FIFA Ballon d'Or

You may remember on Friday I covered the 2011 FIFA Puskas Award and two days ago I showed how Messi  is better than Ronaldo. Well the results for the FIFA Ballon d'Or (basically a giant gala in Switzerland where they hand out lots of giant golden balls) will come in this evening from the gala in Zurich. All the major players, power brokers and people from the football world will be tarted up to watch the footballing elite try to look good  to cover up all the bribery and corruption they've given the beautiful game the past twelve months. There are many award up for grabs. In this today's edition of Football: The Global Game I size up the competitors and say who should win and who will win.

FIFA Ballon d'Or
The most prestigious award of the night, the official meter stick of who is the best player in the world. 3 nominees, only one winner (no it isn't like the x factor final) The three nominees are Lionel Messi (how did we guess), Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi. Lionel Messi as we decided 2 days ago is the best player in the world (maybe of all time). Cristiano Ronaldo is an incredible player, his technique is unrivalled (except by Messi). And Xavi is the man who lets Barca do what they do best: pass, pass, pass. He is an incredible player and I feel lucky to have lived to see him player but really he is their just to make up the numbers (like the third choice keeper on a world cup squad)
Who should win: Lionel Messi
Who will win: Lionel Messi

FIFA Woman's World Player of the Year 
I don't follow woman's football (another sport the Germans are better then us at)so it's going to be difficult to measure up the three candidates(Marta, Homare Sawa & Abby Wambach). The only thing I know is that one of the player's (Marta whose from Brazil) is the winner of the past 5 (yes 5) Woman's World Player of the year.
Who Should Win: No idea
Who Will Win: Marta

FIFA World XI
An attempt to create the best 11 players from the world in a 4-3-3 formation. It would be two difficult to predict but rest assured will contain Messi, Ronaldo and mostly Barcelona players.

FIFA Puskas Award 2011
Just days after I toiled to tell you about the top 10 goals of the year, the short-list was made even shorter (both in number and in height of players) down to three. You'll have to read the Friday top 10 but if you have then I'll tell you. The final three are Messi vs Arsenal, Neymar vs Flamengo and (surprise, surprise) Rooney vs Man City. Read the post to find out what I think of them, three sublime goals. Not what I would have chosen (Neymar's was the only one in my top three showing how little FIFA actually know about football) but three beautiful goals.
Who Should have won out of top 10: Benjamin De Ceulaer vs Club Brugge
Who Should win out of new top 3: Neymar Jr. vs Flamengo
Who Will Win: Wayne Rooney vs Man City

FIFA Presidential Award
Another farcical award designed to drag the gala out for as long as possible, if you really want to know about it (which I'm guessing you don't) CLICK HERE and see If you can guess who will join Bishop Desmond Tutu  and Sepp Blatter (sounds like a German trying to say Step Ladder) in the deep vaults of footballing history that nobody cares about.

FIFA Fair Play Award
The final award is given to a team or person who has contributed to fair play over the past year. Last year's winners were Haitian Woman's U-17 national team because of the Earthquake. So probable victors include the Japanese woman's national team who won the World Cup after the giant tsunami and the American Samoa national team for winning their first ever game. Unlikely candidates include the entire nation of Italy, every body's favourite Serbian War Criminal Nemanja Vidic and the Barcelona football team for making european football completely unfair.

Tomorrow I will reveal the results and check my predictions along with revealing who the best striker in Europe is at the moment.  

Why it's good Lampard's goal was dissallowed

We English are by nature very ignorant and over-confident. This was no more apparent then at the world cup in South Africa. Before the World Cup we seamed to be assured of victory with 9 wins and a 1-0 dead rubber loss in the Ukraine. We had the best striker in the world in Wayne Rooney (hopefully) and other amazing players  in Lampard and Gerrard etc. who would light the biggest sports event in the world and bring the trophy home. Unfortunately it didn't turn out so well. We drew 1-1 with the USA thanks to Rob Green and his Hand of Clod/Plod. A farcical 0-0 draw with Algeria and a scraped victory against the minnows Slovenia and finished 2nd meaning we'd have to face the Germans. The pundits before the game described how are vastly superior players would destroy Germany's young and inexperienced squad. how ignorant we were. Manuel Neuer's long punt up field somehow evaded the two poorly placed centre-backs of Terry and Upson for Miroslav Klose to poach his 12th World Cup finals goal. The goalie was gifted the assist, the only one to register one in the whole tournament. Before some terrible defending that made American Samoa's defence in their 31-0 loss to Australia look good (actually American Samoa probably could have beaten us, while blindfolded and doing Rubik's cubes and taking their physics exams) gifted them a beautifully worked second from Podolski. It was only David James (the oldest debutant at any world cup) that kept the score at 2-0 before Michael Upson's face got us hopefully back into the game. Before Lampard's twenty yard shot cannoned off the crossbar landed about a yard over the goal line and bounced out. It was so far in that people in outer-space could have seen it. But no the blind Uruguayan linesmen didn't see it and we went on to be drubbed 4-1 and dumped out of World Cup 2010.

