by Giorgio Pirelli
He's one of the greatest players in the world and has now taken over as coach of the Argentinean national team. The legendary wearer of the number 10 soccer shirt, Maradona, is back in action for this country. He dreams of winning the FIFA World Cup one more time - this time from the sidelines as he steers his team to victory and makes soccer history... Now, 48 years of age, Maradona is a seasoned man with a look of having been through it all and survived it. Beset by addiction problems, he seems to have fought his demons hard and won over them. He's even cheated death on occasion! As Maradona himself admits, the worst has already happened... His daughter actually pulled him out from the bottom of the sea... His fans and countrymen have every reason to rejoice as he takes the field again to teach the younger lot. After all, who can forget this legend's on pitch skills? Maradona enjoyed the years when he was playing for Argentine the most, but now duty calls, duty to his country, to his team and to himself. A confident Maradona is sure that Argentina will sail through the 2010 World Cup qualifications. He considers coaching his country a dream come true, though explains that he's only had the boys together for about 40 days since he joined. But Maradona being who he is, he plans to make the most of it. He should have all his players together for 20 days before the World Cup and that's when he plans to lay the foundation and work towards becoming world champions. So, if you're an Argentinean fan, get your world cup soccer jerseys ready for the big event in South Africa!
Coach Maradona's strategy for the team is to vigorously press up front, thereby decreasing the space between attack, midfield and defense. And he's quick to point out that when his team loses the ball, it should be on top of the other team right away without losing precious time. Considering Argentina has an enviable possession rate, it needs to make the most of it.
This soccer uniform number 10 is driven by a dream to win the World Cup once again and to meet Nelson Mandela while in South Africa! He fondly remembers the first time he held the World Cup Trophy... He touched it kissed it and wouldn't let go! That according to Maradona is the 'most beautiful thing'. And that's what he's been telling his players - 30 days of sacrifice to win the World Cup are nothing in a man's life... kissing that trophy is like touching the sky...
Which brings us to something else in Maradona's life that makes him feel like he's touching the sky - his grandson. Yes, this legend is a grandfather! And for him, nothing compares to watching his grandchild... Maybe, it's Maradona's turn to live a calm and smooth life after much struggle and adversity. We are with him... Go Diego!
About the Author
Browse through Custom Soccer Uniforms extensive collection of replica soccer kits.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Who Will Win The South Africa World Cup 2010?
by Tim Lefoe
The World Cup 2010 is now only less than a year away with the qualifying campaigns coming to an end soon. Thus, it might be the best time to see who has done well and who might struggle. With the finalised teams to be decided once the playoffs are done, some of the eventual qualifiers could be considered as trophy favourites.
When trying to decide who might have the best chance of becoming champions, one of the first factors to consider would be the World Cup's location. The 2010 edition marks a landmark event as it will be the first time the competition is hosted in Africa. This could be a boost for African teams while those from Europe and the Americas could face travel fatigue.
The same could have been said when the tournament was first held in Asia in 2002. The end result was more of the same as the European and South American teams continued to dominate. But African teams have continued to evolve since then and are now a serious threat to countries from the two main continents in football.
Of those who have already booked their place in the finals, only Spain and Brazil would be considered likely finalists. Spain have continued where they left off after winning Euro 2008 despite a hiccup during the recent Confederations Cup. That minor setback could prove to be a blessing in disguise as the Spanish now know what mistakes to avoid.
Brazil have outlived a difficult early period during Dunga's time in charge and now look increasingly the best team in the world. Their recent win over Argentina signaled their strong intention to run roughshod over the rest of the competition to claim the title. Whenever the Brazilians have managed to marry their natural talent with modern organisation as they are doing now, they have always come out on top.
Apart from these two representatives from each of the dominant continents, there are few who have also caught the eye. England, Holland and Ivory Coast should be the next heavyweights to join Spain and Brazil in the confirmed list of countries. But none of them have shown the consistent and fearsome form that the latter two have brought fans in the past year.
