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The Palermo Fairytale Continues

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:23:56 -0500

"You truly can't understand Martín with logic. You have to understand Mártin with your heart."- Argentine radio and television personality Mariano Closs on Martín Palermo after scoring against Greece in the World Cup.

Palermo celebrates with Lio Messi (AP)

Martín Palermo seems to have done things that no one expected him to do as a youngster at Estudiantes. As time went by, he not only scored goals he started to build the legacy of a giant.

Many people aren't familiar with his career and after a while, Palermo starts to grow on you. As was the case on Tuesday when Argentina faced Greece and people outside of Argentina scratched their heads. Everyone that was familiar with his saga was looking to see where he was and then the ball and mentally trying to make the passes en route to "El Titan's" left leg.

At work, Palermo's goal was screamed by Argentines and non-Argentines alike. It was a rallying cry for the rest of the national team. A moment that repeated itself in a more symbolic manner compared and his international career came full circle.

On this day the all-time leading scorer in Boca Juniors history also became the oldest player in Argentine national team history to score. At age 36, Palermo is that feel-good story that would parallel the Rocky saga in the football world. He was that spark that Argentina needed believe it or not- despite their level of play in the World Cup so far.

He is not the most skilled player- never has been. He is not a sleek ball handler with incredible pace. He was always a player that made his fans tremble every time he stood in front of the ball to kick a penalty. But it was moments like the match against Peru in World Cup qualifiers that make him a force. Palermo was making his return to the national team after being absent for well over a decade.

Palermo is Luca Toni's size with Filippo Inzaghi's penchant for the net. He is Peter Crouch's awkwardness and Diego Lugano's power in the box. More importantly, his But deep down inside he is all Martín Palermo. He scores with from point-blank range and with midfield shots on goal as well as headers from 40 yards out. His goals have brought grown men to tears and young boys to dream of being like him someday.

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Was Rece Davis Right?

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:38:17 -0500

After years of having Landon Donovan being shoved down the American soccer fans' throats, someone said something that could go against the status quo. After years of people being told that he was the greatest thing to happen to U.S. soccer since soccer fans, ESPN host Rece Davis came up with a statement that was quite telling.

"It seems like the Great American Soccer Player plays for Italy."

Maybe I am over analyzing something that should be overlooked. Maybe I am looking into a microscope at something that was meant as comic relief. I should be considering other things, but in my mind I saw Giuseppe Rossi as the greatest thing to happen to the U.S. game since long distance goals. Who in their mind would have thought that a boy from Teaneck, NJ would be scoring against the U.S. in South Africa? Wow, life has some unexpected turns. Maybe, but it was an eventuality that both countries would cross paths on the international stage and he would make his case to remove the "super sub" label and begin to be considered for Starting XI consideration. I had to wait a little and truly get my thoughts together and not allow his performance to short-circuit my logic.

When Rossi stepped onto the pitch, the dynamic of the game changed completely. He was not the only reason why Italy all of a sudden took over the game. He demonstrated the qualities of a player that has arrived in the European footballing elite. Rossi has the fearlessness that Donovan lacks. He was willing to make his dream come true. He was willing to go at a very young age to Europe to make his dream come true. Yet Rossi has the lack of publicity Adu drowned in.

Without a doubt Rossi is the best U.S. player around, some would say he is the best player ever. We live in the country of statistics; they make you who you are. In recent years, Rossi has been one of the biggest scorers in Spain the past two seasons and finally found a place as the conductor of the Yellow Submarine.    Many would say Donovan or even could argue that his Villarreal compadre Jozy Altidore is worthy of that title. But Rossi is the créme de la créme of U.S. soccer players. Yet there is one issue that U.S. Soccer will not be able to overcome, even if they win every single World Cup until the end of time.

As I mentioned before, I might be analyzing something that was a moot point the day young Pepe kicked a ball. From the time he was a tiny boy he pretended he was Roberto Baggio, Salvatore Schilacci or Christian Vieri. Now that I think of it, maybe he even pretended he was Giuseppe Rossi with the Azzurri.   For Pepe it was all about the Azzurri, it was his childhood dream. For him as well as millions of other kids that dream of the day they will play for Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Italy, Poland, Germany, or whatever team is in their blood is alive and well.   That is why I cheer for Pepe, because like many of us here in the U.S., he's living the dream.

