Friday 25 October 2013

Ashes: England win down under in 2010-11

The five Tests, each in 50 words

First Test: 25-29 Nov 2010, Brisbane, the Gabba
Test drawn after play on days 1, 2 and 4 was reduced due to bad light and/ or rain

Records and rain fell. Pete Siddle decimated England from 197/4 to 197/7 with a 26th birthday hat-trick. Australia struggled before Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin hit a Gabba-high 307 run sixth-wicket partnership. Andrew Strauss (110), Alastair Cook (235 not out) and Jonathan Trott (136 not out) topped it.

Second Test: 3-7 Dec 2010, Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
England won by an innings and 71 runs

Australia struggled as Simon Katich was run out before facing a ball, and captain Ricky Ponting went for a first-ball duck. Cook continued his magnificent form and Pietersen hit his Test highscore of 227. England declared on 620/5 and won their 100th Test over Australia with Graham Swann’s tenth five-wicket haul.

Third Test: 16-20 Dec 2010, Perth, WACA Ground
Australia won by 267 runs

England’s only blip. After two Tests of batting excellence, they managed only 187 and 123. Mitchell Johnson was brought in by Australia to stop England, but it was Ryan Harris who cut them down to size with figures of 6/47. Johnson (62) ended up top scoring in the first innings.

Fourth Test: 26-30 Dec 2010, Melbourne, Melbourne Cricket Ground
England won by an innings and 157 runs

England, back on form, retained the Ashes. Australia yielded only 98 in their first innings, their lowest MCG total, and all ten wickets were behind the stumps catches. England responded with 513 – Jonathan Trott hitting 168 not out – despite Peter Siddle taking 6/75. The 415 run deficit was too great.

Fifth Test: 3-7 Jan 2011, Sydney, Sydney Cricket Ground
England won by an innings and 83 runs

Australia’s batting woes were highlighted when Johnson top scored again in the opening innings. England amassed 644 in response, with 189 from Cook, who earned the man-of-the-series award for his 766 runs. James Anderson took 7/127 across Australia’s two innings. It was England’s first Ashes win down under since 1986/87.

Monday 21 October 2013

Arsenal score a unique team goal

Arsenal vs Norwich, Premier League, 19 October 2013

It was like something out of Star Wars. Arsenal sliced through Norwich with a series of Jedi-like outside-of-the-boot flicks. The result was Jack Wilshere scoring one of the most mesmerising goals the Premier League has seen.

It happened so quickly that even the commentators failed to keep pace with it. The Norwich defence had no chance. 'Wilshere to Cazorla to Giroud... Back to Wilshere, Giro..., Wilshereee!' Arsenal were a blur of brilliance.

The move started deep in Arsenal's half, with Wilshere gaily skipping a challenge before spreading the ball to the left. Kieran Gibbs and Santi Cazorla hurried it up and infield where the magic happened.

Cazorla gave it back to Wilshere, who had journeyed from just outside his own box to threatening Norwich's. Wilshere steadied himself before releasing the ball and setting off again.

Giroud wedged it to him and Wilshere, on the run, glanced it back. Giroud then hit an exquisite through ball on the half volley for Wilshere to step in to and side foot past a bamboozled John Ruddy. The duo had eclipsed no less than five Norwich players with beautifully incisive combination play.

This was tiki taka gone mad. An aerial and accelerated version of the one-touch passing that Barcelona have popularised.

Arseblog remarked "I mean, really. I don't think I've ever really seen anything like that.

"It was a once in a lifetimes series of clips, chips and dinks built around devastatingly effective movement."

It truly was. A goal that would neutralise the meaning of hyperbole. That would deserve to win any goal of the week, month, year or beyond competition.

Friday 11 October 2013

La Liga under-23 starlets


Research for FourFourTwo magazine

Marc Bartra, Barcelona centre-back, born 15 January 1992

In a summer in which Barcelona were hurling huge bids in a desperate attempt to sign an established centre-back, Bartra coolly remarked that “perhaps the club doesn’t need to buy another". And when a spot in the side became available due to an injury to Javier Mascherano, the La Masia graduate backed his statement up with some statistically remarkable performances. After his first two league games of the season, Bartra had registered: a goal, 94% passing accuracy, over six tackles and interceptions, and six clearances. He was dominant too: winning 83% of tackles and 70% of aerial duels.

Koke, Atletico Madrid central midfielder, born 8 January 1992

The stocky Jorge Resurreccion (Koke) has played in every Spanish youth team, from the U16s to U23s. After a fine start to the new campaign, Koke has put himself in contention for a starting place with the seniors as they prepare to defend the World Cup. The Atletico todocampista leads the assists chart after eight games with six, and has scored two. He takes free-kicks and corners and is both hard-working and disciplined. Spain are in need of reinvigoration and Koke's do-it-all approach could be the perfect remedy. His name means resurrection, after all.

