These soccer heroes were instrumental in grabbing a World Cup berth for their teams. Exhibiting exceptional performance and consistency, they ensured that their team was through for the 2010 South Africa gala.

10. Jean Makoun (Cameroon)

9. Landon Donovan (USA)

8. Essam El Hadary (Egypt)

7. Milan Jovanovic (Serbia)

6. Xavi (Spain)

5. Wayne Rooney (England)

4. Alexis Sanchez (Chile)

3. Luis Fabiano (Brazil)

2. Zvjezdan Misimovic (Bosnia-Herzegovina)

1. Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Mexico)

Trouble seems to be following Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. Soon after Nani lashed out at the manager for his tyrannical management, the Football Association (FA) has announced a fine and ban for Ferguson for his stinging attack on referee Alan Wiley’s fitness.

Sir Alex Ferguson has received a two-match touchline ban for his comments about referee Alan Wiley’s fitness.

More trouble for the controversial manager

The Football Association handed the 67-year-old a four-game ban, with two of those suspended until the end of the 2010/11 season. Ferguson has also been fined £20,000 and warned about his future conduct.

Ferguson had made withering comments about Wiley’s fitness after his side’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland on 3 October. “The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. He was not fit, “Ferguson had remarked after the match.

Ferguson in an argument with referee Alan Willey

He had later apologized to the referee for any embarrassment caused and pleaded guilty to the FA’s charge of improper conduct, but requested a personal hearing.

Peter Griffiths QC, chairman of the FA’s four-man regulatory commission, said: “The commission considered his admitted remarks, in the context in which they were made, were not just improper but were grossly improper and wholly inappropriate. He should never have said what he did say.”

Ferguson will now serve the touchline ban in Manchester United’s forthcoming Premier League matches at home to Everton on 21 November and away at Portsmouth on 28 November. The suspended sanction will be automatically activated should he be found guilty of a similar charge before the end of the 2010/11 season on top of any sanction imposed for that offence.

However, Alan Leighton, head of referees’ union Prospect, felt Ferguson’s apology had been “half-hearted” and was also disappointed by the ruling.

“From our point of view it is disappointing. The Football Association had a chance to make a point and they flunked it,” he said. “To question the fitness of referee is to question his ability to do the job and his integrity,” Leighton said.

Ferguson has a history of improper conduct charges for incidents involving referees. In the 2007/08 season he was given a two-match touchline ban and fined £5,000 for his angry outburst at referee Mark Clattenburg during a match at Bolton. Then, during the last campaign he was banned for two games and fined £10,000 after a squabble with referee Mike Dean after a match against Hull.

Ifotbol.com debate:

You’ve read about Nani’s outburst against Ferguson and now the FA has slammed him for his improper conduct. Do you think Ferguson should have been banned to the stands for the remainder of the season? Express your views on ‘THE WALL’ at http://www.ifotbol.com/

Nani has spilled the beans about the tyrannical reign of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

(Source: Sun Sports)

In a revealing interview, to the Portuguese paper I, the Portugal winger has charged Fergie for breaking promises and not giving him enough time on the pitch.

End of his career?

Ferguson’s reign under controversy again

During the interview, Nani also admitted that Fergie’s selection policy has left him baffled and his shredded his confidence to pieces. He insists that he has no plans to leave United, though it remains to be seen what Fergie thinks after this stunning flare-up.

“Ferguson is a very complicated man. He’s tough. If things are all right, then they are all right. But when he thinks something is wrong, everything is screwed. He can go from complimenting you to just plain trashing you in a matter of minutes. Has it happened to me? Hell, yes! He’ll say ‘Nani, how could you miss this or this?” Nani told the paper.

Nani further added: “He shouts at players in front of everyone. No one escapes, everybody is the same. Giggs and Neville suffer most, because they have more experience. It is ‘F**k’ here and ‘F**k’ there.”

Nani has taken his ire out; however, this could spell the beginning of the end for a player who has failed to emerge from the shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo.  Past incidents prove that Ferguson has ruthlessly ditched players who spoke out of turn.

