May 282010
 

Former playing great Mario Kempes says Argentina can’t rely solely on Lionel Messi if they want to win the World Cup. Messi led Barcelona to their second straight league title, and was the top goal scorer in both the Spanish League (34) and Europe (47). His sublime performances with the Catalan team have earned him numerous personal honours, including FIFA’s Player of the Year award.

It’s also brought the inevitable comparisons to Diego Maradona, one of the greatest players in the game. Maradona won the World Cup as a player in 1986 and led Argentina to the 1990 final. He now coaches the national team.

“Messi is a great player, the best in the world. But he can’t do it alone,” Kempes, who led the Albiceleste to the World Cup title in 1978 and was awarded the Golden Ball as best player of the tournament, said through a translator on Wednesday.

“That’s why normally, with a world champion, one player stands out but you need to be surrounded by a class of players.

“That’s what Maradona has to find,” added Kempes, who will be working for ESPN Deportes in South Africa. “The team, the unity of that group in order to guarantee Messi can play at the level he has in Europe.”

As for the comparisons with Maradona, Kempes was keen to play them down.

“No,” he said when asked if the comparisons are fair. “Maradona did what he had to do. Soccer’s totally changed.”

Despite his success at the club level, Messi has been criticised back home because he hasn’t shown the same flair – or had the same results – when playing for Argentina.

Argentina were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Germany four years ago, and they struggled to secure South America’s final automatic qualifying spot for South Africa. Argentina were humiliated by Bolivia in a 6-1 defeat during qualifying and also lost 3-1 at home to arch-rivals Brazil.

Not even Maradona, who took over 19 months ago despite no formal training as a coach, has been immune to criticism. Some have suggested Maradona should play Messi on the right side of a three-pronged attack, as he does at Barcelona.

So far, Messi has played a free role behind the two forwards for Argentina.

“Mixed. Good and bad,” Kempes said when asked to evaluate his former team-mate as a coach.

But Kempes said he sees signs of progress. Argentina have won all five of their friendlies this year, including a 2-1 win over 2006 semi-finalists Germany and a 5-0 rout of Canada on Monday.

Argentina are expected to advance from the group stage. In addition to Argentina and Nigeria, Group B includes Greece and South Korea.

“I feel much more comfortable and at ease because all of the (recent) games, they did play well. Not a lot of mistakes,” Kempes said. “Now he’ll have more time to work with the players, and we’re hoping he finds the team he’s looking for.

“It’s a very good group,” he added. “I hope the experience they have playing many years in Europe will show in the World Cup.” — AP

May 282010
 

So… it’s only 13 more days before we have one of the biggest sporting event in the world. To be part of something BIG like FIFA Football World Cup is something that you can’t miss for whatever reason. As always, I’ll be supporting my La Albiceleste (White and Skyblue). The support for Argentina was not due to Lionel Messi or Diego Millito who made recent headlines in many of Sport News around the globe these few days but it’s naturally internalised within me since Italia 1982 World Cup.

So at this coming tournarment at South Africa, Argentina will be led by their legendary striker, Diego Armardo Maradona and he’d selected final 23 man squad last week with nothing surprised decision for me except the exclusion of Gago and Javier Zanetti. With this entry, it’s not mean that i’ll bias towards other teams but as usual, i also have my second and third team to support as contigency plan if my Argentina can’t get through group stage.

I’ll not announce that 2nd and 3rd team since my mind keeps telling me that Argentina squad this year for will do good for me ( and of course for Argentina). For you out there, please drop a comment if you’re supporting the same team like me or you have another option like many Malaysian … who support the pathetic England…

Just for the info  below is Final 23 squad for Argentina :-

Argentina’s 23-man World Cup squad in full

Goalkeepers -
Sergio Romero AZ Alkmaar (NED)
Mariano Andujar Catania (ITA)
Diego Pozo Colon
Defenders -
Nicolas Otamendi Velez Sarsfield
Gabriel Heinze Marseille (FRA)
Martin Demichelis Bayern Munich (GER)
Walter Samuel Inter (ITA)
Ariel Garce Colon
Nicolas Burdisso Roma (ITA)
Clemente Rodríguez Estudiantes
Midfielders -
Juan Sebastian Veron Estudiantes
Javier Mascherano Liverpool (ENG)
Jonas Gutierrez Newcastle (ENG)
Angel Di Maria Benfica (POR)
Maximiliano Rodriguez Liverpool (ENG)
Javier Pastore Palermo (ITA)
Mario Bolatti Fiorentina (TA)
Forwards -
Lionel Messi Barcelona (ESP)
Gonzalo Higuain Real Madrid (ESP)
Carlos Tevez Manchester City (ENG)
Sergio Aguero Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Diego Milito Inter (ITA)
Martin Palermo Boca Juniors
May 252010
 

