Exactly. I can do that with one touch. I can also cradle the ball without rolling it backwards. Its certainly not easy to learn, but its possible.
Not from the distance the camera was from the action. I'm not saying it's automatically illegal; I'm saying it will not often be done legally. If he gets it off the ground without it losing contact with his foot, it should stay there the rest of the way.
I am of the opinion that this move has been declared legal. But the fact that it was accomplished with "one touch" (meaning never breaking contact from beginning to end) is not the standard. If it were, then the "kicker" could cradle the ball and run with it (ok, hop around). Sure, 2 touches is illegal, but not all 1 touch moves are legal. So, though I agree this has been declared legal, for the life of me, I cannot figure out why (other than it's really cool).
Can you point to a one touch move actually being declared illegal? I don't mean your never-been-done hypothetical. I mean a real move. A move being really cool doesn't exclude it from the game. We wouldn't have the Chilena if it did.
How 'bout the tap on the top of the ball (to count for the 1st touch of an IDFK)? That's not a "kick", right? My only point is that I don't think you can look at this and DEDUCE from the lotg that it's a kick. You have to be told it's a kick (and not a drag or a cradle or whatever).
What you describe doesn't meet the FIFA requirement of "kicked and is moved" This does, according to the FIFA instructions and guidelines. You don't have to deduce it. All you have to do is follow the FIFA instructions and guidelines to referees, which specifically allow the move. http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/worldfootball/clubfootball/01/37/04/29/interpretation_law13_en.pdf
Yes, but as soon as the player makes contact with the ball it's in play. He could cradle it all he wants, but the other team can tackle it away from him.
Or he could be deemed to be playing in a dangerous manner, putting himself in a position that the other team can't play the ball because they are concerned with hurting him.
That's a stretch. It is just as possible that anyone challenging the player is playing in a dangerous manner. In the case of the play in question, I can't conceive of a case where the ref would make that decision.
There is a sayin' we have in the South, "quick tryin' to pick the fly crap out of the pepper." FIFA has deemed this particular move to be a legal kick. Just like a little fly crap in the pepper, you gotta live with it.