Dutch defender Jaap Stam was flogged to Lazio for £16.5million soon after he published his controversial autobiography in 2001. In 2003, David Beckham was sent packing to Real Madrid after a hugely-publicized spat with the Scot.  Then, in 2005 Roy Keane left the club to join Celtic for the last six months of his playing career, after going public with his criticism of the team – a move that left Fergie fuming.

Jaap Stam	David Beckham	Roy Keane

Ferguson’s other ‘victims’

(Ref: BBC News)

Tributes have been placed at the scene of Robert Enke’s death.

Germany and Hannover 96 goalkeeper Robert Enke has died after being hit by a train in an apparent suicide on Tuesday, police have confirmed. Enke, 32, was fatally injured at a level crossing north west of Hanover.

The German football federation (DFB) said in a statement: “The German team has learned of the death of Robert Enke with great shock.”

A statement released by the German indicates a suicide- “The victim is apparently national team goalkeeper Robert Enke from Hannover 96. The first police indications are that it was a suicide.”

Enke was reportedly struck by a regional train travelling between Norddeich and Hannover at a railway crossing in Neustadt am Rubenberge and died on the spot.

Enke had played eight times for Germany and also for clubs Carl Zeiss Jena, Borussia Monchengladbach, Benfica, Barcelona, Fenerbahce and Tenerife, before returning to the Bundesliga with Hannover in 2004. He made his international debut aged 29 and became Germany’s number one keeper after Jens Lehmann retired from internationals at the end of Euro 2008.

Robert Enke

Born: 24/8/77, Jena, East Germany
Debut: 1995-96
Clubs: Carl Zeiss Jena, Borussia Monchengladbach, Benfica, Barcelona, Fenerbahce, Tenerife, Hannover 96
Germany debut: 27/3/07 versus Denmark Caps: 8

Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal in the quarter final match against England during the 1986 FIFA World Cup is perhaps the most famous or rather infamous football moments.  The goal leashed out a series of controversies that continue to reverberate through the game’s history till date.

What Actually Happened?

Six minutes into the second half, Maradona cut inside from the right flank and played a diagonal low pass to the edge of the area to team-mate Jorge Valdano and continued his run in the hope of a one-two movement. Maradona’s pass, however, was played slightly behind Valdano and reached England’s Steve Hodge, the left midfielder who had dropped back to defend. Hodge, who swapped shirts with Maradona after the game tried to hook the ball clear but miscued it. The ball screwed off his foot and into the penalty area, toward Maradona, who had continued his run. England goalkeeper Peter Shilton came out of his goal to punch the ball clear, with his considerable height at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), making him clear favorite to beat Maradona at 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) to it. However, Maradona reached it first, with the outside of his left fist and the ball went into the goal.

A TV still highlighting the infringement

Watch the ‘Hand of God’ video:

Due to lack of sophisticated monitoring and replay tools the referee Tunisian Ali Bin Nasser missed the infringement and allowed the goal. In a press conference after the match Maradona described the goal as “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” The goal received much flak and became a bone of contention between Argentina and England. It was not until 2008 that Maradona apologized for his deed:

“If I could apologize and go back and change history I would do. But the goal is still a goal, Argentina became world champions and I was the best player in the world,” Maradona told the Sun tabloid in London, thus settling the 20 years old controversy.

Robin van Persie (born 6 August 1983) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a striker  for English Premier League club Arsenal and the Netherlands. In the national team he is occasionally deployed as a left/right winger as well.

These days he is in news just because Emmanuel Adebayor has been suspended for three days for kicking his team mate Van Persie during the match between Manchester City and Arsenal, the Football Association reported.

Check out his antic shot

]]> http://ifotbol.com/blog/2009/09/he-came-he-saw-he-missed/feed/ 2 http://ifotbol.com/blog/2009/09/10-funny-football-moments/ http://ifotbol.com/blog/2009/09/10-funny-football-moments/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:09:15 +0000 admin http://ifotbol.com/blog/?p=35

Football thrills, excites, makes you laugh and cry at the same time. Breathtaking moments galore in the game of soccer. Showcasing the lighter side game, here’s a collection of ten funny football moments.

Click on images below to view the videos.

David Dunn gets tangled!