Am I bashing Donovan? No. The L.A. Galaxy star made his bed and slept in it. He knew what he wanted and went for it. That is fine with me. He's living his dream. He has also scored close to 50 more goals than I will ever score at the international level. Man, it's all about live and let live. But let's not have it both ways. Let not say that we are the greatest when we do not face the best competition week in and week out and shine on a consistent basis.    But when you compare it to Rossi's trajectory through four clubs until finally establishing himself at Villarreal, there is no comparison.

By no stretch of the imagination am I calling Rece Davis or most of the people at ESPN soccer guys... but maybe out of sometimes ignorance is bliss, and out of bliss come clarity.

Ronaldo Playing For Slave Wages

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:04:56 -0500

Cristiano Ronaldo will be upset and maybe use this tidbit as ammunition when the time comes renegotiate. Brazilian sports daily Gazeta Esportiva mentioned that the Portuguese star will be earning less than minimum wage. Ok, chill. I will be getting flack from both sides that support or criticized this move, so please hear me out. Before I start to get comments about how my math is messed up and worse, let me clear the air. Ronaldo will earn 20% of the Brazilian minimum wage for a minute's work. Yes, one minute. Currently minimum wage in Brazil is at about R$ 465 (US$ 234.42). By the way that is per month that the work force of that country earns by law. So any of you that read this article, please do not tell him this little tidbit or he might explode. The biggest signing in football history will defintely. You see by the time you finish reading this post Ronaldo would have earned another R$100 (US$ 50). Poor guy, he is going to have to get a part-time job at Paris Hilton's house cleaning her pool just to scrape by now. Now you see, the time it took you to read this piece, Ronaldo just earned another $US 50. Gosh, this guy must really love the game for the salary that he is earning.

Ariel Ortega: The Anti-Messi

Mon, 04 May 2009 23:09:03 -0500

Prior to Lionel Messi even capturing the spotlight of the entire football world, there was a young man from the province of Jujuy that was making a big splash in the then-vaunted River Plate youth system. He was poster child of River Plate's youth system in the early 90's. He completely skipped that process and made his debut with River's first team on December 14, 1991 against Platense. His performance left the Argentine news media amazed as to what "Orteguita" could do with a ball "tied" to his feet.

Ariel Ortega was going to be the promise that would help Argentina make the transfer from the Diego Maradona era. He had the potential to be the player that took over the baton and become one of the most talented players of the decade. There was no doubt he had the tools to become that and possibly exceed whatever expectations set for a player like him.

"Orteguita" had everything any player could ask for- pace, dribble, change of direction, a shot, he had a future. at his footballistic apex, there was not a player that could match him. Not one player could defend him. He was also called "Burrito", but that was more of a reference to... well let's leave it at two words so you can get the idea. Donkey Show. If you don' t get it, well I really can't help you. He beat you from the outside, beat you going to goal. He was a player that marked a generation in South American football. Had he been successful outside of Europe. Daniel Passarella was credited for bringing this gem of a player to the ranks of River Plate. Some credited him with "saving" his life... or at least extending it.

At the same time he had to fight with various internal demons that hindered his progress. Until recently, he was still known as "Orteguita". That is not a good thing. For a player in his 30's to still be referred to in a diminutive status, that meant that he had not grown into the man or player that everyone expected him to mold into. His explosive personality was part of the deserved "Orteguita" tag he was not able to shake off. His personality was always a complicated one, thus not helping him obtain stability with any club that he was a part of during his career after 1996. That was a very important year in his career. That year he helped win River third consecutive league title as well as we the Copa Libertadores. He was also part of the Argentine side that had to settle for the silver medal in the 1996 Olympics when they fell to a Nigerian side that had players like Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Sunday Oliseh, Celestine Babayaro, and the eccentric Taribo West.

He then arrived at Valencia where his relationship with Claudio Rainieri was tempestuous to say the least. Despite his disappointing stay in Spain he did have one moment of brilliance at the Nou Camp.

He would then move to Sampdoria and eventually Parma, but the damage was already done. As a player, people knew that he had incredible talent, but his temper had gotten the best of him. This was demonstrated in the quarterfinals of the 1998 World Cup against Holland. Him "headbutting" Edwin van der Sar left the Albiceleste with a man down, eventually with Dennis Bergkamp's brilliant strike at the death.

Like every hero in every movie, there is one weakness that he has. In Ariel Ortega's case, it was alcohol. One has to remember that some parts of the Latin America, alcohol and football go hand in hand. On occasion, people play football with alcohol in their hand.

