the winning teams have been captained by Australians (Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist), neither of whom officially donned that mantle for their country. Not only did they annex the crown, but in the process they also outdid two wily Indian captains in M S Dhoni and Anil Kumble respectively!
The likes of Shane Watson, Dirk Nannes, Shaun Marsh, Ross Taylor have outdone their Indian counterparts. The coaching and support staff have all been brought in, and to top it all of, this year the IPL went on a ‘safari’ to South Africa!
And as I watch the Delhi Daredevils being tonked and hammered in the CLT20, it further drills the point.
The question that begs to be asked is: ‘Is T20 built for our kind of cricket?’
Historically, my answer would be an outright no!
Our game lays a lot of emphasis on individuals, on select roles… and not on ‘Total Cricket’! (A concept in football, where each player is capable of playing at any position!) Most successful T20 teams are built this way, they may not comprise of the biggest stars, but they sure are effective. All-rounders are the weapons of choice, and when was the last time we had one in the same league as Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Jacques Kallis or Daniel Vettori!
The high speed, adrenalin-rush tempo of the game is always a step ahead of us, and we’ave only just begin to realize that fielding is as much a specialty as batting or bowling!
These nuances of the game are yet to be processed by the ‘thinkers’ in our game.
Yet, cricket being the game of glorious uncertainties that it is, we emerge champions at the inaugural T20 World Cup!
Indians are on the rise, but to establish themselves as masters of all three forms of the game is still a task for the future! But given the talent pool we have, there certainly is lots of hope. As for English Football, David Beckham had better take a leaf out of Dhoni’s book,>“If your hair is getting more attention than you are, chop it off!!!”
What’s new you may ask, it’s been that way since time immemorial. And if anything, the game has only grown in stature and size, especially since the inception of the T20 format and it’s highly entertaining ‘desi’ version, the IPL!
Then again, when you ask yourself, why has Indian Cricket been in the news in the recent past, it’s not been all pleasant. For starters the team has failed to get past the group stages in 2 consecutive ICC events this year, and despite their clinical performance in the emerald isle, their form has been far from convincing.
So why do I feel that Indian Cricket is following in footsteps of English Football?
The answer is, well, virtually inevitable!
The Barclays League, one of the best and most competitive leagues in the world has all the big names, the big money and the big players!
Yet, the English National Team is floundering like a fish out of water. The English Clubs have come into their own off late, especially on the European Stage, but who is waging their war?... Christiano Ronaldo (Portugese), who until recently player for Manchester United, Cesc Fabregas, Ferrnando Torres (both Spanish), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Andrei Arshavin (Russian), Emanuel Adebayor (Togolese) are the prized pawns of this league. Only a handful of Englishmen warrant a place in this elite list, namely Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Frank Lampard!
Not only are the players foreign, but even the big managers and club owners are also imported!
Sounds familiar? Well the Indian Premier League is in the same boat. Since it’s inception both the winning teams have been captained by Australians (Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist), neither of whom officially donned that mantle for their country. Not only did they annex the crown, but in the process they also outdid two wily Indian captains in M S Dhoni and Anil Kumble respectively!
The likes of Shane Watson, Dirk Nannes, Shaun Marsh, Ross Taylor have outdone their Indian counterparts. The coaching and support staff have all been brought in, and to top it all of, this year the IPL went on a ‘safari’ to South Africa!
And as I watch the Delhi Daredevils being tonked and hammered in the CLT20, it further drills the point.
The question that begs to be asked is: ‘Is T20 built for our kind of cricket?’
Historically, my answer would be an outright no!
Our game lays a lot of emphasis on individuals, on select roles… and not on ‘Total Cricket’! (A concept in football, where each player is capable of playing at any position!) Most successful T20 teams are built this way, they may not comprise of the biggest stars, but they sure are effective. All-rounders are the weapons of choice, and when was the last time we had one in the same league as Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Jacques Kallis or Daniel Vettori!
The high speed, adrenalin-rush tempo of the game is always a step ahead of us, and we’ave only just begin to realize that fielding is as much a specialty as batting or bowling!
