plugwater
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2009
- Messages
- 4,154
- Likes
- 1,081
No AV, its our second draw
Match was very boring, Manutd started to play after liverpool scored and Liverpool started to play after we equalize.
The Football thread
- Thread starter plugwater
- Start date
Match was very boring, Manutd started to play after liverpool scored and Liverpool started to play after we equalize.
niharjhatn
Regular Member
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2010
- Messages
- 899
- Likes
- 391
^^^
I think I died with laughter after reading the score line...
I think I died with laughter after reading the score line...
plugwater
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2009
- Messages
- 4,154
- Likes
- 1,081
Laugh all you want!! But i cant defend that scoreline in home even when we are one man down.^^^
I think I died with laughter after reading the score line...
Now i know how Arsenal fans must have felt after their defeat at OT
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2010
- Messages
- 10,809
- Likes
- 4,619
should have been 8 months.Mayfair what do you think about the ban ?
indian_sukhoi
Regular Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2009
- Messages
- 957
- Likes
- 230
Arsenal coming back from behind has its own sweet taste and it is one that we love
Great to be picking up the three points again. And once again, Van Persie contributions played a part in the win. Villa played pretty well, though, gave us some scares, and could have taken something from the match.
Great to be picking up the three points again.
And once again, Van Persie contributions played a part in the win. Villa played pretty well, though, gave us some scares, and could have taken something from the match.
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2010
- Messages
- 10,809
- Likes
- 4,619
city has been in top gear all season and were level on points being shit all season 
utd always move into gear after christmas.
utd always move into gear after christmas.
plugwater
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2009
- Messages
- 4,154
- Likes
- 1,081
we dont have players fit to go another gear, so probably shitty will walk it.city has been in top gear all season and were level on points being shit all season
utd always move into gear after christmas.
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2010
- Messages
- 10,809
- Likes
- 4,619
Last edited by a moderator:
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2009
- Messages
- 11,115
- Likes
- 14,530
- Joined
- May 29, 2009
- Messages
- 14,104
- Likes
- 63,371
SAFF Cup: Afghanistan wins first international football title
SAFF Cup: Afghanistan wins first international football title | Football - News | NDTVSports.com
SAFF Cup: Afghanistan wins first international football title | Football - News | NDTVSports.com
Congratulations Afghanistan.
Bayern Munich. 2013 Champions League winning team. I hope the 2013/14 season's Champions League football shirt let this tall to float.And it is 4-0 now as Schweinsteiger nets the fourth in the 43rd minutein India Vs Bayern munich.
Half time.
Abhijeet Dey
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2013
- Messages
- 1,735
- Likes
- 2,467
Lost opportunity for Goswami and Indian football
December 3, 2013 The Hindu
LINK: thehindu.com/opinion/columns/lost-opportunity-for-goswami-and-indian-football/article5414779.ece
The national side is currently 148th in FIFA rankings, sandwiched between St. Kitts and Nevis and Maldives.
Half a century ago, Indian football was not the laughing stock it is today. At the 1962 Asian Games, a team captained by Chuni Goswami won gold, with goals from P.K. Banerjee and Jarnail Singh seeing off South Korea's challenge in the final. Two years later, it would finish second to Israel in the Asian Cup.
Emblematic
Goswami, an iconic figure at Mohun Bagan, was one of the shining stars of that side. Yet, in many ways, his career was emblematic of the downward spiral that Indian football hasn't been able to escape after all this time.
In his prime, Goswami received an invitation to train with Tottenham Hotspur. Back then, Tottenham, managed by the legendary Bill Nicholson, was the biggest club in London. In 1960-61, it won the first league-and-cup double of the 20th century. A year later, it retained the FA Cup. The following season, it became the first British side to lift a European trophy, trouncing Atletico Madrid 5-1 in the European Cup Winners Cup final.
Goswami, who also played Ranji Trophy cricket for Bengal, was apparently unaware of just how good Spurs were. In interviews, he has admitted that he had little or no information about English football, and that he never took the Tottenham offer seriously. He carried on playing for Bagan till he quit, aged 30, in 1968.
That kind of opportunity would never come again, and Indian football is immeasurably poorer for it. Just look at the countries that went on to leave India far behind on the Asian stage.
Cha Bum-Kun went to West Germany as a 25-year-old, and would win UEFA Cups with both Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen in the decade that followed.