Until the dust settles down with the final group of countries who have guaranteed their place in the finals, the best choice for the likely 2010 World Cup winner would be Brazil. Their current form is hard to ignore and the country continues to produce top football talent. If the manager Dunga can keep his players motivated and at the peak of their powers, there will be few teams who could actually stop them from a date with destiny.
About the Author
Tim Lefoe is a writer with The Soccer Show where news and previews of the latest football matches all over the world are provided. You may also get to watch live football online via the site to keep up with the latest World Cup action.
The World Cup 2010 is now only less than a year away with the qualifying campaigns coming to an end soon. Thus, it might be the best time to see who has done well and who might struggle. With the finalised teams to be decided once the playoffs are done, some of the eventual qualifiers could be considered as trophy favourites.
When trying to decide who might have the best chance of becoming champions, one of the first factors to consider would be the World Cup's location. The 2010 edition marks a landmark event as it will be the first time the competition is hosted in Africa. This could be a boost for African teams while those from Europe and the Americas could face travel fatigue.
The same could have been said when the tournament was first held in Asia in 2002. The end result was more of the same as the European and South American teams continued to dominate. But African teams have continued to evolve since then and are now a serious threat to countries from the two main continents in football.
Of those who have already booked their place in the finals, only Spain and Brazil would be considered likely finalists. Spain have continued where they left off after winning Euro 2008 despite a hiccup during the recent Confederations Cup. That minor setback could prove to be a blessing in disguise as the Spanish now know what mistakes to avoid.
Brazil have outlived a difficult early period during Dunga's time in charge and now look increasingly the best team in the world. Their recent win over Argentina signaled their strong intention to run roughshod over the rest of the competition to claim the title. Whenever the Brazilians have managed to marry their natural talent with modern organisation as they are doing now, they have always come out on top.
Apart from these two representatives from each of the dominant continents, there are few who have also caught the eye. England, Holland and Ivory Coast should be the next heavyweights to join Spain and Brazil in the confirmed list of countries. But none of them have shown the consistent and fearsome form that the latter two have brought fans in the past year.
Until the dust settles down with the final group of countries who have guaranteed their place in the finals, the best choice for the likely 2010 World Cup winner would be Brazil. Their current form is hard to ignore and the country continues to produce top football talent. If the manager Dunga can keep his players motivated and at the peak of their powers, there will be few teams who could actually stop them from a date with destiny.
About the Author
Tim Lefoe is a writer with The Soccer Show where news and previews of the latest football matches all over the world are provided. You may also get to watch live football online via the site to keep up with the latest World Cup action.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Score More Goals! Tips For Trainers
by Zdenka Tottova
Everyone knows that soccer games are won by scoring goals. Therefore it is one of the basics of soccer coaching to improve your team's chances of hitting the back of the net, get them to have more shots and be more accurate in shooting. The first step is to get your player to start taking shots and aim the ball at the areas the goalkeepers find most difficult to reach- this will pay dividends in time as your chances of success will improve. However, when coaching youngsters, it is common to find that players are scared of taking difficult shots, which is attributed to their fear of failure, consequently affecting their attitude. To overcome the fear factor...
* Boost their confidence by praising them when they take a shot- even if they miss
* Prevent other team mates from moaning if they miss- it will benefit team morale in general if they learn to support each other from an early age.
* Tell players it's better to shoot and miss than not to shoot at all.
Another reason why young players are afraid to shoot is lack of confidence in their technique.The only way to improve this is to practice! Fortunately, the techniques for shooting are identical to those in passing soccer drills, so as a player's ability to pass the ball - through use of the sidefoot, instep (laces) and even outside of the foot to swerve the ball - so will their shooting skills. Here are some basic features of good shooting that you should explain to your players and get them used to:
* Observing the goalkeeper's position - have they left a gap the attacker can exploit?
* Selecting the best technique - side-foot for greater accuracy, or instep (laces) and good "follow through" for power?
