John Terry on his day is one of the best central defenders in the Premier League, and certainly an important player for Chelsea and England.

However, the 31-year-old is in danger of missing out on Euro 2012, after being stripped of his nation’s captaincy due to the ongoing allegations of racism against the Barking-born man. This, for sure, is not the first controversy to blight Terry’s career, as the following rap sheet shows.

• Fined two weeks wages for drunkenly mocking American tourists in Heathrow Airport in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
• Charged with assault and affray after a confrontation with a nightclub bouncer in January 2002, Terry was suspended from England duty and subsequently missed out on the 2002 World Cup. He was later cleared of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, unlawful wounding, possessing a bottle as an offensive weapon and affray.
• In February 2002 Terry was caught on CCTV urinating into a beer glass and dropping it on the floor of an Essex nightclub.
• Fined £60 for parking his Bentley in a disabled bay.
• In 2004, Terry was reported to have gambled up to £40,000 a week on horse and dog racing with Wayne Bridge and Scott Parker.
• Sent off against Tottenham in November 2006 at White Hart Lane, and accused of racially abusing Ledley King. Questioned the integrity of referee Graham Poll, and was later fined £10,000 for inappropriate conduct.
• Before marrying Toni Poole in 2007, admitted to cheating on his partner up to eight times. Jenny Barker, 17, claims that Terry cheated on Poole with her in a public car park.
• Investigated by Chelsea and the FA for reportedly accepting a £10,000 bribe to show a reporter around the London club’s training ground without permission in 2009.
• In 2009 the centre back’s father Ted Terry was filmed allegedly selling cocaine to an undercover reporter, months after his mother, Sue, and mother-in-law had been cautioned for shoplifting.
• In January 2010 Terry was alleged to have had a four-month affair with Wayne Bridge’s girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel. Bridge was deemed as one of Terry’s best friends, and Perroncel was the mother of the left back’s child. Fabio Capello stripped Terry of the England captaincy due to the scandal, handing it to Rio Ferdinand.
• Accused of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand in a 1-0 defeat for Chelsea at Loftus Road in October 2011. Investigated by the FA and police, Terry will stand trial in July 2012. Stripped of his country’s captaincy for the second time.

Terry may well look back at the above list with shame and regret once his playing days are over, as the constant controversies in his life have taken away from his ability on the pitch.

With England producing some exciting young defenders in recent times, Euro 2012 could be Terry’s last swansong at a major international tournament, but his involvement is now not assured due to his July court date.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is without doubt one of the most interesting, but controversial players in the current game. Flashes of brilliance for the Etihad Stadium outfit, Inter and Italy testify to the 21-year-old’s ability, but scandal and strange off-field behaviour have never been too far away in the attacker’s short career to date. Currently suspended by the FA for kicking out at Tottenham’s Scott Parker, here is the flamboyant forward’s rap sheet:

• Born to Ghanian parents Thomas and Rose Barwuah, Balotelli had a life-threatening intestinal illness as a child that he survived. Taken into the care of Francesco and Silvia Balotelli at the age of three, Balotelli accused his biological parents of ‘glory hunting’ when they tried to make contact with him after he became a professional footballer.
• Signed for Inter back in 2006 from Serie C side Lumezzane, Balotelli had a trial at Barcelona at the age of 15 but did not make the grade.
• Made 59 appearances for Inter, scoring 20 goals. Won three Serie A championships, one Coppa Italia, one Supercoppa Italiana and the Champions League in 2009-10.
• Infuriated Inter fans when he wore an AC Milan shirt in a television interview, was reportedly seen shopping in the AC Milan superstore, and his numerous fallings out with Jose Mourinho blighted his time at the San Siro.
• Moved to Manchester City in August 2010 for a fee of £24 million, following Roberto Mancini to England.
• ‘Mad Mario’ has been involved in a raft of motoring incidents; he has been fined £10,000 in parking fines during his time in the United Kingdom, has had his car impounded 27 times and crashed his Maserati sports car within days of having it imported from Italy. Turned the backyard of his English mansion into a quad bike track.
• Balotelli is not shy when it comes to flashing the cash; when pulled over police the striker had £5000 in his wallet. When asked why he was carrying so much money by the police officer he replied: “Because I am rich.” In December 2011 he dressed up as Santa and handed out money on the streets of Manchester; the same month Balotelli also donated £200 to his local church, before paying for a £1000 round in a bar the same day.
• Disciplinary matters have blighted his career – Balotelli has been sent off against West Brom, Dinamo Kiev and Liverpool. Fined £100,000 for throwing a dart at a City youth player.
• Let off fireworks in his house the night before a Manchester derby, before becoming an ambassador for firework safety. Broke a curfew before a game against Chelsea to go to a local curry house, where he was involved in a mock sword-fight using rolling pins.
• Scored in the said Manchester derby and unveiled a t-shirt with ‘Why Always Me?’ on it; City went on to win 6-1 at Old Trafford.
• Has been involved in training ground bust-ups with Vincent Kompany, Jerome Boateng, Carlos Tevez and most recently Micah Richards.
• After City won the FA Cup in 2011, Balotelli said: “This season I have been s***. Can I say that?”, on live television.
• After he won the European Golden Boy trophy in 2010, Balotelli claimed to have never heard of runner up Jack Wilshere and stated that Lionel Messi was the only player in the world better than him.
• Incensed Roberto Mancini by trying an audacious pirouette finish when through on goal in friendly match against LA Galaxy in the United States; was instantly substituted.
• Made his international debut against Ivory Coast in August 2010. Was spotted using his iPad on the Italy bench in a game against the Faroe Islands.
• Was summoned in September 2011 to give evidence in a high-profile Mafia court case in Italy.

