Reuters Soccer Blog
World Soccer views and news
Unlike Del Piero et al, at least Beckham may get a farewell game
Fabio Capello’s impromptu announcement that David Beckham was too old to play for England has divided opinion across the blogosphere.
Some have said it was typical of Capello’s hard-nosed, no-nonsense style. Why should he have informed the 35-year-old? Why should he have made the announcement in a more official way? As coach he has the right to do as he wants and Beckham should have had the know-how to quit the international scene long ago.
Then again there are other bloggers who think Capello has been unnecessarily mean and that England’s most capped outfield player deserved better, especially as he is injured and went to the World Cup anyway to help out.
At least Capello has shown one slight chink of sentimentality and said Beckham can have a farewell in a friendly. There is a list of top players who never got that chance.
Predictions league hails the power of Drogba
Didier Drogba’s second goal in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Arsenal was the epitome of the Chelsea striker’s immense power.
It’s hard to know how any defence can stop him, even Inter Milan’s…
Who’s the best one-club player?
One-club players are rare and precious.
The likes of Paolo Maldini, Raul, Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes might be handsomely paid by their clubs, but the fact they have spurned chances to get even richer elsewhere suggests they share at least some of the fans’ devotion to the colours they wear.
Inter Milan’s Patrick Vieira recognised this recently when talking about his former Juventus team mate Alessandro Del Piero.
Friday afternoon question: Who’s the best free kick taker?
The above question came up in Mark’s blog about Del Piero (see below) and it stuck in my mind after my colleague Andre Assier interviewed Juninho this week.
Here’s an extract from Andre’s piece, which you can read in full here:
Del Piero…34 years young
Italy coach Marcello Lippi doesn’t want him, his predecessor Roberto Donadoni wasn’t keen, but Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero just keeps on coming up with the goods.
Few visiting players get standing ovations at the Bernabeu, but Il Capitano deserved it after two sublime strikes in Juve’s shock 2-0 win over Real Madrid on Wednesday which sent the in-form Turin club to the Champions League last 16.
Why is Bruce Springsteen playing for Italy? Euro 2008 lookalikes
Wow, Donald Sutherland seems very upset by that penalty decision!
A lot of people in football look like a lot of other people but more people in Euro 2008 seem to have doubles than in any other tournament.
It’s well known by now of course that Portugal and soon to be Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari is the spitting image of Hollywood actor Gene Hackman.