These nuances of the game are yet to be processed by the ‘thinkers’ in our game.
Yet, cricket being the game of glorious uncertainties that it is, we emerge champions at the inaugural T20 World Cup!
Indians are on the rise, but to establish themselves as masters of all three forms of the game is still a task for the future! But given the talent pool we have, there certainly is lots of hope. As for English Football, David Beckham had better take a leaf out of Dhoni’s book,
Saturday, August 15, 2009
THE FLOODGATES REOPEN
The very substantial proportion of the world population that is enamored with the Beautiful Game as it is played in the country of its roots, has been deprived long enough for some maddeningly fast paced Premier League action. Not for much longer. Premier League football, in a lot of ways, is like heroin (!!) - the ones that manage to get hooked onto it stay hooked for life - not if rehab has its say in it. And the frequent "highs" can have you craving for more and more. (Disclaimer: The author of this article is NOT hooked on to heroin, though he may seem to speak appraisingly of it. He's just plain stupid.) On the 15th of August, the BPL addicts (that's us) are set to get an all new and improved dose of the football we've all loved and missed - one that will set your adrenalin pumping, your pulses racing, and quite simply make you go bonkers!!
The scene shifts to West London for the first game - title contenders Chelsea host minnows Hull City in the afternoon kickoff. Will Chelsea let the rest of the contenders know of their intentions with a roar, or will Hull spoil the feast?
One look at the front-runners of this year's race will reveal not much of disparity in terms of skill and flair and panache. More importantly, the title race just got a lot more open than it has been for a considerable period of time. Departure of English football's poster-boy Cristiano Ronaldo means that United just lost a major tooth in their attack - will their bite be as venomous this year without him?
Chelsea haven't really strengthened their squad as much just yet - but they've held on fiercely to their marquee players. Carvalho's presence for another year in the centre of defence solidifies their title charge. With new boss Carlo Ancelloti shipped in from Milan, The Blues will be confident that this could be their turn to be champions again. The Italian mastermind at the helm will ensure that Chelsea will play with the same principles that proved to be so successful for him at the San Siro. He won't put his feet up for a moment to enjoy some Milanese pastas - this signore truly means business.
Rafa Benitez could be forgiven for having a confident smirk on his face himself - after all he's got one of the best midfielders in Stevie Gerrard marshaling his troops, and not to forget the prolific 'El Nino', Fernando Torres - the apple of Scousers' eyes, and an insatiable hurricane to PL defenders. The loss of the technically gifted Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid would have been a major shot in the arm, no doubt, but Rafa will count on new Italian recruit Alberto Aquilani to inject some flair into the terrific Liverpool midfield that also includes the tenacious Javier Mascherano. Liverpool were so close last year - they believe they could go all the way this year too.
The Emirates Stadium hasn't seen too many arrivals this summer - but it has seen a few familiar faces leave. Wenger is yet to find a replacement for departing marksman Emmanuel Adebayor, while Thomas Vermaelen comes in to strengthen Arsenal's very modest back four. A lot has been said in the British press about Fabregas's potential transfer to Barcelona - will he? won't he? For now, it seems like he stays for another season at least. Eduardo's full recovery is like a new signing for Arsenal, and he strengthens the Gunner's forward line that boasts the technically marvelous Robin van Persie and the classy Andrei Arshavin. Hoping for the title still remains just that - hopes, unless the young guns step up to repay the fans' patience. An added worry for Arsenal is the ever-closing gap between the Big Four and the rest - particularly big-spending Man City. They've got to watch their heels closely.
Man City have been hogging the tabloids with their summer spending spree. They've shelled out about 90 million pounds for a host of impressive names - Barry, Adebayor, Toure, Santa Cruz to name a few. They'll be looking to break into the top four this season, and in Mark Hughes they have got a more than able mentor.