And finally, there was this:

Super Mario is becoming an ever-more important member of Manchester City’s squad, and his talent in undeniable. On the international scene, he seems to be in Cesare Prandelli’s preferences currently, and is set to star for Italy at Euro 2012 this summer. However, most football fans are captivated by the Italian’s unorthodox behaviour away from the game, with the above list set to grow in years to come.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Just how ‘good’ is Cristiano Ronaldo? Earlier we shared news on the ‘Cristiano Ronaldo: Tested to the Limit‘ documentary which subjects CR to a series of innovate tests to measure his performances. But that’s still lab testing, off the pitch, not a true measure of a footballer’s abilities.

To measure how good Ronaldo is as a footballer, we turn to Castrol Edge to provide us with some eye-opening and jaw-dropping stats.

More than 2,500 players took part in the top five European leagues last season (Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, Liga and Ligue 1) and Cristiano Ronaldo was the only one who registered more goals than appearances.

Cristiano Ronaldo attempted in total 250 shots last season in the Spanish Liga, including 102 shots on target, 88 off target and 60 blocked by opposition defenders.

All stats provided by Castrol Edge. For more information, visit CastrolFootball.com.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

A sense of nostalgia sets in when thinking of Pelé, arguably the best footballer of all times, and the one that gave “Futebol bonito” to Brazil and to the rest of the world. Pelé’s memorable moments include the bicycle kick, winning three world cups for Brazil out of their total of five, and being one of the best ambassadors football could ever want and need. Nostalgia is only present because we can no longer see Pelé play football, now at 70 years of age.

“When football stars disappear, so do the teams, and that is a very curious phenomenon. It is like in the theatre, in a play, where there is a great star. If the star is not well, the whole cast suffers.” – Pelé

Pelé paved the way for other world greats, inspiring the football played by John Cruyff and his Dutch national team, Ronaldo and the great Brazil team he led to victory in 2002, and an endless list of attacking footballers that combined a touch of power, with a whole lot of finesse, unquestionable talent, and desire to become the best.

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pelé

Pelé for Brazil

Pelé’s career started on the streets of São Paulo in poverty, where at a young age, Pelé could not afford a football but used socks stuffed with newspapers or grapefruits as replacement. Now the biggest name in the history of football, Pelé began with a promise to his father, at only 9 years of age, that he will win a World Cup for Brazil one day. The influence of street football and futsal are very clear in Pelé’s playing style and what made him different from other footballers. He describes his career as a hard working career, that he wasn’t born the best, that he worked his way into becoming the best.

“I don’t believe there is such a thing as a ‘born’ football player. Perhaps you are born with certain skills and talents, but quite frankly it seems impossible to me that one is actually born to be an ace football player.” – Pelé

When hearing Pelé talk about his career, one thing is clear above all – he’s grateful for everything football has given him. Often “O Rei” describes football as the source of everything he has and that as he gets older, the desire to give back to the game becomes stronger and stronger.

Pelé for Pelé Sports

One way that Pelé is hoping to give back to the game is the new football-focused brand launched in the World Cup in South Africa, Pelé Sports. While Pelé is not an investor in the brand, he is personally involved in outreach programs, charities run by the brand, and evaluating and improving products. The brand describes the partnership the best on their website:

The name Pelé is so much more than a brand. It’s about a commitment and a statement: the greatest footballer of all time is the leader of our team. He inspires with his knowledge. His passion. And he fulfills his vision via our partnership: providing the best quality products for players from all walks of life. Pelé Sports helps Pelé giving something back to the game he loves.

Pelé with 1970 Football Boots Pelé Sports

Pelé Sports creates products inspired by Pelé’s life, with three collections: Pelada, Pelé Story, and Performance.

Whether you’re a pro or a passionate amateur. Playing in the street or in the stadium. A playmaker or a defender. For competition or just for fun – we‘re there for every kind of player, all around the world.

Pelada means naked in Portuguese and represents the bare basic footballer and football culture, no matter if the game is played with a leather ball or a roll of rubber bands as substitute.

Pelé and Edson Electric Shirt

Pelé Story is the fashion line inspired by the life of Pelé, aiming to bring something different to football lovers around the world. Every garment is tailored to be fashionable and relevant, while being decorated with symbols that tell the story of Pelé and his life, career, and aspirations.

The performance line consists of football boots targeted at those playing at the highest level. The Pelé Sports football boots are engineered in Switzerland with the highest attention to quality and safety. The Pelé Sports 1970 football boot is engineered from a single piece of the highest quality dual friction kangaroo leather, providing the player with the best touch on the ball, no matter what the weather condition is.

Pelé Sports 1970 Football Boots

The Pelé Sports football boot range also contains the Pelé Sports 1962 Boots, and the Pelé Sports 1958 Boots. We reviewed the 1962s shortly after their release this summer, you can read our Pelé Sports 1962 Boots Review for more information about the technology, flex, feel, and durability of these boots. The 1962 model is constructed from bovine leather, and carries a smaller price than the 1970′s. All of the boots in the range are named after the world cups won by Pelé, in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

Pelé Sports Boots Kangaroo Leather

The uniqueness of Pelé Sports is also in boot technology, boasting to have boots engineered with health in mind, being designed in part by their in-house foot doctor. The technology used is not only to increase touch, power, or to make the boots lighter, but doing all of those in conjunction with protecting the player’s foot and preventing injuries.