Matt Le Tissier takes on Massimo Taibi

Laurent Robert takes on Olivier Bernard

Team Mates’ Brawl

Medic Trips on Injured Player

Minami Goalie’s Own Goal

There Goes the Referee

The ‘Angry’ Robbie Savage

Chris Brass’ Own Goal

Stretcher Blunders

These are the best-of-breed players whose names have become synonymous with football. These are the legends whose fame is not bound by time and space.

Here’s our tribute to the greatest football stars who have redefined the game with their unique style and unquestioned sportsmanship.

Pele

Pele’s football pedigree is undeniable. With his deft touch, dribbling skills and incredible goal scoring ability, he brought two of Brazil’s first three world cup victories. With more than a thousand goals to his credit, Pele is the undisputed czar of football.

Name: Edson Arantes do Nascimento
Birthday: 10/23/1940
Birthplace: Tres Coracoes, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Number of goals: 1120

Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff was named the European Footballer of the Year three times (1971, 1973, 1974] which is a record jointly held with Michel Platini, and Marco van Basten. Cruyff remains the most famed proponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, explored by Rinus Michels and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

Name: Hendrik Johannes Cruijff
Birth Date:25 April 1947
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Number of goals: 371

Michael Platini

Michael Platini is a stellar figure in French soccer history. Widely regarded as one of the most elegant midfielders of his generation, Michael is famous for his superb game tactics and exceptional coaching abilities.

Name: Michel François Platini
Birth Date: June 21, 1955
Birth Place: Jœuf, France
Number of goals: 312

Diego Maradona

Gifted with incredible game technique and the ability to move the ball with great accuracy, Diego Maradona won the 1986 World Cup for Argentina almost single-handedly.

Name: Diego Armando Maradona
Birthday: 30 October 1960
Birthplace: Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires
Number of goals: 307

David Beckham

From being the world’s highest-paid footballer in 2004 to twice being the runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year, Beckham is the first British footballer to play 100 Champions League matches. He has been the most popular captain of England football team from 15 November 2000 until the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, during which he played 58 times.

Name: David Beckham
Date of Birth: May 2, 1975
Birthplace: Leytonstone, London
Number of goals:115

Ronaldo

As a brilliant and fluid forward, Ronaldo became one of international soccer’s great stars of the 1990s and Brazil’s biggest soccer hero since Pele.

Name: Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima
Birth Date: 22 September 1976
Birthplace: Bento Ribeiro, Brazil
Number of goals: 336

Zinedine Zidane

An outstanding player of his generation, Zinedine Zidane led France to World Cup glory in 1998 and to the European Championship in 2000. Zidane is famous for his winning goals in the 1998 World Cup Final and the 2002 Champion’s League Final. Zidane was named European Footballer of the Year in 1998, and FIFA World Footballer of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2003.

Name : Zinedine Zidane
Date of Birth: June 23, 1972
Place of Birth: Marseille, France
Number of goals: 122

Ronaldinho

Regarded as one of the most gifted footballers of his generation, Ronaldinho has been awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year award twice (2004, 2005). Winner of the European Footballer of the Year award and the FIFA Pro World Player of the Year award (2005, 2006), Ronaldinho is famous for his speed, strength and the skill to make the impossible look so easy on the field.

Name: Gaucho Ronaldinho
Birth date: March 21, 1980
Birth Place: Ronaldo de Assis Moreira on in Porto Alegre.
Number of goals 164

Kaka

Kaka is widely considered as one of the best footballers of his generation, often drawing comparisons in style and ability to other great footballers as Michel Platini, Sócrates, Zico, and Pelé. His footballing style is unique as he has the technique of a Brazilian and the physical qualities of a European.

Name: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite
Birth Date: April 22, 1982
Birthplace: Brasília, Brazil
Number of goals: 125

Cristiano Ronaldo

Touted as one of the most promising soccer star of this genera ration, Ronaldo won his first UEFA Champions League title in 2008, and was also named player of the tournament. He was also named the FIFPro World Player of the Year and the FIFA World Player of the Year, in addition to becoming Manchester United’s first Ballon d’Or winner in 40 years.

Name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Date of Birth: 5th of February 1985 (Monday)
Place of Birth: Funchal (Madeira island, Portugal)
Number of goals: 124