Δεν χρειάστηκε να περιμένει πολύ για να δείξει την αξία του. Το ταλέντο περίσσευε και δεν μπορούσε να κρυφτεί. Στη Σπόρτιγκ Λισαβόνας που πήγε το 1989 έγινε φανερό πως θα έμενε λίγο. Θα πήγαινε στο εξωτερικό. Σε κάποια από τις πολλές ομάδες που ανυπομονούσαν να τον εντάξουν στο δυναμικό τους. Το ίδιο ανυπόμονος όμως ήταν κι ο Φίγκο που πάνω στη φούρια του για διεθνή καριέρα υπέγραψε δύο συμβόλαια το 1995 με την Γιουβέντους, αλλά και τη Πάρμα. Η Ιταλική ομοσπονδία τον τιμώρησε με αποκλεισμό δύο χρόνων, άρα κάθε σκέψη για Ιταλική καριέρα έπρεπε να σβηστεί ή έστω να αναβληθεί για αργότερα.

Το 2004 οι διεθνείς και ο Ρεχάγκελ χάλασαν το πάρτι του Φίγκο

Κι εκεί που φαινόταν πως όλα πήγαιναν στραβά ήρθε η πρόταση από την Μπαρτσελόνα κι άρχισαν να πηγαίνουν από το καλό στο καλύτερο. Στη πρωτεύουσα της Καταλωνίας άρχισε ένα σαφάρι τίτλων, τόσο σε ομαδικό, όσο και σε ατομικό επίπεδο.
Από τους Καταλανούς λατρεύτηκε, αλλά και… μισήθηκε όταν το καλοκαίρι του 2000 αποφάσισε να πάει στη μισητή αντίπαλο, τη Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης. Ο Φλορεντίνο Πέρεθ τον είχε υποσχεθεί στους οπαδούς της Ρεάλ για να εκλεγεί πρόεδρος και δεν δίστασε να ξοδέψει 60 εκ. ευρώ (σε σημερινές τιμές) για να τον φέρει από τη Βαρκελώνη.
Οι πληγωμένοι οπαδοί της Μπάρτσα τον υποδέχτηκαν δεόντως στο ίδιο γήπεδο που τον αποθέωναν. Ο Φίγκο υπέφερε στο «ελ κλάσικο» που έγινε στη Βαρκελώνη και η Μπαρτσα κέρδισε με 2-0. Τα τελευταία του χρόνια στη Ρεάλ δεν ήταν και τα καλύτερα. Αποτέλεσμα το 2005 πήγε ελεύθερος στην Ίντερ. Οι τίτλοι που κέρδισε στην Ιταλία ήταν αντιστρόφως ανάλογοι της προσφοράς του. Τραυματίστηκε σοβαρά το 2007, επέμενε όμως να επιστρέψει, το πάλαιψε και στις 16 Μαίου 2009, ημέρα Σάββατο όταν η Ίντερ είχε κερδίσει (και μαθηματικά) ένα ακόμα τίτλο επέλεξε να ανακοινώσει την απόφασή του να σταματήσει το ποδόσφαιρο.

Με την εθνική Πορτογαλίας δεν κατάφερε να κερδίσει ένα μεγάλο τίτλο

Ο Λουίς Φίγκο σε αριθμούς
Πλήρες όνομα:Luis Felipe Madeira Caeiro Figo
Γεννήθηκε: 4 Νοεμβρίου 1972 στην Αλμάδα
Εθνικότητα: Πορτογάλος
Θέση: Επιθετικός
Ύψος: 1μ80
Ομάδες
1989-95: Σπόρτιγκ Λισαβόνας
1995-00: Μπαρτσελόνα
2000-05: Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης
2005-09: Ίντερ
Συμμετοχές στην εθνική: 127
Γκολ με την εθνική: 31
Πρώτο ματς: 12 Οκτωβρίου 1991 με Λουξεμβούργο 1-1 στο Λουξεμβούργο
Τελευταίο ματς: 8 Ιουλίου 2006 με Γερμανία 1-3, στη Στουτγκάρδη
Συμμετοχές σε Μουντιάλ
2002 (21η): 3 αγώνες
2006 (4η): 7 αγώνες
Συμμετοχές σε Euro
2000 (3η): 4 αγώνες, ένα γκολ
2004 (2η): 6 αγώνες
Όλοι οι αγώνες του Φίγκο στην εθνική Πορτογαλίας
Τίτλοι
Διηπειρωτικό: 1 (2002)
Ευρωπαϊκό Σούπερ Καπ: 2 (1997,02)
Τσάμπιονς Λιγκ: 1 (2002)
Κύπελλο Κυπελλούχων: 1 (1997)
Πρωτάθλημα Πορτογαλίας: 1 (1995)
Σούπερ Καπ Πορτογαλίας: 1 (1995)
Πρωτάθλημα Ισπανίας: 4 (1998,99,01,03)
Κύπελλο Ισπανίας: 2 (1997,98)
Σούπερ Καπ Ισπανίας: 3 (1996,01,03)
Πρωτάθλημα Ιταλίας: 4 (2006,07,08,09)
Κύπελλο Ιταλίας: 1 (2006)
Σούπερ Καπ Ιταλίας: 3 (2005,06,08)
Τα Ευρωπαϊκά ματς του Φίγκο