Here’s a video of the Pelé Sports foot doctor, Ezio Margiota, talking to Pelé and going through the major features of the Pelé Sports 1970 boots:

When talking to the people at Pelé Sports, one thing is clear – the aim of the brand is to be different from competitors, offering the highest quality products engineered in Switzerland, with a health standard higher than competitors and with the strongest story in football behind its product and brand – the story of Pelé.

Pelé Photo Shoot Pelé Sports

This week you can win some amazing prizes with Pelé Sports and Soccerlens, as we are teaming up with brand to give you the unique chance of winning some exclusive gear. Keep an eye on the Soccerlens blog for more information during this week, and also check out our football gear blog for a deep product review of the new Pelé Sports spring/summer collection.

More about Pelé Sports:

Pelé Sports Website l Pelé Sports Facebook l Pelé Sports Twitter l Pelé Sports Youtube

Order Pelé Sports gear online:

Order Pelé Sports from Kitbag

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

With his contract up in the summer of 2012, Villa’s ‘star man’ and England international Ashley Young is hotly tipped to leave the club after a disappointing season for the club under Gerard Houllier. The question is, is he really Villa’s star man and how sorely would he be missed were he to leave.

The likes of Manchester United and Liverpool are thought to be front-runners for the 25-year-old’s signature, with touted valuations ranging from underwhelming to the absurd. Though a fee of as low as £10m has been suggested, I would hope that if Ashley were to be sold, we would gain a significant profit on the fee spent over four years ago.

Anywhere between £15m-£20m is probably most likely, though Villa fans will be hoping reports touting a £25m valuation are more accurate! A move to Tottenham has also been touted, but the fact that Young is an Arsenal fan could hinder this, though a preference to return to his native London has been suggested.

Young has shot to the limelight on the international scene this season, however many Villa fans will be questioning whether the winger-cum-forward has really improved this term, especially from the form he showed when going on to win the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2007/08.

When he joined Villa, Young was predominantly thought of as a centre forward/striker, though O’Neill was quick to exploit his pace and trickery out on the wing. The 2007/08 season was undeniably one of the finest first full seasons at Villa for a new signing, in the club’s history. The 2007/08 campaign saw him sail to the aforementioned PFA gong having netted 8 league goals and picking up a fantastic 24 assists, (13 from open play, 11 from set pieces) topped only by Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, during his 37 appearances.

With the departure of Milner, and Barry before that, Young has picked up the pressure of being Villa’s ‘prized asset’, which I believe has allowed the likes of Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton to shine. Of the attacking trio, in my opinion, Young has been the least consistent though he continues to top the clubs goal contribution charts.

Key Stats

This term he has notched 8 goals in 34 games in all competitions for Villa, weighing in with a further 12 assists, however only 4 of which have come from set pieces, showing a decline in this area of his game.

In reaching 50 assists, Young became the 5th fastest player to do so in the Premier League (103 matches) behind Nani, Cantona, Arteta and fellow Villan Robert Pires.

In reaching the same landmark, Young became the 9th youngest player to do so at aged 23 years and 299 days.

With an assist rate per game in the Premier League of 0.46 he is 5th in the all time rankings behind only Beckham, Henry, Fabregas and Cantona.

Wherever Ashley Young ends up next season, he’s bound to be a key creative force for his team.

Martin Laurence writes at the Aston Villa Blog. You can follow him on Twitter, and also check out more Ashley Young stats here.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The word ‘superstar’ is thrown around far too often in football these days, but one player who really can be that good is Neymar.

Neymar has been on the radar of all the top clubs for a while now even though he is still just 18. Much of the hype surrounding him started as early as age 13 as he progressed through the ranks in Brazil. Following his performance in the under 17’s World Cup in 2009, the likes of Romário and Pelé reportedly urged Dunga to take him to the World Cup in 2010. Although called up to the preliminary squad, he was not taken to South Africa, this was despite huge pressure from the public and many believe he would have been the joker in the pack to fire Brazil to victory.

He has been quick to dispel the talk that he is the new Pelé. Playing for Santos and sharing a remarkably similar upbringing and early rise, the comparisons are endless; yet he retains a firm stance that he is not the new Pelé, rather the only Neymar. The boy is two-footed and very skilful, can play on the right or the left and through the middle, he is also a composed finisher and is very adept at beating a man. So far so good, yet many sceptics will refer to Kerrison who was the youngest Brazilian top scorer of all time a couple of seasons ago, but has struggled to impose himself in Europe after his move from Palmeiras to Barcelona. He had an unsuccessful loan spell at Benfica and ironically will spend next season on loan at Santos, that said, Neymar is a better player.

During the 2010 campaign in Brazil, he scored a remarkable 43 goals in 63 appearances, as well as collecting the Campeonato Paulista Best Player and Copa do Brasil Top Scorer Awards, making giant strides from the previous season where he scored an impressive 14 goals. He also scored on his debut for Brazil against the USA in 2010 and impressed with his maturity on the pitch.

