The England - India series is starting this Thursday. It is also called the Pataudi Trophy. Brazil and Argentina have played to take away the flamboyance from Copa America. Messi is still Messi and not yet Maradona. By the way, India beat Qatar 2-1 in Football. Yes, Football - not Kho-Kho or Kabaddi. Djoko maybe the joker, but he takes his game seriously, especially against Rafa. Justin Bieber is catching up with Lady Gaga in the popularity charts. But I seriously don't mind - I have started listening to Shivkumar Sharma and Zakir Hussain. Three blasts in Mumbai - where else would anyone aim if not the head? Rain washed away most of the evidence and a lot more. Sudden surge in monsoon activity - better not wear shoes to office. Projects increase, working hours decrease - what more to ask? Lots of travel coming up but nothing new coming up. Maybe this post is new, relatively - update found wanting for more than a year. Crazy - yes. Stupid - maybe. Foolish - if you so perceive. I am bored - maybe you too get here if bored.
PS : Some order in the randomness??
Showing posts with label Messi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Messi. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Total Football v2.0
When Johann Cruyff last conjured the philosophy of Total Football, Ajax won three consecutive European titles from 1971 to 1973 and the Dutch team reached the 1974 World Cup finals. Yesterday Cruyff, a former Barcelona man himself would have felt proud. Barca's game though similar, does not exactly match with the philosophy. But what they do is elevate the game to an art form through exemplary passing and in a way breaking football to its simplest form. As Cruyff himself said, "Simple football is the most beautiful. But playing simple football is the hardest thing".
Total Football is all about creating ample space. Cruyff's team did it by moving around with no player occupying a fixed position. What Barca do is not far away. They create that space through passing, passing and passing. Its a lot of first touches and by trying to win the ball they send the opponents in circles. And the orchestrators of this spectacle, pulling the strings in the midfield are two of Spain's best. Xavi and his padawan learner Iniesta are the deadliest combination in world football today, for both club and country.
Talking of space and Total Football, this Barca team has a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD). This needs neither space nor assists. It seems to work on its own and when it explodes its wrath appears terrible. It's diminutive, but still can muscle past five bulky defenders, and runs faster with the ball than players running without the ball. The WMD's exhibition of football is more than an art form, it is divine to say the least. And it plays in the no. 10 jersey.
With such assets it is not surprising that Barca embarrasses even the best of opponents. But the team's main weakness is endurance as it displayed in the first leg against Arsenal recently. A 2-2 scoreline technically qualifies for even honours. But those who saw what transpired know that Arsenal were outplayed beyond anyone's imagination. Real Madrid await them for El Clasico. A second consecutive Champions League title beckons. If anyone can stop them it is gonna be The Special One. Inter have their task cut out.
Total Football is all about creating ample space. Cruyff's team did it by moving around with no player occupying a fixed position. What Barca do is not far away. They create that space through passing, passing and passing. Its a lot of first touches and by trying to win the ball they send the opponents in circles. And the orchestrators of this spectacle, pulling the strings in the midfield are two of Spain's best. Xavi and his padawan learner Iniesta are the deadliest combination in world football today, for both club and country.
Talking of space and Total Football, this Barca team has a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD). This needs neither space nor assists. It seems to work on its own and when it explodes its wrath appears terrible. It's diminutive, but still can muscle past five bulky defenders, and runs faster with the ball than players running without the ball. The WMD's exhibition of football is more than an art form, it is divine to say the least. And it plays in the no. 10 jersey.
With such assets it is not surprising that Barca embarrasses even the best of opponents. But the team's main weakness is endurance as it displayed in the first leg against Arsenal recently. A 2-2 scoreline technically qualifies for even honours. But those who saw what transpired know that Arsenal were outplayed beyond anyone's imagination. Real Madrid await them for El Clasico. A second consecutive Champions League title beckons. If anyone can stop them it is gonna be The Special One. Inter have their task cut out.
Friday, March 19, 2010
O Jogo Bonito
The game was so called by a certain Pele and how fitting!
The phrase means "The beautiful game". What made Pele to make such a remark and for the millions of fans to stand by it? Is it the relative unpredictablity, the sheer adrenaline, the fierce competitiveness, or the mass appeal. Maybe one, maybe all but there are instances which clear the haze surrounding the game being called so.
Lionel Messi is one of the answers. It is for the sublime skill, touch mastery, breathtaking plays, and swift counters of players such as Messi that made Pele call the game beautiful. A thing of beauty is a joy to watch. And when sublime plays light up the pitch, the aura is palpable. Scorching shots and diving headers can do so far as to increase adrenaline. But dribbling and step-overs can give you goosebumps.
The game never ceases to amaze. Of all sport in the world, most people are most exposed to Football. Yet with every passing day, the beautiful game only becomes more beautiful. Of course it has its fair share of foul plays and controversies. But you sit down to watch one more time.
The game may not today boast of many proponents of the beautiful game. We hardly see a defender do a Franz Beckenbauer, dribbling the ball out of defense! But occasional bursts of magical play sure does do justice to the tag of it being called "O Jogo Bonito".
The phrase means "The beautiful game". What made Pele to make such a remark and for the millions of fans to stand by it? Is it the relative unpredictablity, the sheer adrenaline, the fierce competitiveness, or the mass appeal. Maybe one, maybe all but there are instances which clear the haze surrounding the game being called so.
Lionel Messi is one of the answers. It is for the sublime skill, touch mastery, breathtaking plays, and swift counters of players such as Messi that made Pele call the game beautiful. A thing of beauty is a joy to watch. And when sublime plays light up the pitch, the aura is palpable. Scorching shots and diving headers can do so far as to increase adrenaline. But dribbling and step-overs can give you goosebumps.
The game never ceases to amaze. Of all sport in the world, most people are most exposed to Football. Yet with every passing day, the beautiful game only becomes more beautiful. Of course it has its fair share of foul plays and controversies. But you sit down to watch one more time.
The game may not today boast of many proponents of the beautiful game. We hardly see a defender do a Franz Beckenbauer, dribbling the ball out of defense! But occasional bursts of magical play sure does do justice to the tag of it being called "O Jogo Bonito".
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