Στην Ίντερ με λίγο κόπο κέρδισε πολλούς τίτλους

Info
• H Αλμάδα είναι ένα προάστιο της Λισαβόνας.
• Η πρώτη του ομάδα λεγόταν «Os Pastilhas» όπου έμεινε μέχρι τα 12 χρόνια του. Τότε τον εντόπισαν τα «λαγωνικά» της Σπόρτιγκ.
• Το ντεμπούτο του με τη Σπόρτιγκ έγινε στα 16 χρόνια του.
• Παγκόσμιος Πρωταθλητής με την Πορτογαλία για ηλικίες κάτω των 16 το 1989 με συμπαίκτες τη «χρυσή φουρνιά» του ποδοσφαίρου της χώρας (Ρουί Κόστα, Ζόρζε Κόστα, Πάουλο Σόουζα, Βίτορ Μπαία, Φερνάντο Κάουτο)
• Οι ίδιοι πάνω κάτω παίκτες πήραν και τον τίτλο για παίκτες κάτω των 20 χρόνων το 1991
• Ήταν αρχηγός στη Σπόρτιγκ όταν κέρδισε το Κύπελλο Πορτογαλίας το 1995 δίνοντας τέλος σε 13 πέτρινα χρόνια.
• Ο Γιόχαν Κρόιφ, προπονητής της Μπαρτσελόνα τον βοήθησε να βρει το ρόλο του μέσα στο γήπεδο.
• Είναι παντρεμένος με την Ελεν Σβέντιν, μοντέλο από τη Σουηδία
• Έχει δημιουργήσει ί<strong>δρυμα για τα παιδιά που έχουν ανάγκη
Η ανακοίνωση του Φίγκο ότι σταματά το ποδόσφαιρο
Αγαπητοί οπαδοί της Ίντερ, στις 31 Μαΐου 2009, θα είναι η τελευταία μου Κυριακή ως ποδοσφαιριστής. Μαζί με τους φίλους της Σπόρτινγκ Λισαβόνας, της Μπαρτσελόνα, της Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης και της Πορτογαλίας, θα ήθελα να ευχαριστήσω όλους εσάς, τους οπαδούς της Ίντερ, για την αγάπη που μου δείξατε από την πρώτη μου μέρα στο Μιλάνο. Είμαι χαρούμενος που η τελευταία Κυριακή μου ως παίκτης είναι με την Ίντερ μιας και θα γιορτάσουμε την κατάκτηση του τέταρτου συνεχόμενου πρωταθλήματος.
Η νίκη ήταν πάντα ο στόχος μου κατά τη διάρκεια της καριέρας μου και για να κερδίσω έχω μάθει να κάνω θυσίες και να δουλεύω σκληρά. Ο κάθε άνθρωπος μου έχει μάθει κάτι και ότι έχω κατακτήσει έχει γίνει επειδή έχω κάνει πολλές θυσίες. Θέλω να πω ότι σε όλους τους οπαδούς ότι η Ίντερ θα συνεχίσει να δουλεύει και να κερδίζει ακόμη περισσότερους τίτλους. Με εκτίμηση, Λουίς Φίγκο.
Ημερομηνίες σταθμοί για τον Φίγκο

Η Έλεν Σβέντιν, μοντέλο από τη Σουηδία εδώ και χρόνια είναι η κυρία Φιγκο

Άλλη μια εντυπωσιακή πόζα της κυρίας Φίγκο

11 Ιουνίου
Ψηφίζεται MVP στον αγώνα της Ποργογαλίας με την Αγκόλα για το Παγκόσμιο Κύπελλο. Έχει δώσει την ασίστ στον Παουλέτα στο μοναδικό γκολ του αγώνα.
Ιούλιος:
Στον μικρό τελικό του Μουντιάλ στο 1-3 με τη Γερμανία κλείνει τη καριέρα του στην εθνική Πορτογαλίας.
28 Δεκεμβρίου:
Η Αλ Ιτχάντ από τη Σαουδική Αραβία ανακοινώνει ότι εξασφάλισε το ΟΚ του Φίγκο για να συνεχίσει σ’ αυτή την καριέρα του.
2007
4 Ιανουαρίου
Ο Φίγκο υπογράφει συμβόλαιο 18 μηνών με την Αλ Ιταχάντ της Σαουδικής Αραβίας. Παρ΄ όλα αυτά μένει στην Ίντερ
Απρίλος
Κερδίζει το «καμπιονάτο» με την Ίντερ.
10 Ιουνίου
Ανανεώνει για ένα ακόμα χρόνο το συμβόλαιό του με την Ίντερ.
23 Οκτωβρίου
Γίνεται ο 6ος παίκτης που φθάνει τις 100 εμφανίσεις το Τσάμοιονς Λιγκ.
2009
31 Μαίου
Στο 44ο λεπτό του αγώνα ης Ίντερ με την Αταλάντα εισπράττει το τελευταίο χειροκρότημα από τους οπαδούς της ομάδας καθώς παίρνει το δρόμος προς τα αποδυτήρια.

Am trecut pe langa Lansdowne Road, stadionul national in reconstructie al selectionatelor de fotbal si rugby ale Irlandei, situat undeva in sud-estul Dublinului, la o aruncatura de bat de plaja la Marea Irlandei, si mi-am amintit de o toamna mult mai rodnica a “tricolorilor”.

Se intampla in 11 octombrie 1997, pe acest Lansdowne Road pe-atunci tot mai invechit, ca Romania sa risipeasca abia primele puncte intr-o excelenta campanie de calificare la Coupe du Monde 1998. “Tricolorii” soseau la Dublin cu un procentaj 100%, noua victorii din tot atatea jocuri, printre care si un 1-0 “cheie”, acontat in ajun de Pasti, in Ghencea, contra irlandezilor, cu Adi Ilie marcator.

In octombrie '97, Romania remiza pe vechiul Lansdowne Road din Dublin, 1-1 in Irlanda, la finele unei impecabile campanii de calificare. Lansdowne Road e de vreo 2 ani in reconstructie iar acum pe terminate, un urias de beton si sticla, pe cand Irlanda se pregateste de barajul cu Franta pe cealalta mare arena dublineza, Croke Park, in vreme ce Romania va viziona Mondialul la televizor. Asa se intoarce roata...

Pe Lansdowne Road, Gheorghe Hagi a marcat deja in minutul 8, si doar golul egalizator al lui Tony Cascarino, din minutul 38, a spulberat procentajul maxim in grupa opt a preliminariilor. 1-1, cu Hagi ulterior inlocuit in minutul 83, de Ilie Dumitrescu. O, tempora.

Egalarea reusita de “Cas” este pomenita in scurta radiografie a preliminariilor, pe pagina oficiala rezervata turneelor finale mondiale si a calificarilor tinuta de www.fifa.com , forul fotbalistic mondial, pentru simplul motiv ca defilarea Romaniei in respectiva campanie a fost de neegalat. Doar Germania, Spania si Norvegia, dintre europene, aveau sa se califice si ele pentru Mondialul din Franta fara vreun esec la activ. 

Romania a castigat grupa cu 28 puncte din 30 posibile si un golaveraj grozav, 37-4, cu zece puncte avans in fata Republicii Irlanda, care era apoi invinsa la baraj, 1-1 si 1-2 cu Belgia, in drumul spre Franta. Erau de fapt primele preliminarii cu manse tur-retur de baraj pentru clasatele pe locul doi in grupe…

Au trecut 12 ani de la toamna cu recolta aproape maxima si in seara de 10 octombrie 2009 “tricolorii” ieseau cu capul plecat de pe Maracana belgradeana: 0-5 in penultimul joc al preliminariilor pentru World Cup 2010 din Africa de Sud. Din 11 octombrie ‘97 pana in 10 octombrie 2009 multe asadar au luat-o la vale. Procentajul din preliminariile incheiate cu un succes in fata Insulelor Faroe a fost slab iar pozitia ocupata, a cincea, dupa sarbi, Franta, Austria si Lituania, este o dovada a reculului evident al fotbalului romanesc, mai ales la nivelul selectionatelor nationale.