The champions have their work cut out for them. One wonders where from midfield the goals will arrive. Antonio Valencia is not much of a goal scorer like Ronaldo - he's a more conventional winger, one that can offer United great width on the flanks. The shock arrival of Michael Owen could prove to be either a grand success, or a miserable failure. This is the 29-year old Owen's final chance to reignite his fading career - one that epitomized the highest standard of goalscoring and guile that a striker could aspire to achieve.
So fasten your seat belts, because the next nine months will have you drowned in anguish and also pumping fists in triumph. Experience the thrill of Premier League football. Rest assured - by the end of the season, you'll be so high that you'll never wanna come back down again.
The scene shifts to West London for the first game - title contenders Chelsea host minnows Hull City in the afternoon kickoff. Will Chelsea let the rest of the contenders know of their intentions with a roar, or will Hull spoil the feast?
One look at the front-runners of this year's race will reveal not much of disparity in terms of skill and flair and panache. More importantly, the title race just got a lot more open than it has been for a considerable period of time. Departure of English football's poster-boy Cristiano Ronaldo means that United just lost a major tooth in their attack - will their bite be as venomous this year without him?
Chelsea haven't really strengthened their squad as much just yet - but they've held on fiercely to their marquee players. Carvalho's presence for another year in the centre of defence solidifies their title charge. With new boss Carlo Ancelloti shipped in from Milan, The Blues will be confident that this could be their turn to be champions again. The Italian mastermind at the helm will ensure that Chelsea will play with the same principles that proved to be so successful for him at the San Siro. He won't put his feet up for a moment to enjoy some Milanese pastas - this signore truly means business.
Rafa Benitez could be forgiven for having a confident smirk on his face himself - after all he's got one of the best midfielders in Stevie Gerrard marshaling his troops, and not to forget the prolific 'El Nino', Fernando Torres - the apple of Scousers' eyes, and an insatiable hurricane to PL defenders. The loss of the technically gifted Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid would have been a major shot in the arm, no doubt, but Rafa will count on new Italian recruit Alberto Aquilani to inject some flair into the terrific Liverpool midfield that also includes the tenacious Javier Mascherano. Liverpool were so close last year - they believe they could go all the way this year too.
The Emirates Stadium hasn't seen too many arrivals this summer - but it has seen a few familiar faces leave. Wenger is yet to find a replacement for departing marksman Emmanuel Adebayor, while Thomas Vermaelen comes in to strengthen Arsenal's very modest back four. A lot has been said in the British press about Fabregas's potential transfer to Barcelona - will he? won't he? For now, it seems like he stays for another season at least. Eduardo's full recovery is like a new signing for Arsenal, and he strengthens the Gunner's forward line that boasts the technically marvelous Robin van Persie and the classy Andrei Arshavin. Hoping for the title still remains just that - hopes, unless the young guns step up to repay the fans' patience. An added worry for Arsenal is the ever-closing gap between the Big Four and the rest - particularly big-spending Man City. They've got to watch their heels closely.
Man City have been hogging the tabloids with their summer spending spree. They've shelled out about 90 million pounds for a host of impressive names - Barry, Adebayor, Toure, Santa Cruz to name a few. They'll be looking to break into the top four this season, and in Mark Hughes they have got a more than able mentor.
The champions have their work cut out for them. One wonders where from midfield the goals will arrive. Antonio Valencia is not much of a goal scorer like Ronaldo - he's a more conventional winger, one that can offer United great width on the flanks. The shock arrival of Michael Owen could prove to be either a grand success, or a miserable failure. This is the 29-year old Owen's final chance to reignite his fading career - one that epitomized the highest standard of goalscoring and guile that a striker could aspire to achieve.
So fasten your seat belts, because the next nine months will have you drowned in anguish and also pumping fists in triumph. Experience the thrill of Premier League football. Rest assured - by the end of the season, you'll be so high that you'll never wanna come back down again.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Formula 1 maybe amongst the fastest sports in the world, but crises and controversies are brewing at no mean pace either!
We are a little over midway through the season, and the world of Formula 1 has swept through trauma, turmoil, truth/lies faster than the tyres on it’s car have worn out.