At 33, he would play in the World Cup in Mexico. South Korea has been Asia's most consistent and respected side since.
Look too at Japan, not even a peripheral power during Indian football's glory years. In 1998, the year that it first qualified for the World Cup, Hidetoshi Nakata left for Perugia in Italy.
Two seasons later, he would join Roma and win a Serie A title with it. Asian Cup winner in 2000 and 2004, Japan topped its final qualifying group for Brazil 2014.
The progress that both countries have made has much to do with their best players getting rid of the frog-in-the-well mindset and trying their luck overseas.
For Indian footballers, the challenge is two-fold. The league they play in is of such abysmal standard that performances seldom count for much. Few scouts watch, and thoughts of an invitation from the likes of Spurs are a pipedream.
The few that attempted to leave the nest returned with broken wings. Baichung Bhutia spent two miserable years at Bury, whose hoof-it methods were singularly unsuited to the way he played.
Sunil Chhetri's experiences in the United States and Portugal were as dispiriting.
Ray of hope
But now, there may be the slimmest ray of hope. Subrata Paul, India's premier goalkeeper, who once ran with the impoverished gangs of Kolkata, leaves for Denmark and FC Vestsjælland in the New Year.
Promoted to the Danish Superliga last season, the team currently sits in seventh place. A powerhouse of European football it most certainly is not.
But if Paul, a brave and agile custodian who turns 27 later this month, can make an impression, who knows where he might go?
For inspiration, he could do worse than look up the story of a man who was rated the second-best Asian goalkeeper of the 20th century.
Nasser Hejazi played in the 1978 World Cup, and got an offer from Manchester United soon after. He trained with it a month, even playing a game for the reserves, but life — in the shape of the Islamic revolution in Iran — intervened.
As long as Paul realises how fortunate he is, he won't go wrong.
December 3, 2013 The Hindu
LINK: thehindu.com/opinion/columns/lost-opportunity-for-goswami-and-indian-football/article5414779.ece
Few questions exercise the imagination of those who love sport quite like: "What if?" As far as Indian football is concerned, it has been asked so many times that it has all the value of a Chinese whisper.
The national side is currently 148th in FIFA rankings, sandwiched between St. Kitts and Nevis and Maldives.
Half a century ago, Indian football was not the laughing stock it is today. At the 1962 Asian Games, a team captained by Chuni Goswami won gold, with goals from P.K. Banerjee and Jarnail Singh seeing off South Korea's challenge in the final. Two years later, it would finish second to Israel in the Asian Cup.
Emblematic
Goswami, an iconic figure at Mohun Bagan, was one of the shining stars of that side. Yet, in many ways, his career was emblematic of the downward spiral that Indian football hasn't been able to escape after all this time.
In his prime, Goswami received an invitation to train with Tottenham Hotspur. Back then, Tottenham, managed by the legendary Bill Nicholson, was the biggest club in London. In 1960-61, it won the first league-and-cup double of the 20th century. A year later, it retained the FA Cup. The following season, it became the first British side to lift a European trophy, trouncing Atletico Madrid 5-1 in the European Cup Winners Cup final.
Goswami, who also played Ranji Trophy cricket for Bengal, was apparently unaware of just how good Spurs were. In interviews, he has admitted that he had little or no information about English football, and that he never took the Tottenham offer seriously. He carried on playing for Bagan till he quit, aged 30, in 1968.
That kind of opportunity would never come again, and Indian football is immeasurably poorer for it. Just look at the countries that went on to leave India far behind on the Asian stage.
Cha Bum-Kun went to West Germany as a 25-year-old, and would win UEFA Cups with both Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen in the decade that followed.
At 33, he would play in the World Cup in Mexico. South Korea has been Asia's most consistent and respected side since.
Look too at Japan, not even a peripheral power during Indian football's glory years. In 1998, the year that it first qualified for the World Cup, Hidetoshi Nakata left for Perugia in Italy.
Two seasons later, he would join Roma and win a Serie A title with it. Asian Cup winner in 2000 and 2004, Japan topped its final qualifying group for Brazil 2014.
The progress that both countries have made has much to do with their best players getting rid of the frog-in-the-well mindset and trying their luck overseas.
