Was that a red card?

Here are the few reasons why i feel Zidane shouldnt have been redcarded

1. According to wikipedia article, a headbutt is a strike with the head and effective headbutting involves striking a sensitive area with a less sensitive area like striking the nose of an opponent with a forehead. Also a misplaced headbutt can cause more damage to the attacker. In this case, headbutt involved two sensitive and pretty hard areas (chest with the head), so it could have caused more damage to Zidane rather than Materazzi.

2. In the earlier part of the match, Materazzi was the one who successfully headed the ball into the opposition goal. Zidane’s attempt just minutes before the incident was rather futile, Buffon saved it with aplomb. So he could have asked for an advice or few from the defender. They would have discussed the fine art of heading with Marco teaching a trick or two, after which the Frenchman in an attempt to show his guru, how well he had learnt the art in few seconds, adeptly placed his header in the master’s chest. So punishment should rather go the master coz he should have told his pupil that he should head ‘only’ the ball.

3.Or of late ‘Galactico’ would have got more devout and started following Hindu traditions,(thanks to his huge fan following in India) of getting Ashirvadhs from Gurus (by placing his hand on the head). He was heading fast towards his guru trying to bend down and touch his legs. Unfortunately it turned out too fast that he collided with him.

Italy regains glory

Ah!!!! Finally the collective effort of a team studded with work men like players had the last laugh over their enemies and thus gaining a revenge for their loss in 98’WC on penalties and a heart breaking defeat in extra time in Euro 2000. A unique record has thus been set, no losses in normal period of play since their defeat to Ireland in the 94 World cup. Italians thoroughly deserved their victory. The French apparently looked better, but it was the rock like defence with a great goal keeper Gianlugi Buffon who was the star performer with some stupendous saves from great strikes that would have clinched the tie for the French. Heart felt Congrats to the Italians and their master tactician Marcelo Lippi. An ignominous exit though for one of the greatest of our generations, Zidane who played his last competitive game. It was a shameful end to a wonderful career. Though several on field incidents marred this WC, it was exciting in its own sense and proved as the greatest show on earth. Football fever still lingers and may take some time to extinguish. Hope it spurs our nation towards producing some great footballers who can carry us to the world cup finals in South Africa.

The French Connection

A mad football fan like me couldn’t help but notice another hidden statistics like the Italians march into the final every year since 1970 and victory under similar circumstances in 1982. Italians think they will be lucky as they were then. True, French were rather lackluster in their win against Portugal and Italians with a bunch of indefatigable and excellent players start as favorites.

But as a fan of Henry, Zidane and Ribery, why i think France would win this World Cup? Last major tournament win for France was Euro 2000. Yes, Italians were the finalists and were the favorites. They had led till the 2nd half injury time before Wiltord sneaked in a goal, in what was virtually the last kick of the normal period and Trezeguet smashed the winner into the left hand corner of the net in extra time. Guess whom did France beat in the semis? The Golden generation of Portugal and the winner of course was scored in a penalty kick by you-know-who, Zidane again. Italians had beaten the hosts, Dutch in the semis and made it to the finals. Doesn’t it sound similar here? So history is on the French side as well, though on paper and form Italy has better chances to lift the cup.

Hope the better team wins and mark an end to what has been an eventful WC finals.

Azurris are back

They were condemned as a boring defensive team and of late one in shambles after a match fixing scandal that is still rocking the Serie A(when they last lifted the trophy similar scandal had happened). Even yours truly thought they had perfected the art of defence in such a way that they can sit back on a 1-0 advantage and rely on their great defensive wall. Ouch!!! I was in for a surprise, Vintage Azurris played fascinating football and thoroughly deserved their 2-0 victory against the confident Germans, who in the second period of extra time looked as if they are going to settle for a penalty shoot out (Germans had lost only 1 out of 18 shootouts they were in). But a beautiful ball by Pirlo and a sublime sidefooted goal by Grosso settled it all at the very end and left the Germans in tears in their favorite hunting ground, Westfalenstadion, Dortmund . Moments later Del Piero ( donno why he hasn’t been in the starting 11) completed the spectacle with another neat finish. It was a great footballing match and Germans can take pride in the fact that they didn’t bow out timidly. They too had their chances which lacked that subtle final touch. A young German team bowed out to a team of diligent players like Fabio Cannavaro (who seemed to be everywhere on the pitch) and Gattuso. Now they stand as favorites to lift the cup after 24 years

Mad Press and English men

Last week Times Reporter Simon Barnes gave 25 reasons why ‘England can win the world cup’.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,28782-2250086,00.html
It seemed then how ambitious and positive were the reporters who were craving for an English victory.