* Non-kicking foot alongside the ball
* Head down, eyes on the ball when striking
* Body over the ball
* Contact with the middle to top half of the ball
* Composure And here are some ideas for improving the rate of scoring:
* Shoot wide rather than high - there's always the chance of getting a deflection that might wrong-foot the goalkeeper.
* Shoot low - it's harder for a keeper to reach shots along the ground because it's further for them to travel to get to the ground.
* Shoot across the keeper - it's tougher for them to hold these shots, and means they could divert the ball back into the path of another attacker.
Here are some basic tips for conducting shooting sessions:
* Use appropriate portable goals (or corner flags the correct width apart) and introduce defenders.
* Vary the service - players should strike balls coming towards, away and across them, plus volleys (bouncing balls), first time etc.
* Make sure you have plenty of balls and keep changing ball-boys!
About the Author
more information on http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/
Everyone knows that soccer games are won by scoring goals. Therefore it is one of the basics of soccer coaching to improve your team's chances of hitting the back of the net, get them to have more shots and be more accurate in shooting. The first step is to get your player to start taking shots and aim the ball at the areas the goalkeepers find most difficult to reach- this will pay dividends in time as your chances of success will improve. However, when coaching youngsters, it is common to find that players are scared of taking difficult shots, which is attributed to their fear of failure, consequently affecting their attitude. To overcome the fear factor...
* Boost their confidence by praising them when they take a shot- even if they miss
* Prevent other team mates from moaning if they miss- it will benefit team morale in general if they learn to support each other from an early age.
* Tell players it's better to shoot and miss than not to shoot at all.
Another reason why young players are afraid to shoot is lack of confidence in their technique.The only way to improve this is to practice! Fortunately, the techniques for shooting are identical to those in passing soccer drills, so as a player's ability to pass the ball - through use of the sidefoot, instep (laces) and even outside of the foot to swerve the ball - so will their shooting skills. Here are some basic features of good shooting that you should explain to your players and get them used to:
* Observing the goalkeeper's position - have they left a gap the attacker can exploit?
* Selecting the best technique - side-foot for greater accuracy, or instep (laces) and good "follow through" for power?
* Non-kicking foot alongside the ball
* Head down, eyes on the ball when striking
* Body over the ball
* Contact with the middle to top half of the ball
* Composure And here are some ideas for improving the rate of scoring:
* Shoot wide rather than high - there's always the chance of getting a deflection that might wrong-foot the goalkeeper.
* Shoot low - it's harder for a keeper to reach shots along the ground because it's further for them to travel to get to the ground.
* Shoot across the keeper - it's tougher for them to hold these shots, and means they could divert the ball back into the path of another attacker.
Here are some basic tips for conducting shooting sessions:
* Use appropriate portable goals (or corner flags the correct width apart) and introduce defenders.
* Vary the service - players should strike balls coming towards, away and across them, plus volleys (bouncing balls), first time etc.
* Make sure you have plenty of balls and keep changing ball-boys!
About the Author
more information on http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/
Spanish Soccer- Ibrahimovic Stays with Barcelona
by Audrey Nolan
Despite a very juicy offer from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic would move from Inter only to Barcelona. The player said on Monday that Barca was the only team that could take him out of Italy, and the only team capable of making him a better player.
Ibrahimovic made his debut with the Spanish team on Wednesday as a substitute against Manchester City. He set up Lionel Messi for two points against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Now, he is preparing himself for a final against Shakhtar Donetsk in the European Supercup on Friday. The player wants to demonstrate that he is in sync with Spanish football as well as with his new teammates. Ibrahimovic was brought in to replace Samuel Eto'o, who was transferred to Real Madrid in a multimillion-dollar deal. Eto'o had helped Barcelona win eight major trophies, including two Champions League titles.
Ibrahimovic had been with Internazionale since 2006; he was brought to Inter from Juventus with a €24.8 million deal. At Inter, the player said that he had an agreement with the president to reject any teams that made an offer for him - with the exception of Barcelona. With Barcelona, he said, "you at least discuss."
