Monday, January 7, 2008
Every four years a World Cup will come along and occupy a football fan's thoughts and time for weeks. Game after game, the best footballers in the world will parade their skills in front of thousands at the stadium and millions watching on the TV back in their homes.
Players
Players generally make the World Cup what it is. If there were not great players we would certainly not be watching this tournament in the vast numbers that we do. In previous World Cup finals we have seen the emergence of some great talents, talents that we would not normally be able to see.
History
Which players did the world discover after displaying their skills in previous World Cups? There would be far too greats many to be able to list in detail and there has always has always been heated discussions about who is the greatest player of all time, with two players always at the forefront of the debate.
Lets look at these players' credentials.
Diego Armando Maradona [Argentina]
[World Cup Honours : 1982, 1986 (winner), 1990 (2nd), 1994]
Maradona is a flawed genius, no-one has ever had his sublime talents and been able to hit the self destruct button with such great effect. Never before has a player been credited with winning the World Cup trophy single handed as he did in Mexico 1986. Even in the infamous 1986 quarter final and scoring what is widely regarded the best goal that has ever been scored in the Finals. After picking the ball up in his own half he managed to dribble hi way through a quality England side before slotting the ball past Peter Shilton, the England keeper on the day.
The Argentinean team that he played with in this tournament were all excellent players but possibly not quite good enough to lift the trophy. However, with Maradona at the height of his powers there could only be one team that could possibly win.
Maradona also helped his nation to the final of the World Cup in 1990 in Italy and only lost to a German penalty scored by Andy Brehme.
However, after failing a drug test in 1991 his career was on a downhill path and then came his final appearance on the greatest stage in the game of football.
In 1994, the World Cup in USA when he scored in Argentina's first game against Greece anyone that watched his celebration knew that it was not only adreneline that powered the little magician. Eyes glaring into the camera, the hearts of all Argentineans knew that drugs were fuelling their talismanic captain. A drug test followed and the inevitable positive result ended Maradona's tournament and effectively his career.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento - Pele
[World Cup honours : 1958 (winner), 1962 (winner), 1966, 1970 (winner)]
The only similarity between Pele and Maradona is that they hail from the same continent. Pele was the original World superstar, enjoying a career that can be regarded as a being a model professional.
Pele's credentials are there for all to see, he set up goals, he was an instrumental leader on and off the field and he also scored goals. In fact the amount of goals that he scored is a substantial feat in itself.
His record is phenomenal, scoring five goals in a game six times, four goals 30 times and three goals 90 times. These are numbers the modern player can never dream of matching. In his illustrious playing career he scored a stunning total of 1283 goals. In his international career he scored an amazing 77 goals in 92 appearances. However, there was much more to Pele than 'just' goals.
He will also be remembered as being the only player in history for winning the world Cup on three occasions, a feat that is unlikely to ever be repeated. Only an injury in 1966 in England stopped him from possibly winning the World Cup on four consecutive occasions, allowing a fine England side to become World Champions for the first time.
He was captain of the greatest team of all time, the 1970 Brazil side that won the tournament so convincingly in Mexico. Anyone who has watched the final game of that tournament, which Brazil defeated Italy by four goals to one, will be amazed at the skill and vision of the original total footballing side.
Given that Pele hung his playing boots up over 20 years ago and is still revered by football fans that never saw him in his prime is testament to the great man's passion and skill for the greatest game of all.
Many others have graced the greatest tournament that is the World Cup, but both of the players named above are by far heralded as the greatest two. But who would make the top ten complete?
Gordon Banks, Eusebio, Puskas, Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Garrincha and the Johann Cruyff to name but a few. In fact many modern day critics may have Cruyff as the greatest modern player, a player who helped to mould the game into the style of play that you see today.
Then there are players that did not manage to show their talents in the World Cup, the most notable being the late, great George Best from Northern Ireland. The other most notable absentee is Alfredo Di Stefano. There are actually many Latin Americans that would hail the 'Blonde Arrow' Di Stefano as the greatest player that the world has ever seen.
Among those still playing, Czech Republic playmaker Pavel Nedved, of Juventus, Manchester United's Dutch predator Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ukrainian goal-machine Andrey Shevchenko, of AC Milan, would top the list. But all three will appear at Germany 2006, barring late injuries, and will probably write some new headlines too.
We look forward to this year's event with great enthusiasm and hopefully it will be remembered as being one of the greatest tournaments of all time. Let us all hope!