Some say that Ortega was in the middle of that culture and there was no way out until Passarella found him. Reporters and people that were close to this situation. Some say he was illiterate when he arrived to Buenos Aires. But as he grew older and adapted to life in the capital and realized the importance of playing in a big club like River Plate. Unfortunately, his demons overcame him and started to get the best of him. His bouts of truancy were front page news in the Argentine media. Passarella was looking for ways to help his protegé, but there were no quick solutions. He had to go away and try to fix his issues.

This is why Diego Simeone was the only man that saw him for what was. If it were any other professional situation, Ortega would be gone. He had unlimited chances such as the huge money that he earned at Fenerbahce. He was already etching a place in the fans' hearts, but never wanted to adapt. He left and was gone for a year. Américo Gallego took him in at Newell's Old Boys and won a domestic title. He would then go into his well-documented drama at River Plate and eventually would go to Independiente Rivadavia in Argentina's second division.

So whose fault is it that his situation has gotten to this point? The media? The coaches? The fans that enable him when he is out on the street? To be honest, it's everyone's fault. We all are to blame because his problem was never an issue when River was winning titles. Ariel Ortega would have been Lio Messi before Lio made the leap across the pond. Ariel had the potential to be one of those players that would have described a generation, which makes his slippery slope down into the abyss all the more tragic.

What's Next For Madrid?

Mon, 04 May 2009 23:04:07 -0500

Juande Ramos' era as coach of Real Madrid ended the same way it started- losing to Barcelona. It started in an awkward press conference in which they were giving Bernd Schuster his walking papers. Then all of a sudden he popped out from backstage. The match on Saturday showed that they were dominated (again) by their archrival. It became evident of the fact that La Liga was the Blaugrana and then 19 other teams are fighting for the crumbs.

Call it fate or call it karma, there is no doubt that Ramos' record as coach of the Merengues was amazing. If any other coach would have gone 17-1-4 during their tenure replacing a team in flux would have had an extension signed and given the keys to the local harem in a matter of seconds.

The problem with Juande Ramos was two things.   His losses were in the most important matches of the season.   Coming into the knockout stages of the Champions League, the nine-time European winners were cocky. They thought that they could intimidate Liverpool at the Bernabéu. Then reality hit. They were going to talk big en route to Anfield but eventually had the life sucked out of them in their humiliating loss that February evening.

They said that they would shake that off and go "balls out" for the league trophy.   Any time that Barca would stumble as they played on three fronts, the Madrid press exhalted them and made sure that everyone knew that Barca was wearing out.

"Chorreo".
That was argument number one. Barcelona was getting "Madrid-itis" and they were bound to have a historic choke. Madrid was strong mentally and they were poised to make a historic run against their eternal rivals.   "Villarato". Whenever Barca had a call go their way, they would scream to high heaven about how much favoritism they got at the hands of Villar and ...
oh yeah, Fernando Hierro. The latter would like to see nothing more than Barcelona win a title at the expense of the team that threw him out the back door.

Then the moment of truth came once again and they failed miserably. No need to talk about the game, but several things emerged that leave Madrid- the club- with several question marks for the future.   If there is a person that has to leave Valdebebas before Juande Ramos it would have to be Pedja Mijatovic. While Barca got Seydou Keita to make the midfield deeper, Madrid got... (drum roll) Julien Faubert to pick up balls at practice.   Players like Klass-Jan Huntelaar, Rafael van der Vaart have not shown their potential for whatever reasons the media might state.

The teams solution- let's go to the past and we will find success. So Florentino Pérez, a man that literally was able to make the club economically feasible, but may not see titles for a few years. It is a complete shame to see such a proud club reach such an administrative low. There is a need for complete rehaul at Real Madrid.

The club needs to start looking at the young players they have under their noses and build with them. There needs to be a renewed sense of commitment at the club. I am not saying that Madrid did a horrible job, but when Fabio Cannavaro flies off to Italy the day after the Barcelona match, it says a great deal about the team as soon as things go bad. Team unity is easy to have when you are winning games. Players need to be ready committed regardless of the situation that the club is going through. It is shame for the fans that give their all at every game they attend.
Yes, let's now get ready for an off-season where every footballer will be promised on next season's roster.    Several players will be gone, so the team will have to look at the They will promise players at the expense of possibly Van Nistlerooy and Higuaín.   Now there is no Cristiano Ronaldo to go to. Is there Kaká? Possibly, but at what expense?

