Legends - Marco Van Basten

San Marco

Thinking of Dutch players, after the legendary Johan Cryff, the next player that comes to mind is another great player and an outstanding striker - Marco Van Basten. Van Basten played for Ajax Amsterdam and AC Milan in the 1980s and early 1990s and is regarded as one of the finest strikers of all time and scored 276 goals in a career cut short by injury.

By 1986 he was the top marksman in Europe, winning the European Golden Boot award. With van Basten leading their attack, Ajax lifted two Dutch Championships, two Dutch Cups and the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Known for his strength on the ball, his tactical awareness and spectacular volleys, he scored 24 times for Holland, his finest being the classic looping volley that ensured Holland's only international triumph in the Euro Championships in 1988.

He joined compatriots Gullit and Rijkaard in AC Milan in 1988 and that set off the golden period for the mighty Italian club. In 1989, Milan destroyed Romanian Champions Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in the final in Barcelona. Van Basten got two of the goals. In his time at the club, he helped AC win 4 Italian league titles, 3 European Cups and 3 European Super Cups, among others.

His career was cut short by a chronic ankle injury and he retired from the game in 1995. As the present Dutch coach, he has established himself as a man of strong principles. He has left out underachieving superstars from the national team and brought in unknown but talented youngsters, and was vindicated when Holland qualified for the World Cup top of their group.

Van Basten was indeed a truly delightful footballer and one of the finest strikers of all time.

Individual Honors:
FIFA World Player of the Year: 1992
World Footballer of the Year: 1988, 92
European Footballer of the Year: 1988, 89, 92.

If I were Sven...

If I were Sven, I would...

Give the England captaincy to Terry and keep Beckham out of the starting eleven.

Try and keep my mouth shut when approached by unknown persons.

Not make such statements like "England will win the World Cup", often.

Drop SWP, David James from the squad and bring in some other keeper.

Keep Campbell out of the squad and give a chance to Tottenham's outstanding

centre-back Dawson (definitely, another Terry in the making!).

Bring in and play Scott Parker as the holding midfielder.

Bring in Boltons's Kevin Nolan and Tottenham's Aaron Lennon and keep them on the

bench.

Play Gerrard on the right wing.

Drop Kieran Richardson and bring in a proper left-winger - Stuart Downing.

Keep Crouch and Defoe on the bench as backup strikers.

Walk down to the touch-line and motivate the players during the match.

Never make hasty substitutions.

Use this as the starting XI...

Robinson

Neville Ferdinand Terry A.Cole
Parker
Gerrard Lampard J.Cole
Rooney
Owen

Subs: Green, Crouch, Defoe, Nolan, Downing, Lennon, Carragher.
Others: Jenas, Beckham, King, Dawson, Bridge.
Other probables: P.Neville, Dean Ashton, Kevin Davis, Luke Young, Routeledge, SWP

World Cup Watch - Young Guns I

A thin line exists between glory and failure in a World Cup. The extraordinary thing about the World Cup is that more often than not, it is an exceptional player who is the difference between two good teams. Rossi in 1982, Pele in 1970, Maradona in 1986, Ronaldo in 2002, Zidane in 1998, Muller in 1974 were prodigious players who won the World Cup for their country. Looking at some of the young and talented players who might help their country achieve the ultimate prize in football this summer in Germany...

Wayne Rooney - If there's one person who might be able to win the World Cup for England, it is undoubtedly this young player from Liverpool. He proved he enjoys the big stage when he created a huge impact in Euro 2004. He has been the best player for ManUtd this season, not only scoring goals, but also creating lots of them for his teammates. In his last match against Newcastle, he made his opponents look like a bunch of amateurs with some dazzling runs, netting a brace, missing out on a hat-trick only due some bad luck. Winning the Carling Cup with his club, he has been the beacon of light in ManUtd's otherwise poor season. Fans would be hoping he doesn't get injured since England hopes of WC glory after 40 long years surely rests on his young shoulders.

Lionel Messi - Only a year back, he was playing for Barcelona's B team, but now he has made the Barca right wing his position edging out even the likes of Guily and Larsson. The past year has been a memorable one for him - winning the World Youth Cup for Argentina in which he was also declared 'player of the tournament', winning his first cap for Argentina (although he was sent off in his debut!), and helping out Barca win over Chelsea in Stamford Bridge. At 18 years of age, he is deceptively quick with great dribbling skills. Maradona has already hailed him as his successor and Messi would want to prove him right by winning Argentina the World Cup after 20 years.

People have already started the debate as to who the better player is - Rooney or Messi. Both have exceptional qualities and the fact that they both belong to my favorite clubs in Europe makes me like them both equally. However, all eyes are set to be upon them once the WC starts and decision most likely to be made before the WC concludes.

Who's your pick?

Champions League Draw

Quarter-Final
1. Arsenal v Juventus

2. Lyon v Milan

3. Inter/Ajax v Villareal

4. Benfica v Barcelona

Semi-Final
Winner 1 v Winner 3
Winner 2 v Winner 4

VICTORY TO FOOTBALL

This is the 100th post in my blog and I am in a euphoric mood as Barca breezed through to the quarterfinals after they drew 1-1 with Chelsea in the Nou Camp. Ronaldinho magic in the 78th minute gave them the lead while Lampard scored a consolation goal for Chelsea from a harsh penalty in injury time. An injured Messi substitution in the 23rd minute and Puyol's yellow card that results in a suspension were the only concerns for Barca as they proved why they are the best club in Europe as they dazzled past Chelsea.

Also, Mourinho who often boasts he was won everything in football, can learn a few things from Barca manager Frank Rijkaard who is dignity personified as he refused to be drawn into a war of words with Jose and also pointed out that Barca fans were wrong in abusing the Chelsea manager. Jose is yet to understand that it is beneath his dignity as a coach of a powerful club to malign players and referees and direct accusations at them.

The victory to Barca is a victory to the beautiful game!

Perez - No More the Prez!

After nearly 6 years at the helm of Europe's one of elite clubs, Real Madrid President Florentino Perez resigned from his post this week, citing the club's deteriorating state in football. After the home defeat by Arsenal in the CL, the weekend away loss at Mallorca was a bloody blow to Real's league aspirations this season and they find themselves 10 points below leaders and arch-rivals Barcelona.

Perez became the Prez on the promise that he would lure Barcelona's Luis Figo to Real and he did bring Figo and that season Real won the La Liga after 6 long years. He then bought Zidane from Juventus for a world record fee of $80 million and the following season, they became Champions of Europe. Then came Ronaldo from Inter, fresh from success in the World Cup. Real won in Spain again but narrowly, and manager Del Bosque was sacked...the reason - exit from Champions League.

The sale of midfield lynchpin Makelele and the signing of David Beckham from ManUtd, for more than just footballing reasons, that started the descent of the club as a powerful team. Lack of commitment, frequent ego hassles, Perez's meddling in selection matters further led to poor results on the pitch and two consecutive seasons without a trophy. On one hand, Real became the world's richest club overtaking ManUtd but then Perez's 'galacticos' policy came back to haunt him as Real became a shadow of the superpower it was once. Ultimately, it came down to a situation where Perez had to quit.

The new President Fernando Martin has come strong on Real players lacking loyalty and passion while on the pitch and has hinted he would not hesitate to sell such players. Real is in fact fortunate that Perez has quit and this would definitely signal the end of his dumb 'galacticos' policy. One wonders who would be the first 'galactico' to leave Real this summer.

Perez is out!

ManUtd - Carling Cup Champions!