http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=brillianceafiel&prov=cnnsi&type=lgns I've seen this guy before, but never covering soccer. Don't like the article, makes it seem like Beckham is the only guy in the world that can score off of freekicks. Personally I would rather have Roberto Carlos shooting my free kicks.
Frank DeFord is dead. This is some form of digital trickery. As to whom to have taking your free-kicks, I would have Beckham over Roberto Carlos every time. You see, he scores from them.
Heck I wouldnt just take R. Carlos over Beckham, I would take Figo, Zidane, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho over Beckham for a freekick.
DeFord doing a positive article on the sport?? This clearly means soccer has finally made it in America!!! We can all rest now...
A change of heart? Frank Deford definitely is not dead...but maybe he has had an epiphany! I have never known him to write so generously of soccer. In fact, he's usually scornful. I wish I knew where to e-mail him. Maybe a flurry of responses would show him that soccer fans are reading...and buying...and subscribing!
Here was my post from the Brasilian forum on this subject. And who I would choose to take my kicks: Rivaldo Beckham Ronaldinho Zidane Roberto Carlos Rivaldo can bend it from tight and has the power to put one in from 40m. He did it during a WCQ against uruguay. Don't know about his 2003 form of course, but from 1999-2002 he was lethal. ------------------------------ Am I the only one getting tired of hearing the English (speaking) press talk up Beckham and the most famous athlete on the most famous and best team in the world - and the best there has ever been at the art of the free kick? I would say that at any one time, there are 2-3 Brazilian players that rival his skill. Granted, they don't have some of the all around game he might have or certainly play in such high profile matches as often. But Rivaldo and Ronaldinho have scored many amazing goals on a consistent basis from the spot. They have never generally relied on these skills as a method to win the game, as it appears Beckham fans do. Not that Brasil truly needs any more press, and some fanfare for the quality of players of other nationalities is a good thing. But they write like he invented the art instead of just being a part of a perfect marketing vehicle. I'm not trying to take away from his talent - he may be the current best in the world these last 2 years - but I'd put several players up against him. To me the dead ball specialists have long been the latinos. The average quality of the kicks in the Brasileiro or Clausura far surpass the average chances in the EPL. You have players that are virtually unknown turning in fantastic shots on a weekly basis - just never against Real Madrid in the CL. I will agree to the articles that there has never been a player that has been as famous for doing just one thing. But I think it's a little sad to forget the true pioneers and innovators like Didi, that didn't have the marketing and broadcasting powers that be, annoint him as 'the greatest free-kick specialist of all time'. I guess Bend it like a Banana just doesn't have the same ring to it. http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/8885/Didi.htm
Before you critizise Beckham, please tell us two things: name ANY current Mexican player that's fit to carry his jock strap!!!Name ANY current Mexican player that is better at free or penalty kicks? Now run along péon!!!
The Euro's have far better goalies than South America has!!! Hell Brad and Casey outclass South America's goalies.
Ok, so Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Van Hoojidink, Zico, Didi, and countless other world class dead-ball specialists played in Europe. Or are you saying that it is because of the keeping that the latin american teams 'appear' to be more skilled overall? Sorry, but if you can just look at the kick, up until it gets to the mouth of the goal and judge it. Beckham is incredible - I'm not doubting this. What I'm criticizing is the jounalistic celebration that Beckham is the one and only and the first person to be able to do this and that is why he deserves to be famous all over the world. And the new annoitment as the most famous player in the world. Well, it was only in 1998 that Ronaldo was the king of the football world. Yes, Ronaldo dropped off the radar screen for 2000-2002, but he came back with a vengence. You can't even begin to compare the publicity Ronaldo gets to Beckham - outside of England and the USA. I guess it reminds me of the USA and our 'world champions' mentality. Just because Michael Jordan is the most famous athlete in our country, doesn't automatically make him the most famous athlete on the planet - and that gets tossed around a lot.
oh mr cam, thank you so much, that was hilarious, ANY current Mexican player that's fit to carry his jock strap!!!Name ANY current Mexican player that is better at free or penalty kicks? Now run along péon!!! hahahahahha, you shut them up. thanks for brightening up my morning mate.