Cheeky Chip

If England won everything… After watching this EURO 2012 spot...

afootballreport — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:56:00 +0100

If England won everything…

After watching this EURO 2012 spot for ITV, it’s safe to say that if England were hugely successful on the international stage, then they would be absolutely insufferable. Think about it. The English press already thinks that England perpetually has the best team in the world. It’s a nice mentality, when the other alternative is perpetual pessimism. But it’s also entirely too delusional for any rational person to bear for an extended period of time. Nevertheless, the Euro is going to be here before you know it, so it’s about time to quote Inception and dream a little bigger, darling. [posted by EB]

I am José Mourinho, and you hate me because you must

bearderic — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:33:17 +0100

“It is not normal to sell an image of perfection, because at the end of the day nobody is perfect.” - José. May 6, 2012.

You won’t know why I said it. Lots of people think they know me - that they have the measure of me. None of them do, they say it is something in my character, the impulse that drives me - then two weeks later it will be that I’m such a devious planner and that it’s all mind games. You can’t get your stories straight because it really doesn’t have anything to do with me, this perception of yours. It has everything to do with what you want, and what you need.

Is it some sort of surprise that these things come out of me? You all want football to be a narrative, a story with all the component parts. You want characters: some to cheer and others to shout down. It was the television that did this - the same place you could watch The Lone Ranger became the same place your football lives. Therefore, all the plotlines have to be easy for you, so I make them easy: you’re either with me or against me.

inventfootball: Lukas Podolski in the new Arsenal strip!...

dominicvieira — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:42:51 +0100

inventfootball:

Lukas Podolski in the new Arsenal strip! Looking good, eh?

Neymar’s Lambretta. It was an unusual night in the Copa...

bearderic — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:01:00 +0100

Neymar’s Lambretta.

It was an unusual night in the Copa Libertadores. To move into the competition’s quarterfinals, Santos defeated Bolivar 8-0, which was one goal away from its biggest win ever in the Copa Libertadores (9-1 win over Paraguay’s Cerro Porteno in 1962, when Pele was playing). The Libertadores scoring record is Peñarol’s 11-2 win over Valencia (Venezuela) in 1970. La Universidad de Chile also routed Deportivo Quito 6-nil last night after losing 4-1 in the first leg. But with all the goals, Neymar stole the show with two goals and this magnificent lambretta. [posted by EB]

An AFR Giveaway x The EURO 2012 shirt collection from Didi 16...

afootballreport — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:53:35 +0100

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

An AFR Giveaway x The EURO 2012 shirt collection from Didi

16 nations will be represented in Ukraine and Poland at next month’s EURO 2012. Some star players will shine, while others will undoubtedly fall short of their fans’ expectations. Didi made a line of shirts so you can show your support for the Europeans who will represent their respective countries this summer.

You can get Didi’s shirts here, but we’re also doing a contest to give one away this evening… All you have to do is

Give us your score prediction for tonight’s Europa League final in Bucharest between Athletic Bilbao and Atlético Madrid.
Include the minute the match-winning goal will be scored in your prediction, which will serve as the competition’s tie-breaker. (120’ = penalty kicks)

To enter: Either tweet your prediction @AFootballReport, reblog this post with your prediction, or email your prediction to contact [at] afootballreport [dot] com…

Through Ryu’s Lens: The Milan Derby. Not often does a Milan...

afootballreport — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:33:23 +0100

Through Ryu’s Lens: The Milan Derby.

Not often does a Milan derby decide who wins Serie A. It’s even rarer when the derby’s winner is not one of the title contenders. But this was exactly the case on Sunday. Inter Milan outplayed their rivals, but subsequently awarded Juventus their 28th Serie A title. The match ended 4-2, with a Diego Milito hat-trick, a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and an absolute golazo from Maicon. Ryu finally got the chance to take in the derby, and he enjoyed every bit of it. Except maybe the smoke from the flares.

(Interact with Ryu on twitter @Toksuede and check his Flickr)

Chelsea win the FA Cup, are on to something special… A few...

afootballreport — Sat, 05 May 2012 20:05:45 +0100

Chelsea win the FA Cup, are on to something special…

A few months ago, Chelsea winning the FA Cup seemed absurd. And the Champions League? Well, if you were even thinking about that then you were either entirely out of your mind or some kind of evil genius. But somehow, Roberto Di Matteo has inspired Chelsea’s old guard to do the unthinkable. After watching this match, Bayern Munich will know that they have no easy test awaiting them.

What were your thoughts on the match? [drawing by the amazing Richard Swarbrick, GIF via. posted by EB]

The Kop embracing The Beatles in 1964. There’s nothing quite...

afootballreport — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:30:48 +0100

The Kop embracing The Beatles in 1964.

There’s nothing quite like a trip to Wembley, and today’s a very big day for Liverpool fans. While Liverpool has adopted “You’ll never walk alone”, but back in 1964 the crowd sang “She Love You” and channeled their inner Lennon and McCartney.