I don't know what all the fuss is about...

However I think it's a good thing the goal was disallowed (not that it should have been given see above). Think about it, one of our biggest faults is over confidence. We were outclassed that day by a young and skilful German side who players are miles better than ours. They were saying man for man every English player is better for that position. That's complete c**p, it's like saying man for man Plymouth Argyle has a better player in every position than Manchester City. It's just our ignorance, about are god-given right to win the world cup because we invented modern football, I doubt I'll live to see England win the World Cup, and though I'd love it if we did all it would succeed in doing is giving are footballing ego a boost. then we' be bough crashing down to earth 4 years later by the German's or the Argentines in the round of 16. So anyway it's a good thing the goal wasn't given as we would have come back out so confident after getting back from 2-0 down we'd come hoping to smash them so hard they started s***ing frankfurters., however we'd have been so over confident and they were so dominant in every area of the pitch. Passing, defence counter-attacking etc. we'd probably have ended conceding a lot more than we did. 

Messi or Ronaldo? The Eternal Question

Their are many eternal questions in this world. Where do we come from? Is there a God? Why is Kerry Katona famous? But perhaps the biggest question of all is, Who is better Messi or Ronaldo? But unlike the other questions (people may never know out why Kerry Katona is famous?) this one has a very clear answer. Messi. There is no doubt that these two are the best players in the world right now. Their skill is unrivalled by anyone in the world right now (though Pele would disagree). Both have one everything their is to win except the World Cup. That is one of the big differences between them. If Messi wins the World Cup, he will be regarded as the greatest ever (lots of people do already), if Ronaldo won it he would be considered one of the best ever. They both play for the two best clubs in the world. Their is nothing Ronaldo can't do that Messi can't do a little bit better (except maybe free-kicks). Ronaldo scores 41 goals in one season, Messi scores 53. Ronaldo's won the Champions League once, Messi thrice. Then there is their style of play. Messi is much more selfless, if he and one of his team mates are against the goalie, he will pass across where as Ronaldo will shoot. Messi only runs when he knows he can score where as Ronaldo will run even if he's surrounded by the entire opposing team. Maybe it's the team ethic that means they play like this. It's like comparing Coke and Pepsi. Coke is just that teeny bit better that means lots more people drink it and it's so refreshing to see someone as good as Messi.  

Friday Top 10: FIFA Puskas Award 2011

Since 2009 FIFA have decided to give an award to the most beautiful goal of the year, their efforts so far have been satisfactory but they continue to choose goals based on how famous the player who scored it is. But for Football: The Global Games first Friday top ten I thought I'd choose what FIFA deem to be the ten most aesthetically beautiful goal of the year (click on the link to watch the goals) the winner is voted by us, the public. So the top ten goals of 2011 are:

Benjamin De Cuelaer vs Club Brugge Belgian League
In my opinion the most skilful of the ten, he receives a low cross from the wing and first time flicks it over his marker before stabbing home the volley giving both the defender and keeper no chance. to quote Clive Tyldesley "And what a goal that is, what a goal that is!"

Giovani Dos Santos vs USA CONCACAF Gold Cup Final
A lovely goal, a defence splitting pass to the former Barcelona and now Tottenham star, who weaves past fives players before sending the most delicate of chips about as close to the top corner as you can get. You have to take into account the fact it's scored in such an important match. Mexico have been two down and this goal sealed a 4-2 victory.

She fell over...