Swine Flu Causes Problems In CONCACAF

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:37:45 -0500

Swine flu has rocked Mexico and soccer has been affected importantly all throughout CONCACAF. The U-17 regional tournament being held in Tijuana was canceled amid the fears of the promulgation of the pathology as the country finds the eyes of the world placed squarely on them. The amount of deaths in Mexico caused by swine flu is nearing 200 deaths. So when the Mexican government announced it was closing schools nationwide, CONCACAF said Monday it would abandon the tournament "to safeguard the health of players, officials and fans." Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico and the United States had clinched spots in the semifinals of the tournament. The semifinals of the U-17 tournament were scheduled for Wednesday in Tijuana, with the championship and third-place matches on Saturday. All four teams will advance to the U-17 World Cup, scheduled from Oct. 24-Nov. 15 in Nigeria. CONCACAF also postponed the return leg of the Champions League finals until May 12. Cruz Azul and Atlante FC, both Mexican teams, were to play Wednesday in Cancún for the title of CONCACAF's best club team. Currently Atlante are ahead in the aggregate score 2-0 after winning in Mexico City last week. CONCACAF will decide Tuesday whether to proceed with its beach championship, scheduled for Wednesday through Sunday in Puerto Vallarta. Mexico City will continue with its restrictions to help avoid the spread of the swine flu epidemic. Three matches were played behind closed doors last weekend, and all signs point towards there being a repeat of the same. Cruz Azul stated it would do the same for this coming Saturday's match against Indios Juarez. The Mexican national team has also closed its training sessions inside of its compex in the southern part of Mexico City. El Tri are scheduled to host Trinidad and Tobago in a World Cup qualifying match June 10 at the Estadio Azteca and there it is still too soon to see if that match will be rescheduled.

Product Review: 2009/10 England Jersey

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:34:59 -0500

We all know that English national team is always at the center of a media blitz regardless of where they go. Its fans, their passion, and the contributions to the game are invaluable (hey, inventing the game means something). The making of Umbro's newest sensation brings together different aspects of men's wear. The 2009/10 England Jersey is part of Umbro's success for close to five generations as England's only football specific sportswear company has been their ability to have concepts from both past and present and still be able to look chic going to the football pitch or anywhere else. Umbro has been responsible for making jerseys that have been worn by Sir Bobby Charlton, Jack Charlton, Gordon Banks, Geoff Hurst, Gary Lineker, John Barnes as well as present stars like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and David Beckham. This jersey encompasses the spirit, the passion, and the legacy and fashion that encompass the English national team.

What Makes It Unique
The 100% polyester material is ultra-soft and wicks away moisture from your skin making this version of the England national team jersey the the highest performing ever. If you are a fan of intricate patterns and lots of "things going on" from an artistic sense, this is not what the jersey is about. This is why many people in the football jersey design world are split. Once again, this depends what school of though you come from. The jersey shines in its simplicity yet once you wear it you will understand what the hype is all about.

Jersey vs. Polo
What the jersey lacks in "being a jersey" it makes up in its comfort and intricate emphasis on detail. The luxurious feel of this material makes it perfect for evenings out also. The KISS theory is what is most impressive as well as what gives this jersey a retro "softness" along with modern comfort. The makes it look like a polo yet is great to wear while hanging out with your friends at the pub or (why not?) business casual days at work. The national team jersey comes in the short sleeve as well as the long sleeve variety. Wear that jersey and it is light as light gets. Like many footballers out there, they like to have their jerseys fit them well. The average Joe likes that as well and this jersey offers it. No wonder it is one of the hottest selling jerseys in the world.

So whether you are a supporter of the Three Lions or not, this jersey is a great addition to any jersey collection. It is also a testament to the history of the game courtesy of the nation that brought to us all.

Special thanks to Soccerpro.

If you have any questions regarding the product, please do not hesitate to leave a comment or leave an email at madaboutfutbol[at]me[dot]com.

Let us know what you think about the 2009/10 England jersey.

Boca Headed For A Crisis?