Dupa generatia lui Hagi, una remarcabila, cu cantecul de lebada in sferturile de finala ale C.E. din Belgia si Olanda, in anul 2000, tot mai putin “a venit din urma”, iar calificarea la Euro 2008 a fost mai degraba exceptia care intareste ideea ca Romania s-a indepartat de crema capilor de serie, de selectionatele de calibru. A redevenit echipa oarecare, cel mult fericita nevoie mare in rarele ocazii aidoma preliminariilor pentru Euro ‘84 cand reusea rasturnarea “carului mare” Italia in drumul spre Hexagon.

Si te-ai dus, dulce minune. Nimic nu e vesnic, traieste si savureaza clipa. Si apreciaz-o la adevarata valoare…

Uriasul Croke Park, cu 82.300 locuri, aici intr-o macheta din muzeul de prezentare de la stadion, din incinta Gaelic Athletic Association, patroana a hurlingului si jocurilor Galice disputate pe arena, va gazdui in 14 noiembrie mansa tur a barajului pentru C.M. 2010, Irlanda - Franta. Ar putea fi ultimul meci oficial al fotbalistilor in gazda la GAA cu al ei hurling, inaintea intoarcerii in toamna viitoare pe Lansdowne Road. Si poate ca sortii ii vor retrimite pe "tricolori" in Dublin, acum, ca sunt intr-o urna valorica inferioara

Oleh. Irwan A. Bachtiar

Pemain berbakat di posisi pertahanan, mengantarkan Perancis menjadi kampiun World Cup 1998 di Perancis dan Euro 2000 di Belanda-Belgia. Ritual Unik sebelum pertandingan menjadi ciri khas.

Perancis tidak lolos kualifikasi World Cup 1994, Laurent Blanc sudah berkostum timnas “ayam jago” ketika itu, dengan nomor punggung 5 yang terus digunakannya pada 4 perhelatan selanjutnya (Euro 1992, Euro 1996, World Cup 1998 dan Euro 2000).

Pergantian pelatih terjadi dari Michel Platini (1988-1992), Gerard Houllier (1992-1993), Aime Jacquet (1993-1998) dan terakhir Roger Lamerre (1998-2002), posisi Laurent tidak tergantikan, duet nya dengan Marcell Desailly sangat padu menjaga barisan pertahanan “les blues“.

Ritual unik nya, yakni mencium kepala plontos Fabien Barthez, baru dilaksanakan setelah pos penjaga gawang utama diserahkan dari Bernard Lama kepada Fabien Barthez, ritual ini unik, media televisi tidak sungkan untuk men-shoot adegan itu tiap kali timnas Perancis akan berlaga, ritual itu juga berlanjut ketika kedua nya membela Manchester United.

Laurent merupakan bek sentral dengan tinggi 1.92 meter, keunggulannya adalah pada marking zone dan bola sundulan, ini terbukti dari 97 penampilannya bersama timnas Perancis, Laurent mencetak 16 gol, begitu pula di level klub, Laurent total mencetak 132 gol. Sasaran yang menjadi gol yang akan dikenang selalu adalah ketika dirinya mencatatkan nama dalam sejarah sebagai orang yang pertama kali mencetak golden goal (aturan ini kini sudah tidak dipakai), dan unik nya pula pada gawang kiper tempramental, Jose Luis Chilavert, ketika Perancis melawan Paraguay di perdelapan final World Cup 1998.

Golden Goal Laurent Blanc ke gawang Jose Chilavert (Paraguay), World Cup 1998. (Source)

Karir klub nya yang selalu berpindah-pindah, tidak menyurutkan prestasi nya, berbagai gelar juara dimenangi, termasuk Premier League bersama Manchester United, tahun 2003.

Mulai tahun 2007, Laurent Blanc menjadi manager klub papan atas Perancis yang menjuarai Liga Perancis 2008/2009 berikut Piala Liga di musim yang sama mengakhiri dominasi Olimpique Lyon selama 7 tahun berturut-turut.

Laurent Blanc

Karir Klub: Montpellier (1983-1991), Napoli (1991-1992), Nimes (1992-1993), St. Etienne (1993-1995), Auxerre (1995-1996), Barcelona (1996-1997), Marseille (1997-1999), Internazionale Milan (1999-2001) and Manchester United (2001-2003)

Posisi: Bek Tengah (Centre Back)

Prestasi: Euro U-21 (1988), World Cup (1998), Euro Cup (2000),  Piala Liga Perancis (1996), Piala Raja Spanyol (1996), Piala Winner (1996), Premier League (2002-2003).

Ritual di sebelum bertanding membela timnas Perancis. (Source)

Nu ca Gică Popescu. Nici măcar ca Gică Hagi. GICĂĂĂ! DE CE AI LUAT ROŞU CU ITALIA ÎN 2000? Ceva mai bine decît ei, oricum.

E împămîntenită (şi adevărată) ideea că bărbaţii caută femei doar pentru sex. Da. Nasol. Ruşine mare. Nu, nu plîngem la Titanic şi căţeii mici şi albi sînt de-a dreptu stupizi.

E culmea că cel mai important moment al lunii, anotimpului, anului, decadei (depinde de frecvenţă) unui bărbat este acela în care îi întinde oasele vreunei femei PENTRU PRIMA DATĂ. Urmărim cu atîta sîrguinţă obiectivul ăsta, deşi, logic vorbind, e ultimul lucru pe care ni-l dorim de fapt. Primul futai cu una e cel mai dificil moment. Înfiorător.

Practic, există plăcere 5 secunde, cînd termini lucrarea (doar tu ai făcut lucrarea, ea termină rareori), dar afacerea nu e fezabilă deloc, cîtă vreme investeşti de la o săptămînă în sus pentru atingerea obiectivului. Restul timpului nimic nu e plăcut. Nici să faci conversaţie ieftină cînd tu te gîndeşti la nuj ce meci, nici să fii romantic şi să nu mai zici “pula mea” la fiecare expiraţie…nici să vorbeşti despre cît de fascinantă e munca ei, cînd tu iar îţi aminteşti de blestemăţia aia de meci, nici preludiul…nici toate lucrurile pe care le faci ca s-o gîdili la final cu ciocanu între picioare.

Nota redacţiei: sînt unii care o să zică “Ce bă, că nu trebe să faci aşa şi pe dincolo. Te comporţi cum eşti tu şi tot intri pînă la urmă. Fraiere!”

Fals. Tu eşti grobian, eşti abrutizat, eşti prost, insensibil şi ai păr pă mîini. Singurele femei care se fut cu tine ŞTIIND că eşti aşa sînt alea nici prea-prea nici foarte-foarte, care nu sînt sigure că mai pun vreodată mîna pe ceva mai bun şi care în principiu sînt şi bete atunci cînd tu rîgîi şi-o chemi la tine. Şi sînt şi proaste. Şi tîrfe, ceea ce e bine, da tu nu ai nici un merit în asta. Boule, nu mai îmbăta femei ca să le fuţi.

