30 Greatest Footballers: One Man's Opinion

A guy who calls himself hkdollarboy2 has put together two great videos on YouTube with his Top 30 football players of all time. Some great archival footage.





hat top to 101 Great Goals

Footie News

By Stephen Dunn, Getty Images
Jimmy Conrad celebrates his first international goal, a score that put the U.S. up 1-0 over Mexico. (USA Toady)

"The Bake, Boca & Deuce Show at Craven Cottage" Yanks Abroad: FULHAM'S AMERICAN ROOTS

US Women's National Team coach Greg Ryan has named his squad for the Algarve Cup next month; Shannon Boxx is back from injury.

The draw for the Copa America tournament was today, and as usual, the US is in the Group of Death (three World Cup qualifying teams + Columbia)

Tim Howard will sign a five-year contract and make his move from Manchester United to Everton permanent (USA Today/ icLiverpool has a nice article on Timmy, too.)

My Soccer Blog has player rankings for the US players for the US-Mexico game last week.

When you can't get to the TV, crazed footie fans, you can watch SkySports on your computer at this website. Scroll down, it's in a box on the right. (hat tip to 101 Great Goals)

Video highlights: 12 best goals around the world in January (YouTube, via 101 Great Goals)

10 best goals in England's Championship this year

Don't miss Zinedine Zidane's Top Ten Goals; what ball control skills (YouTube via Who Ate All The Pies)

Zizou Speaks

Mail and Guardian (za): What really happened, by Zinedine Zidane

He said that while he was sorry for all that had happened, he had no regrets about retaliating against Materazzi.

"I can't say I have any regrets about what I did because that would be like admitting that he had every reason to say what he said." said Zidane.

"I can't, repeat can't say that. He had no reason to say what he said. It's always the reaction that is sanctioned and not the provoker."

Zidane said that the final had been without any major incidents between the two teams up until his dramatic clash with Materazzi when the Italian had tugged at his shirt.

"I told him to stop pulling my shirt and that he could have it if he wanted at the end of the match," he said.

"That was when words were said, very hard words and he said them several times.

"Words can sometimes be harder than actions. It all went very quickly and they were words that hurt me deep down.

"The real culprit should be sanctioned and the real culprit is him. He provoked it all.

"Do you imagine that in a World Cup final like that with just 10 minutes to go to the end of my career, I am going to do something like that because it gives me pleasure?"

News 24 (sa): Zidane: Sorry, but no regrets

Zidane denied Materazzi called him an Islamic "terrorist", as was reported by a Paris-based anti-racism group.

NPR: Zizou Speaks

"He (Materazzi) pronounced very tough words about my mother and my sister. I tried not to listen to him but he kept repeating them," Zidane said in a live interview on French television channel Canal Plus.

We Call It Soccer* News

Zizou to give his side of the story in live televised interview in France: Times (uk)

Sepp Blatter says Zidane could be stripped of Golden Ball award for headbutt: CNN

Racial incidents in Italy during World Cup celebrations: NYTimes

FIFA officials discussing possible emergency move of 2010 World Cup from South Africa to USA: Guardian

Klinsmann quits as Germany coach: USAToady

DC United takes on Celtic at RFK tonight: WaPo

Kenya wins Street Football World Cup: Expatica

How long before Klinsmann announced as US National Team coach? Not long, I hope.

We Call It Soccer, a phrase I steal from the blog of the same name.

Materazzi Called Zidane 'Son of a Terrorist Whore'; What Will FIFA Do?

Anything? Or is the anti-racism message just words on a piece of paper?

Sun (uk): Sick taunt that riled ZZ

Sydney Morning Herald: Lip reader's take on Materazzi insult

Birmingham (uk) Post: Materazzi: I did insult Zidane

Belfast Telegraph: Graeme le Saux: an insiders' guide to the taunting that taints top-class football
How common is the verbal abuse endured by Zinedine Zidane? Very common, writes someone who should certainly know

Times (uk) Lipreader Concurs

Times (uk): Read my lips: the taunt that made Zidane snap

...The Times enlisted the help of an expert lip reader, Jessica Rees, to determine the precise nature of the dialogue that caused Zidane to react in such a manner.

After an exhaustive study of the match video, and with the help of an Italian translator, Rees claimed that Materazzi called Zidane “the son of a terrorist whore” before adding “so just f*** off” for good measure, supporting the natural assumption that the Frenchman must have been grievously insulted.

[]

When asked about the allegations on his return to Rome, Materazzi issued a vehement denial, while sources close to the player emphasised that he had not been accused of racism before, pointing to his close friendship with Obafemi Martins, the Nigeria and Inter Milan striker.

“It is absolutely not true,” Materazzi said. “I did not call him a terrorist. I’m ignorant. I don’t even know what the word means. The whole world saw what happened on live TV.”

So, is Materazzi employing the "some of my best friends are the sons of terrorist whores" defense?

'So Just Fuck Off' Was The Nicest Thing Materazzi Said

The Daily Mirror hired a lip reader. Will Materazzi plead ignorance again?