On the 17^th November 2010, Argentina and Brazil contested a largely uneventful friendly which was settled by a late Lionel Messi strike. That night, Neymar was the best player on the pitch. Although flanked by much more experienced players; he was the one that everything good about what Brazil did went through. It was plainly clear that he worried defenders, his pace and ability on the ball matched with his silky skills were too much for the Argentinean back line and he was unlucky not to score. He has the same quick feet as a certain Cristiano Ronaldo had at that age, but with a better end product.

It is always important not to get too carried away with young players or to expect too much, it’s true he has scored goals in Brazil, which is not the same standard as the European Leagues, but he can only play the teams that are put in front of him. He has already greatly impressed in his two appearances thus far at International level. Young players in Brazil generally create more hype than others due to recent history and their ability to produce great players, the rags to riches story touches the hearts of many that follow the sport but it seems that Neymar has his feet firmly grounded. He is not allowed to wear jewellery during interviews and has a strict curfew set by his father; he also remains an avid church goer and attends elocution classes. He is very much a shy young man and prefers to do his talking on the pitch, a breath of fresh air in an age where controversy seems to follow young footballers around.

It is not a question of if he leaves Santos but when, it has transpired recently that according to his agent, Neymar will not leave before the 2012 Olympics in London as he wants to progress further in Brazilian football, another good sign about the temperament of the boy. It is reported that he snubbed a move to Chelsea as he strongly favours a move to Serie A with Inter Milan or Juventus. Whether the Italian League will suit his style is debatable as he may be asked to play a more disciplined role, but he may see it as a stepping stone into the English or Spanish League where he has plenty of suitors. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Manchester City are all interested. He is still very slight and needs to bulk up to become a top player but with his raw attributes, he could be moulded into a superstar.

There is no doubt that Neymar is currently the most sought after young player in world football. Whichever league and club is able to lure him will have a player who, if managed correctly, will eventually become one of the best players in the world.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Danny Blind………wasn’t he that Dutch bloke with the dodgy perm who brought down Paul Ince for the penalty at Euro 96?

It seems the current AFC Ajax Director of football is remembered more for his resemblance of a Harry Enfield sketch than his playing career.

A complete travesty if you ask me.

The team of the nineties was undoubtedly Ajax Amsterdam. The six year tenure of the then coach Luis Van Gaal, brought the most complete football team I had ever seen.

The Dutch masters boasted names such as Rijkaard, Davids, Litmanen, the De Boar twins, Kluviert, Overmars and played the game in text book fashion. The success of Ajax was most notable during the 1994/1995 season where they claimed the Dutch League Championship and European Cup, going unbeaten throughout in both competitions.

The Captain and lynchpin of this team? It was that bloke with the dodgy perm who brought down Paul Ince for the penalty at Euro 96.

Danny Blind began his professional football career with Sparta Rotterdam and made 165 appearances for the club over a seven year spell.

Following the 1985/1986 season, the then Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven managed to lure the unsettled and out of contract Ajax defender Ronald Koeman to the club. Koeman, an established International at the time. left a gapping hole in the Amsterdam clubs backline with the move.

This void was to be filled by the relatively unknown Sparta Rotterdam defender Danny Blind, much to the anger of the clubs star man and striking legend, Marco Van Basten.

Van Basten was aghast at why the then coach Johan Cruyff had replaced the impressive Koeman with an untried player at the highest level instead of splashing the cash on a big name.

Van Basten didn’t stick around long enough to eat his words as the following season he was signed by Italian giants AC Milan. Blind, signed by Cruyff would become a colossal at Ajax another four managers down the line under the leadership of Van Gaal.

Van Gaal saw in Blind what Cruyff discovered 5 years previous and the new Ajax chief built a side and a legacy around the stylish centre half.

Blind’s passing of a football and calm manner on the field typified the Dutch style. Van Gaal was to install this style in his Ajax team and with the young attacking powers breaking through, Blind became a solid foundation to accommodate the likes of Kluivert. Many trophies followed and many records were broken.

Ajax have since been unable to come anywhere near the success achieved under Van Gaal. Following the European cup success in 1995, Ajax began to decline with the bosman ruling and the eventual manager’s departure.

With a large number of their stars heading to Barcelona, where Van Gaal joined them after his contract in Amsterdam expired, Ajax where left with a shell of the great team that had worn the red and white over the previous six years.

Danny Blind remained at large though, picking up a further league title and two more KNVB cups, never donning the shirt of another team other than his Ajax.

When people look back to remember that great Ajax team of the nineties it is the names of Kluivert, Litmanen and Overmars that immediately spring to mind.

Most people overlook the captain, the man who is still the only Dutchman in history to win all five International club competitions recognised by UEFA and FIFA (European Cup, European Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Cup, Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup), a feat only achieved by four other professionals in the history of the game.

Danny Blind may have been an unknown left back playing for the modest Sparta Rotterdam until the mid eighties but John Cruyff, Ajax’s most famous name, gave him an opportunity and Blind took it, becoming another club legend in the process.

Perm or not this truly was a great footballer.

David Cockcroft is a contributor to soccerlens.com and editor of the blog site Silver Fox. (www.silverfox.blog.co.uk). You can follow David Cockcroft on Twitter.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

When every World Cup comes around, everyone places an outside bet on Holland. Based on their qualifying campaign, it seems a very safe bet. Their football is certainly entertaining and at times, dazzling for the spectator. But when it comes to tournaments, the Dutch will often begin with performances full of flair and vigour, but then collapse in the late stages. So can this crop of flying Dutchmen eradicate the memories of old?

