Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Brazil footballer Ronaldo ends 'marvellous' career
SAO PAULO (AFP) - – Three-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldo, whose goalscoring genius led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title, confirmed his retirement on Monday at the age of 34.
The tearful Corinthians striker announced his decision at a press conference in Sao Paulo.
"I'm stopping my career as a professional footballer," he said, his voice breaking. "It's been a beautiful, emotional, marvellous career.
"These last two years, I've had a long series of injuries, from one side to the other, one leg to the other, one muscle to the other. The pain pushed me to think about the end of my career."
Ronaldo also revealed that he suffered from a thyroid problem that had made it difficult to control his weight.
"Four years ago, in Milan, I discovered that I suffered from an under-active thyroid that slowed down my metabolism and that to control it, I had to take hormones that weren't authorised in football as they were considered a form of doping," he said.
"Lots of people must regret having made jokes about my weight. But I feel no anger towards anyone."
Having earlier indicated that he hoped to play on until the end of the year, injuries and Corinthians' early elimination from the Copa Libertadores prompted him to bring forward his retirement.
During a glittering 14-year spell in Europe, Ronaldo scored goals at a prolific rate for PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan, before returning to Brazil in 2009.
He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and became the leading scorer in World Cup finals tournaments when he scored his 15th goal at the 2006 tournament in Germany.
He was twice named European Footballer of the Year, in 1997 and 2002, and finished his international career with 62 goals in 97 appearances.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, 'El Fenomeno' (The Phenomenon) won the World Cup with Brazil for the first time in 1994, though on that occasion the 17-year-old was part of the squad and did not play.
In 1998, he was among the losing finalists, beaten 3-0 at Stade de France by a rampant French side that included the inspirational Zinedine Zidane.
Brazil's star striker suffered a convulsive fit on the eve of the match and was removed from the starting line-up.
In a dramatic changing-room re-shuffle, he was reinstated just before kick-off but was a shadow of the intimidating forward who had scored four goals in the run-up to the final.
But the 2002 tournament was where he made history.
Shrugging off injury in the tournament, which was hosted by Japan and South Korea, he played a key role in helping Brazil to the trophy, scoring both goals in his country's 2-0 win over Germany in the final in Yokohoma.
At the 2006 World Cup in Germany he took his World Cup tally to 15 goals, surpassing the previous record held by Gerd Mueller by one goal.
Ronaldo, who began his career with Cruzeiro, had to fight back from three career-threatening knee injuries over the course of his career.
He was sidelined while playing for Inter by a knee injury in 1999 only to damage the same knee in his comeback for the club in February 2000, effectively keeping him out of action until March 2002.
In February 2008 he ruptured a tendon in his right knee playing for AC Milan against Livorno, an injury that ended his career in Europe.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wonder goal by ‘new Maradona’
Venezuelan starlet Yohandry Orozco has shot to fame with an astonishing goal in an U20 World Cupqualifying match.
Sources: http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/01/27/wonder-goal-by-new-maradona/
The 19-year-old picked up the ball from inside his own half and jinked past no less than seven opponents before blasting a long-range rocket into the top corner of the net.
The wonder goal, which has garnered almost 52,000 views on YouTube in two days, drew Venezuela level with Peru, and also earned the attacking midfielder comparisons to Diego Maradona’s stunning strike against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals.
Orozco, who has already been capped by his country at senior level, currently plays for Venezuelan top-flight club Zulia. However, based on this piece of brilliant play, it seems like it won’t be long before he makes it to one of the world’s top leagues.
Watch the goal:
Sources: http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2011/01/27/wonder-goal-by-new-maradona/
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Messi Raih Ballon d'Or 2010
ZURICH, KOMPAS.com - Cukup mengejutkan, Lionel Messi mampu menyingkirkan Xavi Hernandez dan Andres Iniesta untuk meraih gelar Ballon d'Or 2010. Ini gelar kedua setelah sebelumnya dia juga meraih Ballon d'Or 2009 dan Pemain Terbaik FIFA 2009. Kedua gelar itu kini digabungkan menjadi FIFA Ballon d'Or.
Banyak yang tak menyangka Messi bakal memenangkan FIFA Ballon d'Or tahun ini. Sebelumnya, nama Xavi dan Andres Iniesta lebih diunggulkan karena mengantarkan tim nasional Spanyol menjuarai Piala Dunia 2010.
Akan tetapi, suara terbanyak jatuh ke tangan Messi. Prestasi fenomenalnya dengan mencetak 47 gol dan 11 asisst dari 53 pertandingan musim lalu membuat para pemegang hak suara menjatuhkan pilihan mereka kepada Messi. Yang memiliki hak suara dalam voting ini adalah para pelatih, kapten tim nasional, serta para jurnalis di seluruh dunia.
Ini adalah gelar kedua Messi. Sebelumnya, tahun lalu ia meraih penghargaan Pemain Terbaik Dunia versi FIFA dan memenangkan Ballon d'Or dari majalah France Football.
Musim ini, performa Messi juga masih gemilang. Meski sempat cedera di awal musim, begitu sembuh, Messi langsung membuktikan sihirnya di lapangan. Total, dari 26 pertandingan di paruh pertama, Messi sanggup mencetak 28 gol dan 15 asisst.
Ketajaman Messi menjadi salah satu alasan fundamental Barca bisa menduduki singgasana Liga BBVA dan lolos ke fase knock out Liga Champions musim ini. Congratulations, Messi!
Source: http://bola.kompas.com/read/2011/01/11/01492160/Messi.Raih.Ballon.dOr.2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Record-equalling Inzaghi says his secret is passion
AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi may be facing a long road back from injury but he will be sustained by the emotions he felt when scoring his 70th UEFA club competition goal on 3 November.