It’s been a complete cinematic saga, the rise of the ‘Underdog’, the unfortunate incapacitation of a ‘Hero’ and the return of the ‘Messiah’!
The season kicked off Down Under, with speculation rife about whether this would be Albert Park’s final swansong!
No sooner did the ‘3 red lights’ go off, than it became clear that this season would be unlike any other in history. Move aside Ferrari, McLaren!... Rising from the ashes of the Honda team (who pulled out of F1 ), was the phoenix a.k.a BrawnGP!
Adding to the flamboyance of F1 was the Virgin Group supremo, Richard Branson, now the proud owner of Brawn GP, which itself was christened after Ross Brawn( formerly Schumi’s right hand man at Ferrari) now technical director of the newly formed team.
But Brawn GP was not only about the big names and big bucks, ‘Brawn’ also had the brains!
Their ‘differential’ interpretation of the new diffuser rules courted as much controversy as Max Mosley’s private life, and multiple hearings later it was decided that the two teams(Red Bull racing being the other) who pumped not only money but also ‘mind’ into their cars stayed atop the podium.
Just when you thought all the controversies for the season were ‘diffused’, along came the FIA’s proposal of a budget cap for 2010, and all the big spenders screamed foul!
They threatened to break away and form a rebel league sand what would Formula 1 be sans the Prancing Horse and all it’s other big names. But with neither faction relenting, this storm had caused a rift right down the middle.
Amidst the entire hullabaloo, Brawn continued to be strong up front, and slowly but surely the season was becoming a tug-o-war between them and RBR, as the traditional power houses Ferrari and McLaren were relegated to mere also ran(s).
As the season approached the European leg, the rest of the field showed mild improvements and managed to secure a footing on the podium, while Brawn showed the first signs of strife. But more drama was to follow… Following the German GP, Torro Rosso showed it’s French driver, Sebastian Bourdais, the door and thrust Spanish teenager Jamie Alguersuari into the cockpit!
At 19 years and 126 days, he becomes the youngest ever driver in the fast lane. This youngster with prodigious talent, has impressed many in his stint in the British F3 Championship and no doubt is ‘one for the future’!
With team boss ready to give him time to learn and with no imminent pressure on him, this reigning BritishF3 champion has a bright future… but is he( like many are already saying) the next Fernando Alonso?...
But can the original Spanish Matador be left behind from all the talk? Riding on quite a impressive performance in what is at best an average Renault, (which seems to be feeding of Alonso’s caliber) , Alonso was back in the news… and by it we mean big time!
The romour mills were abuzz with speculation that 2010 will mark the landmark transfer of Alonso to Ferrari!
And who would he replace… former World Champion, Ice-man Kimi Raikonen!
Well, all those concerned neither confirmed nor denied these rumours outright… and the whispers only grew louder. All they said is ‘wait till Imola’… the Prancing Horse’s home turf!... and wait we will till we reach the Italian shores!
So if you thought that this was enough excitement for one season, all the events thus far could only be called the ‘calm before the storm’.
The race weekend at Hungary went on to be marred by the ugliest incident in along time. During qualifying, Ferrai’s Felipe Massa was hit on the helmet, above the left eye, by a spring which came off Barrichello’s Brawn GP car.
Massa subsequently suffered a nasty crash. The series of events left Massa with a fractured skull and fighting for his life!
But emergency services and the medical team got to work quick, and Massa has since recovered sufficiently and is now, according to reports, walking and talking!
But Massa will be unable to pilot the scarlet car for at least the rest of this season, and fears are abound about the damage caused to his left eye.
Meanwhile, team Renault walked into another mess at the Hungaroring after failing to safely secure Alonso’s tyre after a pitstop… and landed themselves a ban for the race at Valencia.
So, Ferrari was without a driver and Alonso sans a team for Valencia( as it was the Renault team and not the driver who was banned). People put two and 2 together, and there you had it, gossip mongers sent Alonso into Ferrari cockpit for the subsequent race. A sort of pseudo-audition/test run for next season!