Ce pula mea ziceam…Aşa, ideea e că pînă la urmă te chinui şi intri. E bine să nu ieşi prea repede, da dacă ieşi, nasol de tine. Aici vroiam să ajung. Mă rog, după prima copulare există doar 2 scenarii palpabile:

1. te-ai făcut de rîs.

Te-a frecat şi ţi-ai frecat-o gîndindu-te la ea atîta timp, încît totu durează doar 3 minute. Mă rog, 2:40, da tu aproximezi. Ai dat de 2-3 ori din cur, ai mai lins-o o dată, de două ori (sanchi, ele cred că facem asta că le place. Nu, o facem ca să dureze mai mult) şi s-a terminat. Ce te faci?

Ea se uită la tine cu o privire dojenitoare care pare să spuna: “Aşa, cînd începem?” Tu te uiţi la ea ca un cîine bătut cu bale în colţu gurii şi încerci o glumă. Proastă. Ce e de făcut? Iei totu la mişto şi faci pe dracu-n 7 să mai intri o dată. Femeile-s bune, draguţe, mămoase, o să mai primeşti o şansă. Trebe să profiţi de ea şi să-i oferi sexu vieţii ei.

Bei vin, iei pastile, fumezi, ţi-o imaginezi pe bunicăta, îţi chemi fratele geamăn, pui o pereche de ciorapi peste prezervativ. Faci ceva! Apoi reiei în cap toate filmele porno pe care le-ai văzut, te concentrezi ca la Capacitate şi-o scoţi la capăt cu brio. Trebe să-i oferi cea mai bună tăvăleală din istorie. Sau măcar a anului. Oricum o să iasă cel puţin medie, că mai rău decît prima oară nici un puşti de 14 ani nu ar reuşi. Ăla măcar e drăgălaş. Tu ai păr pă cur, ce dumnezeu? După asta nu mai insişti. Ţi-ai făcut treaba, părăseşti situaţia şi dus ai fost. Nici tu nu mai vrei o a treia şansă, chiar dacă totu n-a fost ca la carte, că cine ştie, poate iese ca prima dată.

Mediu e suficient dacă din 2 încercări nu reuşeşti procentaj maxim. Să zicem că ai reuşit cam 50%. E ok, la mate treceai cu randamentu ăsta, ţii minte? Pleci şi le povesteşti băieţilor c-ai fost centaur, da cu o moacă plictisită ca să nu pară că eşti prea disperat şi că fuţi rar şi prost. Deşi pana mea, noi ştim. Simţim chestiile astea.

2. i-ai oferit sexu vieţii ei.

Ai plecat şi dus ai fost. Îi spui că nu eşti pregătit de o relaţie lungă bla bla. Ea o să ţină minte oricum doar că şi-a dat drumu ca o stropitoare. De tine o să se vorbească oricum bine între prietene, tu o să fii nesimţitu ăla care i-a tras-o bine. Da’ na, şi mama mă mai face nesimţit, de cînd pun io la suflet aşa vorbe? Nu le mai povesteşti băieţilor c-ai fost centaur. Deja eşti şi dacă le spui asta n-o să te creadă.

Practic, ai 3 şanse de cîştig. Ori îţi iese din prima, ori îţi iese din a doua. Ideea e să te retragi în glorie, să rămîi “masturbatoru uman”, “cel mai bun instalator”, “mântuitoru vaginal”.

Situaţia a 3-a a cea mai ciudată totuşi. Cele mai tari futaiuri sunt cu femeile cu care te cunoşti bine deja şi cu care eşti foarte relaxat. Atunci mergi mereu la sigur. Oricum, în medie, din 15 futaiuri, măcar 10 tot trebe să iasă bine. Pînă la urmă e doar o pulă, cît de greu o fi s-o foloseşti? Alelalte 5 devin deci neglijabile. Cred că d-asta s-au şi inventat căsătoriile…e mai convenabil şi mai uşor pentru orgoliul masculin.

Să-mi bag pula cît am scris. Sigur n-o să citească nimeni tot. Oricum rareori citeşte cineva tot. În cazu blogului de faţă, rareori citeşte cineva. Punct.

S-a intamplat in 10 martie 2005. Kevin Keegan, adulatul fotbalist de altadata, parasea neasteptat banca tehnica a lui Manchester City, abia peste aproape trei ani lumea fotbalului afland tocmai din gura fostului international englez ca decizia de a-si da demisia fusese urmata de o indepartare totala de dreptunghiul verde. King Kev ori Double K, cum il alinta fanaticii din Newcastle, unde Keegan e legendar, trantea usa celor de la Eastlands si nu mai dadea pe la nici un stadion.

Pana la urma, in sezonul trecut, Keegan a fost convins s-o preia din nou pe Newcastle United dar, deloc surprinzator, si acum nu neaparat dintr-un alt evantai de toane si decizii impulsive ale antrenorului, el a parasit in actuala editie St. James’ Park, doar pentru a-si reconsidera imediat pozitia, culmea ironiei, sfarsind prin a fi ulterior demis.

Dar intorcandu-ne in 2005, Keegan a plecat atunci val-vartej afland ca se planuia inlocuirea sa, la finele rezpectivului sezon. Cum Double K oricum se pregatea de retragere, in 2006, n-a mai asteptat sa fie poftit de City pe usa din dos. Capituland, King Kev repeta surprinzatoarea decizie de a o lasa pe Newcastle United, pe care o transformase in deceniul trecut in vicecampioana a Angliei, dupa ce o preluase in liga a doua, respectiv aruncarea prosopului practicata la vestiarele Wembleyului, intr-o ploioasa sambata din noiembrie 2000, dupa ultimul joc gazduit de vechiul stadion: Anglia – Germania 0-1. Cantecul de lebada al arenei, intrerupt de sutul de la distanta, prinzand gazonul ud, al lui Didi Hamann, ar fi stat pe constiinta fostului international. Imediat dupa joc, antrenorul Keegan isi dadea demisia de la carma Albionului, intr-un an in care era invins si eliminat de la Euro de Romania…

Si uite asa, Keegan va fi considerat in analele jocului un antrenor care a aruncat deseori prosopul. Fostul Jucator European al Anului… Dar probabil n-ar fi prins oricum descinderea seicilor, poate nici macar a thailandezului Thaksin Shinawatra. Frank Sinatra, in jargonul simplificat al Mancunienilor. De fapt, cu alde arabi ori asiatici, Double K ar fi dat probabil in clocot dupa cateva saptamani.

Thanks to Drew Wright for suggesting this classic game. I’m not sure that any commentary I write can do any better than the BBC’s clockwatch report of the time, so with acknowledgements to the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/euro2000/800493.stm) I’m going to reproduce theirs.