Discuss they did. The deal was made for €66 million.[sv1]
"It's the club that can make me a better football player than I am today," the 27-year-old Ibrahimovic said[sv2] . "I want to be part of this project and history that Barcelona is making now."
The player also said that he now faced a great deal of pressure, but added that pressure was a normal part of being a top player in European football. Part of the pressure involves his interaction with his new teammates, particularly Messi, who is one of the best players on the team. Ibrahimovic and Messi have the potential to create a phenomenal duo even though each has a very different style. In fact, Ibrahimovic has himself noted the potential; the Swedish player admires the Argentine a great deal.
Ibrahimovic has also expressed his confidence in the tactics and style of Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, who has brought the Spanish team to an entirely new level of play. Ibrahimovic hopes to bring even more talent to an already very-talented team.
For his part, Guardiola has expressed his support for the new player, who is recovering from a surgery due to a hand injury.
"He can have all the time he needs [to adapt] as long as he continues to show the same commitment that he is showing day in, and day out," Guardiola said during a news conference.
Ibrahimovic does not regret rejecting Real Madrid's proposal. Although the team has spent a quarter of a billion Euros already, recruiting players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, Madrid is still rebuilding. Ibrahimovic seems to think that Barca has as much talent combined with a head start that gives it an edge in the competition.
About the Author
Audrey Nolan is a top senior copy writer on Spanish League Soccer and sports action for the sportsbetting www.instantactionsports.com/ Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.
Despite a very juicy offer from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic would move from Inter only to Barcelona. The player said on Monday that Barca was the only team that could take him out of Italy, and the only team capable of making him a better player.
Ibrahimovic made his debut with the Spanish team on Wednesday as a substitute against Manchester City. He set up Lionel Messi for two points against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Now, he is preparing himself for a final against Shakhtar Donetsk in the European Supercup on Friday. The player wants to demonstrate that he is in sync with Spanish football as well as with his new teammates. Ibrahimovic was brought in to replace Samuel Eto'o, who was transferred to Real Madrid in a multimillion-dollar deal. Eto'o had helped Barcelona win eight major trophies, including two Champions League titles.
Ibrahimovic had been with Internazionale since 2006; he was brought to Inter from Juventus with a €24.8 million deal. At Inter, the player said that he had an agreement with the president to reject any teams that made an offer for him - with the exception of Barcelona. With Barcelona, he said, "you at least discuss."
Discuss they did. The deal was made for €66 million.[sv1]
"It's the club that can make me a better football player than I am today," the 27-year-old Ibrahimovic said[sv2] . "I want to be part of this project and history that Barcelona is making now."
The player also said that he now faced a great deal of pressure, but added that pressure was a normal part of being a top player in European football. Part of the pressure involves his interaction with his new teammates, particularly Messi, who is one of the best players on the team. Ibrahimovic and Messi have the potential to create a phenomenal duo even though each has a very different style. In fact, Ibrahimovic has himself noted the potential; the Swedish player admires the Argentine a great deal.
Ibrahimovic has also expressed his confidence in the tactics and style of Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, who has brought the Spanish team to an entirely new level of play. Ibrahimovic hopes to bring even more talent to an already very-talented team.
For his part, Guardiola has expressed his support for the new player, who is recovering from a surgery due to a hand injury.
"He can have all the time he needs [to adapt] as long as he continues to show the same commitment that he is showing day in, and day out," Guardiola said during a news conference.
Ibrahimovic does not regret rejecting Real Madrid's proposal. Although the team has spent a quarter of a billion Euros already, recruiting players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, Madrid is still rebuilding. Ibrahimovic seems to think that Barca has as much talent combined with a head start that gives it an edge in the competition.
About the Author
Audrey Nolan is a top senior copy writer on Spanish League Soccer and sports action for the sportsbetting www.instantactionsports.com/ Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.
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