Read: Liverpool’s Cup Confusion…

A history of perfectionism meeting innovation: uncovering the new adidas Predator Lethal Zones

dominicvieira — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:30:54 +0100

AFR, alongside a selection of top bloggers, participated in the exclusive launch of the boots on the 1st of May in Manchester. Dominic Vieira enjoyed the privilege testing the Predator Lethal Zones displaying Portuguese flair which certainly impressed the beloved Kickette, alongside meeting the brains behind the project and watching Nani, Cleverley and Dzeko #unleash their skills. Perhaps the most interesting part of the event was speaking with Aubrey Dolan, adidas’s tireless designer in charge of the entire Lethal Zones project.

They fit like a glove. I could dribble like Nani, I curled Xavi-esque passes like my midfield idol and fired sweet shots with Van Persie ferocity. After taking my first strike, I knew my feet were blessed with a special pair of boots and it was matter of seconds before I blasted another ball. Unfortunately, Alex Ferguson was not present to find that missing midfield sensation he’s desperately looking to sign.

I was wearing Predators once again; it had been a while and they were no longer crowned with that trademark red tongue. Adidas’s innovation was on show once more, as they designed a shoe containing five distinctive ‘Lethal Zones’ which deliver the ultimate control, touch, accuracy, power and skill.

Their bright blue and infra-red colour captured my eye the moment I unzipped the bag, the new face of Predator will become an iconic pair. The transition in colour, which developed from last year’s AdiPower, demonstrates innovation and responsiveness to the modern football culture. Once more the Predators, which have become a strong reference in football since their inception in 1994, had evolved.

Read More

(via AFR)

inventfootball: San Iker.

afootballreport — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:47:27 +0100

inventfootball:

San Iker.

inventfootball: Introducing the new Adidas Predator Lethal...

dominicvieira — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:43:38 +0100

inventfootball:

Introducing the new Adidas Predator Lethal Zones

After two years of endless research and near perfectionism, the innovative concept will be worn on the fields for the first time this weekend. The likes of Nani, Van Persie and Xavi, amongst others, will be wearing these boots.

What do you think?

Augusto Alonso with a golazo like you’ve never seen...

afootballreport — Thu, 03 May 2012 03:43:55 +0100

Augusto Alonso with a golazo like you’ve never seen before.

Augusto is 15 years old. He’s from Argentina. And he plays Amputee football.

Amputee Football is played internationally by over 20 countries in 5 continents, but it is still not yet a recognised Paralympic Sport. Amputee footballers want to hold an international tournament in London 2012 to show the world what they can do. If you used to play, but football came to an end when you lost a leg (or an arm), then get involved, because this might be only the beginning…

Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child in the background of a video spreading awareness for a good cause. Just perfect. [More info on Amputee Football here, posted by EB]

Roy Hodgson: not who England want, but perhaps what they need

afootballreport — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:26:12 +0100

By Oliver Sparrow, writing from London

So, the FA have finally got their man. The man they have been so patiently waiting for. The man everyone loves. The man doing so well in the Premier League. The man so obviously the right choice for the England job – Roy Hodgson.

“What!?” – I hear you cry. That’s right, Roy Hodgson. The FA have refused to be harangued by old ‘Arry’s chums in the media. They’ve even ignored the unbounded tweeting wisdom of Messrs Ferdinand and Rooney. Instead of the knee-jerk appointment of Harry Redknapp which so many expected, and perhaps desired, they have taken a measured approach, thought carefully, and hired the man who they believe fits the bill.

It’s not the big statement, marquee managerial appointment that was widely expected. Then again, where has that got England in the past? Keegan was brought in in 1999 to inject some passion and vibrancy. Misguided passion translated into poor results and bad tactics. Sven was brought in to replace Keegan. A calm Scandinavian head to steady the ship. Eventually the press along with the FA grew tired of poor old Sven, despite fairly decent results, and appointed his English understudy Steve McClaren. This short-sighted appointment resulted in the Wally with the brolly failing to even qualify for Euro 2008. By then it really was time for a change. Bring on Fabio Capello – the man whose mantelpiece isn’t long enough to hold all of his winners’ medals. Surely if he can’t guide England to success, no-one can… Turned out the players didn’t much care for his regimented approach. Not having a firm grasp of the English language probably didn’t help, either.

Using the same reactionary logic, the next manager should be an Englishman who the press and the players get on with – Harry Redknapp. He seemed nailed-on. The man who all the players seem to adore. The man to bring back some passion and enthusiasm to the dressing room. Not the entirely more reserved Hodgson, whose star had dramatically faded after a torrid tenure at the helm of an ailing Liverpool side. Hodgson is the logical choice, though…

inventfootball: THE EVOLUTION OF PEP GUARDIOLA.

afootballreport — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:22:50 +0100

inventfootball:

THE EVOLUTION OF PEP GUARDIOLA.

Conversations about the future with Pep Guardiola and Fernando...

afootballreport — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:52:45 +0100

Conversations about the future with Pep Guardiola and Fernando Trueba.

Things move pretty fast in Spain. After losing to Real Madrid and getting knocked out of the Champions League in one week, Spanish papers have resigned to thinking that this will be Pep’s last season with Barça for the foreseeable future. I’m posting this conversation between Pep and legendary Spanish filmmaker Fernando Trueba from last September simply because the future seems to be terribly present in the present. Enjoy.