Wednesday, 21 June, 2000

31 mins: Ljubinko Drulovic breaks clear down the left as he has already on several occasions. He whips in a fine cross and hot-shot striker Savo Milosevic is on hand to head Yugoslavia in front.
Spain 0-1 Yugoslavia

39 mins: Raul’s neat movement on the edge of the box earns him a yard of space. The ball finds its way through to Alfonso who sweeps it home with his left foot.
Spain 1-1 Yugoslavia

51 mins: Substitute Dejan Govedarica picks up a pass from Drulovic and smashes the ball home from the edge of the area. Another fine assist for Drulovic, another fine finish and it’s Yugoslavia who move ahead again.
Spain 1-2 Yugoslavia

52 mins: They aren’t in front for long. Etxeberria sets up fellow substitute Pedro Munitis, who curls in a beautful strike off the post and an instant equaliser for Spain. What a superb game this is turning out to be.
Spain 2-2 Yugoslavia

75 mins: Another Mihajlovic delivery causes pandemonium in the Spain box and Slobodan Komljenovic eventually stabs past Canizares at the far post. Ten-man Yugoslavia go ahead for the third time in a cracking match. Spain need something fast or they will be out of Euro 2000.
Spain 2-3 Yugoslavia

90 mins: A lifeline for Jose Antonio Camacho’s side as the referee points to the spot for a challenge on Abelardo. Mendieta steps up to coolly slot home – and Spain are still alive… just.
Spain 3-3 Yugoslavia

94 mins: Unbelievable scenes as the ball gets pumped into a crowded Yugoslav area and Alfonso shows great poise and skill to guide a difficult volley into the corner. Who would have thought it? Spain are back from the brink.
Spain 4-3 Yugoslavia

95 mins: The final whistle blows and Spain have done it. Those two late goals have got them into the quarter-finals after the most thrilling game of the tournament so far.
Final score: Spain 4-3 Yugoslavia

A reminder:

Thanks to Drew Wright for suggesting this classic game. I’m not sure that any commentary I write can do any better than the BBC’s clockwatch report of the time, so with acknowledgements to the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/euro2000/800493.stm) I’m going to reproduce theirs.

Wednesday, 21 June, 2000

31 mins: Ljubinko Drulovic breaks clear down the left as he has already on several occasions. He whips in a fine cross and hot-shot striker Savo Milosevic is on hand to head Yugoslavia in front.
Spain 0-1 Yugoslavia

39 mins: Raul’s neat movement on the edge of the box earns him a yard of space. The ball finds its way through to Alfonso who sweeps it home with his left foot.
Spain 1-1 Yugoslavia

51 mins: Substitute Dejan Govedarica picks up a pass from Drulovic and smashes the ball home from the edge of the area. Another fine assist for Drulovic, another fine finish and it’s Yugoslavia who move ahead again.
Spain 1-2 Yugoslavia

52 mins: They aren’t in front for long. Etxeberria sets up fellow substitute Pedro Munitis, who curls in a beautful strike off the post and an instant equaliser for Spain. What a superb game this is turning out to be.
Spain 2-2 Yugoslavia

75 mins: Another Mihajlovic delivery causes pandemonium in the Spain box and Slobodan Komljenovic eventually stabs past Canizares at the far post. Ten-man Yugoslavia go ahead for the third time in a cracking match. Spain need something fast or they will be out of Euro 2000.
Spain 2-3 Yugoslavia

90 mins: A lifeline for Jose Antonio Camacho’s side as the referee points to the spot for a challenge on Abelardo. Mendieta steps up to coolly slot home – and Spain are still alive… just.
Spain 3-3 Yugoslavia

94 mins: Unbelievable scenes as the ball gets pumped into a crowded Yugoslav area and Alfonso shows great poise and skill to guide a difficult volley into the corner. Who would have thought it? Spain are back from the brink.
Spain 4-3 Yugoslavia

95 mins: The final whistle blows and Spain have done it. Those two late goals have got them into the quarter-finals after the most thrilling game of the tournament so far.
Final score: Spain 4-3 Yugoslavia

A reminder:

Real Madrid’s Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has announced his retirement from international football.

“After studying the schedule of Madrid and the Dutch team I realised playing for both would mean too tough a load for me,” said the 32-year-old.

Van Nistelrooy won the first of his 64 caps in 1998 and is the team’s third highest all-time scorer with 33 goals.

He missed Euro 2000 through injury but played and scored at Euro 2004 and 2008 and also the 2006 World Cup.

His decision came as a surprise to new national team coach Bert van Marwijk, who succeeded Marco van Basten as national team coach on 1 July.

“I had a comprehensive conversation with Ruud and I can do nothing else but respect his decision,” said van Marwijk.

“I regret it that I can’t use his quality and experience when I compose my squad but I wish him all the best at Real Madrid.”

Van Nistelrooy made his name at PSV Eindhoven, where he suffered a serious knee injury, before moving to Manchester United for a then- British record fee of £19m in 2001.

He had five successful years at Old Trafford before moving to Madrid in July 2006 for £10.2m.

Cristiano Ronaldo contemplates Portugal’s exit from Euro 2008.

LISBON — For any child developing an interest in football over this past year, you could forgive them for believing Cristiano Ronaldo to be the greatest player the game has ever seen. The popularity of the Portuguese winger’s club, Manchester United, combined with the generally over-hyped Premiership coverage on Sky Sports would be enough to fool any impressionable youngster. But the fact that the football media can so strongly influence adult fans is much more surprising. Following Ronaldo’s fine form for United this season — in which he scored 31 goals (a Premiership record for a midfielder) — there was much talk amongst fans and journalists before Euro 2008 that the player might “do a Maradona”, and single-handedly (no pun intended) lead Portugal to European glory.

Of course, this suggestion was both unlikely and pointless, least because Portugal need not rely solely on one player. Deco, the naturalised Brazilian, is a playmaker in the South American mold, combining a compact physique with fine control and vision. But he can drift in and out of big games, often without ever leaving his mark. When I first saw Deco play — for José Mourinho’s FC Porto side which won the UEFA Cup and Champions League in successive seasons — I was impressed. He was skillful and tricky, and the team revolved around him. At star-studded Barcelona he was one of many, sharing top-billing with the more imaginative (and popular) Ronaldinho. A similar fate may await him at Chelsea, for whom he signed following Portugal’s lacklustre quarter-final exit from Euro 2008 at the hands of Germany, and where he will be reacquainted with the now ex-Portugal coach, Felipe “Big Phil” Scolari.

Portugal’s two biggest stars enjoyed their best performance against the Czech Republic at Euro 2008.