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:32:48 -0500

The Apertura title seemed to have asserted Carlos Ischia as coach, but now there are issues that are once again putting him on the hot seat. A title repeat seems out of the question now, so all of their proverbial eggs are in the Copa Libertadores basket and the pressure seems to mount on all ends for Ischia, even in areas where he least expected them. Three of the club's most promising players are out with serious injuries. Youngster Ezequiel Muñoz was diagnosed with an ACL tear after Sunday's loss to Rosario Central. Muñoz, 18, was recently called up to international duty by Diego Maradona for Argentina's senior side. What makes news even worse is that young goalscorer Ricardo Noir, who emerged in the absence of Martín Palermo last season, was diagnosed with a leg fracture and will be out for two months. This compounds the situation as Juan Román Riquelme (plantar fasciitis) and Julio César Cáceres (muscle fatigue) are questionable for Thursday's Copa Libertadores group finale against Táchira at La Bombonera. It is also very hard to work with Carlos Bianchi in the wings. There are also rumors coming from within the club that Ischia has lost the team as well as his focus. He has given very little room for newly hired manager Carlos Bianchi to help out the side. According to various reports, the Ischia-Bianchi relationship has also deteriorated. This is the worst part of it all as Ischia was Bianchi's assistant during his first stint as Xeneize coach. He seemed to be battling different fights that had nothing to do with the handling of the club, most noticeably the situation with Mauricio Caranta. There are certain moments when people can point at and say that this was the beginning of the end. For Ischia it could have been the two-match losing streak coming out of the gate. Others will argue his impotence against an energized Rosario Central side with former Boca coach Miguel Ángel Russo at the helm. Ischia seems to have lost every single ally on the team and there is no way he can get them back. Right now Ischia will remain with the club until Boca remain in the Libertadores. After that, who knows what will happen. Things are not set in stone and the coach might not end up getting the sack if they do not win the Copa Libertadores. What is guaranteed though is that there has been enough damage done by the Boca coach that his days are numbered at La Boca. So that means that Carlos Bianchi will take over? No. According to his contract, Bianchi will not replace Ischia in the event the latter were to lose his job. The talk of coaches like former Lanús coach Ramón Cabrero and crowd favorite Alfio Basile would be looked at to take over the reings. The alarm is starting to go off as they do not want to endure the River Plate curse. They do not want to be the defending champ and wend up in last place. Boca currently find themselves in 15th place with 12 points, only three points clear of cellar-dwelling Argentinos Juniors.

Basile Being Wooed By City

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:28:44 -0500

Former Argentine national team coach Alfio Basile confirmed on Tuesday that he has received an offer to replace Mark Hughes at Manchester City. Basile, 65, could be returning to Europe after having a short stint at Atlético Madrid back in the early 90´s. French paper Le Figaro reported that the Argentine coach confirmed that City offered him a preliminary deal to take over as soon as possible. Basile resigned from the national team last November after a string of poor results that included a four-match winless streak as well as losing to neighboring Chile in Santiago 1-0. He would be replaced by Argentine legend Diego Maradona and he too has not had a great deal of success. The last match Argentina played was their historic 6-1 loss to Bolivia in La Paz during World Cup qualifying. ¨Coco¨ is also being placed on a short list to return to Boca Juniors due to the problems that current coach Carlos Ischia is facing at domestically with the Argentine giants.

The Day After For River

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:10:59 -0500

River Plate are enduring one of their biggest crises in team history and the light that was at the end of the tunnel seemed to be a train coming full speed. After bringing a huge contingency to Asunción as the Millonarios were poised to qualify for the knockout stage of the Copa Libertadores. The had the perfect opponent in the perfect group to accomplish the mission. But when they stepped onto the pitch at the Defensores del Chaco, they did not know that the mountain they had to climb was steeper than they thought. "I feel embarrassed and impotent," said coach Nestor Gorosito after the match. They now become part of the category of the big disapointments alongside reigning champs LDUQ. "A National Embarrassment: River Were Humiliated By An Eliminated Team". That was the title of this morning's edition of Olé. The team did not come home to the adulation of fans that usually come to greet them at Ministro Pistarini International Airport. No, the environment was quite the opposite. It was the blame game on steroids. The club brass pointed at the players. The players pointed at their teammates. Nestor Gorosito took the blame. For many this was unexpected at a club that seemed to be heading on a downward spiral. Being eliminated in this tournament is arguably worse than coming in last place this past Apertura tournament. Who's to blame? Many. The problem here is not who should be crucified or To add insult to injury, players of River glories past were scheduled to get together and play at the Monumental as the club planned to celebrate individuals like Enzo Francescoli, Beto Alonso, among others were ready to give a great show; but the club decided to cancel the entire event. How much lower can it go?