Aroused by the English passion, my friend had called me to watch the match on a giant screen in ‘The GRT Grand’ Hi-Time bar. Though we had a great time watching the match seated in the front row sipping the energy drinks and munching some snacks, i was left pondering, how most of the reporter’s comments had been refuted, water tight defence being a mere blur, by the end of the match.

Quoting some of his reasons with my comments in braces

1. England can get better. Hardly get worse murmur the cynics…… There are some very good players in the side capable of sustained and unified period of excellence. (True face of the English Premier League was exposed, with majority of the talented players being foreign nationals. Opposition they came against till the Q/Fs were rather meek)
2. Beckham is a seriously effective player and a dangerous opponent ( Beckham is an overrated player, very poor in the air, has a inept left foot and a slow mover in the field . Most of the English goals came from set pieces in which he is adept)
3. In Paul Robinson, England have one of those quiet-but-solid goalkeepers, a man not inclined to flap or panic or attempt the outrageous ( Ineffective in Penalty Shootouts, Prior to the WCs it was said that they were practicing hard to come out as trumps. Where as Ricardo went to the right direction when the English took their kicks, Robinson was caught offguard and one of the misses was a mishit while the other bounced off the post)
4. Rooney is not only good in himself, he brings out the best in everyone else as well. Rooney believes — knows — he can beat anybody. (Think he will be the scapegoat a la Beckham in ‘98, Evolution of ‘The Golden boy’ to ‘A Choking Toy’)
5. England have either Brazil or France in the semi-finals. Both sides, despite their excellence, are vulnerable, both have too many ageing players. It’s the right side of the draw to be on. (Far-sightedness at its best. Oops they had forgotten that they had to get past Portugal)

I am an avid follower of EPL and I do like some of the English players, but I had my money on Portugal winning the match because English men never played to their potential in group matches. It also proves time and again how boastful are the English press of their country men’s performance and how they can elevate their players with huge pay checks. Sven Goran Eriksson’s (the highest paid football coach) 6 year stint has come to an end and each time his nemesis has been ‘The Big Phil’. English team can sometimes be termed as ‘overrated under achievers’.

Coming home, I had a smile coz I pocketed some trivial sum on winning the bet.

Jogo Bonito

Fever, fanaticism, frenzy and fury , they all gonna possess the hearts of billions for a month. Cant help but remember the saying ‘When your mind becomes obsessed with something you will find that thing every where’. People on the eastern side are gonna spend many sleepless nights glued to the TV sets watching the ‘beautiful game’ unfold to the highest levels an eye can demand. Hangovers gonna be carried to the offices. Deadlines will be extended. World is gonna change and remain dormant for a month from now as the biggest sporting spectacle kicks off tonite at Munich. It has submerged the other bigger sporting events such as the French Open (Wimbledon will follow suite) , US Open Golf and the fast and the furious world of F1s. Stakes are many for the sporting countries as well as the sponsors and the book makers. Football indeed is a religion with the followers behaving like men possessed with a soul whose only target is to pray for their demi Gods to unleash their magic potentials and bring glory to their country. Hope the game carries on its panache without the external events distracting it and may the best team win. Well as the history goes, only few of the favorites have gone till the wire to make it big, so we may be in for a few surprises as well. New stars like Walcotts, Messis and Rooneys may rise or it may be a fitting finale for the old guards like Zidane, Ronaldo etc. What ever be the case, the world is getting united for watching an extravaganza and may be the sponsors can rope in few celebrities and politicians to make the event big and may be use it as a medium for a noble cause and spreading good will messages and enhancing tasks apart from the sport. Let the world cup may follow its normal course and bring joy to the millions of fans around the world.

Heartful Thanks to SCV for allowing the sports loving Chennaites to watch the matches in the free to air band by entering into an agreement with ESPN and Star. Its indeed a respite for the junta here who were planning to resort to various courses for watching the matches. May the agreement stays on course to let us empathise with the players and the fans and see till the best team take on the winner’s podium on July 9.

Run Buddhia Run

Last week, Plagiarism was the toast, now the focus has shifted to physical endurance and the extremes that human body can plunge into. A four and a half year old boy doing a Forrest Gump like act of running his way into history by becoming the youngest marathon runner in the world on Tuesday. Running 65 Kms from Puri to Bhubaneshwar in 7 hours is no mean feat, that too at an age when one would be busy playing with toys, is a paramount achievement. Hats off Buddhia Singh, may you bring many more laurels to our nation.

After the feat, during an interview he sat quiet naively in the laps of his coach Biranchi Das quite oblivious of his achievement and was staring at the camera rather curiously as if sprinting is quite inherent. His talent was spotted inadvertently by Mr.Das who had punished him (for straying into a sports ground and abusing some person) to run laps. After 5 hours, he found the boy still running.