At Euro 2008 Portugal perhaps peaked too early, making them instant favourites. Ronaldo and Deco combined well in the 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic, but neither player could galvanize the team enough to overcome the might of a German team in its stride. Though I risk descending into common football cliché by saying so, both Ronaldo and Deco also suffer from attitude problems, particularly when it comes to winning a free-kick, feigning injury, and, at worst, ensuring an opponent is booked. These cynical tactics are obviously common-place in football in all countries, but I find it unfortunate for a country that is renowned for its attractive football, that its two most celebrated players should adhere so closely to this ugly stereotype. Each is no stranger to controversy, on and off the pitch. At the 2006 World Cup Deco received a red card in the match with Holland, and Ronaldo was seen as provoking the dismissal of Wayne Rooney in the quarter-final with England. Meanwhile, both players have been involved in incidents concerning prostitutes and organized sex romps.

At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Deco scored a great goal against Iran, but saw red in the next match with Holland.

None of this does anything for either player’s likability — both Ronaldo and Deco are far too talented to resort to such lowlife behaviour, yet perhaps simply too stupid to recognize how they are tarnishing their image. This, for me, is one of the primary differences between the current Portugal team and the oft-heralded “Golden Generation” which helped win the World Youth Cup in 1991 and afforded the senior team the title of “Brazilians of Europe”, which had to do with much more than historical connections between the two countries.

By the late-1990s this crop of talent had spread itself throughout the best leagues in Europe, ensuring Portugal’s position as serious contenders at major championships. The national team’s two biggest stars in this period were Luis Figo and Manuel Rui Costa, without doubt the two finest players Portugal has produced since Eusebio. Like Ronaldo, Figo began his career at Sporting Lisbon, before making a name for himself at Barcelona and, in a controversial move, Real Madrid. A marauding winger in the old-fashioned sense, his slightly hunched-over forward stance meant he could beat players with just a drop of the shoulder and shove of the ball. He wasn’t as fast as Ronaldo, nor did he share the United star’s heading ability, but he won the Ballon d’Or in 2000, and the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2001.

Figo at Euro 2000; the Portugal captain embraces former Real Madrid teammate Zinedine Zidane after Portugal’s defeat to France in the World Cup semi-final, Munich, 2006.

Rui Costa was Portugal’s heart and soul, a serious man who lived and breathed football — the very first word to come out of his infant mouth was “Benfica.” (Cristiano Ronaldo was named after President Reagan — who do you prefer now?) After several fine seasons at the top in Lisbon, Rui Costa joined Fiorentina in 1994, where together with Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta he shared an excellent understanding on the pitch, and idol status off it. Perhaps unlike Figo, Rui Costa was an elegant playmaker in the mold of a classic number ten, and a joy to watch in full flight. The Florence club’s bankruptcy caused Rui Costa to somewhat reluctantly transfer to Milan in 2001 — he famously broke down on a local radio station trying to explain his move to la Viola’s disappointed fans. He was also hugely popular at San Siro, but after an instrumental Champions League-winning season in 2003, he became marginalized by the arrival of an extraordinarily talented young Brazilian named Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite — otherwise known as Kakà.

Rui Costa’s joy after his spectacular goal against England was forgotten following Portugal’s painful home defeat to Greece in the Euro 2004 final.

Portugal were semi-finalists at Euro 2000 but flopped at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea. Deco and Ronaldo overlapped with the older generation at Euro 2004, which was held in Portugal, although the host’s campaign was marred by behind the scenes bickering. Figo allegedly disapproved of Deco’s presence within the squad, stating that he wanted to win with a team that was “100% Portuguese”. Despite the tension within the home side — and coach Scolari’s indecision over whether to field Deco or Rui Costa — this was undoubtedly Portugal’s best ever chance to win a major tournament. They almost did it, reaching the final only to lose 1-0 to surprise package Greece (for the second time in the competition).

Figo left Madrid in 2005 to sign for Inter, where he has won three consecutive Serie A league titles (although Inter’s detractors would recall the effects of calciopoli on these successes). In 2007 he even changed his mind on lucrative transfers to Saudi Arabia and the United States in order to stay with the Milanese giants for another season. Rui Costa left Milan in 2006, taking a significant salary-cut in order to fulfill a boyhood dream and end his career at Benfica. He made a final emotional farewell to football in May of this year at the age of 36, making his last appearance in front of Benfica’s home fans in a 3-0 victory over Vitória de Setubal at Lisbon’s Estadio de Luz.

An emotional Rui Costa salutes the public as he prepares to play his final professional match in the colours of Benfica, Lisbon, May 2008.

There was one camera shot of Raymond Domenech, the France coach, which summed up his Euro 2008 last night. His team were seven minutes from the departure lounge back to France, 2-0 down to Italy and down to 10 men following Eric Abidal’s first half red card. Thierry Henry looked to have won his side a corner in a desperate effort to give Les Blues a glimmer of a chance of qualification. But referee Lubos Michel incorrectly awarded the Italians a goal kick.

The coach’s reaction? One of disbelieving laughter. It had been a night where everything that could go wrong for his team, did go wrong. Captain Lillian Thuram was left out due to concerns over his attitude, which marks a sad end to international football for the French’s most capped star. They lost the influential midfielder Franck Ribery to injury, then the opening goal on 25 minutes thanks to Andrea Pirlo’s penalty after Abidal hauled down Luca Toni to earn an early bath. Ribery’s replacement, Arsenal target Samir Nasri, then had to be sacrificed for defender Jean-Alain Boumsong before Daniele De Rossi despatched a free kick via a big deflection from Henry into the net to clinch a quarter final with Spain for the World Champions.

Whilst Roberto Donadoni’s team have recovered from their opening defeat to the Netherlands, France haven’t got going in the tournament. Indeed, even during qualification they very rarely looked the impressive force they were in 1998 and 2000, and in the latter stages of the 2006 World Cup. Scotland defeated them twice in the qualifiers and in the match in Paris (the glory goal below), we rarely looked troubled; France lacked any imagination or craft to fashion any clear cut openings.

And it was a similar story in their snore draw with Romania. The Romanians were content to sit in and see if Domenech’s team could break them down- they couldn’t. Indeed, France could’ve lost it towards the end as Romania adopted a bloder approach.

They then took on the Dutch, who have taken the tournament by storm with their fast, free flowing attacking style. And they showed no mercy, inflicting a painful 4-1 thrashing to set up last night’s make or break game with Italy, providing Romania failed to beat Marco Van Basten’s team.

But it all went spectacularly wrong for the 2 time European Champions and they have to endure the humiliation of finishing bottom of the “group of death” with just one goal to their name. Domenech last night looked like a man about to pay for the price of failure- his look in the camera shot I mentioned had one of resignation about it.

France may be lacking the creative genius of a Michel Platini or Zinedine Zidane currently, but they have enough gifted stars to have made a better fist of things. The likes of Henry, Claude Makalele and Franck Ribery are established world class stars, playing for some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Added to that they have rising stars such as Lyon’s Karim Benzema and Nasri to call upon. They are not a side lacking in talented players.