Daily Mirror (uk): Revealed: The disgusting abuse that sparked Zidane's fury

It is the question on every football fan's lips. What did the Italian footballer say to prompt Zinedine Zidane's shocking headbutt in the closing moments of Sunday's World Cup final?

The answer, it has emerged, was a vile stream of racial and personal abuse.

First Marco Matterazzi called the French star the Italian equivalent of 'n*****', and then insulted both his mother and his Muslim background by saying he is the 'son of a terrorist whore.

[]

With the help of an expert lip reader the Daily Mail was able to decipher what led to the violent outburst.

First defender Marco Materazzi spoke in Italian - a language understood by Zidane who once played for Italian side Juventus - grabbed his opponent and told him 'hold on, wait, that one's not for a n***** like you.'

It is not clear whether the Italian was referring to the ball heading their way or his own groping of Zidane.

The expert, who can lip read foreign languages phonetically and translate with the aid of an Italian interpreter, was unable to see what Zidane said in reply.

But she saw that as the players walked forward Materazzi said: 'We all know you are the son of a terrorist whore.'

Then, just before the headbutt, he was seen saying,: 'So just f*** off.'

Best Video Evidence: Any Lipreaders Out There?

From BlogVermelho (via Bigsoccer) the best video I've seen of the confrontation between Materazzi and Zidane: O Touro Zidane

The YouTube video at the top of the post is shot looking straight on at Materazzi and Zidane as they trot down the field, Materazzi jawing at Zidane before Zidane turns to deliver the head.

Do you speak Italian? French? Lipreaders, we need your assistance!

Nice

iPlot: A Zineastic Moment

According to lip readers hired by the Brazilian sports publication Globo, Materazzi called Zidane’s sister a prostitute and Zidane himself a terrorist. Materazzi denies this.

Materazzi: "I'm Ignorant"

French President Jacques Chirac bids farewell to Zinedine Zidane at the Elysee palace in Paris. Chirac told Zidane, "What I want to say to you at the most intense, perhaps the hardest moment of your career, is the admiration and affection of an entire nation, and also its respects."(AFP/Patrick Kovarik)
Reuters: Zidane apparently called "dirty terrorist"

PARIS, July 10 (Reuters) - France captain Zinedine Zidane was apparently called a "dirty terrorist" by Marco Materazzi before he head-butted the Italy defender in Sunday's World Cup final, the anti-racism group SOS Racism said on Monday.

"According to several very well informed sources from the world of football, it would seem that the Italian player Marco Materazzi called Zinedine Zidane a 'dirty terrorist'," SOS Racism said in a statement.

Reuters: Materazzi denies calling Zidane "terrorist"

ROME (Reuters) - Italy defender Marco Materazzi on Monday denied a report that he had called Zinedine Zidane a "dirty terrorist" seconds before the French captain head-butted him in Sunday's World Cup final.

"It is absolutely not true, I did not call him a terrorist. I'm ignorant. I don't even know what the word means," the Italian news agency Ansa quoted Materazzi as saying after the Italian team returned to Rome.

"The whole world saw what happened on live TV," he added.

Another cynical Italian ploy.

You can use this animation to give Materazzi a few more headbutts.

Football Takes A Dive

Enraged : French midfielder Zinedine Zidane (L) gestures after head butting Italian defender Marco Materazzi during the World Cup 2006 final football match between Italy and France at BerlinÂ’s Olympic Stadium. Italy won the 2006 World Cup defeating France 5-3 on penalties. (AFP/John MacDougall)

The Italian Diving Team hoisted the World Cup trophy last night, after Zinedine Zidane was sent off in overtime for headbutting the Italian defender Materazzi. I cannot help but believe that Materazzi said something racially offensive to Zidane, a Frenchman of Algerian heritage who had read FIFA's empty anti-racism message before every knockout round match. (But see the BBC article that says Materazzi insulted Zidane's mother. Yo Momma!) A painful ending for all of us who love the Beautiful Game, to have the most cynical team in the tournament the last one standing. Let's close the book on the 2006 World Cup with a Best and Worst list.

BEST COACH: Jurgen Klinsmann (Germany). Though he got outcoached in the semifinal against Italy, he wins the award for making Germans believe in more than just the German team.

WORST COACH: As an American, I have to give Bruce Arena (USA) the worst coach award. At least Sven Moron Erickson (England) and Jose Pekerman (Argentina) won a few games. And they didn't have press conferences excoriating their players by name after losses. Bruce must go. Klinsi, come home to San Diego, only 20 minutes away from the USA training center!

BEST PLAYER: The journalists who award the Golden Ball gave it to Zidane in a close vote over Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro (2,012 to 1,977), and I can't disagree with that. If Cannavaro hadn't knocked Thierry Henry out in the first minute of the game, I would have given it to him, but he did and I won't. Zidane was magnificent in the knockout round. His game against Brazil was one for the ages.

