1968 English First Division ~ Manchester United vs Liverpool (45 min Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on March 10, 2012
Manchester United’s attempt to do well in both Europe and England has taken its toll on the squad’s fitness levels. Much of United’s defense is out injured, and the same is true for prolific striker Denis Law.
As a result, United has lost three of their last four games, and their lead at the top of the First Division has been reduced to a single point over Leeds United.
With United looking more vulnerable than ever, Liverpool travel to Old Trafford knowing they must win to revive their own title chances.
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1994 World Cup Group F ~ Holland vs Belgium (11 min. Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on March 9, 2012
The Derby of the Low Countries was once the most exciting game imaginable for people in Holland and Belgium. The long-standing rivalry between these two nations has produced a plethora of great games. Incredibly, although they had played each other on countless occassions, it was only in 1994 that they first met in a World Cup.
Holland, based on their reputation, went into the match as favourites. And with Rijkaard, Koeman and Bergkamp on the pitch, it was easy to see why. Ruud Gullit had left the squad after a row with coach Dick Advocaat, but there was plenty of ability left in the team.
Belgium, however, were a class side as well, featuring the brilliant playmaker Enzo Scifo, and the best goalkeeper in the world: Michel Preud’homme.
Matt Le Tissier ~ 10 Amazing Goals
Posted by 4Dfoot in Player Compilations on March 7, 2012
Barely known beyond the beaches and borders of Britain, Matt Le Tissier does require an introduction.
But what better way to introduce this man capable of such genius than by a compilation of 10 of his most incredible goals?
2009 Champions League Final ~ Barcelona vs Manchester United (Full Classic Match)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Full Classic Matches on March 7, 2012
It’s May of 2009 and Sir Alex Ferguson is closer than ever to achieving his long-standing goal: winning two successive Champions League trophies.
Having beat Chelsea on penalties in 2008, Manchester United appear to be an ever stronger team this year around.
They have tremendous experience in Van der Sar, Ferdinand, Giggs and Scholes, as well as dynamic talent in Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez.
United comfortably brushed aside Arsenal in the semi’s, and if they can now beat Barcelona, surely they’ll go into history as one of football’s greatest teams.
But there are also voices saying similar things about Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. Their possession-based playing style is winning admirers from all over the planet, and all that’s lacking to confirm their status as a truly brilliant team is that silver trophy. Ol’ Big Ears.
Barcelona are plagued by defensive problems though. Abidal is suspended. Dani Alves and Maxwell are injured. Can Cristiano Ronaldo – the holder of the Ballon d’Or – take advantage?
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1961 European Cup Final ~ Barcelona vs Benfica (20m Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on March 6, 2012
1961 marks the end of an era. For five long years, Real Madrid had absolutely dominated the European Cup. From its inception in 1956 until the semi-final of the 1961 edition, Los Merengues had never been defeated. Their success had been followed closely by several million pairs of jealous and hatefilled eyes in the city of Barcelona, the capital of the Catalans, which at the time was oppressed by General Franco – dictator of Spain and the grand guardian of Real Madrid.
In 1961 the Catalans finally witness what they had long longed for. And it was FC Barcelona that did it. The Real Madrid of the legendary Puskas, Gento and Di Stefano had been defeated. How? By a phenomenal Barcelona side featuring Luis Suarez, the greatest Spanish player of the 20th century, Laszlo Kubala, voted the greatest Barcelona player of the 20th century, his fellow Hungarian greats Sandor Kocsis and Zoltan Czibor, and the Brazilian legend Evaristo de Macedo.
Of course, for Barca to truly match Real Madrid, they would have to win the European Cup. But surely, after beating the great Real, this small Portuguese team called Benfica wouldn’t prove much of a problem?
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1988 Euro Final ~ Holland vs USSR (Full Classic Match)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Full Classic Matches on March 1, 2012
A mere thirteen days before this final, Holland and the USSR had clashed in a group match. Holland had been the favourites, but it were the Soviets who triumphed: 1-0.
Even on that day, there was little to seperate the two sides, though. In a sense they were evenly matched on various levels.
Where the USSR were coached by the masterful Valeriy Lobanovskiy, the Dutch had the equally genius Rinus Michels.
Where the USSR had 1986 European Footballer of the Year Igor Belanov, the Dutch had the 1987 European Footballer of the Year Ruud Gullit.
But in that group match, one player in particular was missing. The player who had subsequently shot Holland past England and Germany.
Marco van Basten.
Could he tip the balance in Holland’s favour?
1966 World Cup Semi-Final ~ England vs Portugal (Full Classic Match)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Full Classic Matches on February 28, 2012
Both the English and Portuguese had claimed their place in the semi-finals after memorable encounters. The Iberians had overcome North-Korea with what remains one of the classic comebacks in World Cup history. The English, on the other hand, had beat the Argentines under less glorious circumstances, with the Argentine captain being sent off for, apparently, no reason.
But only the present mattered now. Portugal had demonstrated impressive form through out the entire tournament, with Eusebio clearly being the World Cup’s eye-catching player thus far. England had not shown the same flair as the Portuguese, but looked defensively sound, and effective enough up front. And, what’s more, as the home team they knew the whole of Wembley would cheer them on.
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2009 Champions League Quarter-Final ~ Barcelona vs Bayern (Full Classic Match)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Full Classic Matches on February 25, 2012
This match confirmed the growing suspicion around Europe that Barcelona, this season, were something truly extraordinary.
Certainly, Barcelona had been synonymous with quality football for years, with Ronaldinho regularly setting Champions League nights alight with his magic moves. And when Pep Guardiola sold off Ronaldinho and Deco, many feared that Barcelona would lose some its charm, its creative touch. Instead, the team started playing better, more disciplined, more aggressive, more collective, more dominant, than ever before.
FC Bayern, on this night, were nothing more than willing victims.
1982 World Cup ~ Brazil vs Italy (18 min. Highlights)
Posted by 4Dfoot in Highlights on February 23, 2012
Frequently cited as the greatest World Cup match ever played, this is one of those rare games that leaves an impression that doesn’t wane with time. For many, the memories of the dramatic developments in this match remain as vibrant as when they first unfolded on the 5th of July 1982.
This match was Futebol Arte’s greatest test yet. Telê Santana’s beautiful, uncompromisingly offensive approach to football had paid off in the four games previous, with the wizardry of Zico and Socrates reducing all opposition to powerless admirers.
But now Brazil faced that country known for its defensive efficiency. For its tactical discipline. And for getting results in spite of unconvincing displays.
Italy, indeed had been unconvincing in the first group phase, failing to win a single match. But it was enough for them to reach the second group phase, where they quickly dispatched Maradona’s Argentina.
Brazil had beaten Argentina with a larger score, so Italy now had to beat Brazil in order to advance to the semi-finals. Brazil, meanwhile, would be content with a draw. Or would they?
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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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