In the past and the present, football players have enjoyed a special place in a football fan’s life. People from all over the world take time out of their busy lives to watch them play or get a glimpse of them in training.

Reasons could vary from personal to strictly football. For the vast variety of football fans, Soccerlens has hand-picked personally signed items from Icons. You can use them to satisfy your personal hunger or add to your collection of memorabilia.

Signed Robin van Persie Arsenal Shirt

Robin van Persie is as lethal a striker as you could want for your team. And he is surely proving his mettle at Arsenal as he lights up the Emirates with his extravagant displays.

This shirt is personally signed by the Holland striker in an exclusive signing session organised by Icons in November 2011. It is the official Nike shirt with the Arsenal logo on the front. It comes in presentation packaging and an image of van Persie signing the shirts.

This is a perfect Christmas 2011 gift for any Gunners fan, specially since Persie is leading Arsenal’s resurrection, order the signed Robin van Persie shirt online.

Signed Lio Messi 2010-11 Champions League Final Shirt

Lionel Messi is a nightmare for the toughest defenses around the world. He is definitely a class above the rest and he has proven it time and time again. Those who think differently are just in denial.

Commemorating Barcelona’s victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League final in Wembley in May 2011, this unique printed shirt was personally signed by Messi in August 2011. The Barcelona 2010/11 shirts are specifically printed with the details of the Wembley final and are not available for retail anywhere else.

For your loved ones who are Barcelona or Lio Messi fans, this framed and signed shirt will prove a great present this Christmas. It will also make them feel better as their fierce rivals Real Madrid are three points ahead with a game in hand. Order the signed Messi 2010-11 CL final shirt online.

Paul Scholes signed Man Utd Shirt

The legendary Manchester United midfielder, Paul Scholes has won nine English Premier League titles, three FA Cup and two Champions League medals in the course of a hard-fought 16-year career with his only club.

This United shirt was signed by Scholes at a private signing session in Manchester on October 5, 2010. The shirt comes with a numbered hologram and an identical hologram is fixed to the certificate of authenticity, which features an image of the England international signing a shirt.

If your loved one is a Man United fan then I can assure you that he is still hurting from the 6-1 thrashing by local rivals Manchester City – on top of that, the penalty against Newcastle United and a shock loss to Crystal Palace only made it worse. As a heart-warming Christmas gift, remind him of the elegant passes of good ol’ Scholes by ordering a signed Paul Scholes Man Utd shirt online.

Signed Pele Photo: Embrace with Bobby Moore

Brazil defeated England 1-0 in the quarterfinal of the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Jairzinho scored the only goal of the game but it was the duel between Bobby Moore and Pele. The two embraced after the game and Pele went on to say that Bobby Moore was the best defender he played against.

Pele and Moore were exchanging shirt after the game when this photo was taken. It was signed in London on September 19, 2006 by Pele in an exclusive signing session.

The most enduring image of sportsmanship at the highest level. If you don’t know much about football but your significant other loves it, this is like the most basic of football presents. He might not love it but he won’t throw it away either. Guaranteed! Order signed and framed Pele photo with Bobby Moore online. This is a limited edition product

Maradona And Messi Signed Number 10 Shirt

Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi are two of the most iconic footballers of their times. Both originated from Argentina and both wear the coveted number 10 jersey. Icons decided to put both of their signatures down on one Argentina number 10 shirt.

This is probably the most iconic shirt. It’s an authentic 1986 Argentina shirt originally signed by Maradona in 2010. In the spring of 2011, Messi added his signature to the shirt. The two greatest Argentinean players ever are now on one shirt!

This is an unforgettable piece of signed merchandise and any football fan that gets his hands on one of these will cherish it for years to come as Messi and Maradona are two names that won’t be forgotten easily. With the holiday season just around the corner, order the Maradona and Messi signed number 10 shirt online ASAP.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The best part about holiday shopping is the amount of discounts you can find. It is very important to go around the market before buying something because you never know, you might find it for cheaper elsewhere.

Keeping that in mind, I looked around for quality presents with good discounts and picked, what I thought, were really good bargains.

Real Madrid 2011-12 Third kit

adidas have made a red third kit for Real Madrid’s 2011-12 UEFA Champions League campaign. The red shirt has white adidas stripes on the shoulder.

The original price of this red Galacticos shirt is £41.24 but you can buy the 11-12 Real Madrid Champions League third shirt for £35.05.

Nike Total90 Strike IV

The Strike IV by Nike is the ideal football boot for powerful shooting and accuracy. Strike IV is designed to provide you assistance in touch, control, optimal precision and uniform striking surface.

The T90 Strike IV is available for £58.66 and that’s after a 26% discount – from the actual price of £79.99.

V. Persie 9 – Holland 2010 World Cup Home Shirt

Nike manufactures the sports goods for the Holland national team and the number 9 orange home shirt of the sensational Arsenal skipper, Robin van Persie, is available on the Soccerlens Store.

The original price of this shirt was £59.99 and it is on a 5% discount. You can buy the 10-11 Holland home shirt for £56.99.

Zidane 10 – France 2010 World Cup Home Shirt

It was a disappointing trip to South Africa for the 1998 champions. Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema were already trapped in a lot of controversy and to add to the tension, there were disagreements in the dressing room. It was clearly a different France than we last saw in 2006 under the captaincy of the great Zinedine Zidane.

