Perhaps a little bit premature, but what have been the best bits of 2008? The best player? The best team? The best goal? The best game? The best moment? Any more you care to imagine.
I am putting more weigts on the 1st half of the year. Best player: CR7(Messi will be mine for the last 3 months) Best team: Man Utd Best game: I think I will vote an Euro 2008 game, but my memory of Euro 2008 is fading fast. Can someone enlight me? Best moment: Terry's pk miss against Man Utd in the CL final(not really best moment, but certainly the moment I remembered for 2008).
Jennifer Anniston's GQ shoot gets my vote. As far as the other categories you mentioned.... The best player? - Christiano Ronaldo The best team? - club/NT - Man U/Spain The best goal? - hmm... too hard to mention just one goal.... some that I remember.. - Ronaldo v Portsmouth - amazing free kick (or was that 2007?) - Wesly Schneider v France - best goal of Euro 2008 maybe - Bentley v Arsenal - great shot from way out The best game? - Germany v Turkey Euro 2008, Arsenal v Spurs 4-4 The best moment? - Spain winning their first international trophy since the 60s Any more you care to imagine.
The best player? Cristiano Ronaldo The best team? Hoffenheim The best goal? Can't really look past Ronaldo's against Portsmouth The best game? Liverpool 4 - 2 Arsenal Tottenham 4 - 4 Chelsea The best moment? Turkey's equaliser against the Croats.
I have to go with Cristiano Ronaldo for player of the year! He was just too good this year. I woudl like to add the biggest under performers of the year- AC Milan, From Champions League contendors to barely making the uefa cup. I have to say in terms of US soccer, New England winning the Super Liga was the highlight!
Obviously they are not the best team in the world this year. That will obviously go to Spain or Manchester United. But for a club of their size, to even get promoted to the Bundesliga is astonishing, and then to get to the top is team of the year stuff.
The best player? - Freddy Adu The best team? - Derby County The best goal? - Eddie Johnson vs.... ugghhh, who was it again? The best game? - Barbados 0-1 USA The best moment? - Lee Nguyen going to Vietnam
Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal & Manchester United) Best Team: Spain (National Team) and Manchester United (Club) Best Goal: I'm not sure Best Game: Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic (European Championship) Best Moment: Spain winning the European Championship
Best player? Ronaldo, unfortunately. Best team? Chelsea Best goal? Riise's own goal against us Best game? Turkey vs. Czech Republic Best moment? Barnsley over Liverpool at Anfield
player: ronnie team: united goal: scholes v barca, fab v milan, gerrard v inter game: milan 0 arse 2, perfection for 90 mins, and the first time an english side had taken on the mighty milan in san siro and won moment: realisation that anelka penalty was final action of cl final, about ten seconds after the miss had taken place. points of note: yes hoffenheim have been incredible, congrats to spain for that win after such a long wait, many top matches: chelsea spurs in league and league cup, spurs v arse in lc, great fa cup runs for lesser sides, holland were awesome at the euros, russia rebirth after so many years of dormancy, turkey get to another semi and sooo nearly get to a final, great cl for the prem again, 3 semis for 2nd yr in a row and then both finalists, zenits great uefa cup run, their wins v german sides especially great performances, bayerns game v getafe was an unbelievable night of football. also, even though its very recent, pep guardiola seems to be playing his own real life version of fantasy football with all the cheats ebabled so that his team wins every game by a 6 goals margin, unbelievable run of form since he took charge and imo clear favourites to win everything in 2009. shit, almost forgot about the england nt, obviously we werent at the euros so 2008 will be a year that blackens our history books for many , many years, but with cappello we have had many great moments already, croatia away, germany away, the general feeling that we are getting back to be being a credible and organised force in football again after 2 years being mis-run by a gloryfied p.e. teacher.
For me personally (you can only comment on what you know about, after all) The best player? Eljero Elia. Superstar Dutch left winger of the future, you've heard it here first. The best team? I have to admit it's AZ in the Dutch league. The best goal? Not sure, theres too many to choose from. The best game? The first 30 minutes by Twente away at arch rivals Groningen. The best moment? Eljero Elia's interview with the Dutch media. "Are you leaving Twente" - "Only if a really big club turns up" "Are Man City a big club" "No. They're a very rich club."
I think Ryan Giggs breaking Bobby Charlton's appearance record for Man Utd is worth a mention here. I still find it difficult to avoid thinking of the skinny 17 year old and not the veteran with over 800 games under his belt.
Best player: Ferdinand/Schelotto Best team: Manchester United Best goal: Ali Gerba vs. Mexico / Glen Johnson left-footed volley a few weeks ago, I can't even remember the opposition tbh. Best game: Turkey-Czech Republic Best moment: Tomasz Radzinski terrorizing Honduras and Mexico at the age of 34 and ending his international career on a high. Another would be Hiddink's bit about being 'scared as hell' and therefore needing to attack against Holland.
Player: Ronaldo Team: Spain Goal: Have to think about it. Game: Turkey-Czech Republic Moment: Boca Juniors winning the Apertura and River Plate finishing dead last.
A few of mine: Best player: Ronaldo obviously, probably Xavi second as he has been consistently excellent the whole year. Best team: United by a nose ahead of Chelsea and Spain Best game: Probably Spurs v. Arsenal recently Best goal: I thought Robinho's chip was superb against Arsenal, and Lampard's against Hull I think. Best moment: Spurs beating Chelsea and Arsenal to win the Carling Cup. Most touching moment was when Lampard scored against Liverpool in the CL semi-final and pointed to the sky in tribute to his mother.
Player: Ronaldo, I'd say Xavi and Casillas deserve mention, but Ronaldo stands out for sure Team: Manchester United, followed by Spain and that Portugease Side that came up from the second division and got 3rd or 4th (i feel dumb for forgetting the side's name) Goal: Ronnie vs Pompey, Ronaldo vs Villa (back heel), Robinho vs Arsenal, Scholes vs Barca Game: Turkey vs Czech Republic. Moment: Van Der Saar stopping Anelka, Terry Missing, but overall i have to say Giggsy breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's record and scoring the goal that guarunteed United the league. If you guys could hear the amount of shit Giggs gets from the supporters now a days you'd understand why that moment was even more amazing.
One of the most memorable goals: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiq7MMZR1Kw"]YouTube - Grande INIESTA... Golazos...[/ame]
Player: Xavi - over 12 months (including the EC) he's been more of a world-beater than Ronaldo Team: Spain Goal: Messi 2-0 vs. Sevilla this season Game: Germany 3-2 Portugal, Ricardo's Schweinsteiger nightmares continue Moment: Chelsea through to the CL final, courtesy of one John Arne Riise
Not quite the "best", but a striker in England just set the record for fastest red card ejection ever.