For so many years, Holland have been the nearly men of international football. In the 1970′s, they were the creators of Total Football and had the maestro, Johan Cruyff as the master of that system. The 1980′s saw other great players emerge. Rijkaard, Gullit, Van Basten. All superb footballers who each had a hand in Holland’s only tournament victory, Euro 1988.

The 1990′s saw Dutch club football reach its heights, with the Ajax youth system reaping dividends. Bergkamp, the De Boer brothers, Kluivert, Davids, Overmars. I could go on. But they didn’t win anything internationally either.

The point is Holland produces some of the best footballers of their respective generations. But they’ve never won the big one. The question is why?

This decade has seen the Dutch decline set in, after failing to make the World Cup in 2002 (under arguably their most successful manager Louis Van Gaal). They were arguably the most fluid side at Euro 2008, dismantling World champs and runner-ups Italy and France. The second goal against Italy showed the pure tactical class of the Dutch passing system and also their ability to counter attack like no other side.

But once again, Holland fell short after they were undone by their former manager and national team specialist, Guus Hiddink.

Attacking prowess

This time round, Holland possess arguably the most dynamic frontline out the European teams. Wesley Sneijder has had a sensational season at newly crowned Champions League winners Inter Milan, and was in my opinion, the best footballer in Europe this year. He was the creative engine behind that side and similarly here, he will look to link up with Robin Van Persie. Van Persie, by his own admission has had a injury-plagued season, but there’s no denying what he brings to the side: an accomplished striker. If he reaches peak fitness in time, then he can be deadly.

The wingers in the 4-2-3-1 formation will often blaze forward in an aid to help Van Persie. Arjen Robben, like Wesley Sneijder, has excelled after leaving Real Madrid, scoring some outrageous solo efforts. His form could well be key to Dutch success in South Africa but if reports are to be believed, he’s suffered a hamstring tear. On the right should be Rafael Van Der Vaart, who chose to stay in Madrid. He offers many options as well, and could also cut inside with devastating effect.

The holding role

Bert van Marwijk has balanced his side well. The glamour up front is well supported by bruising determinism and experience behind. Mark Van Bommel and Nigel De Jong will likely be the holding midfielders, each bringing different aspects. De Jong has proved at Manchester City that he’s a superb no-nonsense tackler, which City really needed. Van Bommel is an enforcer but also a great passer as well. Tackling isn’t exactly his strongest attribute and he has a short fuse.

The subs bench also looks good as well. Ibrahim Affelay has been a revelation for PSV, and will be a useful impact sub when called upon. Dirk Kuyt’s work ethic is often underrated and he would also easily slot into Van Marwijk’s system.

Defensive frailties
The weakest part of the side. Some players are way past their prime, particularly captain Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, a superb servant over the years, but I doubt he could cope with particularly fast wingers at left back. Andre Ooijer also falls into this category, and both him and Gio are 35. They both provide vital experience and composure to the defence, but speed is lacking at the back. This could see Johnny Heitinga partnering Joris Mathijsen in the heart of defense.

If the Netherlands had a world-class center back, like so many other nations, then they would be classed as one of the favourites. Brazil has Lucio, Spain has Gerard Pique and England has John Terry (the non-erratic version before this season). All 3 are great center-backs, although I’ll gladly except one has been haphazard at times this year.

Holland need a defensive rock similar to Jaap Stam, a player who would instil fear into who he was marking. They don’t have that.

The goalkeeper situation is also problematic. Since Edwin Van Der Sar retired from international football, Holland have struggled to find a replacement. Maarten Stekelenburg lacks the leadership qualities of predecessor and he often looks shaky at times. This could prove to be disastrous, but he’s the best option viable to Van Marwijk.

Verdict
If Holland’s defence perform as well as they did in a easy qualifying group, then there won’t be a problem. Unfortunately, for them as they well know, this stage is much tougher. Injuries will be a factor as well, the side is ridden with players prone to injuries.

Van Bronckhorst admitted that losing Robben would be a blow but he also talked up their chances of winning the World Cup.
He said:

“It is normal that everyone is affected if you see how close this team is. But it can also make us stronger.That is something we have been working on, the mental part, for two years now.”

So, is the future bright for Holland? Certainly, but they’ll need a lot more luck on and off the field, if they are to make the final in Johannesburg on July 11th. I think they’ll fall just short, making the semi finals.

Ones to watch

• Goes without saying: Wesley Snejder
• Keep an eye out for Eljero Elia. The Hamburg winger scored in the friendly against Hungary after a blistering run. If Robben’s missing, this guy could shine. Winner of the prestigious Johan Cruyff Award for “Young Player of the Year”

Also see: Holland 2010 World Cup Squad | Group E Preview | World Cup Preview.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Brasil has a fine history of attacking full backs. They reached the idea of a flat back four first, and have after that always displayed a tendency to lead the way on defensive progression. The wing back looks to have been no exception.

All of the top sides in the world have some attacking full backs lying around (Cliche, Rafael, Zhirkov, Lahm, Arbeloa, Alves; the list goes on). In 2002 the third greatest Brasilian side of all time won the World Cup in Asia, and one of the stand out elements of the team was the full backs. Cafu and Roberto Carlos are two all time greats, and they sent shock waves through the tactical set up of many nations 8 years ago.