The original price of this adidas manufactured shirt was £54.99 but with a 45% discount, you can buy the 10-11 France home shirt for £30.

Drogba 11 – Ivory Coast 2010 World Home Shirt

Didier Drogba’s injury to the forearm kept him from performing a hundred percent. On top of that, it would have been quite a task to beat Brazil and Portugal. North Korea was the fourth team in their group. They still managed a goalless draw with Portugal and a three goal win over Korea but Brazil was just too strong for them.

That was probably Drogba’s last World Cup as a top class striker. The Chelsea ace wore the number 11 for his national team.

The original price of the shirt was £59.99 but we’re offering a 42% discount. You can now buy the 10-11 Ivory Coast home shirt for £35.

Beckham 7 – England Euro 2012 Home Shirt

David Beckham was the most influential footballer in recent times and his experience and skills were unmatched across England. His presence will be missed but there is a lot of promising young blood coming through.

The original price of the Euro 2012 home shirt was £59.99. After a massive 42% discount, you can buy the 11-12 England home shirt for £35.

Eto’o 9 – Cameroon 2010 World cup Away Shirt

Samuel Eto’o is as clinical as a striker can get. If his successful spells at Barcelona and Inter Milan don’t convince you enough, his larger than life pay-check with Russian Premier League club Anzhi Makhachkala should leave you dumbfounded.

The original price of this shirt was £59.99 but after a 42% discount, you can buy the 10-11 Cameroon away shirt for £35.

adidas adiPower Predator

The adidas Predator was formerly worn by players like Xavi, Lionel Messi and many others in top competitions around the world. It’s built for speed, power and swerve.

The original price of the boot was £154.99. Kitbag is offering a 29% discount and you can buy the adidas Predator for £109.99.

Robbie Fowler Signed Liverpool Shirt

The Liverpool born striker came through the youth ranks of the Reds and played through his prime at Liverpool. He left his childhood club and moved the Leeds United and went on to impress fans across England. He also made appearances for Manchester City and had another stint at Liverpool.

To honor the Reds legend, here’s a personally signed Liverpool numbed 9 shirt of Robbie Fowler:

The original price of this framed shirt was £366.67. Kitbag is offering a 15% discount and you can buy the Fowler signed Liverpool home shirt for £311.67.

This magnificent collector’s item was originally priced at £916.67. Kitbag if offering a 15% discount and the Pele and Maradona dual framed and signed shirts for £779.17.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Throughout history, people have been kicking a ball but the earliest scientific evidence suggest that it was an exercise from a military manual in the second and third BC in China – it was called Cuju. Modern football took years in the making after the Chinese forgot about cuju.

In 1872, the first ever international football game took place when England faced Scotland. I don’t know if that was a great match or not but since then, there have been many teams, players and matches that have redefined football history.

From 1930, when the first World Cup took place in Uruguay, to Spain lifting the trophy in 2010, a lot has happened. Many heroes emerged and took center stage as fans sat in awe of them and cheered them on.

To commemorate all that is now past, here are some of the items from the retro section of the Soccerlens Store.

Maradona 1986 World Cup Jersey

A thrilling 3-2 victory over West Germany in the extra time of the final marked the end of a tournament that was completely dominated by Diego Maradona. It was Argentina’s 2nd title.

The blue and white striped Argentina shirt comes with the name and number of Maradona printed on the back of the shirt.

Click here to buy Maradona 1986 World Cup jersey online.

Juventus 1977 UEFA Cup Jersey

The significance of this triumph for Juventus fans is the fact that this is the only triumph for an Italian side in an official European tournament without foreigner players in its first team squad.

It was a two-legged final against Athletic Bilbao and Marco Tardelli had given Juve a slender 1-0 lead in the home leg. Juve traveled to Spain and striker Roberto Bettega doubled the lead. Bilbao won the game 2-1 after Jose Churruca and Carlos Ruiz scored but Juventus won the title on away goals.

Juve wore this blue away shirt in the second leg of the final:

Click here to buy Juventus 1977 UEFA Cup jersey online.

Cruyff 1974 World Cup Jersey

A lot can be said about Johan Cruyff, he has almost single-handedly revolutionized modern football with the help of the Catalan giants Barcelona – both as a player and a coach.

The first Dutch international to receive a red card, Cruyff, was unlucky to have collected the runners up medal in 1974 and 1978. However, he was the chosen the best player in the 1974 World Cup.

His managerial expertise indirectly resulted in Spaniards winning the Euro 2008 and the World Cup 2010.

Here is Cruyff’s famous shirt with two stripes:

Click here to buy Cruyff 1974 World Cup jersey online.

Brazil 1971 Three Star Jersey

When Brazil beat Italy in the final of the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, it was their third world title. They have gone on to make it five titles now but that was their third in four attempts.

1970 also marked the end of the Pele era, and this three star away jersey from 1971 is how he left Brazil. It took Brazil 24 years to win another World Cup.

Click here to buy Brazil 1971 three star jersey online.

Man City 1969 FA Cup Winners Track-top

The 1969 FA Cup was the last major English trophy that Manchester City had won until their recent 2011 triumph. The ’69 final was played between Man City and Leicester City at the Wembley Stadium.

Neil Young scored the only goal of the game as the cup win earned them the right to compete in the 1969-70 European Cup Winners’ Cup – which City went on to win as well.