But the bosses at Ferrari had some different ideas! And they managed to convince the ‘big daddy’ of F1, Michael Schumacher to make a comeback!
So there you have it, if you thought Lance Armstrong was the only one who could do it, Schumi is not to be left behind!
The physical aspect permitting, the phenomenon called “Michael Schumacher”, is set to set the circuits ablaze yet again!
But can a 40 year old really take on competitors a good 10-15 years his junior in today’s grueling, demanding world???
Well, Schumi is no mere 40 year old! Active in two wheel racing, and spending a lot of time on the Ferrari technical team means he still is in the thick of things and given his passion and hunger for victory, rivals better not underestimate him!
Is Schumi the tonic that controversy riddled F1 so desperately needs???...
Things are revving up, and if the first half of the season is anything to go by, then the remainder of it is definitely not for the faint hearted!!!
We are a little over midway through the season, and the world of Formula 1 has swept through trauma, turmoil, truth/lies faster than the tyres on it’s car have worn out.
It’s been a complete cinematic saga, the rise of the ‘Underdog’, the unfortunate incapacitation of a ‘Hero’ and the return of the ‘Messiah’!
The season kicked off Down Under, with speculation rife about whether this would be Albert Park’s final swansong!
No sooner did the ‘3 red lights’ go off, than it became clear that this season would be unlike any other in history. Move aside Ferrari, McLaren!... Rising from the ashes of the Honda team (who pulled out of F1 ), was the phoenix a.k.a BrawnGP!
Adding to the flamboyance of F1 was the Virgin Group supremo, Richard Branson, now the proud owner of Brawn GP, which itself was christened after Ross Brawn( formerly Schumi’s right hand man at Ferrari) now technical director of the newly formed team.
But Brawn GP was not only about the big names and big bucks, ‘Brawn’ also had the brains!
Their ‘differential’ interpretation of the new diffuser rules courted as much controversy as Max Mosley’s private life, and multiple hearings later it was decided that the two teams(Red Bull racing being the other) who pumped not only money but also ‘mind’ into their cars stayed atop the podium.
Just when you thought all the controversies for the season were ‘diffused’, along came the FIA’s proposal of a budget cap for 2010, and all the big spenders screamed foul!
They threatened to break away and form a rebel league sand what would Formula 1 be sans the Prancing Horse and all it’s other big names. But with neither faction relenting, this storm had caused a rift right down the middle.
Amidst the entire hullabaloo, Brawn continued to be strong up front, and slowly but surely the season was becoming a tug-o-war between them and RBR, as the traditional power houses Ferrari and McLaren were relegated to mere also ran(s).
As the season approached the European leg, the rest of the field showed mild improvements and managed to secure a footing on the podium, while Brawn showed the first signs of strife. But more drama was to follow… Following the German GP, Torro Rosso showed it’s French driver, Sebastian Bourdais, the door and thrust Spanish teenager Jamie Alguersuari into the cockpit!
At 19 years and 126 days, he becomes the youngest ever driver in the fast lane. This youngster with prodigious talent, has impressed many in his stint in the British F3 Championship and no doubt is ‘one for the future’!
With team boss ready to give him time to learn and with no imminent pressure on him, this reigning BritishF3 champion has a bright future… but is he( like many are already saying) the next Fernando Alonso?...
But can the original Spanish Matador be left behind from all the talk? Riding on quite a impressive performance in what is at best an average Renault, (which seems to be feeding of Alonso’s caliber) , Alonso was back in the news… and by it we mean big time!
The romour mills were abuzz with speculation that 2010 will mark the landmark transfer of Alonso to Ferrari!
And who would he replace… former World Champion, Ice-man Kimi Raikonen!
Well, all those concerned neither confirmed nor denied these rumours outright… and the whispers only grew louder. All they said is ‘wait till Imola’… the Prancing Horse’s home turf!... and wait we will till we reach the Italian shores!
So if you thought that this was enough excitement for one season, all the events thus far could only be called the ‘calm before the storm’.