Julio Gomez vs Germany U-17 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup

Of the three bicycle kicks this is the worst however you have to take into account he is 16, it is in the dying moments of an already thrilling semi-final (it was 2-2 at this point) and it was against the Germans (who'd already knocked us out of this tournament) which does make it a bit more special. but a bicycle kick is a bicycle kick and you can't score a more special type of goal. Voted goal of the tournament.

Almost looks like he meant it...

Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs Lecce Serie A

The player with the huge ego, but an equally large reputation. This absolute belter took Milan one step closer to clinching the Serie A title and Ibra's 8th league winners medal in a row. He receives a long punt ball designed to start a counter-attack. He takes the ball on his chest, lets it bounce then somehow manages to twist his body to send a lovely dipping volley into the opposite top corner, leaving Lecce's keeper flapping. A lovely goal. 

He was aiming for the other top corner...

Lisandro Lopez vs Olimpia 2011 Argentinian Championships

Of the three bicycle kicks, this is most skilful, scored from a corner. Lopez is sprinting back to acrobatically fire the ball into the top corner from the corner that would otherwise miss all his team mates. The young Argentine scored a truly beautiful goal. As I said the best of the bicycle kicks, but not necessarily the best over all (see page bottom)

Lionel Messi vs Arsenal 2010-2011 UEFA Champions League round of 16

There would have been riots in the streets of Catalonia is the midgety Argentine hadn't been chosen at some point in this top 10. He could probably fill the top ten all by himself. Iniesta collects the ball from a poor Fabregas back heel (if you can't beat them, join them) squirms away from a defender and plays a ball that splits the advancing arsenal back line like a knife through warm cheese. Before the best player in the world (read tomorrows post) delicately clips the ball over the advancing Almunia before volleying home. It was a goal of supreme skill and talent worthy of the greatest club competition there is. Is it goal of the year though? No.

She fell over (again)...

Neymar Jr. vs Flamengo 2011Brazilian Serie A

My personnel favourite, Neymar scores a goal worthy of Lionel Messi. With Pele and Maradona batteling who of their chosen successors is better. Neymar really threw down the gauntlet with this effort in a mouth watering 5-4 loss to Ronaldinho's Flamengo (this put them 3-0 up) He skips past two challenges plays a lovely one two before rolling the ball under his foot and knocking it round the hapless defender and goes round the other side, before stabbing it into the bottom corner. A goal of real quality that truly annouced Neymar on the world stage. 

Messi eat your heart out.

Heather O'Reilly vs Columbia 2011 FIFA Woman's World Cup

A true "pick that out moment", but certainly not goal of the year. Last years female offering was much better. This is just included for diplomatic reasons. Not that I'm taking anything away from the goal the ball bounces of a Columbia defender and O'Reilly send a pile driver into the far top corner with enough power to break the sound barrier. A truly average great goal.

Wayne Rooney vs Manchester City 2010-2011 Premier League

The only dead certain candidate. Rooney's overhead shin that somehow found the top corner. You all know how it happened so I won't bore you. I may hate Manchester United but you can't take anything away from last seasons goal of the season (I bet they spent loads of time choosing). A bicycle kick so good it was almost as good as Lopez's.

If he tried again 1000 times he wouldn't be able to replicate it (damn him!)

Dejan Stankovic vs Schalke 04 2010-2011 UEFA Champions League 1/4 Finals

Once called the greatest scorer of wonder goals ever (I don't know who said it) the final goal of the top ten was one to remember even by Stankovic's standards. Similar to an effort he scored against Genoa but coming just 20 seconds into their quarter-final tie against Schalke (not that it helped them, the lost 5-2) A great headed clearance by goalie Manuel Neuer who can't get back to goal fast enough as Stankovic power in the volley from the half way line. A truly amazing bit of play by Stankovic, like something you might do on the PlayStation. Absolute stunner. 

So you've seen the goals now we've got to rank them. 10 amazing goals, ten slots to fill. The ten goals of the year in order are:

10. Heather O'Reilly vs Columbia (and no mum I didn't put this goal at the bottom just because she's a girl)

9. Julio Gomez vs Germany U-17

8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs Lecce

7. Dejan Stankovic vs Schalke 04

6. Lionel Messi vs Arsenal FC

5. Giovani dos Santos vs USA

4. Wayne Rooney vs Manchester City 

3. Lisandro Lopez vs Olimpia

2. Neymar Jr. vs Flamengo

1. Benjamin De Ceulaer vs Club Brugge

So their you have it, the top ten goals of 2011, if you don't agree with the ranking comment how you'd put it. 2012 promises to be a year of great goals and I for one can't wait. Read next week for top 10 goals of World  Cup 2010!!!