Here is the track-top that was worn by the players after they have won the FA Cup:

Click here to buy Man City 1969 FA Cup winners track-top online.

AC Milan 1963 European Cup Jersey

Wembley stadium witnessed AC Milan and Benfica go head-to-head for the 1963 European Cup final. Two goals from Jose Altafini in the second half over-turned the first half strike of the legendary Portugal midfielder Eusebio and Milan clinched the their first European Cup title.

This is the white shirt Milan wore in the final that day:

Click here to buy AC Milan 1963 European Cup jersey online.

Puskas 1954 World Cup Jersey

Hungary was in top form prior to the 1954 World Cup, winning everything that came their way. They were unbeaten in 32 games. They became the first non-UK team to beat England at Wembley – they thrashed them 6-3 and then later 7-1 in Budapest.

In the group stage, Hungary violently defeated West Germany 8-3 and now the Germans were their last hurdle. Ferenc Puskas and Zoltan Czibor gave them a two goal cushion but they failed to capitalize on that. The efficient Germans won the final 3-2 (Max Morlock and Helmut Rahn were the goal-scorers).

Here is the number 10 jersey that Puskas wore in the final:

Click here to buy Puskas 1954 World Cup jersey online.

John Charles 1950s Leeds Utd Jersey

Rated by many as the greatest all-round footballer ever to come from Wales, he was equally adept at center forward or center back. In the peak of his career, he plied his trade at Leeds United and Juventus. He made a return to Leeds at the age of 31 but was soon sent back to Italy as he joined Roma for a season.

Towards the end of his career, he could be seen at Cardiff City and as a player-manager at Hereford United and Merthyr Tydfil.

To commemorate this great all-rounder of football, here’s a shirt from one of Leeds’ dressing rooms of the 1950s (not literally):

Click here to buy John Charles 1950s Leeds Utd jersey online.

Italy 1934/1938 World Cup Winners Jersey

In 1934, Italy hosted the World Cup tournament themselves and defeated Czechoslovakia. In 1938, France hosted the World Cup but Italy managed to defend their title successfully as they defeated Hungary 4-2.

Inter Milan legend Giuseppe Meazza played both the World Cups and he played instrumental parts in their triumphs.

Click here to buy Italy 1934/1938 World Cup winners jersey online.

Uruguay 1930 World Cup Final Jersey

Uruguay hosted the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930. Uruguay faced Argentina in the final which was a repeat of the match-up in the 1928 Olympic final – which Uruguay had won 2-1. The final was won with the same ratio of goals but the scoreline was 4-2.

93,000 fans watched the final where different balls were used in each half but those are just details. This is the shirt Uruguay wore in the first-ever FIFA World Cup final:

Click here to buy Uruguay 1930 World Cup final jersey online.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Dear Carlos Tevez,

For five years now you’ve been a shedload of trouble for the entire English Premier League. With this letter, I’d like to invite you to please stop moaning about the loneliness of Northern England and return to Argentina as you have for so long suggested you’d prefer.

The biannual farce which into which the “Carlos Tevez submits Transfer Request” headline has degenerated – which while admittedly spurring me to write this letter – has become a parody of a a parody, like a Monty Python sketch which starts funny but then feels as if it never ends. While we all understand how trying it is to be parted from friends and family (some of us have even shared your heartbreaking isolation in a country in which we do not speak the language), complaining every six months about a situation into which you walked of your own volition has turned what begun a sympathetic posture into a cynical one.

Please understand I’m not trying to minimise the pain of separation from your daughters at all. It’s just the predictability with which this storm-in-a-teacup occurs means you have exhausted any supply of public sympathy for your plight. (And “earning” 200,000+ a week should preclude us from using the world “plight” anyway). Unless it is for obviously laudable reasons a transfer request is often met with scorn from your current team’s support base. After being trotted out several times now, the recent spate of “I miss my daughters” has morphed from a tragic reality of a footballer’s life into seemingly a ploy where – though undoubtedly true you miss your girls – the aim seems to be directing public ire away from you in a situation almost entirely of your own creation.

It was said of the great basketballer Shaquille O’Neal that, with the exception of his last teams Boston and Cleveland, whenever he moved clubs, he did so amidst acrimonious circumstance. The same could be said of you – at Boca, at Corinthians, West Ham and finally Manchester United you have left more enemies than friends. Which, on the face of it, is really quite sad and perhaps – just perhaps – gives the public eye a big glimpse of your inner happiness. In a game where one often has to look out for themselves first, you and Kia Joorabchian have done so admirably; but if your latest statements are to be believed, it hasn’t contented you.

Many of us have had to move intercontinentally. It is exceedingly difficult, though ultimately rewarding – it allows us to grow, to see that life is much larger than the small corners of existence we previously inhabited. Some of us are rewarded romantically, spiritually or even fiscally for the pain of separation.

You certainly have earned signficant monies as a result of your footballing success – so why not put some of that where your cakehole is? Rather than having said sweet baked good and eating it too, take (one mother of ) a pay cut to play in South America – for none of us are able to figure out how Madrid or Milan – or, heaven forbid, Chelsea – are closer to Argentina than Millionaire’s row in Cheshire. It’s not that we don’t feel for you, but many of us think you’re trying to use this situation to your gain. It seems your position is that you are disadvantaged by playing for City; a move to Real or Inter would be “fair”.

Unfortunately, that is a posture for the misguided.