For Indian footballers, the challenge is two-fold. The league they play in is of such abysmal standard that performances seldom count for much. Few scouts watch, and thoughts of an invitation from the likes of Spurs are a pipedream.
The few that attempted to leave the nest returned with broken wings. Baichung Bhutia spent two miserable years at Bury, whose hoof-it methods were singularly unsuited to the way he played.
Sunil Chhetri's experiences in the United States and Portugal were as dispiriting.
Ray of hope
But now, there may be the slimmest ray of hope. Subrata Paul, India's premier goalkeeper, who once ran with the impoverished gangs of Kolkata, leaves for Denmark and FC Vestsjælland in the New Year.
Promoted to the Danish Superliga last season, the team currently sits in seventh place. A powerhouse of European football it most certainly is not.
But if Paul, a brave and agile custodian who turns 27 later this month, can make an impression, who knows where he might go?
For inspiration, he could do worse than look up the story of a man who was rated the second-best Asian goalkeeper of the 20th century.
Nasser Hejazi played in the 1978 World Cup, and got an offer from Manchester United soon after. He trained with it a month, even playing a game for the reserves, but life — in the shape of the Islamic revolution in Iran — intervened.
As long as Paul realises how fortunate he is, he won't go wrong.
Abhijeet Dey
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2013
- Messages
- 1,735
- Likes
- 2,467
India to bid for 2015 and 2016 Club World Cup: AIFF
Press Trust of India, The Times of India, 09 Dec 2013
LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/India-to-bid-for-2015-and-2016-Club-World-Cup-AIFF/articleshow/27137017.cms
NEW DELHI: Buoyed after the country was awarded the 2017 Under-17 FIFA World Cup's hosting rights, the All India Football Federation is set to bid for the 2015 and 2016 editions of the Club World Championships.
AIFF president Praful Patel told a press conference on Monday that India has already communicated to the world football governing body FIFA its expression of interest to host the Club World Championships in 2015 and 2016.
FIFA awards Club World Championships to a host country for two consecutive years and Morocco will host the event this and next year.
"We have officially put our request for 2015 and 2016 Club World Cup. We have made official communication to FIFA. I am going to meet FIFA officials in Switzerland next month to pursue India's case to host the prestigious tournament," Patel said at a press conference called to officially announce India's successful bid to host the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.
India was on Thursday awarded the right to host the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.
"We have been awarded the 2017 Under-17 World Cup and if we get to host the Club World Championships in 2015 and 2016, then I feel it will be a completely paradigm shift in Indian football," he said.
"Moreover, it will be good to hold a FIFA tournament of the scale of a Club World Championship before the Under-17 World Cup in 2017," he added.
In India gets the hosting rights of the Club World Championships, I-League champion team will also take part in the tournament.
"FIFA Executive Board will decide on the host country for the 2015 and 2016 Club World Championships in the middle of next year. We have to ensure that we have a good bid. I feel we have a good case."
Unlike the 24-nation Under-17 FIFA World Cup which will need at least six stadiums, the Club World Championships will require only a couple of venues as only eight matches will be played on knock-out basis among seven teams.
Since its inception in 2000, Japan has hosted the Club World Championship six times including the last edition. United Arab Emirates have hosted twice (2009 and 2010) after Brazil hosted the inaugural edition.
Under the current format, the host nation's champion team takes on the Oceania champions in a play-off. The winner joins the champions of Asia, Africa and North America at the quarterfinals. The quarterfinal winners go on to face the European and South American champions, who enter at the semifinal stage.
Talking about the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017, Patel said getting the prestigious tournament was a tough task.
"It has not been an easy task to get the hosting rights. Right from getting assurances and guarantees from the Central and state governments, it has been a tough job. These assurances and guarantees were absolute and uncompromisable," he said.
"The real challenge starts now and we have to develop the infrastructure to world standards to host the Under-17 World Cup successfully. I would say that getting the hosting rights was easier but hosting it successfully would be tougher," he added.
Asked about the possible window for the Under-17 World Cup, Patel said, "FIFA has not told us about that. No doubt we will also give suggestions but FIFA will decide when to hold the tournament in 2017.
"But it will have to be not in summer months and take into account the monsoon rains also. So probably it may be after October," he added.
He said all the six stadiums which will host the matches will have to be of FIFA standards and all of them will require natural grass turf.
