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World Cup Debate: Which Of The Contenders Are In The Safest Hands?
Goal.com
March 9, 2010
While much of the cynosure ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup concerns the race for the Golden Shoe, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Didier Drogba and David Villa all battling for individual honours, it is only natural that the least glamourous position on the field, that of the goalkeeper, is relegated to a footnote.
However, throughout the history of the tournament, successful sides were rarely without a solid last line of defence. In 2006, for instance, Gianluigi Buffon conceded only twice as Italy claimed the crown in Germany. To build a FIFA World Cup winning unit, it is essential to have a dependable figure in goal.
So, let's examine the credentials of the netminders for each of the favourite teams among the groups, A-H.
Group A - France
Arguably the favourites in the group, although South Africa are the top seeds, Les Bleus boast some of the best goalkeeping talent at the 2010 tournament. The first choice glovesman is Hugo Lloris, the Olympique Lyonnais player, and his performances for club and country over the past few months have been notable to say the least. His stand-out showings in the two legged play-off against Ireland in November went a long way towards ensuring the French passage to the final tournament. He is currently 54 in the Castrol Rankings, perhaps indicating that his club side's defensive form has not been all it could be this season. Among those clamouring to be his deputies are Cedric Carrasso (36) of Bordeaux and Steve Mandanda (599) of Marseille. The form of Monaco's Stephane Ruffier (50) also makes him an outside shot.
Group B - Argentina
While AZ's Sergio Romero seems to have finally convinced Diego Maradona of his abilities, there is no second guessing what el Dieguito might do ahead of the FIFA showpiece. Therefore, Mariano Andujar, the Catania shot-stopper, may still usurp the long-haired keeper. Andujar is certain to be on the plane to South Africa but may not command a starting berth. Nonetheless, his five clean sheets for the Sicilians since the turn of the year have helped him catapult up the Castrol Rankings by more than 700 places. Andujar is currently at 448 in the list.
Group C - England
The Fabio Capello-coached side have selection conundrums all over the field but it is the dilemma over who keeps goal at South Africa 2010 which is currently unsettling English observers most. Robert Green (197) of West Ham United and David James of FA Cup semi-finalists Portsmouth (287) seem to be battling for the number one shirt, while Capello remains dubious of the credentials of Birmingham's clean-sheet specialist, Joe Hart. The on-loan Manchester City keeper is England's top ranked player in his position at a lofty 42 in the Castrol Rankings. Wigan's Chris Kirkland (267) is another contender but an injury blighted season may ultimately count him out.
Group D - Germany
Rene Adler was thought to be in command of the starting shirt in Joachim Loew's Germany team, but his far from convincing performance against Argentina last week may have planted seeds of doubt in the Bundestrainer's mind. Bayer Leverkusen, Adler's club side, have begun to stutter too, so the man who weighs in at 438 in the Castrol Rankings may yet be replaced. Dependable veteran Hans-Joerg Butt of Bayern Munich is a few places behind at 477 whilst Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese is further back at 485. The Nationalmannschaft's safest bet may be Manuel Neuer of Schalke, who, thanks to his club's gritty and workmanlike form, finds himself challenging for a Bundesliga title. His displays have earned him 166th place in the latest rankings. Roman Weidenfaller of Borussia Dortmund, ranked at 241, is unlikely to be considered.
Group E - Netherlands
Going forward, there are few teams who would have the measure of the Oranje. However, in the backline and in goal is where Bert van Marwijk's side struggle for dominace. The likes of Maarten Stekelenburg, Michel Worm and Piet Velthuizen lack the commanding presence of Edwin van der Sar, who insists he will not be tempted, again, out of international retirement. The Manchester United stopper is still ranked just outside the top 10 of the Castrol Rankings, at 13 with 812 points.
Group F - Italy
Curiously, Gianluigi Buffon is routinely quoted as the outstanding goalkeeper in the world, but on current form, the Juventus custodian is well down the Italian order of shot stoppers. Leading the way is Morgan De Sanctis of Napoli at 101, up 700 places from the last count, while Sampdoria's Luca Castellazzi is one behind at 102. Coming in ahead of Buffon, who, due to Juve's patchy Serie A form is down to 311, are Bologna's Emiliano Viviano (161), Genoa's Marco Amelia (170), Stefano Sorrentino of Chievo at 202, Cagliari's Federico Marchetti (229), Andrea Consigli of Atalanta at 267 and Parma's Antonio Mirante at 307. Palermo's Salvatore Sirigu is doing well at 401, a 600-place improvement on his last ranking.
