Serb
11 Nov 2005, 11:09 AM
The Free Kick Specialists
11/8/2005 3:14:00 PM
There is no asset like a player who can take a free kick and weigh in with crucial goals from dead balls. Over the last twenty years many a game has been won from a shot curled over a wall. Who is or has been the best? Goal.com’s Gavin Dunne assesses the free kick specialists…
10. Assuncao
The Brazilian, a former favorite of Fabio Capello, has a lethal accuracy from free kicks. While at Roma he displayed a remarkable consistency almost always hitting the target, making the keeper work, and finding the net. Never really got a look in for his national team, but if he had there would have been a tussle with Roberto Carlos for taking rights.
9: Thierry Henry
Although similarly to his strike partner Dennis Bergkamp, Henry didn’t make it in Italy, the premiership has launched him to superstardom. Always dangerous from a free kick, he has also cleverly used the rules to his advantage by asking the referee can he take it quickly before the opposition is ready. Fantastic technique with the inside of his right boot has enabled him to get a handful of free kick goals a season.
8: Alvaro Recoba
Once the highest paid player in the world, Recoba is a great underachiever. The talent in his left boot may yet light up the next world cup but until now he has only shown his brilliance for brief periods.
His left foot is one of power and accuracy; there is not a goalkeeper in the world that would feel comfortable before he steps up. While not prolific from free kicks due to never being a regular in the Inter starting lineup, he has pinpoint accuracy for dead balls and corners in particular.
7: Gheorghe Hagi
‘Gica’s left foot was feared by all, from a dead ball situation defenders got nervous if Hagi was around. He demonstrated his prowess from outside the box at Barcelona, Madrid, Brescia and Galatasary. Not always consistent however, he may have scored more considering his talent. Few would knock the great man though, and he could not be left out of this top ten.
6: Hristo Stoitchkov
Along with his other many talents ‘The Dagger’ was feared by all from any shooting position, most of all free kicks. He demonstrated this throughout his club career and was still curling them into the top corner during twilight of his playing days in the US League. The world cup of 1994 was the setting for his most memorable free kick, which helped knock the Germans out of the tournament. Remarkable accuracy and power made Hristo an all time great. Now the coach of Bulgaria I wouldn’t be surprised to see him bring himself on to take one some day.
5. Roberto Carlos
The Brazilian shot to fame when he scored the unforgettable curler in Le Tournoi. Hitting it with the outside of his left foot it bent one way around the wall and then the other to deceive the keeper. A light ball maybe, but fantastic all the same. His left foot is the most powerful in the game today and has been for many years. While he does miss a few, he still always bags a few set pieces a season for Real Madrid.
He has also scored many for Brazil with the last world cup seeing a screamer. The outspoken little man nicknamed ‘the cannonball kid’ will always be remember for the sheer power he can generate from his freakishly large thighs.
4: David Beckham
Being so pretty, when Beckham scores a free kick it makes the news and they claim he is the best in the world. However Beckham has earned the right to be considered in the top five because he has proven to be consistent from dead balls for a number of years. Practice makes perfect and this can be applied to no-one better then Beckham who spends many an extra hour curling them over the wall on the training pitch. Important goals for England and Real Madrid have made him an icon for the dead ball specialty.
3: Ronald Koeman
There are not many football fans that could forget Ronald Koeman. From dead balls he was incredibly consistent and accurate. He had the ability to blast it or to curl it, and the English will never forget…. “He’s gona flick this one, he’s gona flick it!” the famous line as he stepped up to rule England out of the World Cup. What he lacked in pace he made up for in brains, and at his peak he was number one in the world from dead balls without a doubt. Also an incredible passer of the ball, Koeman was part of Cruyff’s Barcelona side that played such glorious football in the early 1990’s.
2: Matthew Le Tissier
Le God as they called him in the south of England might have been one of the laziest geniuses in the game, but his abilities with a football are up their with the greats of all time. Taking over 30 penalties in his career and only missing 1 shows his prowess and pinpoint accuracy. He scored countless freekicks among his array of spectacular goals, it’s such a shame we never got to see him in a team fighting for honors. Saying that it was a joy to watch him save Southampton year after year with goals of ridiculous quality. Perhaps his best from the dead ball was the flick up from his teammate for him to volley it into the top corner.
1: Sinisa Mihajlovic
Recently a commentator in Australia said that if his family were locked up and about to be executed, and if you had to score a free kick to save them, Mihajlovic would be the man to take it. Holding the record for the most free kicks scored in Serie A, the journeyman of Italy is unparalleled in his success rate and consistency. He also takes a deadly corner, possessing the ability to drop the ball right on the penalty spot. The man from Serbia and Montenegro has fired them into the top corner for his country, for Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and now does it for Inter. A favorite of Eriksson while the Swede made his name in Italy, he helped capture titles with Sampdoria and Lazio weighing in with important goals. Whenever he isn’t scoring free kicks he is usually spitting at opponents. It is his ability from dead balls that has helped him prolong his career in Italy as he is a lethal weapon from anywhere in the opponents half.