In careers, we are forced to take the good with the bad. In football, if you want the big bucks and the best competition, you are forced to move. It is a flat fact of existence at the top level of almost any profession. Sacrifices must be made for a career – or for family. And while we applaud you for your devotion to your daughters, we also implore you to put up, or shut up. For the ball is in your court.

Sincerely,

A very bored former admirer.

Matthew Wood regularly contributes to Soccerlens.  You can find more of his analysis and commentary at Balanced Sports, or follow him on Twitter @balanced_sports.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

So to get the most obvious fact out of the way first, Argentina should beat Bolivia. They should hammer them off the pitch. Messi should be dancing around the bloodstain pitch at full time with the still beating heart of Arias, the Bolivian goalkeeper, in his hand. Only metaphorically though.

But they didn’t. In fact they could have easily lost in their opening game of the Copa America, in which they have been the runners up to Brazil two years in a row, which must grate particularly hard. Bolivia went ahead at half time and spurned other chances even if Argentina did as well, and in the end deserved the draw they took from the South American giants.

Argentina didn’t even have that much of an attacking threat behind their football – chances which should have been flowing against Bolivia were few and far between. Bear in mind here, that Argentina have such attacking riches that Aguero, Higuain, Pastore and De Maria all sat on the bench as Lavezzi, Tevez and Messi instead took the attacking reigns. So again, to score just one goal against Bolivia is all kinds of sad and mediocre.

So why is this? Simple really – Argentina are trying to copy Barcelona’s formation. Messi playing as a false nine, Lavezzi and Tevez as wide strikers. Behind them, Banega and Cambiasso patrol midfield while Mascherano drops between the defenders while in possession, allowing the fullbacks to get forward. Great in theory, but it won’t work because…

Argentina’s ‘wingbacks’ aren’t up to the job.

Want to know why the defensive midfielder for Barcelona drops between the centre backs? It’s not just to keep possession, making the defenders hard to press and making it easier for Barcelona to play out from the back, but it’s also to unleash the wingbacks into the attacking half. While the front three play narrow and draw defenders, the wingbacks are supplying the width on both sides of the pitch – and when your wingbacks are both as good in the attacking half as Barcelona’s (Maxwell and Alves) that is quite some trick to pull. So it’s understandable to see why Argentina would try… no. No it isn’t.

Lets make this quite clear. Argentina’s left back against Bolivia was a player called Marcos Rojo, a starlet for Spain. Now I can’t pretend to know a great deal about this player, but I guess that’s the point – he’s a starlet having just made his move to Russia. He’s not the attacking, dynamo of a wingback Argentina are going to want to use to win the world cup, not really.

But it’s when you come to the other side of the pitch that things get even worse for Argentina. Talented, experienced, sensational legend as Zanetti is, at his age he isn’t on the same planet attacking wise as Alves. And worse he is not the future – if he is still being picked for Argentina at the age of 37  (very soon to be 38) then what does that say about his potential successors?

And this is a massive problem. At most clubs wingbacks aren’t the most vital piece of the puzzle – free raiding fullbacks are a luxury as opposed to absolutely essential in the modern game. For Barcelona, they are hugely vital. For Argentine thus, they are hugely vital, because if those wingbacks aren’t offensively capable enough then the space they leave is a weakness, just as it is for Barcelona, as previously demonstrated. Albeit, it is a small one for the Catalans, because their wingbacks are sensational.

For the Argentines it is a huge problem. Because their wingbacks aren’t good enough, their flanks are weak. Because their flanks are weak, the whole formation that Barcelona play (essentially a diamond formation) falls apart – and I’m not going to make any wild predictions here, but Argentina will never, never win anything with the wingbacks they have at present in this formation. Simple.

Messi is only a good false nine for Barcelona

It feels like a long time ago now that Messi switched positions. For the majority of Barcelona’s first all conquering season in 08-09 Messi played mostly on the right, linking up with Alves in what was arguably one of the most devastating wing partnerships the world has ever seen – for a small amount of time at least. Then, at some point towards the end of the season, Pep Guardiola decided that Messi would become the fulcrum of the formation and stuck him into the centre where Eto’o would have usually played. Ever the wise man Pep, his decision paid off first in the champions league final and then ever since.

So to a degree you can certainly understand why Argentina would want such a force working in their favour as well. They too have shifted Messi from his previous wing position to the centre of Argentina’s side, again the fulcrum, again the player who things go though. Except this poses a whole new set of problems for them both. Messi doesn’t and likely never will have the same level of chemistry with his Argentine teammates as he does with his Catalan ones, and for the false nine position that is almost everything. Especially when your opposition are stacking players in front of you to crack open, the lesser chemistry is going to impact your ability to break them down – especially when your creative player relies on this chemistry, that pass and move and intelligence that Barcelona so value.

Ignoring that little niggle that says Messi simply doesn’t play as well for Argentina, the false nine role is simply more complicated at international level. Really he should just be left to his devices on the right again. For him beating players is simple, akin to strolling in the park. But as ever, playing the playmaking, striker role that is false nine is complex – some might argue, too complicated for a level where there is little time for making the players gel.

Of course it would help if there was a little more creativity from midfield.