Selected words of wisdom from Pep and Fernando:

1) Trueba: “You reached the future you had imagined when you were 25. How do you imagine your future now?

Pep: “Not a day goes by in which I don’t think ‘I’m leaving tomorrow.’ I think whenever you’re in a position where you’re managing something, you have to think that if you want, the next day you can just walk away. I think I work best when I know I have the freedom to decide my own future.

2) Trueba: And for human beings in general: some age well, others less well. We all have our own rhythm: some people give their very best at 20, others at 80. There is no written rule.

3) Pep: It’s a game, nothing else. Know your opponent, and try to play better than him. The whole point is not to defeat your opponent and think ‘yeah, we beat them.’ I never think that, I focus instead, during the game, on thinking if what I imagined the day before is happening on the pitch or not. If it is, then I’m completely fulfilled as a coach. If it isn’t, it’s because I was wrong about something and I have to understand the reasons why things are not going as I planned.

Trueba: Yes, but there’s no such thing as “things went wrong.” Things just happen the way they happen, you have to accept it… Directors usually say ‘I’m going to direct a movie, let’s see if I can make the movie exactly as I imagine it in my mind.’ That movie is a dream, it doesn’t exist. What matters is not what you dream it will be, it’s the movie you actually MAKE… Try not to be to hung up on utopias. Utopias don’t exist… I’m not saying dreaming is wrong. But it’s also important to try to change reality for the better by bit by bit, realistically.

[posted by EB]

Don’t annoy a Sevilla fan. Simple. Moments after their match...

afootballreport — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:29:21 +0100

Don’t annoy a Sevilla fan. Simple.

Moments after their match against Levante kicked off, the game was suspended for a few minutes as fans threw dozens of tennis balls onto the field. The protest was against El Clásico, which altered the game’s schedule to a late night kickoff. This naturally angered the proud Andalusian fans who also held a banner saying: “Stop the match, that Mou is talking.” [posted by DV]

It’s back… Who’s ready for another Clásico? We didn’t forget....

afootballreport — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 00:09:33 +0100

It’s back… Who’s ready for another Clásico?

We didn’t forget. No, these past four months have felt like an El Clásico continuum that has taken over football? The media frenzy has spun entirely out of control, but nevertheless tomorrow is, once again, worth the hype.

If Barcelona doesn’t win another Clásico, then Real Madrid’s path to their first La Liga title since 2008 becomes ever-so-simple, like finishing a race in Mario Kart with Star Power. José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola both have one eye on the Champions League, but on Saturday night the spotlight shines entirely on the Camp Nou.

Here are some handpicked reading recommendations to help make your level of anticipation resemble geeks who sleep outside Apple stores waiting for the new iPhone:

Graham Hunter on why Saturday’s Clásico offers redemption [ESPN]
Ryan O’Hanlon has an imaginary conversation on why the Clásico is a good time [Vice]
Jonathan Wilson on why Barcelona’s tactics keep everyone guessing [Fox]
The strange ownership structure of Barcelona helps them succeed [Forbes]
Sid Lowe on how easily Real Madrid score despite being called defensive [The Guardian]

Without further ado, what do you think will happen between the world’s greatest rivals?

[Posted by EB, image via]

Through Ryu’s Lens: Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid. The Champions...

bearderic — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:08:01 +0100

Through Ryu’s Lens: Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid.

The Champions League always provides an immense backdrop, with an abundance of characters. These characters are usually met with excessive amounts of talent, yet this match at the Allianz Arena got ugly. In the end, Mario Gomez bagged the winner for Bayern in the game’s dying minutes, and they’ll take their 2-1 advantage to the Bernabeu for the second leg of the semifinal. Ryu enjoyed a 6 hour train ride to Munich to capture the 22+ men being watched by tens of millions.

(Interact with Ryu on twitter @Toksuede and check his Flickr)

(In)Animate. Sangwook Kim’s experimental video project...

bearderic — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:00:48 +0100

(In)Animate.

Sangwook Kim’s experimental video project challenges the structure of animate and inanimate objects. Notice how the ball never sways from the middle of the screen. [Thanks for the submission! Get Involved]

Real Unhate, by Eduardo Salles. Rivals, unite: Real Madrid x...

bearderic — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:48:35 +0100

Real Unhate, by Eduardo Salles.

Rivals, unite: Real Madrid x Barcelona. Manchester United x Liverpool. Boca Juniors x River Plate. América x Chivas. Inter x Milan. That’s the message.

Some will see these 5 hybrids of club crests as borderline blasphemy. After all, El Clásico is just around the corner and hatred is in the air. But why not embrace the discomfort? Sure, rivalries create some of the game’s highest highs and lowest lows. As Mexican artist Eduardo Salles states, “Politicians kiss one another, but true Unhate is shown in fútbol.” Salles is an optimist, of course. He sees the brotherhood that connects us all to the beautiful game and thinks this transcends any rivalry. That’s debatable, but here’s to peace and looking at rivals through a new lens…

[Posted by EB, via Cinismo Ilustrado]