It’s been said that The Selecao has found no adequate replacement since those two stars of the beautiful game lost their shine. But this time around, they just might have.

Dani Alves cost Barcelona a huge amount of money, but the right back has proved his worth in two years of excellence under Guardiola. Him and Xavi are why Messi can do it for Barca but not for Argentina. Yet Alves is a fringe player for Brasil, and gets discussed in relation to the births in right midfield and left back; Never right wing back.

I don’t need to tell you, the reason for this is Douglas Maicon. He followed the path of many ‘Samba Stars’ by graduating from a great South American academy (Cruzeiro) and then moving to France (Monaco). However, the international reputation that Maicon commands today comes from his breath-taking 4 years at F.C. Internazionale.

He has rarely put a foot wrong on the right hand side for Inter, and has placed the great Javier Zanetti firmly at hands length. His pace and power are a match for any other player in world football (yes, even you Didier) and his chaotic charges down the touch line have become something of legend. The man is like a train plowing through some wide-mouthed defender, haplessly standing on the level-crossing in front of Maicon’s charge.

In many ways he’s like a less cultured version of ‘El Carlos’. Maicon is far bigger and stronger (although I doubt his thighs are as thick), but doesn’t have the same close control ability on the ball that the legendary left back had (and still has), preferring to dump the clever dribbles in favour of plowing down the line with long touches. Let nobody say he can’t score goals like Carlos did, though. Have a look at this one against Roma three weeks ago.

His role at Inter has been astounding. After abruptly shovelling Zanetti out of a starting place, the Argentine was put in right central midfield, with one of his main purposes being to fill in for Maicon and, on the other side, Maxwell, when they went on runs up field.

And this is where it gets interesting. In these circumstances, Zanetti moved into the defence, and formed a flat back three, with another holding midfielder (often Cambiasso) in front.

Brasil have one of the most fluid formations at this World Cup, and the implications of this for Maicon is exciting for football fans the world over. They play a fluid 4-2-3-1, seen in the below diagram with some helpful run lines.

There are two main ways of attacking (although a team this well staffed will doubtless play many others). The first is for Robinho to move up next to Fabiano, and Ramires to move wider, This brings the team to a 4-2-2-2.

The second is for Maicon and the left back (Michel Bastos, Dani Alves etc.) to charge forward. Ramirez drops deeper next to Melo and, here’s the key thing, Gilberto Silva becomes another centre back. That’s exactly the system played by Inter that has ended in Maicon being recognised by many as the best full-back in football. Hell, Brasil even use Lucio, an Inter player, as the all-important sweeper.

So, if Maicon can do terrifying stuff in Italy like this, why not in South Africa. At best his pace, tactical awareness, skill and raw power will drop wingers into the defense and cause full backs to break rank. At worst he’ll be a constant looming danger that never comes to true fruition.

I have two predictions for Maicon at this World Cup; one of them will come true, and you can hold me to that.

(1) Maicon’s achievements will only be recognised by the most tactically aware of pundits (Jonathan Wilson, Tim Vickery), as he is heavily weighed down by defensive duties, and can only add to the attack by threatening with his presence.

(2) He causes chaos among defenses still radically unprepared for a player to attack from the back without leaving the defense open. As the tournament progresses the best managers with the best teams will start to deal with him, but the effect of his early efforts (especially the second round destruction of Chile’s 4-3-3 formation) will have a measurable effect on world football tactics over the next 4 years.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

As we approach the UEFA Champions first leg tie between Internazionale Milano and Chelsea, let’s take a look at Senhor José Mourinho.

You will learn about his formative years, his brief playing career, teaching background, managers who influenced him, along with his experiences at Sporting Clube de Portugal, Benfica, FC Barcelona, FC Porto, Chelsea FC and F.C. Internazionale Milano. I have added a few quotes from Mr. Mourinho that may show a different side to his public persona.

José Mário dos Santos Félix Mourinho, affectionately known as “Ze” to family and friends, was born in Setubal, Portugal in 1963. His father, Felix, was a professional goalkeeper who later became a manager of several Portuguese clubs. His mother, Maria Julia, taught primary school.

Precocious From a Young Age

According to his father, Felix, Mourinho’s  affinity, aptitude and acute attention to detail for football management began very early.

“When he was 13 or 14 I became a manager and had to travel. José would always find a way to turn up wherever I was. By coach, or even fish transport truck, he would always be with me somehow for the weekend matches. He started to manage the ball boys. He would position himself behind our bench. I’d give him instructions which he would pass on to the players, running to the other side of the pitch to tell them. So he began very early to deal with tactics and systems of play…

When he was 15 or 16 he told me he wanted to be a manager. He started to watch the teams we were going to play and prepare reports, and that helped me a lot. I remember when I was manager at Uniao de Madeira that we went to play away in Amadora. We needed at least a draw to reach the play-offs for a place in the top division of the Portuguese League.” (1)

Management Philosophy Shaped by Christmas Sacking of His Father

Mourinho learned about the ephemeral nature of football management at a young age:

“I was nine or 10 years old and my father was sacked on Christmas Day. He was a manager, the results had not been good, he lost a game on December 22 or 23. On Christmas Day, the telephone rang and he was sacked in the middle of our lunch.” (2)

Short Playing Career: “The second division was my level.”