Argentina’s midfield aren’t on Xavi and Iniesta’s level

Seem’s a little harsh doesn’t it? Comparing Mascherano, Banega and Cambiassio to Xavi and Iniesta. That’s because it is, but ‘football is no fairy tale world’ (Morgan Freeman.) Fact is, what Barcelona play is a diamond formation, with Messi as an attacking midfield with licence to roam. The two strikers stay wide then average strikers, and when it comes down to it, Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets have to pick their way through what is at times a narrow field of play Barcelona basically create on purpose. Less so Busquets who as pointed out previously drops into the defence when Barcelona are in possession.

The same of course applies to Mascherano, who drops back into the midfield to allow Banega and Cambiasso to run the midfield. Fine. Except if the opposition team don’t bother about pressing a defensive line that is going to find a space to play the ball out anyway, and choose to nullify the midfield instead. Then Argentina, again, have a problem. Banega and Cambiasso don’t have the creativity of Xaniesta (My new, ‘cute’ name for the Catalan duo) they don’t have the chemistry and they don’t have the attacking instincts. So what Argentine could well fine is these two being overwhelmed in the centre, especially if the opposition decide that the defenders, who can’t really do a lot of harm, aren’t worth bothering with.

Of course there is Messi too, who can drop very deep to help out the two defensive midfielders but then that nullifies his threat even more and doesn’t even allow him close to the wings where at international level, he could at least do more damage. Basically, having three players in a defensive line in possession is fine – but only if your midfield are up to the job of controlling the midfield and attacking. Which, Argentina’s midfield arguably aren’t.

The wingbacks (yes, again) don’t have the energy levels to play that game

I know, I’ve already been doing enough metaphorical kicking of Rojo and Zanetti in the gonads today, but hell, I’m evil. So we have these somewhat blunt fullbacks trying to supply width for Argentina – meanwhile, when Argentina lose the ball they are pressing to win the ball back, just like Barcelona do. In fact in order to do it the same way as Barcelona they must press furiously – hemming the opposition into their own half, strangling all resistance. Which again is a problem for the fullbacks, who basically at times have to cover entire flanks by themselves. So in likelihood they are the ones who will get tired first. This doesn’t apply for Alves, whom has been proved to be powered by prototype nuclear fusion reactors.

But anyway as these fullback get tired it makes them vulnerable, more so then any other part of the team because it means they will leave more space, attacking or not attacking – entire flanks are a lot of space to patrol, and space will open up as these players get tired. Even more so for Zavier Zanetti, who if he’s doing his job properly will be considering retirement at the 60 minute mark of every game he plays this role. So basically, not only will these wingbacks not be great on the attack but on the defensive they will leave space as well – and allow opposing wingers to get at them.

So if this is so, how do Barcelona cover this up? Usually, by being five goals up by half time. Argentina don’t have that kind of capability because the rest of the team in this formation isn’t working either.

Conclusion

And forgive me for not mentioning Argentina’s defenders in this mile long slur of their football team, but mentioning the defenders who would be a problem regardless of the formation played felt superflous when it came to arguing that Argentina simply cannot work Barcelona’s formation. There are plenty of reasons up and down the team why Argentina can’t make it work, the most important of which are above. However, the overriding conclusion is…

Argentina aren’t Barcelona and should get their own damn formation.

I’m quite serious. Barcelona have tailoired their formation to suit their players in order to elevate them to the very best players in the world. Of course having Messi, who seems to never ever miss helps. But still, this formation suits Barcelona down to the ground. But even for them it required some large amounts of tinkering – such as bringing in Dani Alves for 25 million pounds. Arguably, Barcelona may not have won anything in their first year of Guardiolaism without him. Even for them they needed to buy players and draft in players purely to suit this new formation of theirs.

What Argentina are doing is pure laziness – just copying another teams formation seemingly because it is the most in thing at the time, because it doesn’t suit the team at all. Only the attacking part of the side fits into the game, and with the options they have up front they could fit their strikers to suit any formation. The rest of the team? They need their own damn formation! They need to not have to live up to the standards of the greatest team the world has ever seen in order to succeed. It is really that simple.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

In my previous article, I argued that the process by which we decide who the world’s best players are has been grossly distorted.

A combination of mainstream media hype (backed up with its ‘statistics’ – often little more than a ruse to get people gambling) and a nostalgic longing for the return of the great playmaker – a natural human urge towards hierarchy and order expressed on the pitch by those players who, commentators love to remind us, ‘dictate the tempo of the match’ (Spain) or ‘make the difference’ (England) – has reduced the role of the fan to that of consumer.

Abandoning our reason, we channel our passions into the banal tunnels dug by sensationalist pundits salivating over inane comparisons, half-witted ‘match analysis’ and pure marketing hype.

We’re forgetting that the beauty of football lies in the sheer multiplicity of possibilities abounding on the field; the best player does not always run the fastest, score the most or tackle the hardest. They need not even play for the best teams.

Now, with the increasing tendency towards a more ‘total’ form of football, we can appreciate more than ever the sheer variety of players whom we can admire and applaud. Here’s the first part of a list of the best 25:

1. 25. Thomas Muller



A classic German international, Muller’s poise, pace and shooting mean he is comfortable in virtually any attacking position. A fine World Cup on the back of a remarkable breakthrough season at Bayern Munich got him noticed beyond the Bundesliga; Bayern’s struggles this year have kept him out of the international spotlight, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more efficient forward in world football today.

Video: Thomas Muller Best of 2009/2010 at Bayern Munich

2. 24. Robinho



The prodigious Brazilian’s troubled career appears to be settling, at last, in Italy. The forward’s movement and trickery appears, strangely, to flourish more in Serie A than either the English Premier League – where he was considered a flop at Manchester City – or La Liga.