Group G - Brazil
Julio Cesar of Inter benefits from playing behind one of the tightest defences around at club level, and, thanks to Dunga's relatively cautious approach, at international level too. However, the former Flamengo player has proven time and again his point-saving and match-winning credentials. Currently 55th in the Castrol Rankings, the 30-year-old does not face the stiffest of competition for the gloves in the Selecao set-up. Gaffe-prone Dida is 79th, though he has not played for Brazil in four years. Elsewhere, Tottenham's Huerelho Gomes, a squad member, is at 127.
Group H - Spain
The Spanish have some of the world's foremost goalkeeping talent, including their captain and talisman, Iker Casillas. The Real Madrid stopper checks in at 89 in the rankings, perhaps surprisingly not heading the Iberian list of contenders. Diego Aranzubia of Deportivo heads the standings at 45 with the likes of Pepe Reina (103) and Sergio Asenjo (132) competing for squad berths. However, playing at Real Madrid means that clean sheets do not come easily every week; despite shipping goals, Casillas has reason to believe that he is one of the globe's best.
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Arsenal routs Porto 5-0 to advance in Champions League
Associated Press
March 9, 2010
LONDON — Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner atoned for a poor performance over the weekend by scoring a hat trick in a 5-0 win over FC Porto for the Gunners to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Tuesday.
Arsenal overturned a 2-1 deficit from the first leg last month to advance 6-2 on aggregate. Porto has now lost its last seven matches in London and this was the Portuguese side's heaviest Champions League defeat.
Bendtner scored his first in the 10th minute after Samir Nasri split the defense with a through ball to Andrei Arshavin. Porto defender Jorge Fucile's last-ditch tackle provoked a collision with Arshavin and goalkeeper Helton, and the ball fell to Bendtner who slid in to poke it into an empty net.
The Denmark international scored again in the 25th when Fucile gave the ball away on the left to Arshavin when trying to clear. Fucile came in with a tackle, but Arshavin beat him and two other defenders into the area. The Russia international crossed to Bendtner who tapped in from close range.
Bendtner completed his hat trick in the dying moments of the match after Emmanuel Eboue was bundled over in the area by Fucile and the referee awarded a penalty. Bendtner stepped up and blasted it past Helton.
Bendtner became a talking point after he missed numerous glaring chances in front of goal Saturday in a 3-1 victory over Burnley in the Premier League. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said before the match he hoped Bendtner was saving his goals for the Porto match.
Nasri and Eboue scored within three minutes of each other in the second half Tuesday night. Nasri weaved through three Porto defenders into the right side box and brought the ball toward the byline before banging it in off the far post into the net in the 63rd. Eboue scored on a counterattack after Arshavin won an aerial duel and drew three defenders before passing off to the Ivory Coast international, who slotted home.
Apart from an early attack by Porto when veteran Arsenal defender Sol Campbell had to make a diving headed clearance in the first minute and a few corners, the visitors rarely threatened in the first half.
Campbell, who scored Arsenal's goal in Portugal on Feb. 17, recovered from a groin problem to start. He replaced central defender William Gallas, who has been sidelined for about a month with a calf injury.
Arsenal applied pressure throughout the first half and could have scored a couple more. The Gunners stuttered defensively in the second half and Porto nearly scored in the 61st minute, but Rolando's effort was cleared off the line by Nasri.
Porto manager Jesualdo Ferreira called the match a "fast movie."
"Arsenal put us under pressure and scored an early goal," Ferreira said. "In the second half, it was exactly the same. They controlled the match. ... I don't think we used the moments we got. Arsenal did. They were lucky with that."
He said he believes Arsenal can go on to win the tournament.
"Arsenal is a team that scored the most goals in the first phase of the competition," Ferreira said. "It's a team with great players."
Arsenal had to cope without injured captain Cesc Fabregas, who was ruled out after limping out of match against Burnley on Saturday with a recurrence of a hamstring injury. The Spain midfielder has scored and set up more goals than any other Arsenal player this season, so his absence was a concern going into the match.
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