The buck ultimately stops with the manager and it seemed to me that some of the players had lost confidence in Domenech. His team, for most of his tenure, looked unconvincing and with the likes of Makalele and Thuram retiring from the international scene, a fresh start all round could be wise for France as they build towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Au’ revoir Domenech and bonjour Didier Deschamps? I would not be surprised.

Kroatie – Duitsland: 2-1

** Grijns **

Alle wedstrijden die op het Europees Kampioenschap voetbal in Oostenrijk en Zwitserland worden gespeeld, zijn gratis via de NOS op internet te zien.

]]> http://futworld.wordpress.com/2008/02/27/o-melhor-jogo-da-seleccao-a-que-ja-assisti/ Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:18:26 +0000 El Comandante http://futworld.wordpress.com/2008/02/27/o-melhor-jogo-da-seleccao-a-que-ja-assisti/

Euro 2000. It all started great with France easing through qualification with a 6 wins, 3 ties, and 1 defeat record. France then headed to Belgium and the Netherlands, the countries organizing this tournament, to face Denmark, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands themselves, in what was seen as a group of death. In the first match, however, France eased past Denmark 3-0. The second game verses the Czechs proved more difficult but France still managed a 2-1 win. Already qualified for the quarter finals, France lined up their reserve team which proved no match for the Netherlands in a 3-2 defeat by the home side. In the quarter finals France met a tough opponent, Spain. In the end, thanks to a wonderful 30 yard free kick by Zinedine Zidane, France prevailed to the semis with a 2-1 win. Portugal was the next team to beat if France were to advance to the final. The Portuguese proved tremendously rigorous as they took the lead in the 19th minute through a splendid Nuno Gomes half volley. However, the French would not back down and they tied the game in the second half thanks to striker Thierry Henry. The match was sent into added time when neither team could break the deadlock. As the clock was ticking, a Portuguese defender hit the ball with his hand inside the penalty box and the spot kick was awarded. On 117 minutes, Zidane sent the French to their first Euro final since 1982, where they had defeated Spain 2-0. The final was set; France vs Italy. The match saw an epic display by the Italians, who surpassed the French in many aspects of the game. With a 55th minute goal, Italy took the lead. They continued to press forward but could not find a second. 4 minutes of additional time was given and the game was still 1-0 in favor of the Italians. However, subsitute Sylvain Wiltord found the back of the net as the ball slid under goalie Franseco Toldo in literally the last second of the game. The match was send to golden goal which meant that the team that scored first would win. The story had now been completely rewritten. Since the Italians had given their best during 90 minutes, the extra 30 minutes were too much and they had absolutely no response to the French. On 103 minutes, subsitute Robert Pires dribbled 4 Italian players on the left flank and send in a bouncing pass towards fellow subsitute David Trezeguet. With his left foot, the born Argentine, volleyed the ball into the top left corner of net, sending an entire nation into ecstacy along the way.          


 

“Mo je faccio er cucchiaio“, dijo Totti. Y a Maldini le sonó tan raro como a cualquier lector español. Luego, cuando el tótem milanista tradujo mentalmente del romanesco al italiano, la cosa le sonó aún más marciana. En aquellas circunstancias, lo último que podía uno esperarse era un cucchiaio del romano más castizo desde Alberto Sordi. Maldini se quedó lívido.

Era el 29 de junio de 2000 y la semifinal Italia-Holanda del Europeo acababa de terminar en empate. Se jugaba en Holanda y los italianos, encerrados en el círculo central, hablaban de quién tiraba los penaltis. Di Biagio fue el primero en reconocer que la cosa imponía. “Francesco, yo tengo miedo”, dijo. Y Francesco Totti, en su romanesco cerrado: “A quién se lo dices. ¿Has visto lo grande que es aquél?”, resopló, señalando al portero Van der Saar. Di Biagio: “Pues sí que me animas”. Entonces llegó la frase inmortal: “Nun te preoccupá, mo je faccio er cucchiaio”. O sea, “no te preocupes, yo le hago la cuchara”.

El gran jefe Maldini tenía la oreja puesta y al cabo de unos segundos, cuando comprendió, se dirigió con gran alarma hacia Totti. “¿Pero estás loco? Estamos en una semifinal del Europeo”. Pero Totti ya tenía la idea clavada en el entrecejo: “Sí, sí, le hago la cuchara”.

“Er cucchiaio“, “la cuchara”, es la marca de fábrica del mejor futbolista italiano. Un toque suave, por debajo del balón, que eleva la trayectoria unos metros y luego la deposita en el suelo, dentro de la portería. Una de esas jugadas caprichosas que pueden hacerse cuando se gana por mucho y queda muy poco partido. Una burla amable al contrario y un guiño al público. Una broma, algo que no se hace en el momento más crucial del año. Lo que pasa es que Totti es Totti. El capitán del Roma tendría poco de qué hablar con Einstein, pero la inconsciencia le da a su juego el toque de locura y genio de los grandes idiotas del fútbol: Totti forma parte de la dinastía de Garrincha, Best, Gascoigne, Cassano. Con la ventaja de no ser cojo, ni alcohólico, ni paranoico.

Cuando le tocó lanzar a Francé Totti, caminó hacia el punto de lanzamiento, miró a aquel portero holandés tan grande, se aproximó al cuero y lo acarició en el vientre. El balón partió en cámara lenta, como un globo de feria, hacia el centro del marco. Van der Saar, en cámara rápida, se había lanzado ya hacia un costado. Y el penalti entró como un suspiro, dulce, desmayado, con la miel de un beso y el ritmo preciso de un buen chiste.

Totti publicará el año próximo un manual de fútbol que se titulará, cómo no, “Mo je faccio er cucchiaio“. Será su tercera obra, tras las memorables Los chistes sobre Totti contados por mí mismo y Los nuevos chistes sobre Totti contados por mí mismo. No los escribe él, pobrecito, pero en este caso no importa, porque los beneficios (una millonada) se destinan a beneficencia. Totti es, seguramente, el futbolista que más dinero ha aportado a obras de caridad, el que ha visitado más asilos y hospitales y el que más ha hecho por su ciudad.

Fuente: EL PAÍS

Dino Zoff siempre parece a punto de recitar el monólogo de Kurtz en El corazón de las tinieblas: “El horror, el horror…”. Es un hombre impasible, correctísimo, con un orgullo frío que se intuye sin verse y con un velo de tristeza sobre los ojos. Siempre fue así. Quizá por genes, quizá por educación, quizá porque nació en la atormentada Gorizia en un momento, el 28 de febrero de 1942, en que la comarca estaba a punto de dejar de ser italiana para convertirse en un reducto nazi-fascista acosado por los partisanos de Tito y escenario de matanzas atroces. El niño Zoff debió de contemplar cosas tremendas.