Léo Baptistão, Atletico Madrid striker, born 26 August 1992

The Brazilian showed enormous potential in an injury-disrupted first season at Rayo Vallecano and was snapped up by Atletico in the summer, whom he scored the winner against in a 2-1 win. Having lived in Spain since 16, he may follow in his teammate Diego Costa’s footsteps and obtain Spanish citizenship, where he will be called up immediately to the U21 side. At club level, however, Baptistao faces a mean task to oust the even meaner Costa as Atleti's leading attacker.

Alberto Moreno, Sevilla left-back, born 5 July 1992

An ever-present in the excellent Euro U21 Championship winning side, Moreno was called up to the seniors for the World Cup 2014 qualifiers against Belarus and Georgia in October, after making only 16 first team appearances with boyhood club Sevilla. On the same day, Sevilla moved quickly to resign Moreno until 2018. The new deal contained a 30m euro buyout clause as the club saw the risk in losing him for cheap, like Valencia with Jordi Alba. Indeed, Moreno is very much a left-back in the mould of Alba: short and fast, eager to join the attack when possible but rarely neglects his defensive duties.

Pablo Sarabia, Getafe midfielder, born 11 May 1992

In a golden age of Spanish attacking midfielders, Sarabia is one of the hottest talents. He is versatile and can play on either flank or in the hole, and possesses excellent long-range shooting and supreme skills. He captained the U19 team to their Euro 2011 Championship win and is a Real Madrid youth product, who have a buyback option on Sarabia after selling him to Getafe in 2011. It is highly likely Real will exercise it should Sarabia turn his raw potential into ability.

Cedric, Real Betis right-winger, born 8 March 1992

Possibly the bargain of the summer – and the player paid the fee himself. Cedric bought out his contract from Liga Adelante side Numancia for a meager 1 euro 20 cent! The 5’6” winger joined Real Betis where he has made an instant impact, shredding Madrid’s back line before setting up Vidal Jorge Molina for a lead at the Bernabeau, and he nearly repeated the trick only moments later. With electric dribbling and composure to pick the right pass, expect big things from the little Congolese.

Antoine Griezmann, Real Sociedad left-winger, born 21 March 1991

One third of a fearsome front-line that fired Real Sociedad to their first top four finish since 2002-13, Griezmann combines rapid acceleration with close dribbling. Check out his overhead kick against Lyon in which Sociedad dismissed the French side 4-0 on aggregate to reach the Champions League group stages for proof of his technical brilliance. Griezmann scored the only goal as Sociedad beat Deportivo on the final day of the season to secure fourth.

Iñigo Martínez, Real Sociedad centre-back, born 17 May 1991

Few players, if any, can claim scoring a better first league goal than Inigo Martinez. In the 61st minute on October 2011, Martinez struck an equaliser from his own half against bitter Basque rivals Athletic Bilbao. Remarkably, the mobile defender repeated the trick a month later, only this time in the 90th minute to secure a 3-2 win at Betis. Had a wonderful 2012-13 season: provided the stability for Real Sociedad’s counter-attacking game that resulted in a fourth-placed finish and formed a formidable partnership with Marc Bartra at the Euro U21 Championship that didn’t concede until the final. Now in the senior squad. 

Richmond Boakye, on-loan Elche striker, born 28 January 1993

The striker is a winner: his goals helped Sassuolo to the 2012-13 Serie B title and promotion to their first season in Serie A in the club’s 91 year history. Boakye has been sent on loan to play for Elche this season and has already scored an equalising goal against Real Madrid. He was promoted to the Ghanian first team after playing just seven games for the U20s. A cool customer in front of goal, he takes his time but always seems to find a corner, and could become prolific.

Thursday 10 October 2013

What's in a badge?


Research for FourFourTwo magazine

Cagliari Calcio

The colours
Drawn from the Stemma (coat of arms) of Cagliari. The red refers to the House of Savoy and in particular Victor Emmanuel II, who ruled Sardinia from 1849-1861 before becoming monarch of Italy for 17 years. The blue is drawn from the sea and the sky, which surround the enormous Castello, the historic centre of Cagliari. Cagliari’s nickname? The rossoblu. Figure that one out.



The heads
Inside the oval is the Flag of Sardinia. It features four blindfolded heads, which symbolise the victory of the Sardinian people over the Moors, who attempted to invade the island. However, when the heads on the flag were turned from left to right and the blindfolds replaced by headbands in 1999, Cagliari decided not to amend their logo. Merciless. 

The cross
The cross is, in fact, a discoloured St George Cross. Spanish legend says that St George appeared at the Battle of Alcoraz with four severed heads of Saracen kings. Calgiari’s badge up to 1970 had a red cross, but the colour was phased out with a later version only having the vertical stripe red, and on today's badge the cross is gold.

The laurel wreath
Wreaths symbolise different things across cultures. In Rome, it is a martial victory and wreaths are used to crown a successful commander’s triumph. The wreath that encircles Cagliari’s badge is a complete one and is unlike ancient wreaths, which have historically been a horseshoe shape. Cagliari FC literally rest on their laurels.