 

     

Goalkeeper Goals

Scoring a goal is a great feeling, scoring a great goal is even better but being a goalkeeper and scoring is even better. Believe me, I've had experience of all three. Yesterday Tim Howard long punt somehow looped over the Bolton keeper and he became the forth goalie to score in the Premier League. Goalkeeper goals are unusual, great goalie goals are about as common as pink dog turd or Fernando Torres scoring fro Chelsea. Most goalie goals are flukes, theirs no getting away from it. Their is no great skill in punting a ball up the field and watching the other goalie make a complete tit of himself as it bounces over his head. However their is a select group of goalkeepers who carry the hopes of all the frustrated centre forwards that became goalkeepers by mastering dead-ball situations. The most notable example is Sao Paulo keeper Rogerio Ceni, scorer of over 100 career goals from free kicks and penalties, he's scored more goals in his career than Paulo Maldini did in 25 seasons at Milan. He's even scored a penalty against Liverpool in the World Cup Cup in 2005. The skill he takes free-kicks is amazing, very few players have that skill. He doesn't just score freekicks, he acts as a beacon of hope to all aspiring goal scoring goalkeepers.

Bend it like...Ceni?

  Their is a saying in football "Goalkeepers are just frustrated Centre Forwards" there has never been a truer statement. And most goalkeepers dream is to score. Well good luck with that...  

A short history of Football in American Samoa

Football truly is a global game, you'll find it everywhere. Most of it goes unnoticed except by those in that country. Only a tiny proportion of it is seen by the wider population. There are many national team who will never grace the world stage. None more so than American Samoa, until recently ranked bottom of the FIFA ranking with San Marino and the like. My school team could probably beat them blindfolded, while doing rubiks cubes and taking are GCSE physics exams.

For the first seventeen years of their history they lost 31 games on the trot, including ironically a 31-0 (one player scored 13)

Whose up for the second leg then... 

 loss to Australia, an international record. And so after 17 years of failure up their with Fernando Torres at Chelsea and Wayne Rooney's new head pubes you may have heard (though you probably haven't) that a couple of weeks ago American Samoa broke their duck by beating fellow giants of the Oceanic game Tonga 2-1, their first win in their history.

World Cup here we come...

So the worst country in the world finally win a game. It was all smiles, maybe they where thinking what they could next, could they qualify for the second round of Oceanic qualifying. The simply answer. No. They lost their next game, in the world famous Samoa Classico (American Samoa vs Samoa), so famous that maybe 3 people in each country watch it. Well, you can never have to much of a good thing...

England's Greatest Shame

Most teams dream of drawing San Marino is qualifying, two easy victories which are good for moral and keep their country loyal. Such a thing happened  in 1992 when England were drawn to play San Marino in qualifying for the 1994 World Cup in America. They have only ever gained 2 point ever in qualifying (draws with Turkey and Latvia) and after one the Latvia coach resigned. In 2007 Northern Ireland beat them 2-1 thanks to a last minute goal and their manager was attacked viscously by the press. They've lost 11-0 to Holland, they've lost 13-0 to Germany, they only have one player whose scored more than once for the team.

As we like to think, we English are actually quite good at football, though we're not as good as we think we are. But we can hold are own against most of the top footballing nation. After thumping them 6-0 at Wembley, we were in high spirits but went on not to qualify. With the eyes of the world on us we headed to Italy (where San Marino play their games) to try and restore some pride. Then 7 seconds in...SAN MARINO 1-0 ENGLAND we conceded the fastest goal in world cup qualification history. Our biggest shame. We just conceded in seven seconds to a team whose idea of a good result in conceding less then 7 in a game, scoring a goal against England is like winning the world cup, scoring in seven seconds is like winning the world cup on Christmas day.

If you want to see click here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQHEpivi8aE

So yeah, our biggest shame. So next time we lose on penalties or get thumped by the Germans after predicting that we will win the world cup, just remember those minnows from San Marino and suddenly everything will be in perspective (even though we went on to win 7-1)