Tag: Maradona

Brazil Legend Carlos Alberto…

2001147_FULL-LND There are some moments in life when you feel exceptionally lucky. You want to freeze time in a bottle. You never want the moment to end. Talking to Brazil, Santos and New York Cosmos legend Carlos Alberto Torres was exactly that moment for me.

The 1970 World Cup Final goal he scored versus Italy is undoubtedly the greatest we’ve ever seen. It was a stunning team effort that showcased why we’ve all loved watching Brazil in the World Cup. The goal also solidified Carlos Alberto’s name in football’s history books and is a moment he admits changed his life forever.

A true gentlemen of the game, Carlos is proud to have returned to his beloved New York Cosmos as an Ambassador. Together with other legends of the game like his best friend Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia, they set the Big Apple on fire, put the sport on the map in the United States and galvanized a nation to fall in love with football.

Talking to him about that historical final, the 1982 Brazil World Cup team, Pele, Maradona, Messi, Neymar and more felt like all the Christmas mornings I’ve ever had rolled-up into one. He unwrapped his thoughts and provided honest opinions like a gift that kept on giving.

I hope you enjoy listening to one of football’s legends as much as I enjoyed talking to him.

http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/extra-time/130425/carlos-alberto-brazils-world-cup-chances-their-premier-league-stars-and-196344

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The story so far…

How are you enjoying the 2010 World Cup from South Africa? Has it lived up to your expectations? Is your country performing as you believed it would? What is the biggest story for you so far? How do you feel about the vuvuzela?

I can personally remember far more exciting group stages at the World Cup. There were definitely some thrilling finishes towards the end, but overall, that edge-of-your-seat type action was lacking tremendously for me. And I also have a problem with the weather and how cold it always looks. Seeing Casillas wearing a scarf during the World Cup is just wrong. I can respect the tournament being held in South Africa, but ultimately, the World Cup always smacks of summer and unfortunately, I’m not feeling the sizzle at all this time around.

The other problem with the tournament is the lack of attendance in the group stages. Most of the stadiums were not full and if it wasn’t for the vuvuzela, would there have been an atmosphere in some of the early games at all? Sure everyone has complained about the vuvuzela, but if you ask me, I think it saved the blushes of FIFA by filling the seats with sound as opposed to their ability to sell the tickets and fill the seats with warm bodies.

I’m also a little bored with Brazil and Argentina being so dominant again. Sure they are playing beautiful football and I would prefer to see Argentina win it all over Brazil. I know that is probably weird coming from a Brit and deep down I’m still hoping this is the year someone unpredictable wins the whole enchilada. But if we’re running with a favourite, I hope it’s Argentina who makes it to the final and I have this silly optimism they will meet England and we will payback Maradona for the Hand of God once and for all!

The truth is anything can happen. Who would have predicted France’s public implosion? And what about Italy’s collapse? It was a total embarrassment as they tried to defend their title. I feel bad for their supporters. We feel your pain. And speaking of pain, some of the refereeing has been hellacious. Some refs have made terrible decisions that would inspire any government in any country across our universe! Fans get ripped enough at it is in life and they certainly don’t want some amateur ref from Mali screwing them over at the World Cup! Come on referees! Sort it out FIFA.

There have been some good goals and perhaps a couple of great goals. We’ve seen very few sexy free-kicks converted and I’m not sure if there is a new star that has emerged just yet for us all to be salivating over. And the already established stars like Ronaldo, Rooney and Messi haven’t really lit it up yet have they? Messi’s had some pretty play overall, but we’ve seen no individual magic just yet and I think that’s what this World Cup is lacking.

Hopefully the last 16 will make me eat all of my above mentioned words. Hopefully the stars will come out and shine bright because the story so far is…Slovakia and Uruguay?

Hand of God Part Deux…

01_cheat_350x475_931628aThierry Henry is one of the world’s greatest football players. He is undoubtedly one of the best to have played in the Premier League. He has dazzled us with his beautiful football for many years. He has played for some of the world’s biggest football clubs. Last night, he showed us an ugly side to his game. He did something that we are all taught not to do from a young age. He cheated. In fact, he did more than that. He ripped out the hearts of a nation and robbed Ireland of a chance to make it to the World Cup Finals.

I wonder if Thierry Henry can look at himself in the mirror today? And if he can, I wonder what he sees? When I see Henry now, I don’t see the legend. I don’t see the magician. I see a cheat. I see a man who was unable to use his God given talent to help his country win. Instead he stooped to Maradona’s level and just like the Argentine superstar robbed England in the 1986 World Cup with his infamous Hand of God, Henry has now done the same. This time, Ireland are the victims. Since 1986, Maradona’s image has been tarnished because of his actions. People never saw him in the same light and I think Henry will suffer the same consequences.

Millions of football fans around the world saw what happened on the pitch last night. If we could all see it, then why couldn’t the officials? Was this the work of fat cat Blatter and Plantini the snob? Did the executives who head-up our football governing body want to ensure France made it to the World Cup Finals? When something like this happens, we can’t help but think there is something else to it. The handball was so blatant. It was so obvious. It was so disgusting. It shouldn’t have been the deciding factor on such an important night.

Sure Ireland had their chances. They could have finished off the game, but they didn’t. And who knows if they would have won the penalty shoot-out. The point is they were never given the opportunity to get to that point because of an incredibly bad decision by the officials. Boyhood dreams were shattered because someone didn’t do their job. These players have worked hard and tirelessly for their country. It’s more than just the incident itself. It goes beyond what happened on the pitch. I believe a fair result would be for FIFA to arrange a replay of the game. It would set a precedent and perhaps going down this road would open a can of football worms, but surely someone has to be accountable for what happened. The World Cup only comes around every 4 years. The process for qualifying takes 2 years. And in a split second, an entire football team and nation were robbed of the dreams they’ve shared for years as kids and adults.

Did anyone believe we would see the Hand of God Part Deux?

The great escape…

Diego_Maradona_682x_906254aArgentina look like they might just be heading for South Africa after all. With only 30 seconds left on the clock, Martin Palermo netted a dramatic winner to help his country beat Peru 2-1. The goal sent the Buenos Aires crowd into hysteria and coach Diego Maradona celebrated by sliding across the pitch on his newly trimmed stomach. After a nightmare qualifying campaign, Maradona and his team dodged yet another major bullet on their path towards the biggest prize in football. The World Cup.

I for one am pleased. I couldn’t imagine a World Cup without Argentina. I know that might sound strange coming from a Brit, but the World Cup is all about showcasing and watching the best players and teams in the world. Argentina bring a flare and sexy style of football to the world stage that we all love to soak up. And with national hero and football legend Diego Maradona leading them, it makes the South American outfit that much more interesting to watch.

Maradona certainly hasn’t made things easy since becoming manager and there are many who think his talents are best suited to playing rather than coaching. But despite his flaws and forgetting about his ghastly Hand of God act in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, you can’t help but root for the potential story that could unfold if Maradona takes this team deep into next summer’s competition. What if he wins the World Cup as manager? What would his legacy be then?

Don’t you think the World Cup would be better with Argentina in it? Will they beat Uruguay on Wednesday? Is Diego Maradona the man to lead them to the finals?