Mourinho joined the youth ranks of Belenenses, and then played for his father at Rio Ave as a defender. Mourinho also played for second division side, Sesimbra, and studied Physical Education and Sports Science at the Instituto Superior de Educação Física (The Technical University of Lisbon). He spent five years in University and earned a diploma. In a May 2004 interview with the The Times of London, Mourinho admitted his playing limitations:

“By 23, he had realised his limits as a player. ‘I’m an intelligent person. I knew I was not going to go any higher. The second division was my level.‘ ” (3)
Focus on Teaching and Coaching

He worked as a Physical Education teacher at local Lisbon schools. He earned coaching badges and became the youth team manager at Vitoria Setubal, and then an assistant coach at Estrela da Amadora. During his efforts to increase his coaching knowledge, Mourinho was noticed by a prominent figure in world football.

“He took courses in coaching, some under the auspices of the Football Association and the Scottish FA, where Andy Roxburgh, the former Scotland manager, would be an important influence, ‘particularly on training organisation, the points and techniques you need to establish in practice sessions’. Roxburgh was impressed by his student and his attention to detail.” (4)

Sir Bobby Robson: “And to think, he was just a schoolteacher when I met him.”

When the student is ready, the master arrives. The warm Portuguese sun shone brightly on Mourinho in 1992. He came into the orbit of Sir Bobby Robson, the legendary English manager. Mr. Robson came to Portugal to manage Sporting Clube of Lisbon. He hired Mourinho as his Portuguese to English interpreter and translator. Mr. Robson immediately recognized that Mourinho’s translation skills were merely the tip of the ice burg:

“The Englishman quickly understood that Mourinho was more than simply a translator and asked him to watch forthcoming opponents.

‘He’d come back and hand me a dossier that was absolutely first class. I mean first class,’ Robson told the journalist Patrick Barclay, who has recently (2005) published a fine biography of Mourinho, subtitledAnatomy of a Winner (Orion). ‘As good as anything I’ve ever received. Here he was, in his early thirties, never been a player, never been a coach to speak of either, giving me reports as good as anything I ever got.’ “ (5)

Mr. Robson was sacked by Sporting but quickly landed at FC Porto. Mourinho became part of his backroom staff. When Mr. Robson took over the FC Barcelona bench in 1996, Mourinho followed him to Catalonia and learned Catalan. He became known as “El Tradutor,” or “The Translator.” Barcelona would mark a turning point in their relationship. Mr. Robson was sacked in 1997, but Mourinho stayed on to assist his successor, Louis van Gaal. Mourinho never forgot the influence of Sir Bobby:

“I owe him for so much. I was a nobody in football when he came to Portugal. He helped me to work in two clubs here (Sporting and Porto) and he took me to one of the biggest clubs in the world (Barcelona). We are very different, but I got from him the idea of what it is to be a top coach… He’s a field man, who thrives on direct contact with the players. He is also a coach dedicated to attack. If we divide the game into three areas of build-up, you would say Bobby Robson’s work is to focus on the final third. It meant that a lot of the emphasis of my work was towards the defence.” (6)

Back to Portugal

Mourinho stayed three years at Barcelona where his attention to detail and personal touch were noted by players such as Laurent Blanc and Josep “Pep” Guardiola. He turned down Mr. Robson’s offer to be his second in command at Newcastle United. He returned to Portugal in 2000 for his first head coaching job with Benfica. His spell with the iconic Portuguese club was rather short. He departed for Uniao de Leiria in January 2001. A year later, he arrived at the club that would launch him onto the world stage: FC Porto.

A Formula for Success

He wrote a letter to each player at Porto that stressed his man-management philosophy:

“Welcome to Porto”the letter began. “Hope you have recharged your motivation and ambition . . . From here, each practice, each game, each minute of your social life must centre on the aim of being champions . . . First-teamer will not be a correct word. I need all of you. You need each other. We are a TEAM.” Along the bottom margin of the page, there was an equation: “ Motivation + Ambition + Team + Spirit = SUCCESS.” (7)

He won everything at his disposal in two years at Porto: The Portuguese Cup and SuperCup, two Portuguese League titles, the UEFA Cup in 2003 and the UEFA Champions League in 2004.

The Chelsea Era: “I think I am a special one.”

Chelsea FC owner, Roman Abramovich, courted the new European coaching sensation away from Porto to Stamford Bridge in 2004. Mourinho’s presentation news conference demonstrated his English language skills and self-confidence. One statement in particular caught the attention of the English media, and has become his calling card around the footballing world:

“Please don’t call me arrogant, but I’m European champion and I think I’m a special one.” (8)

At Chelsea, Mourinho continued his winning ways. He won the Premiership twice on the trot in his first two seasons. He could not replicate the European success of Porto. Mourinho left his position early in the 2007/2008 season. He won the Community Shield, the League and League Cup twice, and the FA Cup. His off-pitch verbal sparring sessions with other managers, notably Rafael Benitez, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, reinforced the notion that Mourinho left no detail uncovered. For Mourinho, the game is played off the pitch as much as on it.

Internazionale Milano: “He speaks better Italian than me and I was born here.” Rino Gattuso of AC Milan (9)

Mourinho arrived on the Italian peninsula to manage Inter Milan in 2008, and learned Italian during his break from football. He won the Serie A Scudetto easily on his first attempt and the Italian SuperCup. Similar to his spell with Chelsea, Mourinho has yet to achieve European glory. Reminiscent of his time at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho has gotten under the skin of many opposing managers, journalists and players.