The race weekend at Hungary went on to be marred by the ugliest incident in along time. During qualifying, Ferrai’s Felipe Massa was hit on the helmet, above the left eye, by a spring which came off Barrichello’s Brawn GP car.
Massa subsequently suffered a nasty crash. The series of events left Massa with a fractured skull and fighting for his life!
But emergency services and the medical team got to work quick, and Massa has since recovered sufficiently and is now, according to reports, walking and talking!
But Massa will be unable to pilot the scarlet car for at least the rest of this season, and fears are abound about the damage caused to his left eye.
Meanwhile, team Renault walked into another mess at the Hungaroring after failing to safely secure Alonso’s tyre after a pitstop… and landed themselves a ban for the race at Valencia.
So, Ferrari was without a driver and Alonso sans a team for Valencia( as it was the Renault team and not the driver who was banned). People put two and 2 together, and there you had it, gossip mongers sent Alonso into Ferrari cockpit for the subsequent race. A sort of pseudo-audition/test run for next season!
But the bosses at Ferrari had some different ideas! And they managed to convince the ‘big daddy’ of F1, Michael Schumacher to make a comeback!
So there you have it, if you thought Lance Armstrong was the only one who could do it, Schumi is not to be left behind!
The physical aspect permitting, the phenomenon called “Michael Schumacher”, is set to set the circuits ablaze yet again!
But can a 40 year old really take on competitors a good 10-15 years his junior in today’s grueling, demanding world???
Well, Schumi is no mere 40 year old! Active in two wheel racing, and spending a lot of time on the Ferrari technical team means he still is in the thick of things and given his passion and hunger for victory, rivals better not underestimate him!
Is Schumi the tonic that controversy riddled F1 so desperately needs???...
Things are revving up, and if the first half of the season is anything to go by, then the remainder of it is definitely not for the faint hearted!!!
Friday, March 27, 2009
GAME ON!
Two weeks ago, Manchester United had it all. They sat pretty at the top of the Premier League, and had secured a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Things were going smooth. But little did they know that this would be the silence before the storm – a red storm called Liverpool FC that would wreck their quiet confidence and transform tranquility to chaos, and how!
On 14th March 2009 United came tumbling down to earth with a 4-1 hammering by their fiercest rivals in their own backyard. And all so suddenly, the Red Devils seemed so much more human again. That afternoon, Liverpool sent out a message – a message that the battle is far from over.
But United still had the upper hand in the overall picture. Four points ahead of their conquerors, with a game in hand, and ten more to play, they could still cruise home with ease. Fast-forward to 21st March 2009 – Fulham v United. A spirited performance from the hosts stunned the champions. The next day, Liverpool mauled Aston Villa 5-0. And that was the day the title race came roaring back to life.
With 9 games to go, the picture isn’t as rosy anymore if you are a United fan. 1 point ahead, with a game in hand – a potential lead of 4 points; still too early, and too close, to put the champagne on ice. An out-of-sorts Aston Villa come visiting after the international break. United will be looking to put painful days behind them by registering a convincing win. That task will be made that much more difficult by the farcical sendings-off of Rooney and Scholes in their previous game. But they’ll be charged up nevertheless. The wounded tiger will be ready for the kill.
On a brighter note, its happy days at Anfield back again. Moving in the right direction in the league, securing a quarterfinal berth against rivals Chelsea in the Champions League after a 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid, and to top it all off, their manager signing a new long-term contract, Liverpool seem to be the team with the smile at the moment. But they know any minor slip-up will throw their title pursuit off course, and they’ll be back to being also-rans in the title race.
The Reds’ success has struck a positive note at Stamford Bridge as well. Chelsea will now believe that United are within reach, although that belief will have been shaken by their 1-0 defeat by Tottenham last week.
But the title is still United’s to lose. Nevertheless, Liverpool have done us all a favor (unless you’re a United fan) by throwing the title race open, and unsettling the swagger at Manchester. Only time will tell where the Premier League title will finally find its resting place for the summer – at Manchester, Liverpool, or London.
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