"FIFA is very strict about playing conditions and our stadiums will have to be of FIFA standards. Moreover, all the stadiums will need to have natural grass turfs," he said.
"The eight stadiums we have shortlisted, out of which six will be selected, are not final. Those stadiums which do not fulfill FIFA criteria and do not have natural grass turf will be dropped," he added.
Out of the eight stadiums shortlisted by the AIFF, three -- Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, KSFA Stadium in Bangalore and Cooperage in Mumbai have artificial turfs and Patel indicated that these venues will have to switch to natural grass turf of they have to host the matches.
The other five -- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here and Margao, Balewadi Stadium in Pune, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi and Guwahati -- have natural grass turf but all of them will require sprucing up come up to FIFA standards to host the matches.
Surprisingly, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, which fulfills maximum number of FIFA criteria, was not included in shortlist.
Patel also said India will have to put up a reasonable performance event and a blueprint will be chalked out to select the players.
"We are yet to chalk out the details. But we will form a committed team to pick players so that India put up a respectable performance. Only then the world will begin to notice us as a footballing nation," he said.
"We will scout the talent from every source possible. We have our own academies and if required we may convert one academy to exclusively train the players for the Under-17 World Cup. We will send the selected players to various countries to play friendly matches before the actual tournament," he added.
Players who are born on or after January 1, 2000 will be eligible to play in the Under-17 World Cup.
Press Trust of India, The Times of India, 09 Dec 2013
LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/India-to-bid-for-2015-and-2016-Club-World-Cup-AIFF/articleshow/27137017.cms
NEW DELHI: Buoyed after the country was awarded the 2017 Under-17 FIFA World Cup's hosting rights, the All India Football Federation is set to bid for the 2015 and 2016 editions of the Club World Championships.
AIFF president Praful Patel told a press conference on Monday that India has already communicated to the world football governing body FIFA its expression of interest to host the Club World Championships in 2015 and 2016.
FIFA awards Club World Championships to a host country for two consecutive years and Morocco will host the event this and next year.
"We have officially put our request for 2015 and 2016 Club World Cup. We have made official communication to FIFA. I am going to meet FIFA officials in Switzerland next month to pursue India's case to host the prestigious tournament," Patel said at a press conference called to officially announce India's successful bid to host the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.
India was on Thursday awarded the right to host the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.
"We have been awarded the 2017 Under-17 World Cup and if we get to host the Club World Championships in 2015 and 2016, then I feel it will be a completely paradigm shift in Indian football," he said.
"Moreover, it will be good to hold a FIFA tournament of the scale of a Club World Championship before the Under-17 World Cup in 2017," he added.
In India gets the hosting rights of the Club World Championships, I-League champion team will also take part in the tournament.
"FIFA Executive Board will decide on the host country for the 2015 and 2016 Club World Championships in the middle of next year. We have to ensure that we have a good bid. I feel we have a good case."
Unlike the 24-nation Under-17 FIFA World Cup which will need at least six stadiums, the Club World Championships will require only a couple of venues as only eight matches will be played on knock-out basis among seven teams.
Since its inception in 2000, Japan has hosted the Club World Championship six times including the last edition. United Arab Emirates have hosted twice (2009 and 2010) after Brazil hosted the inaugural edition.
Under the current format, the host nation's champion team takes on the Oceania champions in a play-off. The winner joins the champions of Asia, Africa and North America at the quarterfinals. The quarterfinal winners go on to face the European and South American champions, who enter at the semifinal stage.
Talking about the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017, Patel said getting the prestigious tournament was a tough task.
"It has not been an easy task to get the hosting rights. Right from getting assurances and guarantees from the Central and state governments, it has been a tough job. These assurances and guarantees were absolute and uncompromisable," he said.
"The real challenge starts now and we have to develop the infrastructure to world standards to host the Under-17 World Cup successfully. I would say that getting the hosting rights was easier but hosting it successfully would be tougher," he added.
Asked about the possible window for the Under-17 World Cup, Patel said, "FIFA has not told us about that. No doubt we will also give suggestions but FIFA will decide when to hold the tournament in 2017.
"But it will have to be not in summer months and take into account the monsoon rains also. So probably it may be after October," he added.
He said all the six stadiums which will host the matches will have to be of FIFA standards and all of them will require natural grass turf.
"FIFA is very strict about playing conditions and our stadiums will have to be of FIFA standards. Moreover, all the stadiums will need to have natural grass turfs," he said.