Every sport has its own unique lingo or phrase or jangon - its words that are often exclusive to the game being played. If they are used in regular discourse, they can seem a bit forced and uncomfortable. Football Games reaches the most people out of all sports (numbers in the billions), so it’s easy to assume that the vocabulary is incredibly extensive. From simple words that replace the names of objects or equipment to more technical phrases that explain plays in the game, there is a second language that simply cannot be ignored.

With the World Cup barely two weeks away, it’s time to go to school and have casual fans learn these specific phrases and for those who know them to refresh themselves on what will be heard thousands of times over in South Africa. Here’s a random selection of 15 that will constantly be on the lips of commentators during the month-long tournament.

1. Getting booked (verb) – When a player commits an offense that warrants a yellow or red card, the referee will produce and show said card then record the players name and number in his little book.

2. Against the run of play (clause) – This is what happens when a team scores a goal when the other team was dominating the match. Football is a game about possession and control, and when you score a goal against the run of play, you clearly aren’t the better team at that point in the match.

3. Offside (noun) – Probably the most confusing of all the game’s rules, offside occurs when a player strays past the opposing team’s deepest defender and receives the ball. The easiest way to describe it is cherry-picking, but that doesn’t really do it justice as even longtime admirers of the sport struggle with it sometimes. Simply put, if you can figure out offside, you deserve numerous gold stars and a box of freshly-baked cookies.

4. The onion bag, or bulging of (noun, verb) – Used far too often by ESPN commentator Tommy Smyth, this is a genius reference to the net the goalkeepers try to defend. When it has been ‘bulged,’ well, someone has put the ball into it and caused it to pull at the sides.

5. Advantage, the playing of (verb) - This occurs when one player commits a foul, but the team who was fouled tactically still can make something from the situation and are pushing forward. The referee decides to ‘play the advantage’ in order to keep the game flowing rather than stopping for a free kick. Only the best zebras do it well.

6. Fixture (noun) – This is a game, a match, what’s on the schedule. Seems to be too related to mounting shelves or that new ceiling fan, but it’s what the soccer world calls a team’s games.

7. Square ball (noun) – Bust out your rulers, everyone…we’re getting mathematical. When one player plays a square ball to another, they are simply passing the ball parallel to the goal line, instead of forward or backward.

8. Near & far post (nouns) – Simple stuff here: near post is the big white stick in the ground that is closest to where the ball is currently situated. The far post is the goal post that is further away.

9. Handball (verb or noun) – If you’re Irish, you know what this is. English, too. Unlike American ‘football,’ you aren’t allowed to touch the ball with any part of your hand or arm. If you do, the ref will blow the whistle and call a foul and if it happens inside your 18-yard area (mini-definition: the big box that surrounds each net), it’s a penalty kick for the other team.

10. First touch, or any touch thereafter (noun) – First touch is a very important part of being a successful soccer player. It is also quite literal as it is the first touch a player has on the ball when receiving a pass or cross. Players with excellent first touch often times make defenders miss. For examples of this, watch Brazil.

11. Tracking back (verb) – In soccer, even if you play a forward position, you still need to play defense. Tracking back is when a player who is advanced up the field will chase the ball as their opponents move towards the other end of the pitch. Lazier forwards often to tend to avoid this honorable act.

12. Knock or niggle (noun) – Players don’t get hurt, they take knocks. They aren’t hampered by injuries, they suffer from niggles. Simple replacement words for when a tackle is a bit more painful than expected.

13. Stoppage time (also called injury or added time) (noun) – The clock never stops ticking in soccer and, because of this, the referee keeps track of the seconds that go by when the ball goes out of play or if there is an injury. Then he determines how much should be added to the end of each half. Usually between two and four minutes.

14. Cheeky (adjective) – Used in numerous instances. When something is described as cheeky, it’s usually to show that the player did it (a foul, shot, goal, pass) with intention and that it’s their way of showing off their skill or lack thereof. Often subterfuge or slight of hand is involved.

15. WAG aka Wives and Girlfriends (noun) – Almost as important as the players themselves, the WAG community is an exclusive group populated by the best players’ significant others. WAG you know: Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham. She’s the queen of the WAGs. There are many more just like her.

