1982 World Cup ~ Brazil vs Argentina (18 min. Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on February 22, 2012
Any match between Argentina and Brazil in a World Cup is bound to be grand game. But this one was special for multiple reasons.
It was a clash between Brazil’s legendary 1982 team and the reigning World Champions. A direct confrontation between the prophets of attacking football: Cesar Luis Menotti and Tele Santana. And a duel between the young Maradona and the experienced Zico at the peak of his ability.
Argentina had begun their 1982 campaign believing they stood a great chance of prolonging their title. The star from 1978, Mario Kempes, was still there. As were Ardilles, captain Passarella, and the entire defensive line and goalie. And the celebrated coach Menotti. In addition, the Argentines could now employ a new weapon: Diego Armando Maradona, the greatest talent in world football. He had just signed a contract with FC Barcelona, and with the 1982 cup being played in Spain, he was ready to give Spaniards a taste of what they could expect from him.
But Argentina, perhaps lacking the home support that had helped them so much in 1978, disappointed early on. Shockingly, they lost the opening match of the tournament to Belgium. They recovered with wins against Hungary and El Salvador, and passed on to the next groupphase. There, they’d meet Brazil.
A Brazil that had mightly impressed in the groups with stunning goals and beautiful football, with its super offensive wingbacks, its creative midfield with Falcao, Socrates and Zico, but that also had shown, like the golden 1970 side before it, defensive frailties of a kind that Argentina’s experienced back line did not have to suffer.
This match could go both ways.
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1982 World Cup ~ Brazil vs New-Zealand (18 min Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on February 21, 2012
This was the game the world had been waiting for.
Not because people were expecting a tense or dramatic encounter. Quite the contrary. They expected an extremely one-sided show of beautiful football from this great Brazil team.
Surely, the weak New-Zealanders would find themselves utterly overwhelmed by wave after wave of Zico and Socrates authored attacking moves. This, it was hoped, would be the game where Joga Bonito could finally manifest itself in its full glory.
Holland All-Time Team
Posted by 4Dfoot in Best of All Time on February 21, 2012
With three lost World Cup finals on its resumé, Holland’s reputation as the eternal loser of international football can hardly be called undeserved. But what pleasent losers they’ve been. The iconic orange has graced the shoulders of so many of football’s finest players, that some of the countries that háve won the World Cup are made to look afwully bereft of talent.
From the 70′s onwards, the Dutch have had several world class generations. In the 70′s there was the total football team of Cruyff, Neeskens, Van Hanegem, Krol and Rensenbrink. In the late 80′s Koeman, Rijkaard, Van Basten and Gullit emerged to bring Holland its first silverware. The 90′s saw the rise of such players as Van der Sar, Bergkamp, Davids, Seedorf, Overmars, Stam and De Boer brothers. And currently, it’s the likes of Sneijder, Robben and Van Persie who are making sure that Holland continues to be a force on the world stage. But even in the 50′s, long before the Dutch national team amounted to anything, there were a few excellent players carrying a Dutch passport: Faas Wilkes, Cor van der Hart and Abe Lenstsra, to name a couple.
And in that little summation, already 23 different players have been mentioned. There might be some national teams whose best XI is relatively straight forward to pick – such as Denmark – but that’s clearly not going to be the case with Holland.
So how would All-Star Holland look like? One thing’s for sure: the formation will be Holland’s trademark 4-3-3.
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1982 World Cup ~ Brazil vs Scotland (18 min. Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on February 20, 2012
The second game of Brazil’s legendary 1982 World Cup side. Zico, Socrates & co had showed their genius, but also their weaknesses, against the Soviet-Union in the opening game of the group.
Their next opponent Scotland was a side of genuine quality, led by Liverpool stars Alan Hansen and Graeme Souness. They had scored five goals against New Zealand and were confident in their attacking ability.
The result was an open and enjoyable match, featuring several classic goals.
All-Time Denmark Team
Posted by 4Dfoot in Best of All Time on February 20, 2012
Despite its small size, Denmark has been the birthplace of a large quantity of excellent attack-minded players. From Juventus legends Karl Aage Praest and John Hansen, to the members of the Danish Wave at Ajax: Lerby, Arnesen, Olsen and Molby. And from Ballon d’Or podium men Elkjaer and Simonsen, to the inevitable Laudrup brothers. Together, they form a collection of talent that arouses the envy of many a larger nation.
