Out of Left Field
The expression refers to the arrival of something unexpected, something unexplained, slightly sinsiter, definitely weird and often spectacular. Something left-footed perhaps.
Which is what we get almost every major tournament. Every World Cup and Euro has seen the emergence of an unexpected contender, out of left field, always with a spectacular left footed player leading the way.
In recent memory '92 saw the late entrants Denmark, who didn't even qualify but won the whole thing after Yugoslavia could no longer hold together as a country, led by the left-footed Laudrup wonder-twins.
In '94 the Bulgarians were definitely out of left field. Never even having won a game at the World Cup in their history prior to they stormed to the semis on the back of their left-footed demi-god Hristo Stoichkov.
In '96, one of the countries newly emerged from Yugoslavia showed they had all the left-footed talent of that federation, with the subtle artistry of Prosinecki and the emphatic finishes of Suker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miNhm0YOVYU
making Croatia an exciting new entry into the world of football, a reputation they backed up with performance in World Cup '98, taking 3rd place and a Golden Boot for Sukerman.
The Turks stormed the ramparts of the '02 World Cup, Emre and Yildiray leading the left footed charge and the sinister Hassan Sas scaring small children with his emotionless post goal scowl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQaovxawMJ4
At Euro 08 The Turks again shocked the establishment with some fine left-footed finishing from Semih, but it was the Russians Zhirkov and Arshavin who took the acclaim as the best left footers in the world.
Who will come out of left field next?
Watch this space.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Why England will never win the World Cup.
The England side that hoisted the trophy in '66 did so due to home advantage and an intimidated Azeri linesman. They were, and all England sides have been since, horribly unbalanced. Not a left footed magician on the side ever.
Sure Gareth Barry is tidy and Ashley Cole has a superstar wife, but the best of the England team comes from the right foot and always has since the time of Sir Stanley Mathews. Think of the best England players of all time and they all heavily favor the right: Beckham, Waddle, Wilson, Keegan, Charlton, Moore, Edwards, Mathews etc.
They make do with Gerrard, one of the only players on the England squad good with both feet, but the nation cries out for left-footed magic. And cry they should, as the Druids wept when the sacred oaks of Mona were destroyed.
Whatr does one have to do with the other? Well the supression of the Celtic mystery by the
pragmatic Anglo-Saxons is reflected in the lack of invention in the England side. The Celts have traditionally supplied the necessary invention to English football, ie Baxter, Gemmill, Best, Blanchflower, Giggs etc. Now consider if a united Great Britain were to field a team and bring in the best left footers from Scotland, Wales and Ireland. How good would Ryan Giggs, supplied by Barry Ferguson with Gareth Bale overlapping be? Good enough to erase the memories of the failed Steve McManaman experiment? Perhaps, but Scouse is not Celt and the English will have to muddle along on two right feet.
In the words of the greatest of the Celtic magicians when asked his opinion of Beckham:
"He can't kick with his left, can't head a ball, can't tackle and doesn't score many goals; apart from that he's allright."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeVEy78zfc0&feature=related
The England side that hoisted the trophy in '66 did so due to home advantage and an intimidated Azeri linesman. They were, and all England sides have been since, horribly unbalanced. Not a left footed magician on the side ever.
Sure Gareth Barry is tidy and Ashley Cole has a superstar wife, but the best of the England team comes from the right foot and always has since the time of Sir Stanley Mathews. Think of the best England players of all time and they all heavily favor the right: Beckham, Waddle, Wilson, Keegan, Charlton, Moore, Edwards, Mathews etc.
They make do with Gerrard, one of the only players on the England squad good with both feet, but the nation cries out for left-footed magic. And cry they should, as the Druids wept when the sacred oaks of Mona were destroyed.
Whatr does one have to do with the other? Well the supression of the Celtic mystery by the
pragmatic Anglo-Saxons is reflected in the lack of invention in the England side. The Celts have traditionally supplied the necessary invention to English football, ie Baxter, Gemmill, Best, Blanchflower, Giggs etc. Now consider if a united Great Britain were to field a team and bring in the best left footers from Scotland, Wales and Ireland. How good would Ryan Giggs, supplied by Barry Ferguson with Gareth Bale overlapping be? Good enough to erase the memories of the failed Steve McManaman experiment? Perhaps, but Scouse is not Celt and the English will have to muddle along on two right feet.
In the words of the greatest of the Celtic magicians when asked his opinion of Beckham:
"He can't kick with his left, can't head a ball, can't tackle and doesn't score many goals; apart from that he's allright."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeVEy78zfc0&feature=related
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The left footed are a special breed. Most of the world's footballers use it just for standing on, very few are good with both feet, but those who are primarily left footed rank amongst the world's greatest footballlers. There is an important distinction with left footers however. They are invariably, irretrievably and incomparably madmen!
This blog explores the magic and mystery of the left footed, past, present and future. Great left footed strikes, sublime left footed control and the ridiculous misses of the right footed as he tries to take it "On His Left!"
This blog explores the magic and mystery of the left footed, past, present and future. Great left footed strikes, sublime left footed control and the ridiculous misses of the right footed as he tries to take it "On His Left!"
Hristo Stoichkov scores the equalizer!
Quite possibly the moment that defined the game for me, my favorite goal from the 94 World Cup and the moment I went from fan to wannabe footballer.
The through ball from Balakov (also a left footer) was exquisite, the finish emphatic and the post goal angry face sums up the man himself.
He turns and scowls at all, opponents and teammates and tells them "Finally, you have permitted my greatness to be perceived."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVpqv8i_wpE
The through ball from Balakov (also a left footer) was exquisite, the finish emphatic and the post goal angry face sums up the man himself.
He turns and scowls at all, opponents and teammates and tells them "Finally, you have permitted my greatness to be perceived."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVpqv8i_wpE
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