Joe Kenny writes for Football Talk, an online football news and discussion site. Discuss this year's World Cup in Germany in our football forums. With the latest football news on the World Cup, transfers and more.
Visit Football Talk today: http://footballtalk.org
Tips For Buying Your Next Scope
When it comes time to purchase a new scope for your rifle, there are a few tips to keep in mind. In the last few years alone it seems as though there have been an entire host of new scopes released on the market, with each one claiming to be better, more precise and more accurate than the last. Given the steep price tag of some of the most recently launched scopes, one would think that they were practically military grade. To avoid being taken for a scam; however, it is important to recognize that a high price tag does not a great scope make.
First, it is important to keep in mind that it can be extremely easy to be taken in by a slick ad copy, particularly when it comes to scopes. A good cover shot; however, won't tell you how well a scope really performs under the best and worst of circumstances. You need to read the fine material in order to understand that. Make sure when you're reading the tests that are often accompanied by most scope ad copy that accurate comparisons are made. Just like you can't compare an apple to an orange and get an accurate comparison you can't compare a 32mm objective lens scope with a 50mm variable power scope and get an accurate idea of whether one is necessarily better than the other. Look for scopes that are comparably compared based on price, objective size, intended use and power range.
When shopping around for scopes it is extremely important that you pay attention to the type of warranty that is offered with each scope. Many scopes, if not all of them today come with what is known as a limited lifetime warranty. That sounds all well and good in the beginning, until you run into a problem. Be sure to find out exactly what is covered in the warranty, how long it is covered and whether you need to be the original scope owner in order to take advantage of the warranty.
It is also important to give some consideration to the amount of internal adjustment range present on any scope you consider. Many people fail to think about this until after it's too late and then they have a problem on their hands. Give some thought to the type of rifle that you intend to place the scope on because it can make a major difference in the amount of internal adjustment range available to you. For example, if your rifle is particularly hard to mount, you may find yourself in a situation in which you don't have nearly the amount of range that you thought you did. When you're not able to mount the scope straight on, you lose a lot of range. Look for scopes that provide a wealth of adjustment, preferably at least 60 inches or more, if you have this type or rifle.
Finally, don't forget to give ample consideration to the assembly of the scope body. Remember that your scope is most likely going to be subjected to a beating, particularly if you use it in rough terrain. Taking the time now to consider how well the body will hold up will serve you well later on.
This article was provided courtesy of Michael Walker at ScopesGuide.com where you can find lots of information on discount riflescopes and other outdoor accessories.
The Bass Fishing Tackle
Bass Fishing Tackle is The Most Basic Equipment for Fishing Bass
Bass fishing is a lovely way to relax. There are always a number of tournaments in the United States, which is the house of the bass among other parts of the world. Good Bass fishing tackle is something that is crucial to your success as a bass fisherman (or woman).
Bass fishing tackle – what makes it so special?
When you are boxing what do you always have with you? A pair of boxing gloves. When you go bass fishing, what do you keep with you at all times? Your bass fishing tackle… not only that, but any other equipment that will speed you on your way to bagging that "big catch". You'll find that bass fishing tackle is slightly stronger than the normal tackle that is used for ordinary fishing, as it needs to be supple enough to be able to cast the lures far enough for fly fishing and other bass fishing techniques. From among various types of fishing equipment that you'll use, the tackle is the most basic as well as the most important.
If your tackle is not right then your fishing trip is doomed.
How to get the best bass fishing tackle
There are specialized fishing equipment departments who will be happy to give expert advice and recommend the best brands available in the market. However, before you decide, if you aren't 100% sure on what bass fishing tackle you are after (meaning you haven't been recommended to buy a certain type) make sure that it comes with either a money back guarantee, or a trial period so that you can test it out to make sure you like what you are using. There is nothing worse then getting your bass fishing tackle, and it not fitting with your style.
Bass fishing; a great sport
As one of the most popular sports, bass fishing attracts a lot of attention both as a hobby and as a profession. There are a number of tournaments organized every year where many people take part not only for the excitement of winning a prize, but also for the money prizes.
During this time, if you feel that you are good, you can test your skills against the best talents in the world. This is when you will understand the importance of having top of the line equipment which becomes a total extension of yourself. If you win, not only will you take home a substantial cash prize, but you'll also feel sure of yourself in the fact that you pitted your skills against the best in the world and came out on top.
Discover some more of authors Bass Fishing articles.