"The eight stadiums we have shortlisted, out of which six will be selected, are not final. Those stadiums which do not fulfill FIFA criteria and do not have natural grass turf will be dropped," he added.
Out of the eight stadiums shortlisted by the AIFF, three -- Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, KSFA Stadium in Bangalore and Cooperage in Mumbai have artificial turfs and Patel indicated that these venues will have to switch to natural grass turf of they have to host the matches.
The other five -- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here and Margao, Balewadi Stadium in Pune, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi and Guwahati -- have natural grass turf but all of them will require sprucing up come up to FIFA standards to host the matches.
Surprisingly, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, which fulfills maximum number of FIFA criteria, was not included in shortlist.
Patel also said India will have to put up a reasonable performance event and a blueprint will be chalked out to select the players.
"We are yet to chalk out the details. But we will form a committed team to pick players so that India put up a respectable performance. Only then the world will begin to notice us as a footballing nation," he said.
"We will scout the talent from every source possible. We have our own academies and if required we may convert one academy to exclusively train the players for the Under-17 World Cup. We will send the selected players to various countries to play friendly matches before the actual tournament," he added.
Players who are born on or after January 1, 2000 will be eligible to play in the Under-17 World Cup.
Abhijeet Dey
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2013
- Messages
- 1,735
- Likes
- 2,467
As we walk into 2014, Goal.com looks back to list down the top 5 positives we take from the last year.
LINK: goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2014/01/02/4514095/year-end-special-top-5-positives-in-indian-football
LINK: goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2014/01/02/4514095/year-end-special-top-5-positives-in-indian-football
Abhijeet Dey
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2013
- Messages
- 1,735
- Likes
- 2,467
Sony Six to telecast 2014 FIFA World Cup, U-17 WC
MUMBAI: Sony Six has secured exclusive broadcast rights for major international football tournaments including this year's FIFA World Cup and U-17 World Cup to be hosted by India in 2017, the company announced on Wednesday.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia will also be telecast on Sony Six, besides the FIFA Confederation Cup in 2017.
"We are extremely happy to build on our partnership with FIFA. It has been our constant endeavour to bring high quality sports content to our viewers. Considering the rise of youth interest in the sport, football fans in India can look forward to the best International football experience on SIX," NP Singh, CEO, MSM India, said in a release.
The group stages of the 2014 World Cup will played from June 12-26, while the knock-out round will commence from June 28.
The final of the tournament will be held on July 13 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"FIFA believes that Sony SIX and its commitment to high quality sport entertainment will deliver first-class coverage of FIFA U-17 World Cups, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2018 FIFA World Cup and other FIFA competitions to this crucial audience. India already has a great passion for football and with the support of Sony SIX, FIFA looks forward to inspiring more fans of football and young players in India for the years ahead," Niclas Ericson, FIFA Director of TV, said.
LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/fifa-world-cup-2014/top-stories/Sony-Six-to-telecast-2014-FIFA-World-Cup-U-17-WC/articleshow/28842427.cms
MUMBAI: Sony Six has secured exclusive broadcast rights for major international football tournaments including this year's FIFA World Cup and U-17 World Cup to be hosted by India in 2017, the company announced on Wednesday.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia will also be telecast on Sony Six, besides the FIFA Confederation Cup in 2017.
"We are extremely happy to build on our partnership with FIFA. It has been our constant endeavour to bring high quality sports content to our viewers. Considering the rise of youth interest in the sport, football fans in India can look forward to the best International football experience on SIX," NP Singh, CEO, MSM India, said in a release.
The group stages of the 2014 World Cup will played from June 12-26, while the knock-out round will commence from June 28.
The final of the tournament will be held on July 13 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"FIFA believes that Sony SIX and its commitment to high quality sport entertainment will deliver first-class coverage of FIFA U-17 World Cups, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2018 FIFA World Cup and other FIFA competitions to this crucial audience. India already has a great passion for football and with the support of Sony SIX, FIFA looks forward to inspiring more fans of football and young players in India for the years ahead," Niclas Ericson, FIFA Director of TV, said.
LINK: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/fifa-world-cup-2014/top-stories/Sony-Six-to-telecast-2014-FIFA-World-Cup-U-17-WC/articleshow/28842427.cms