BEST GOAL: Maxi Rodriguez's chest trap, blast volley goal against Mexico in overtime, hands down. Brilliant goal, and the gamewinner. Second place for me was Beckham's free kick goal, because it was a great goal and it won the game.

WORST PLAYER: Daniele DeRossi of Italy, the guy who elbowed Brian McBride in the face.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Brazil and Ronaldhino. He was hamstrung by the coach's formation, but I expected more from the World Player of the Year. Second place, the Americans and Bruce Arena's decision to make Eddie Pope the Jeff Agoos of 2006. Last October I predicted this:

Eddie Pope? I think Bruce sees his past more than he sees his present. I love and adore Eddie Pope, but he's done at the international level. Once you lose that step as a defender, it's over. Can you see him going head to head with Wayne Rooney? Kaka? Eto'o? Shevchenko? Nope. We tried this last World Cup (Jeff Agoos) with disastrous results.

And there was Eddie Pope, waving his hand for an offsides call as Alberto Gilardino, the Italian he was failing to mark, scored a header past Kasey Keller. If only Arena had started Conrad from the get-go. We coulda been a contender!

BEST YOUNG PLAYER: I'm not using a rigid age limit. For me this category is a tie between Franck Ribery of France, the man who ran so France's old folks could conserve their energy, and Philip Lahm of Germany, the best tiny defender since Ashley Cole.

BEST OLD PLAYER: Keeper Shaka Hislop of Trinidad & Tobago (age 37) was called into the T&T game against Sweden at the last minute as regular keeper Kelvin Jack was injured in warm-ups. Hislop stoned the Swedes with a number of spectacular saves to make the game the BEST 0-0 TIE of the tournament.

BIGGEST VILLAIN: Must be Sepp Blatter for giving us this hideous refereeing with his edict telling referees cards must fly. Ruined the tournament. If only he had announced that diving must be curtailed. No way would be Italy be holding the trophy today if that were so.

WORST ANNOUNCER: Dave O'Brien (Dumb) by a whisker over his boothmate, Marcelo Balboa (Dumber). OK, they were both horrible, but O'Brien seems to think he's earned the job. Listening him to talk about Italy having gone from a man marking defense to more of a zone yesterday -- a man who knows nothing about soccer, nothing, it was just pathetic. Please god, let ESPN fire both their sorry asses and start over. Can we steal Martin Tyler from Australia, anyone?

WORST PERFORMANCE BY A TELEVISION NETWORK: And the envelope goes to ESPN. Where to start? Let's hire a lead announcer who doesn't know anything about the world's most popular sport! Let's lower the crowd noise so everyone can hear every stupid word out of our stupid announcers' mouths! Let's use huge graphics that obscure the screen! Let's skip the national anthems of US opponents! Let's skip national anthems altogether if the US isn't playing! Let's show the lineups in groups, on top of the action after the game has started! Let's hire one of the most hated announcers in sports to anchor the booth (Musberger). Let's cut away immediately after matches!

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A TELEVISION NETWORK: Univision. I couldn't understand much more than pelota, but I could follow the game better than with Dumb and Dumber pissing me off.

PERSONAL HIGH POINT: Arriving at the stadium in Gelsenkirchen for the US-Czech Republic game to find that my Row 1 tickets that I assumed would be in the upper deck were in the actual front row, right behind the tent through which the players entered the field. Unfortunately my PERSONAL LOW POINT was that 3-0 trouncing by the Czechs. Ouch.

Great tournament though and kudos to the German people who were great hosts.

WaPo: The Golden Boot

WaPo: France's Zidane Sees Red, Ends Fabled Career With an Ejection

Jere Longman, NYTimes: A Star Falters, France Fades, Italy Rejoices

BBC: Zidane blamed Materazzi comment

BBC: European press review: World Cup

Guardian (uk): Italy strike gold as Zidane sees red

Mirror (uk): DID 'TERRORIST' JIBE MAKE ZZ BLOW HIS TOP

Mark Lawrenson (Lawro), Mirror (uk): GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD

Mirror (uk): MAGIC MAXI, POTTY POLL, DULL DOMENECH, SOGGY SAUDIS

Times (uk): Materazzi mystery hangs over the party in Rome

BBC: World Cup Final photos

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAACK

Just returned home from an unscheduled trip to visit a recuperating relative.

Now I am recovering from a new sports blow -- England's extra-time loss to the dreaded Frogs at Euro20004. England Suffer France Agony

It was torture to watch it all unravel so quickly at the end.

Crazy Barthez with that great save on Beckham's PK was the start.

Then England turtled for the rest of the second half -- impossible against the French who are loaded with offensive talent. And the final blow, Sven-Goren puts in EMILE HESKEY, of all substitutes, for Wayne Rooney who at 18 didn't need a rest, and certainly didn't need to be taken out for the useless Mr. Heskey. Wham-o, Heskey fouls, Zidane strikes with the perfect free kick, England panics, Steven Gerrard makes the sloppy pass back to James, James fouls Henry and and Zidane puts them away from the penalty mark. Sad.

More tomorrow.