It has been a bittersweet fortnight for AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi. His season was ended by a knee injury yet pride is the 37-year-old's overriding emotion after he struck twice in the 2-2 draw against Real Madrid CF on UEFA Champions League Matchday 4 to take his tally to 70 goals in UEFA club competitions.
"The roar of San Siro that welcomed me on to the pitch, and then breaking a record," said the man nicknamed 'Superpippo', "those were very beautiful emotions that will always stay with me." The former Juventus player has defied the odds numerous times, most recently bouncing back under coach Massimiliano Allegri having endured a difficult campaign under Leonardo last term. But while his team are well placed in second in Group G ahead of their trip to AJ Auxerre, Inzaghi has to pick himself up and dust himself down.
He requires surgery on the knee ligament injury sustained in the 3-1 win against US Città di Palermo on 10 November and is unlikely to be available for European action until the Wembley showpiece on 28 May. Inzaghi knows better than most what it is to play in a European Champion Clubs' Cup final. He has lost the denouement twice, with Juventus in 1998 and with Milan in 2005, yet also lifted the trophy twice with the Rossoneri – in 2003 and 2007, when he scored a couple in the Athens final against Liverpool FC.
"Both were wonderful experiences, but I've always said the Champions League campaign where I was most important was 2003," said Inzaghi. "However, the one the fans remember is 2007, which shows how important goals in a final are. I can't choose one over the other – they're two matches I will never forget. But, as I said, if you score two goals in a Champions League final it's fairly special."
Something equally rare is to be hugged by an opposing coach after very nearly shooting down their side. That is exactly what Inzaghi got from José Mourinho after his two-goal cameo against Madrid as a substitute on 3 November. "He has always said nice things about me and there's a lot of respect even though I've never had him as a manager," said Inzaghi. "I think that to come here and face a hostile crowd, and then embrace a player who has scored two goals against you – and compliment them on their record – was a lovely gesture."
Inzaghi now stands level with ex-Madrid talisman Raúl González at the head of the European goals chart although the FC Schalke 04 forward should have opportunities to pull clear once more as his adversary recovers. "As a footballer I think your own history speaks for itself," added the former Italian international. "It's true I have been paying attention to [the record] because it's been so long we've been competing for it.
"Now he's at Schalke with plenty of chances to play, so I know he'll move ahead again. But to be in first place now makes me very happy. If Raúl moves ahead, I salute him, because he's been a great player." Inzaghi has enjoyed a similarly illustrious career and shows no sign of allowing his latest injury to prove one setback too many.
"The secret is passion," he said. "Passion for what I do, the fact I still enjoy myself like a kid, the fact there's still that strong desire to play and that I feel a lot of affection from everyone who comes to training every day which helps me work even harder. I have the best job in the world. I think that's what the younger players need to learn. I try to enjoy it to the full, enjoy it right to the last. That's probably why, at 37, I'm still getting to experience beautiful evenings like against Madrid."
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1564320.html?rss=1564320+Record-equalling+Inzaghi+says+his+secret+is+passion
"The roar of San Siro that welcomed me on to the pitch, and then breaking a record," said the man nicknamed 'Superpippo', "those were very beautiful emotions that will always stay with me." The former Juventus player has defied the odds numerous times, most recently bouncing back under coach Massimiliano Allegri having endured a difficult campaign under Leonardo last term. But while his team are well placed in second in Group G ahead of their trip to AJ Auxerre, Inzaghi has to pick himself up and dust himself down.
He requires surgery on the knee ligament injury sustained in the 3-1 win against US Città di Palermo on 10 November and is unlikely to be available for European action until the Wembley showpiece on 28 May. Inzaghi knows better than most what it is to play in a European Champion Clubs' Cup final. He has lost the denouement twice, with Juventus in 1998 and with Milan in 2005, yet also lifted the trophy twice with the Rossoneri – in 2003 and 2007, when he scored a couple in the Athens final against Liverpool FC.
"Both were wonderful experiences, but I've always said the Champions League campaign where I was most important was 2003," said Inzaghi. "However, the one the fans remember is 2007, which shows how important goals in a final are. I can't choose one over the other – they're two matches I will never forget. But, as I said, if you score two goals in a Champions League final it's fairly special."
Something equally rare is to be hugged by an opposing coach after very nearly shooting down their side. That is exactly what Inzaghi got from José Mourinho after his two-goal cameo against Madrid as a substitute on 3 November. "He has always said nice things about me and there's a lot of respect even though I've never had him as a manager," said Inzaghi. "I think that to come here and face a hostile crowd, and then embrace a player who has scored two goals against you – and compliment them on their record – was a lovely gesture."
Inzaghi now stands level with ex-Madrid talisman Raúl González at the head of the European goals chart although the FC Schalke 04 forward should have opportunities to pull clear once more as his adversary recovers. "As a footballer I think your own history speaks for itself," added the former Italian international. "It's true I have been paying attention to [the record] because it's been so long we've been competing for it.
"Now he's at Schalke with plenty of chances to play, so I know he'll move ahead again. But to be in first place now makes me very happy. If Raúl moves ahead, I salute him, because he's been a great player." Inzaghi has enjoyed a similarly illustrious career and shows no sign of allowing his latest injury to prove one setback too many.
"The secret is passion," he said. "Passion for what I do, the fact I still enjoy myself like a kid, the fact there's still that strong desire to play and that I feel a lot of affection from everyone who comes to training every day which helps me work even harder. I have the best job in the world. I think that's what the younger players need to learn. I try to enjoy it to the full, enjoy it right to the last. That's probably why, at 37, I'm still getting to experience beautiful evenings like against Madrid."
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1564320.html?rss=1564320+Record-equalling+Inzaghi+says+his+secret+is+passion
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