So how would an ideal All-Time Denmark XI look? Possibly like this:
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1982 World Cup Group Match ~ Brazil vs USSR (18 min. Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Full Classic Matches, Highlights on February 19, 2012
Together with Hungary 1954 and Holland 1974, the Brazilian team of 1982 is part of the beautiful loser trinity. All three teams conquered the heart of the world by playing brilliant football – and all three failed to conquer the piece of metal known as the World Cup.
But on June 14 1982, nobody yet knew the fate that would await the most talented Brazilian team since the golden days of Pelé. On that day, Brazil played its first game of the 1982 World Cup. Coached by the prophet of attacking football, Tele Santana, Brazil set out to show the world that spectacular, risky and adventurous football cán lead to victory. The match became a memorable encounter in which Brazil put both its strengths and weaknesses on display, as they mixed beautiful plays with horrid defending. But after the wonderful finale of this match, who could not help but fall in love with this team?
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1998 World Cup Quarter-Final ~ Holland vs Argentina (Full Classic Match)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Full Classic Matches on February 18, 2012
The players entering the Stade Velodrome on that sunny July 4th afternoon had all been children, twenty years earlier, when Argentina and Holland had last met. Some, like Simeone (1970), Batistuta (1969), Van der Sar (1970) and Bergkamp (1969) would have remembered that 1978 World Cup final vividly. Others were likely too young then to care.
But they cared now.
Now, the occassion was a World Cup quarter-final. Both were favourites to lift the World Cup. Both looked about equally strong. Both had enjoyed the blessings of lady Fortune on their way to this encounter, with Argentina knocking out England on penalties, and Holland needing a last-gasp winner against Yugoslavia – and luck might very well decide this encounter too, given how closely matched the two teams were in all respects.
Or, perhaps, the game might be decided by one genius player rising to the occassion.
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1972 European Cup Quarter-final ~ Arsenal vs Ajax (Full Classic Match)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Full Classic Matches on February 17, 2012
Johan Cruyff’s Ajax arrived in London after a 2-1 home win over Arsenal. The Gunners, in other words, had only one objective: beating Ajax. A 1-0 win would be enough.
Could they pull it off? Opinions were divided. On the one hand, this season was Arsenal’s first taste of the European Cup, whereas Ajax were the reigning champions.
On the other hand, Arsenal had won the double in England, and two years before, had comfortably knocked Ajax out of the Fairs Cup: 3-0. This time they needed to score only once.
In terms of key players, Ajax had the proven genius of Cruyff (and Keizer). Arsenal, in contrast, had to rely on the often underperforming Peter Marinello for inspiration. Dubbed “the next George Best” the Scotsman’s talent was clear for all to see. Could he, for once, live up to his reputation?
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2004 Premier League ~ Arsenal vs Liverpool (25 min Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on February 17, 2012
It’s April of 2004, and the football season is reaching its climax. Arsenal are better than they’ve ever been before, or since. A team of eleven skilled and intelligent players, but also experienced, physically strong and driven by a desire to win. With players like Vieira, Pires, Bergkamp and Henry, Arsenal have every right to aim for the highest.
But Wenger’s men have just suffered a distastrous week. Back to back losses against Manchester United in the FA Cup and Chelsea in the Champions League meant that they were only left in contention for one award: the Premier League. There, at least, they were still proudly topping the table with an unbeaten record.
Could Arsenal bounce back and reassert their claims to the Premier League thrown? They’d have to beat a spirited Liverpool side fighting for Champions League qualification.
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1997 Tournoi de France ~ Brazil vs England (45 min. Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Best of All Time, Full Classic Matches on February 16, 2012
Don’t read this obligatory accompanying text. Just skip ahead to the line-ups. Sure, the occassion was nothing special: the final group match of a friendly tournament that England had already won.
But look at the names. Leonardo behind Romario AND Ronaldo. And on the opposite side, possibly the last truly excellent England team, featuring Scholes and Gascoigne supporting Shearer and Sheringham.
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