Video: Robinho Highlights

3. 23. Radamel Falcao



The Colombian international is the focal point of a Porto attack which has swept all before it in the Portuguese Liga and the Europa League this season (he is the top scorer in both). The striker’s devastating scoring exploits are beginning to draw comparison with those of Mario Jardel; a player with good movement, excellent finishing, a good deal of power and sound decision-making, Falcao also boasts a frightening ability to score memorable back-heeled goals. Big offers are expected over the summer.

Video: Radamel Falcao Goals

4. 22. Arjen Robben



It has often been said that only niggling injuries has held Robben back from being recognised as one of the best wingers in history. Having played at Real Madrid and positively shone at times for Chelsea, one might be forgiven for thinking the Holland international has gone off the radar a little at Bayern Munich. Nothing could be further from the truth. The dazzling Dutchman is still one of the deadliest wide men in the game.

Video: Robben Still Has It

5. 21. Carlos Tevez



Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes Sir Alex Ferguson has made in recent years was that of the British public at large: namely, thinking that the combative Argentine is little more than a second option for Wayne Rooney. Cleverer and stronger in front of goal than the Englishman, Tevez has since flourished across at Manchester City, but appears to be hankering for a move back to Argentina. The Premiership will be that little weaker without him.

Video: Carlos Tevez 2009/2010 Manchester City Goals

6. 20. Ramires



After a slow start to his Chelsea career, the Brazil international is turning into an instrumental player for the London club. The fact that he seems to always get used as a foil for someone else in midfield (at former club Benfica, he was used to help an extremely attacking 4-4-2 function by combining the role of right-winger with defensive midfield) overlooks his ability to make timely runs into the box to score crucial goals, as well as good technical ability which has seen him stand out against nominally similar players like Michael Essien.

Video: Ramires vs Blackburn (15 Jan 2011)

7. 19. Luka Modric



The Croatian international sometimes gets left in the wake of Gareth Bale’s trailblazing runs or Rafael van der Vaart’s spectacular goals, but he is a fundamental component of the most exciting Spurs side in years. Bursting with flair and ingenuity on the ball, Modric epitomizes the importance of a player who can construct moves from deep, picking put the runs of more advanced forwards. The kind of player who makes things happen without always being noticed. The kind of player who belongs on this list.

Video: Luka Modric Compilation

8. 18. Fabio Coentrao



One of the most exciting prospects in Europe, Coentrao’s career began on the left wing. Manager Jorge Jesus controversially converted him to left-back early last season and since then, the Portugal international has blossomed. His ferocious pace and relentless desire to bomb forward at any opportunity are perfectly balanced by a never-say-die attitude which masks his (improving) technical shortcomings as a defender. With a sweet left foot and an eye for goal too, Coentrao is arguably the most complete full-back in the world.

Video: Fabio Coentrao: Marauding Left-Back

9. 17. Fernando Torres



Though this may seem like a strange time to be sticking Torres anywhere near a list of the best players in the world, greatness doesn’t vanish overnight. It doesn’t even disappear over the course of one season. Rather, what we are seeing with Torres is the combination of a) a gradual decline, which has perhaps come a couple of years earlier than you might expect for a player of his age; b) poor form, which has lasted, loosely, since the end of last season; and c) difficulty adjusting to new technical systems – this is a player who has had to endure the dismal tenure of Roy Hodgson, the shift to Kenny Dalglish and then a move to Chelsea all in one season. Expect him to recover, if gradually.

Video: Fernando Torres 2009/2010 Compilation

10. 16. Gareth Bale



Though the ‘Balemania’ earlier this season has thankfully subsided, the Welshman’s meteoric rise has to be recognized as one of the most exciting developments in English football this season. The PFA Player of the Year’s pace, power and unstoppable left foot have marked him out as one of Europe’s most sought-after players. Could he cut it abroad? Judging by the manner in which he sliced open Inter Milan, you’d have to imagine ‘yes’.

Video: Gareth Bale 2010/2011

11. 15. Sami Khedira



The German international is arguably the unsung hero at Jose Mourinho’s new-look Real Madrid – while Ronaldo hoards the acclaim with goals and Xavi Alonso gets the purists drooling with passes, Khedira’s all-round ability in midfield goes relatively unnoticed. Strong in the tackle, good on the ball and with a remarkable ability to read the game for a relatively young player, the German international is arguably the most important member of Madrid’s midfield. His versatility is particularly important when Mourinho adopts a more cautious, lopsided midfield diamond which relies heavily on a central midfield player being able to combine his role with that of a wide player (see also Ramires, number 20 on this list).

Video: Sami Khedira in 2010

12. 14. Nani



Perhaps it’s the fact that he’s a Portuguese winger who ‘goes down too easily’. Perhaps it’s because his name sounds reads like ‘Nanny’ to the English eye. Perhaps it’s because he isn’t Ronaldo. Who knows why the mercurial Manchester United wide man is not being universally lauded for a series of fine displays which have carried Manchester United towards the Premier League title.

True, the Portugal international does still have the occasional tendency to gallop around like a headless chicken but, for the most part, the ingenious trickery, pace and goal threat are now combined extremely effectively. More productive as well as more creative than Antonio Valencia, who appears to have shunted him to the left flank, Nani’s sheer unpredictability mark him out as a winger in the classic sense of the word.