Fue un portero de una especie, la de los Iríbar y los Yashin, hoy prácticamente extinguida. Tipos altos y secos que situaban una barrera con un arqueo de cejas, que no movían las dos manos si les bastaba con una y que siempre aparecían como por casualidad en la trayectoria del balón. A Zoff no le fue nada mal como futbolista. Ganó unos cuantos títulos con el Juventus, ganó el Campeonato de Europa de selecciones en 1968 y en 1982, con 40 años, alzó en el estadio Bernabeu el trofeo de campeón del mundo.

Le quedó, sin embargo, una amargura. En el Mundial de México 70, uno de los momentos supremos en la historia del fútbol, le sustituyó Albertosi, que formaba parte del Cagliari de Gigi Riva y parecía más participativo que el hombre impasible. También tuvo que sufrir la bochornosa derrota frente a Haití en Alemania 74. En cualquier caso, cuando se retiró, había batido todas las marcas posibles -entre ellas, la de la imbatibilidad internacional: cero goles entre septiembre de 1972 y junio de 1974- y figuraba para siempre entre los más grandes.

Era normal que acabara siendo seleccionador. Lo anormal fue lo que ocurrió. Toda la historia acumulada por Zoff se le desplomó encima en la final del Europeo de 2000, Francia-Italia. Los italianos habían mantenido el empate a un gol hasta el minuto 90 frente a la Francia del mejor Zidane y en la prórroga llegó el gol de oro de Trezeguet. Mala suerte. Zoff no perdió la compostura en la desgracia, felicitó al rival y se comportó como siempre. Il Cavaliere Silvio Berlusconi, que carece de las virtudes de Zoff y aquel día tuvo necesidad de demostrarlo, hizo unas declaraciones furibundas contra aquel seleccionador “aficionado” que no había sabido “frenar” a Zidane y había constituido “una verguenza”.

Esas cosas no se le dicen a Zoff. “Me han faltado al respeto como trabajador y no puedo consentirlo”, dijo el hombre impasible a la mañana siguiente. Y se fue. Berlusconi, como es costumbre, negó haber dicho lo que había dicho, pero el asunto fue portada de todos los periódicos, incluyendo uno tan ajeno al fútbol como el Financial Times de Londres.

La mala suerte persigue a Zoff desde entonces. Hace seis jornadas se hizo cargo del Fiorentina y sufrió cinco derrotas consecutivas. El sábado, frente al Udinese, el equipo en el que debutó en 1961, el Fiorentina se adelantó por 2-0. Y entonces se rompió Bojinov, que es, junto a Rooney, el mejor delantero joven europeo, recién fichado al Lecce para dar al equipo la agresividad que le faltaba. Luego, como era de esperar, el Udinese empató y dejó al Fiorentina a dos puntos del descenso.

El club violeta, que en 2002 descendió por quiebra a la Tercera División y en mayo pasado regresó a la máxima categoría, se asoma de nuevo al borde del abismo. Y con el Fiorentina está Zoff, que justamente hoy cumple 62 años, con la impasibilidad de siempre y con esos ojos que parecen haber visto de cerca el horror.

Fuente: EL PAÍS

Los futboleros italianos tienen en el ADN algo que podríamos llamar gen catenaccio. En un sentido literal, el catenaccio ya no existe porque, como afirma Luigi del Neri en su Manual de Táctica, la receta del auténtico cerrojo a la italiana requiere un defensa libre por detrás de los centrales, algo que hoy no usa casi nadie. Pero la mayoría de los tifosi sigue oyendo en su alma una vocecita que dice algo así como: “Todos atrás, faltas tácticas en el centro y balonazos al área contraria a ver si salta el rebote”.

Esa vocecita no les sale a veces del alma, sino de la Presidencia del Gobierno, que es peor. Dino Zoff dimitió como seleccionador pese a llevar a Italia a la final del Europeo 2000 y perder ante la potentísima Francia por un gol de oro en la prórroga porque no quiso soportar la bronca cattenacista de Silvio Berlusconi. “Había que frenar a Zidane. Hasta un aficionado se habría dado cuenta. La táctica ha sido indigna”, dijo Il Cavaliere. “Prefiero pensar en los míos que en los rivales”, dijo Zoff y… se fue.

La manía cerrojera pesa sobre un sector minoritario que prefiere el fútbol ofensivo, alegre e imaginativo. Incluso empieza a provocar conflictos íntimos entre los muchos que consideran que un partido con más de un gol no deja de ser una frivolidad. Esto se nota en las tertulias, en las que siempre, antes o después, se pronuncia con pesadumbre el nombre de Santiago Segurola. Por una especie de poliglotismo mágico, hasta quienes no hablan español aseguran estar al corriente del poco afecto del cronista de EL PAÍS por el defensivismo tradicional del calcio. Y se lamentan. “¿Qué le hemos hecho a Segurola?”, preguntan desconsolados; “¿por qué no nos quiere?”. Acto seguido, juran que también son contrarios al catenaccio. Pero añaden: “Pero hay que saber saborear también una buena defensa”. Y ya estamos con lo mismo.

Un problema del calcio, quizá el gran problema, radica en que a final de temporada suelen salir ganando los equipos resultadistas, ésos que llevan adheridos en las crónicas adjetivos como férreo, rocoso o, en estricto italiano, grintoso y agonistico. Salvo en el caso del Milan, capaz de montar una muralla y de asaltar simultáneamente la del adversario, el marcaje, la presión y las pequeñas astucias -el talento se da por descontado- terminan siendo claves para el éxito.

Podría suceder un milagro. Podría suceder que el Inter, el hermoso vencido del calcio, que ayer obtuvo su empate número 15 en la Liga, ganara algo por fin. Lo que fuera. Podría ocurrir que el Inter recuperara sus 11 puntos de desventaja respecto a la Juventus y se hiciera con el scudetto -un milagro celestial- o que alzara la Champion -ni siquiera un milagro: un fenómeno paranormal- y se demostrara que el riesgo, la locura y el genio también cuentan.

Hace semanas hablábamos de las tristes glorias del Inter, su mala suerte y sus impulsos autodestructivos. Permitan que este corresponsal -interista: no crean que existe el periodismo imparcial- diga hoy que no existen emociones como las que proporciona La Bienamada y que, sobre la balanza del desenfreno atacante, Adriano, Vieri y Martins pesan más o menos lo mismo que Ronaldo, Raúl y Zidane. El Inter remontó ayer un 2-0 en Parma y llegó al 2-2 en cinco minutos con un furor de locura jugando el segundo tiempo con uno menos. El equipo del bello Mancini se defiende mal -según la vara italiana- y necesita ir por detrás para desatarse, pero, cuando se suelta, echa por tierra cualquier defensa y tradición catenaccista. Si aún es posible una mutación genética en el ADN del calcio, la mutación es de color negro y azul.

Fuente: EL PAÍS