Looks very much analogous to Gump who ran for "three years, two months, fourteen days, and sixteen hours", crossing coast to coast several times, inspiring many people on the way, but for no reason. Fiction apart, hope he inspires many people to take to something in which their heart is. But he shouldn’t set a wrong precedent and parents should be careful in not dwelling their kids in gruelling Summer Camps to emulate this kid coz not many are born with a strong heart and a body with an exceptional stamina to run for 7 hours continuously. Ramifications and the tolling that body takes, runs deep when an inappropriate person tries to do it. Rather they should take pride in the fact that when a kid coming from the down trodden society (a slum dweller to be precise) can corner glory by exhibiting his reportoire, they should nurture their kids and spot their dormant talent and groom it.

The second breathtaking stunt came from a quite accustomed American illusionist David Blaine. He has started a new “Drowned Alive” challenge by entering an 8ft (2.5m) water-filled spherical tank in New York and he intends to remain submerged for a week. He will have an air line for breathing, liquid food will be provided through a tube and he will sleep for short periods. Fans will be encouraged to touch the sphere and offer words of support. At the end of the seven days, Blaine, 33, will remove his air supply and attempt to hold his breath longer than the world record of 8min 58sec. Some times I feel this guy is one crazy son of a bitch. He has done some heart wrenching acts on TV shows and a famous suspension in a glass box next to the Thames for 44 days three years ago (and had a lot of eggs thrown at him for his trouble).

Lots of emotions and mental influences are involved in all these Dhamaka acts. They require a lot of habituation and hours of physical and mental training. These acts should be taken in a proper notion. Blind adherence just for getting into the limelight can sometimes prove fatal.
To quote Gump again “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get”. We all have a destiny, we should know it and course our path, otherwise we have to just float around like a leaf on a breeze accidental like and take things the way they come.

A Puritan's Final

goppThis season they have been defying all odds and scaling daunting peaks in Europe with a team that has been only a shadow of ‘The Invincibles’(who tore all their Premiership teams apart in a fab season in 2004) in their domestic circuit. Arsene Wenger now aspires an expedition to Alps and a romantic finale in his home town against a team studded with polished gems. Back at Highbury, the soaring expectations of a hard core gunners’ fan may be harder to contain, but Arsene Wenger, with his firm belief of pure, free flowing and attacking football instilled in the young hearts of his players can expect a fairy tale finish if the players live to their dreams which they have accomplished quite astoundingly.

Parallels are being drawn to last year’s Liverpool team, who won an amazing match at Istanbul after being 3-0 down in half time against a talented Milan. Liverpool was fifth in the Premier League last year (same as Arsenal this time), they didn’t bemoan but recuperated remarkably after the loss of Owen (Arsenal-Viera). But the Gallic head has warned that the job isn’t done yet and they start as underdogs.

The football Cognoscenti has corroborated that fact. The Runaway League leaders in Spain has players aplenty marshaled by a pony tailed smiling assassin whom they believe is firmly on the shoes of Pele and Maradona. Splitting defences with his slick passes, unleashing lethal free kicks and dribbling the ball as a magician, Ronaldinho has proven that he is one of a kind in this generation. Though he has ripped apart the opposition and found space even in water tight defences, mention has to be made of the men who finishes his moves, Lionel Messi (being hailed as next Maradona in his country) and the Cameroon Supremo Eto’o. Defence is rock solid with Victor Valdes proving unbeatable. Man to Man in every department Barcelona holds all the aces an exception being Henry around whom the entire team was built, which made Joseph Riquelme of Villareal say ironically that ‘Arsenal is a team with 9 men behind the ball and then they have Henry’.

It’s been long since the world cup, a major trophy has been won by a team with attacking instincts. FC Porto, Greece and to some extent Liverpool were all tactical teams who can sit behind and clear the ball while riding on a goal difference better than its opposition. But to a connoisseur’s delight the two teams assembling on May 17th in Paris puts all those under the mat and plays mellifluent football from the heart. Football is an art that can be orchestrated (and some times choreographed) to such an extent that the rhythm of movement of ball purgates the heart and one can fall in love with the flow more than the finish. We have seen the Brazilians link it to their Samba dance. In Wenger and Rijkaard we have two conductors who hold the batons of the show and the purists’ can only wait for the opera to unfold.

Can the Gallic connection give a dream win for Wenger’s men in Henry’s hometown or yet another feather in the crown of PSG groomed Ronaldinho(another home coming). Its gonna be a situation of who has in it to weather the storm. For us a Puritan’s final is here, let us wade through the two whirlwinds and not miss a moment of sweet thunders hitting us.

It doesn’t get any purer than this.