…and there you have it. 15 phrases you’ll hear repeatedly at this summer’s World Cup in South Africa. There are a ton more, but this is a solid base that should get you started and will maybe reaffirm those you already know.

Source : GOAL.com

May 252010
 

Kisah yang tak wajar untuk kita abaikan ...InsyaAllah..

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pada setiap Jumaat, selepas selesai menunaikan solat Jumaat, seorang Imam dan anaknya yang berumur 7 tahun akan berjalan menyusuri jalan di kota itu dan menyebarkan risalah bertajuk "Jalan-jalan Syurga" dan beberapa karya Islamik yang lain.

Pada satu Jumaat yang indah, pada ketika Imam dan anaknya itu hendak keluar seperti biasa meghulurkan risalah-risalah Islam itu, hari itu menjadi amat dingin dan hujan mulai turun.

Anak kecil itu mula membetulkan jubahnya yang masih kering dan panas dan seraya berkata "Ayah! Saya dah bersedia"

Ayahnya terkejut dan berkata "Bersedia untuk apa?". "Ayah bukankah ini masanya kita akan keluar menyampaikan risalah Allah"

"Anakku! Bukankah sejuk keadaan di luar tu dan hujan juga agak lebat"

"Ayah bukankah masih ada manusia yang akan masuk neraka walaupun ketika hujan turun"

Ayahnya menambah "Ayah tidak bersedia hendak keluar dalam keadaan cuaca sebegini"

Dengan merintih anaknya merayu "Benarkan saya pergi ayah?"

Ayahnya berasa agak ragu-ragu namun menyerahkan risalah-risalah itu kepada anaknya "Pergilah nak dan berhati-hatilah. Allah bersama-sama kamu!"

"Terima kasih Ayah" Dengan wajah bersinar-sinar anaknya itu pergi meredah hujan dan susuk tubuh kecil itu hilang dalam kelebatan hujan itu.

Anak kecil itu pun menyerahkan risalah-risalah tersebut kepada sesiapa pun yang dijumpainya. Begitu juga dia akan mengetuk setiap rumah dan memberikan risalah itu kepada penghuninya.

Setelah dua jam, hanya tinggal satu saja risalah "Jalan-jalan Syurga" ada pada tangannya. DIa berasakan tanggungjawabnya tidak akan selesai jika masih ada risalah di tangannya. Dia berpusing-pusing ke sana dan ke mari mencari siapa yang akan diserahkan risalah terakhirnya itu namun gagal.

Akhirnya dia ternampak satu rumah yang agak terperosok di jalan itu dan mula mengatur langkah menghampiri rumah itu. Apabila sampai sahaja anak itu di rumah itu, lantas ditekannya loceng rumah itu sekali. Ditunggunya sebentar dan ditekan sekali lagi namun tiada jawapan. Diketuk pula pintu itu namun sekali lagi tiada jawapan. Ada sesuatu yang memegangnya daripada pergi, mungkin rumah inilah harapannya agar risalah ini diserahkan. Dia mengambil keputusan menekan loceng sekali lagi. Akhirnya pintu rumah itu dibuka.

Berdiri di depan pintu adalah seorang perempuan dalam lingkungan 50an.


Mukanya suram dan sedih. "Nak, apa yang makcik boleh bantu?"

Wajahnya bersinar-sinar seolah-olah malaikat yang turun dari langit.


"Makcik, maaf saya mengganggu, saya hanya ingin menyatakan yang ALLAH amat sayangkan makcik dan sentiasa memelihara makcik. Saya datang ini hanya hendak menyerahkan risalah akhir ini dan makcik adalah orang yang paling bertuah". Dia senyum dan tunduk hormat sebelum melangkah pergi.

"Terima kasih nak dan Tuhan akan melindungi kamu" dalam nada yang lembut

Minggu berikutnya sebelum waktu solat Jumaat bermula, seperti biasa Imam memberikan ceramahnya. Sebelum selesai dia bertanya "Ada sesiapa nak menyatakan sesuatu"

Tiba-tiba sekujur tubuh bangun dengan perlahan dan berdiri. Dia adalah perempuan separuh umur itu. "Saya rasa tiada sesiapa dalam perhimpunan ini yang kenal saya. Saya tak pernah hadir ke majlis ini walaupun sekali. Untuk pengetahuan anda, sebelum Jumaat minggu lepas saya bukan seorang Muslim.


Suami saya meninggal beberapa tahun lepas dan meninggalkan saya keseorangan dalam dunia ini" Air mata mulai bergenang di kelopak matanya.

