Some youth academies worry about winning, we worry about education.”
“If you go two years without winning, everything has to change. But you change names, not identity. The philosophy can’t be lost.”
“I’m a romantic. I like the fact that talent, technical ability, is valued above physical condition now. I’m glad that’s the priority; if it wasn’t, there wouldn’t be the same spectacle. Football is played to win but our satisfaction is double. Other teams win and they’re happy, but it’s not the same. The identity is lacking. The result is an impostor in football.”
- Xavi
Source: Guardian
Forlan & Muller: The Gods Of Africa
By Dominic Vieira, writing from Portugal
Spain may have grabbed most of the headlines at South Africa this summer as they rightfully won the World Cup, but two stars who constantly shone and played at an exceptionally high level were Diego Forlan and Thomas Muller. The Uruguyuan striker was elected as the best player of the tournament by a panel of journalists. The latter won both the Golden Boot and Best Young Player awards.
Ten players were nominated to win the Golden Ball; Villa, Xavi, Iniesta, Robben, Sneijder, Oezil, Schweinsteiger, Gyan, Messi and Forlan. The competition was fierce, however, Forlan fully deserved it. He was the key driving force for Uruguay, leading the team many times as the captain Lugano was injured. He scored crucial (and beautiful) goals as well as took part in creating goals. This was Diego Forlan’s World Cup, and despite not reaching the final, he was the pioneer of the team’s best WC performance in the past 40 years.
The striker dedicated the award to Uruguayan football, a small nation, but one with a die-hard passion for football. The 31-year-old may not play at another World Cup, but he certainly left his mark in South Africa. I wonder if Sir Alex is regretting selling him at the moment?
Friday Flashback: When Germany took third place with style in 2006
Germany may have become everyone’s favourites to win the World Cup, but unfortunately they had to face the best Spanish team in history in the semifinals. That being said, those Germans just love to win. And they’ll get another chance to do so tomorrow in the 3rd place match against Uruguay. So while they were defeated by Italy 2-0 in extra time in 2006, they certainly didn’t let that stop them from thrashing Portugal’s golden generation 3-1. There is a reason that the World Cup betting odds are in Germany’s favour for tomorrow night, and that is simply because they are going to win. No disrespect to Uruguay, but this German side, like past sides, have a sublime instinct to win when their country is behind them.
“Argentina is everything” to the best fans in the world
By Eric Beard
“I think the World Cup comes before a lot of things. It means more than your family. Your mother, your father. The World Cup is everything and Argentina even more. I’m nervous. I want to cry because Argentina is everything. It’s something you carry inside. Something you feel. It’s all about this. Being amongst friends. This is what you feel for the shirt, ‘La Camiseta’. Argentina is everything.”
Although Argentina was undeniably outperformed by a truly incredible German side, this defeat, perhaps surprisingly, did not cause the country’s pride, class, and dignity to disappear; rather the nation only continued to shine like the sun on its flag.
In this 2010 World Cup we’ve seen nations implode like never before, but how many countries could still show undying love and support for their team after a 4-nil thrashing? Argentina stands alone.
Who really deserves to wear a Golden Boot?
By Eric Beard
Heading into the quarterfinals, we’re finally able to see the stars shine as the stage only continues to grow for the world’s best. David Villa and Gonzalo Higuain are currently leading the race for the ever-elusive golden boot, the reward for the highest scoring player in the entire tournament, with four goals, but Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, Germany’s Thomas Muller, Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan, and Brazil’s Luis Fabiano are all close behind with three goals a piece. (Slovakia’s Robert Vittek has scored four goals and USA’s Landon Donovan has scored three goals, but both nations have been knocked out) So with all these players having one to three games left in their tournament run, let’s take a look at who has the best shot to earn the right to call themselves the World Cup’s best striker.
