Monday, July 16, 2007

The one with football news

Honestly I have no idea what to post. Then after watching Brazil beat Argentina (again) as well as a certain Englishman trying to play football in America I might as well give my 2 cents on the matter.
So David Beckham has finally hit the West Coast. In the city where the purple and gold of the LA Lakers rule (until Kobe Bryant gets traded). A lot has been documented on his move to the States. For me, he would find it hard to attract a mass audience to follow soccer. Americans loves sports where the numbers are big. Like in basketball, scores adding up to two hundred plus points or high scoring points awarded for a touchdown like American football or high scoring games in ice-hockey and baseball (to me the most boring sport on earth, after cricket). Americans don't like games where it ends nil-nil or ends in a tie. They are more fascinated by feats of athleticism such as watching Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson flying/driving/soaring to the rim. Or watching precise rocket launching passing by Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Things that will make you fall out of your seat. Believe me, watching ballers perform super-human-like-gravity-defying moves really make you fall off your seat.
So what can Becks do to attract an audience? Maybe his free kicks will make some highlights and have some kid at least try to bend-it-like-Beckham. Besides that, he will just sell jerseys. It was reported his jersey has sold 250,000 units already. Maybe soon some kid here will where his jersey playing futsal. Anyways, best of luck to Becks.
Currently one continental tournament has ended and one is still in the early stages. The Copa America has just ended with Brazil beating Argentina in the final 3-0. The Asian Cup is which Malaysia is co-hosting doesn't seem to be attracting much interest to me. As for Malaysian football, let me have my say on that in a later post.
Brazil and Argentina, among two nations known for a conveyor belt of talent. All raised in the 'sexy-football' syllabus. The things they can to with the ball is breathtaking.
Argentina has a gem in Lionel Messi, whose skills and ball control are a sight to behold. What he lacks in size, he makes up with speed and control. Go to YouTube and look him up. Some of his goals will make you fall off your seat, especially the one against Getafe while playing for Barcelona. Recently he scored a goal which is a masterstroke of genius against Mexico in the Copa America semi-final. How he pulled that of, I have no idea.
The Brazilian master pulled out of the tournament due to fatigue as he single-handedly lead his team to the Champions League title. Kaka is also another playing who is a joy to watch. A creative-attacking-midfield genius.
Back to the final. Argentina were the early favourites as they played with more flair. Honestly I thought they would run rings around Brazil. Somehow Brazil stunned the favourites by scoring 2 well taken goals (the other was an own-goal, but the build up was good). Julio Baptista, Daniel Alves and an own goal by Roberto Ayala did the damage. I loved the third goal scored by Alves. It was a 2-on3 situation with Vagner Love bring the ball up. Then a defence splitting pass hit Alves perfectly in stride to score. Balance, poise, patience, timing and precision as well as ice-cool finishing on display there.
Now I'm so excited about tomorrow's futsal session. Hopefully I can have a good game.

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