"Pada Jumaat minggu lepas saya mengambil keputusan untuk membunuh diri. Jadi saya ambil kerusi dan tali. Saya letakkan kerusi di atas tangga menghadap anak tangga menuruni. Saya ikat hujung tali di galang atas dan hujung satu lagi diketatkan di leher. Apabila tiba saat saya untuk terjun, tiba-tiba loceng rumah saya berbunyi. Saya tunggu sebentar, pada anggapan saya, siapa pun yang menekan itu akan pergi jika tidak dijawab. Kemudian ia berbunyi lagi. Kemudian saya mendengar ketukan dan loceng ditekan sekali lagi".

"Saya bertanya sekali lagi. Belum pernah pun ada orang yang tekan loceng ini setelah sekian lama. Lantas saya melonggarkan tali di leher dan terus pergi ke pintu"

"Seumur hidup saya belum pernah saya melihat anak yang comel itu. Senyumannya benar-benar ikhlas dan suaranya seperti malaikat". "Makcik, maaf saya mengganggu, saya hanya ingin menyatakan yang ALLAH amat sayangkan makcik dan sentiasa memelihara makcik" itulah kata-kata yang paling indah yang saya dengar".

"Saya melihatnya pergi kembali menyusuri hujan. Saya kemudian menutup pintu dan terus baca risalah itu setiap muka surat. Akhirnya kerusi dan tali yang hampir-hampir menyentap nyawa saya diletakkan semula ditempat asal mereka. Aku tak perlukan itu lagi".

"Lihatlah, sekarang saya sudah menjadi seorang yang bahagia, yang menjadi hamba kepada Tuhan yang satu ALLAH. Di belakang risalah terdapat alamat ini dan itulah sebabnya saya di sini hari ini. Jika tidak disebabkan malaikat kecil yang datang pada hari itu tentunya roh saya ini akan berada selama-lamanya di dalam neraka"

Tiada satu pun anak mata di masjid itu yang masih kering. Ramai pula yang berteriak dan bertakbir ALLAHUAKBAR!

Imam lantas turun dengan pantas dari mimbar lantas terus memeluk anaknya yang berada di kaki mimbar dan menangis sesungguh-sungguh hatinya.

Jumaat ini dikira Jumaat yang paling indah dalam hidupnya. Tiada anugerah yang amat besar dari apa yang dia ada pada hari ini. Iaitu anugerah yang sekarang berada di dalam pelukannya. Seorang anak yang seumpama malaikat.

Biarkanlah air mata itu menitis. Air mata itu anugerah ALLAH kepada makhlukNya yang penyayang.

May 242010
 

 

Baru jer dua-tiga hari lepas Si Stevie G ni umumkan yang perhatiannya kini hanyalah kepada pasukan England untuk World Cup di Afrika Selatan dan semua rumourss pasal karieernya perlulah dihentikan kerana dia telah belajar dari pengalaman world cup dan euro cup yang lepas.

Tup-tup semalam si mamat yang suka cium kamera (selepas dia celebrate goal) ni memaklumkan kepada media yang semasa berehat satu-dua minggu selepas world cup nanti akan digunakan untuk melihat option-option yang ada untuk beliau berpindah ke mana-mana kelab yang berminat untuk mendapatkan khidmatnya.

Yer lah, kepada semua peminat liga BPL out there, anda semua tentu paham dengan situasi stevie G ini.. dah lah pasukannya di tangga ke Tujuh liga dan juruletihnya pula Syok Sendiri.. setiap tahun asyik guna alasan yang sama untuk menidakkan kehendak peminat The Kop ini. Dah la setiap kali di interview asyik tak nak mengaku yang team lain lebih kuat dari liverpool .. last-last tahun ni City dan Spurs dah potong diorang.

So …. persoalan di sini ialah pasukan manakah yang paling sesuai dengan Steven Gerrard ni … setelah meneliti kehidupan sosial familynya, luar daripada England bukan satu destinasi yang sesuai dengan mamat ni.  jadi, apa lagi option yang ada… terutamanya di dalam negara…

Pada renjuna lah , Kelab yang paling sesuai dengan mamat ni ialah tidak bukan dengan Manchester United itu sendiri. Ini adalah kerana Paul Scholes dah tua untuk menjadi attacking midfielder dan ini adalah tempoh yang sesuai buat Pak Alex menukarkan opsyen yang ada.

Ke Chelsea .. tak payah lah sebab nanti Lampard main cam gampang kalau si Gerrard ni ada kat Chelsea.