Video: Nani 2008/2009

13. 13. Dani Alves



True to the spirit of a list which recognises players who are able to perform in more than one position at once, Alves does more than merely conjure images of Cafu. Having displaced Maicon at right-back for th Brazilian national team, the Barcelona man is now widely regarded as the best right-back in the world. His ability to defend the right flank yet appear to spend an entire game in the opponent’s half is a testament to the sheer pace and stamina of the man, whose phenomenal work ethic provides Barca with a vital outlet out wide.

Video: Dani Alves 2009/2010 Highlights

14. 12. Ezequiel Lavezzi



Arguably one of the most under-rated players in European football. Lavezzi’s combination of pace, power and trickery has finally been harnessed by Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri, who allows the Argentinian a floating role coming in from the left flank. The sheer competition for places, combined with his until now uncertain role has kept him out of the national team’s first eleven, but Lavezzi – whose abundant skill is not always matched by great finishing – is the kind of rough diamond (see Riquelme, Veron, Ortega) who inspires the adulation of fans in his home country. Here’s a snippet of what the man can do:

Ezequiel Lavezzi: 2010/2011 Compilation

15. 11. Xavi



Not much needs to be said about the Barcelona and Spain playmaker. Allying superb vision to a sure touch and the battling spirit so typical of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, Xavi is arguably the one player able to distract the attention of pundits away from Lionel Messi to and extent which unfairly detracts from the merits of other members of the side. The mark of a great player.

Video: Best of Xavi Hernandez

And here are the The Top Ten

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

In my previous article, I argued that the process by which we decide who the world’s best players are has been grossly distorted.

A combination of mainstream media hype (backed up with its ‘statistics’ – often little more than a ruse to get people gambling) and a nostalgic longing for the return of the great playmaker – a natural human urge towards hierarchy and order expressed on the pitch by those players who, commentators love to remind us, ‘dictate the tempo of the match’ (Spain) or ‘make the difference’ (England) – has reduced the role of the fan to that of consumer.

Abandoning our reason, we channel our passions into the banal tunnels dug by sensationalist pundits salivating over inane comparisons, half-witted ‘match analysis’ and pure marketing hype.

We’re forgetting that the beauty of football lies in the sheer multiplicity of possibilities abounding on the field; the best player does not always run the fastest, score the most or tackle the hardest. They need not even play for the best teams.

Now, with the increasing tendency towards a more ‘total’ form of football, we can appreciate more than ever the sheer variety of players whom we can admire and applaud. Finally. The Top Ten:

1. 10. Yaya Toure



The powerful Ivorian’s advanced role typifies the cautious approach adopted by Roberto Mancini at Manchester City, but Toure’s muscularity is supported by good use of the ball and excellent decision-making. Ranks so highly on this list because he can play any central midfield role at the very highest level. A highly under-rated player who was harshly unappreciated at Barcelona.

Video: Yaya Toure Barcelona Compilation

2. 9. Didier Drogba



Another powerful Ivory Coast international. Drogba’s ups and downs with Chelsea are well-documented, but he remains one of the ablest strikers in the game, his physical prowess allowing Chelsea to pin down opposition sides with simple long balls. As if that weren’t enough, Drogba boasts pace and a superb finish which mark him out as one of the most feared forwards in Europe. Almost universally acknowledged as a better player than Fernando Torres, Drogba will probably still leave Chelsea this summer. A pity.

Video: Didier Drogba Compilation

3. 8.  Ashley Cole



Full-backs aren’t supposed to rank this high in lists of the world’s best players, especially if they’re as universally loathed as (C)Ashley Cole. But then the England international is that good. Almost impossible to get past for even the best wingers, Cole originally made his name as an attacking left-back with Arsenal. Though he now reigns in those swashbuckling forays forward, he is still capable of getting down the flank to overlap the winger at pace. The perfect full-back.

Video: CR in Ashley Cole’s Pocket

4. 7. Cristiano Ronaldo



Were it not for his irritating need to shoot without a moment’s hesitation as soon as the goal is in his sights, the Portugal international might actually be better than his counterpart (and arch-nemesis) Lionel Messi. As it stands, blistering pace, a ferocious shot and a good deal of technical ability mark Ronaldo out as one of the biggest attacking threats in the world game, though few seem to have noticed that he can no longer beat his man with trickery alone like he could at Manchester United.

Still, just to fuel the Messi-Ronaldo debate, here is Ronaldo getting the upper hand with the winning goal at the Copa del Rey Final in midweek, with a goal that Messi could never score: Ronaldo 1-0 Messi

Video: Cristiano Ronaldo in 2011

5. 6. Mesut Ozil



Yes, a Real Madrid player ranked higher than Ronaldo. The truth is, Madrid’s rhythm is disrupted far more when the German international is left out of the side than in Ronaldo’s absence. Tricky, with great vision, pace and strength, Ozil boasts a keen (and bulbous) eye for goal and has already displaced Kaka from the first eleven. Should Mourinho stay in Madrid, the Turkish-born forward should grow into the fulcrum of the side. Even if Ronaldo scores 100 goals in a season. Did I mention that Ozil is just 22?