Gavin Dunne
http://www.goal.com
:) :o :(
11/8/2005 3:14:00 PM
There is no asset like a player who can take a free kick and weigh in with crucial goals from dead balls. Over the last twenty years many a game has been won from a shot curled over a wall. Who is or has been the best? Goal.com’s Gavin Dunne assesses the free kick specialists…
10. Assuncao
The Brazilian, a former favorite of Fabio Capello, has a lethal accuracy from free kicks. While at Roma he displayed a remarkable consistency almost always hitting the target, making the keeper work, and finding the net. Never really got a look in for his national team, but if he had there would have been a tussle with Roberto Carlos for taking rights.
9: Thierry Henry
Although similarly to his strike partner Dennis Bergkamp, Henry didn’t make it in Italy, the premiership has launched him to superstardom. Always dangerous from a free kick, he has also cleverly used the rules to his advantage by asking the referee can he take it quickly before the opposition is ready. Fantastic technique with the inside of his right boot has enabled him to get a handful of free kick goals a season.
8: Alvaro Recoba
Once the highest paid player in the world, Recoba is a great underachiever. The talent in his left boot may yet light up the next world cup but until now he has only shown his brilliance for brief periods.
His left foot is one of power and accuracy; there is not a goalkeeper in the world that would feel comfortable before he steps up. While not prolific from free kicks due to never being a regular in the Inter starting lineup, he has pinpoint accuracy for dead balls and corners in particular.
7: Gheorghe Hagi
‘Gica’s left foot was feared by all, from a dead ball situation defenders got nervous if Hagi was around. He demonstrated his prowess from outside the box at Barcelona, Madrid, Brescia and Galatasary. Not always consistent however, he may have scored more considering his talent. Few would knock the great man though, and he could not be left out of this top ten.
6: Hristo Stoitchkov
Along with his other many talents ‘The Dagger’ was feared by all from any shooting position, most of all free kicks. He demonstrated this throughout his club career and was still curling them into the top corner during twilight of his playing days in the US League. The world cup of 1994 was the setting for his most memorable free kick, which helped knock the Germans out of the tournament. Remarkable accuracy and power made Hristo an all time great. Now the coach of Bulgaria I wouldn’t be surprised to see him bring himself on to take one some day.
5. Roberto Carlos
The Brazilian shot to fame when he scored the unforgettable curler in Le Tournoi. Hitting it with the outside of his left foot it bent one way around the wall and then the other to deceive the keeper. A light ball maybe, but fantastic all the same. His left foot is the most powerful in the game today and has been for many years. While he does miss a few, he still always bags a few set pieces a season for Real Madrid.
He has also scored many for Brazil with the last world cup seeing a screamer. The outspoken little man nicknamed ‘the cannonball kid’ will always be remember for the sheer power he can generate from his freakishly large thighs.
4: David Beckham
Being so pretty, when Beckham scores a free kick it makes the news and they claim he is the best in the world. However Beckham has earned the right to be considered in the top five because he has proven to be consistent from dead balls for a number of years. Practice makes perfect and this can be applied to no-one better then Beckham who spends many an extra hour curling them over the wall on the training pitch. Important goals for England and Real Madrid have made him an icon for the dead ball specialty.
3: Ronald Koeman
There are not many football fans that could forget Ronald Koeman. From dead balls he was incredibly consistent and accurate. He had the ability to blast it or to curl it, and the English will never forget…. “He’s gona flick this one, he’s gona flick it!” the famous line as he stepped up to rule England out of the World Cup. What he lacked in pace he made up for in brains, and at his peak he was number one in the world from dead balls without a doubt. Also an incredible passer of the ball, Koeman was part of Cruyff’s Barcelona side that played such glorious football in the early 1990’s.
2: Matthew Le Tissier
Le God as they called him in the south of England might have been one of the laziest geniuses in the game, but his abilities with a football are up their with the greats of all time. Taking over 30 penalties in his career and only missing 1 shows his prowess and pinpoint accuracy. He scored countless freekicks among his array of spectacular goals, it’s such a shame we never got to see him in a team fighting for honors. Saying that it was a joy to watch him save Southampton year after year with goals of ridiculous quality. Perhaps his best from the dead ball was the flick up from his teammate for him to volley it into the top corner.
1: Sinisa Mihajlovic
Recently a commentator in Australia said that if his family were locked up and about to be executed, and if you had to score a free kick to save them, Mihajlovic would be the man to take it. Holding the record for the most free kicks scored in Serie A, the journeyman of Italy is unparalleled in his success rate and consistency. He also takes a deadly corner, possessing the ability to drop the ball right on the penalty spot. The man from Serbia and Montenegro has fired them into the top corner for his country, for Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and now does it for Inter. A favorite of Eriksson while the Swede made his name in Italy, he helped capture titles with Sampdoria and Lazio weighing in with important goals. Whenever he isn’t scoring free kicks he is usually spitting at opponents. It is his ability from dead balls that has helped him prolong his career in Italy as he is a lethal weapon from anywhere in the opponents half.
Gavin Dunne
http://www.goal.com
:) :o :(