Bad Blood with Claudio Ranieri, but Grudging Admiration from The Tinkerman

Mourinho began his Italian odyssey with very personal criticism of former Chelsea manager,Claudio Ranieri, who was the Juventus manager at the time:

“The Special One attacked the Tinkerman’s achievements, ridiculed him for not speaking English fluently and labelling him ‘a 70-year-old.’ As he prepared Juventus for the game against reigning Italian champions Inter, Ranieri insisted he has nothing to envy about Mourinho. Ranieri said: ‘Do I like anything about him? Yes, the fact that all his players speak highly of him, as it means that he manages to forge a great rapport with them. But I don’t like the way he stirs up controversies from time to time. Our frictions have nothing to do with the fact that he replaced me at Chelsea.’I knew I was on borrowed time but I believe I still had a superb season – managing to lift the Blues into fourth place without spending any money.’ Mourinho recently boasted to the Italian media that he earned £11.5million a year.

‘Am I envious of him? Not at all,’ said the 57-year-old Ranieri (not 70) with his trademark smile.

‘We have nothing in common, he has won a lot and I haven’t. But I’ve been in football for a long time and I keep going. I believe I have been doing a good job nonetheless.’

Over to Mourinho: “I studied Italian five hours a day for many months to ensure I could communicate with the players, media and fans,” he said.

‘Ranieri had been in England for five years and still struggled to say ‘good morning’ and ‘good afternoon.’ ” (9a)

A Master Motivator and Stern Disciplinarian

South African international and current Hammer, Benni McCarthy, played for Mourinho at Porto. McCarthy concisely noted a key quality about Mourinho in 2004 before he took over at Chelsea: “An expert in developing a player’s confidence.” If we examine the development of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and John Terry at Chelsea, their profiles rose under Mourinho’s watch. Even a player whom he criticized in the past, Samuel Eto’o, packed his bags and left FC Barcelona to join Mourinho’s new project at Inter Milan. (10)

During a Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) match against Fiorentina earlier this month, Mourinho immediately removed rising Inter star, Mario Balotelli, from the match after an incident. Balotelli lost a contact lens, stayed on the ground to retrieve it, and did not run back into his defensive end when Fiorentina attacked. Balotelli refused to acknowledge Mourinho and went straight to the changing room.

“I’m not bothered what the press thinks about our relationship. I liked what Mario did against Chievo, AC Milan, Juventus and also against Fiorentina, even though a perfect player is one who forgets about his lost contact lens when his team is in trouble,” said Mourinho. “Jokingly I said he should even forget about it if he loses an eye. But there’s no Balotelli case and he’s part of the squad as per usual (this weekend).” (11)

Incredible Home Victory Record

Mourinho has not lost at home in all League competitions since February 2002 with Porto. At the time of this writing, his sides have won 129 straight league home matches. According to Soccerbase, here are his career statistics: (Wins, Losses and Draws).

According to Wikipedia, here is his entire management record: (Wins, Draws and Losses).

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Benfica		20 September 2000	5 December 2000	11	6	3	2	54.55
Leiria		January 2001	20 January 2002	31	17	10	4	54.84
Porto		23 January 2002	26 May 2004	123	87	21	15	70.73
Chelsea		2 June 2004	20 September 2007	185	131	36	18	70.81
Internazionale		2 June 2008		88	53	24	11	60.23
Total				431	291	89	51	67.52

The Real Mourinho

Patrick Barclay, author of Anatomy of a Winner, had an interesting observation in 2005:

“Even he himself says that there are two Jose Mourinhos,” says Patrick Barclay, who has studied more carefully than most. “There is the charming private man and there is the coach we see at Chelsea, a coach who has an inability to apologise for anything that he or one of his players says and does. It is as if, as a coach, Mourinho is acting, playing a role. And don’t underestimate his look as a kind of weapon. This gives him huge credibility in the dressing room. What are young men of that type most interested in? Women, money and clothes. And they know that Mourinho is the one man at Chelsea that everyone – including their girlfriends – is most interested in.” (14)

References

(1) “Destined to Be Great from the Age of 10,” Sunday Mirror, Sept.12, 2004 by Paul Smith.
(2) Brainyquote: Jose’ Mourinho.

(3-4,6-7,10) “The Big Feature: Jose’ Mourinho, The Times of London, May 9, 2004 by Ian Hawkey.

(5,14) “Man of the Year.” New Statesman, Dec.19, 2005 by Jason Cowley.

(8) “The Special One: Jose’ Mourinho YouTube Video.

(9) “Soccerlens 2008 Quotes of the Year in World Football.”

(9a) “Former Chelsea Bosses Mourinho and Ranieri Come Face to Face in Italian Job,” The Daily Guardian, Nov. 20, 2008 by Christopher Davies.

(11) “Mourinho Plays Down Balotelli Spat,” AFP, Feb. 6, 2010.

(12) Soccerbase: Jose’ Mourinho.

(13) Wikipedia: Jose’ Mourinho.

Also See:

The Jose Mourinho Page
Jose Mourinho, the Master Baiter

About the Author

Steve Amoia writes the World Football Commentaries blog. He has been a contributor at Soccerlens since 2007. Since 2005, he has published articles, commentaries, interviews, and translations for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio, Football Media (UK), the International Herald Tribune 2006 World Cup Fan Blog, Italiansrus.com, Keeper Skool (Australia), and Soccerlens (UK).

From Soccerlens.com - Football News