Video: Mesut Ozil 2010/2011

6. 5. Lionel Messi



Coming in at 5th is The Best Player In The World. Messi’s dazzling runs, irrepressible goalscoring record and increasingly brilliant vision are, alas, not enough to put him at number one in this list. The fact is that with Argentina (hardly a team struggling up front), Messi appears to be half the player. Would he still be a top player without Xavi, Iniesta and co. to supply him with perfect passes and runs? Yes. Would he be universally acknowledged as the most exciting thing to have happened since sex was invented in around 1963? I doubt it.

Video: Lionel Messi Exploits in 2011

7. 4. David Villa



His recent slump aside, Villa’s ability to make darting runs in behind defenses, carry the ball inside from the left channel and finish off chances with astonishing regularity make him the best forward in the world. Overshadowed by Fernando Torres before the latter began to lose form, Villa has been a phenomenal goalscorer since his days at Valencia. He is doing what Barcelona bought Thierry Henry to do, only better. While there is still debate as to whether Messi really is better than Ronaldo, there is no challenger to David Villa.

Video: What Barca wanted Henry to do

8. 3. Rio Ferdinand



An absolutely impeccable defender, in spite of his recent struggles with injury. Strong, a brilliant reader of the game who is strong in the tackle and good on the ball, Ferdinand’s leadership of Manchester United’s back four has been almost as important to the team’s succcess as Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals in recent years. Just as strong as John Terry, with less of a tendency to give away free-kicks, Ferdinand can justly claim to be England’s best central defender of recent generations.

Video: Best of Rio

9. 2. Andrea Pirlo



The epitome of the ‘cultured midfielder’. Pirlo’s range of passing and utter control in possession evoke only the best memories of the greatest players to have graced the game. His placement at number two highlights the importance of remembering that players should not be overlooked because of the team they play for (which seems silly when you consider that the man has won pretty much everything there is to win with Italy and AC Milan). A colossus of a player, now entering the final stages of his career but still able to take complete control of a game all on his own, with one of the most feared long range shots in the game.

Video: Pirlo – The Best Playmaker

10. 1. Andres Iniesta

    

    The complete player. It’s almost scandalous that Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez should take so much acclaim when such a wonderful player is in the same team. The ball appears glued to Iniesta’s feet, yet rarely will you see him over-indulge. Always looking for the early ball, the scorer of the winning goal of the World Cup Final shoots, tackles, crosses and runs with the best of them. Unlike Xavi, Iniesta can play out wide, which often leads to his redeployment away from his preferred central position. He won’t score anywhere near as many goals as Messi, but Iniesta could play in any league, for any team, at any level and still have the same subtly brilliant effect of making everyone around him play better. Faultless.

Previous Articles:
Beyond Lionel Messi: An Alternate List of the Best 25 Footballers in the World
Beyond Lionel Messi: An Alternate List of the Best 25 Footballers in the World (25-11)

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Castrol Performance data shows that Lionel Messi has been involved in more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo in the top five European leagues this season.

Both have surpassed everyone this season in terms of goal involvement. Having scored one more goal than Ronaldo, Messi has also been far more creative with 17 assists, more than twice as many as the Portuguese international.

Goals + Assists – top five European leagues 2010/11

Ronaldo has had more shots than any other player (212) but he has been less clinical in his finishing than Messi who converts one in every four attempts. Messi also attempts more passes (over 30 more than Ronaldo per game).

Ronaldo v Messi – 2010/11 La Liga

*excludes blocked shots

Ronaldo has found it difficult to score, create a goal or win against Messi.

Castrol Performance data shows that Cristiano Ronaldo has yet to score or deliver an assist against Lionel Messi at club level.

Ronaldo v Messi – competitive encounters

The two players have met on seven occasions (six times at club level and once on the international stage) and Messi has been on the winning side five times, whereas Ronaldo just once, back in April 2008 with Manchester Utd. With Real Madrid, Ronaldo has lost all three of his encounters with Messi.

Ronaldo broke his duck against Messi with a goal for Portugal against Argentina in a friendly last February but still ended on the losing side, courtesy of a goal and an assist from Messi.

Also See:

Great Football Player Rivalries
La Liga Statistical Review: Barcelona v Ronaldo
Real Madrid v Barcelona Preview
Why Victor Valdes is better than Iker Casillas
Real Madrid v Barcelona: Comparing Carvalho v Pique
Real Madrid v Barcelona: Alonso v Xavi stats and the art of playmaking

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Lionel Messi, featured in an adidas commercial (filmed playing for Argentina v Spain), goes all in:

This is a longer version release of the initial ‘adidas is all in’ branding video that was published last month.

This video (and the previous one) is part of adidas’ branding campaign (‘adidas is all in’). Worth noting here that Messi is featured here playing for Argentina (adidas-sponsored) and not for Barcelona (Nike-sponsored). Other than that, it’s an interesting attempt to create a high-level self-identification brand around adidas, although the message kind of gets lost in all the Messi-love.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The new 2011/2012 kits to be worn by Argentina have been unveiled by adidas and they will be available for purchase here. These kits will be worn by the Argentineans throughout the Copa America which will be played in Argentina.

2010 World Cup came to an abrupt end for the Diego Maradona’s men when they ran into an efficient and ruthless Germany. The game was the most comprehensive quarterfinal of the competition with the Germans bagging four goals to none for Argentina.

The South Americans will have their eyes set on the Copa America 2012 as a chance to regain some of the lost glory.

Here are the kits they will be wearing for the upcoming tournament:

Source

From Soccerlens.com - Football News