In my opinion, commentators and analysts from so many networks are committing somewhat of a fallacy in comparing Guillermo Ochoa's saves against Brazil today, and particularly his save on Neymar's header, in the 26th, if I'm not mistaken, minute of Brazil - Mexico 0-0, with Gordon Banks' performance in Brazil - England 1-0, also on the second matchday of the group stage, at the 1970 World Cup.
Yeah, sure, the saves are similar, and they both happened against Brazilian headers bound to go into the net, originating from overhyped players, but I'd say I've seen a save, just as good, from Algerian goalkeeper M'Bolhi, against Belgium, just one match before, at this very World Cup.
Nobody praised that one as much, though, maybe because Algeria lost, or just maybe because it was Algeria (and Belgium) playing.
So, cool it, people, with the superlatives. It's not just the Brazilian forwards that can execute good headers.
As a matter of fact, Neymar's header wasn't that good of a header, to begin with.
A good (as in perfectly executed) header, from the distance from which Neymar executed his, is always unbeatable, given the enormous size of the goal.
I'm not saying Ochoa did not do extremely well. But it's almost like a penalty, when a dangerous header goes on target. When such a strike is taken really well, the goalkeeper can do practically nothing to prevent it from going in.
Thinking about this in different terms, I would say Ochoa did, actually, a lot better than Banks.
Mexico did not lose said match, whereas England sadly did.
Ochoa did not let in one single goal during this match, whereas Gordon Banks sadly did.
So, there, that was, pardon my English, a quite silly, and totally unnecessary, comparison, that most very likely not even Ochoa would appreciate too much!
Showing posts with label Mexico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mexico. Show all posts
Tuesday, 17 June 2014
Friday, 13 June 2014
Where Are They Getting These Guys, The Favelas?
Two matches played at the World Cup, two atrocious refereeing teams officiating them already.
What a disappointing world cup this could be for the teams who are going to get the short end of their sticks!...
Three goals were cancelled in this match, Mexico - Cameroon (1-0), and only one has been cancelled correctly. (The one rightly called off was, of course, the Cameroonian goal in minute 16.)
But the Mexicans scored twice in the first half, once in minute 13 and then again in minute 30, both of which should have stood.
I guess, however, that we could not have a win by more goals than the brazil win, in the first match... That would have meant that Brazil would not have topped the group at that point, and what a blow that would have been to the Brazilian expectations!...
(Yeah, the whole world should bow to Brazilian needs and expectations! Particularly when they have spent more than 11 billion dollars on this World Cup!...)
And the thanks go to: Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan, Colombian assistants Humberto Clavijo and Eduardo Diaz, and fourth official Norbert Hauata, from Tahiti.
Getting back to the actual played match, Mexico was the superior team, and they did end up winning in the end, thanks to a 61st-minute Oribe Peralta goal.
So, it didn't end in a tie, which would have been best for Brazil, but at least the Mexican win was only by one goal.
Oh, right!... -- ...And is nobody wondering why at this damn World Cup all the matches are scheduled to start between 13:00 and 19:00 Brasilia official time (with one 22:00 exception), with most matches starting between 13:00 and 17:00, including and up to the final?
They did install light fixtures at these stadia, did they not?
Or maybe they just have nocturnal illumination at the Arena Pernambuco, in Recife??!?...
Why such start times? Well, if I had to guess:
It ain't to help Europeans watch the matches, which would, if scheduled later, take place in the middle of the night, by European times!...
It's probably, the way I see it, because most high-level matches in Europe are being played in way cooler conditions, and generally at night, and the Brazilian organizing committee, with FIFA's approval, must be dying to make conditions as hard as possible for European teams at this World Cup.
(Good thing, for them, that Sweden, Norway, and play-off hopefuls Iceland, did not make it to play in these barbaric conditions! - Just making light of the situation, here, but, really, the whole thing is not too funny at all for the good of football, in general, and for European teams in particular, at this WC.)
Yup, it's looking to be a very good World Cup... if you're a Brazilian supporter.
Highlights from Mexico - Cameroon:
What a disappointing world cup this could be for the teams who are going to get the short end of their sticks!...
Three goals were cancelled in this match, Mexico - Cameroon (1-0), and only one has been cancelled correctly. (The one rightly called off was, of course, the Cameroonian goal in minute 16.)
But the Mexicans scored twice in the first half, once in minute 13 and then again in minute 30, both of which should have stood.
I guess, however, that we could not have a win by more goals than the brazil win, in the first match... That would have meant that Brazil would not have topped the group at that point, and what a blow that would have been to the Brazilian expectations!...
(Yeah, the whole world should bow to Brazilian needs and expectations! Particularly when they have spent more than 11 billion dollars on this World Cup!...)
And the thanks go to: Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan, Colombian assistants Humberto Clavijo and Eduardo Diaz, and fourth official Norbert Hauata, from Tahiti.
Getting back to the actual played match, Mexico was the superior team, and they did end up winning in the end, thanks to a 61st-minute Oribe Peralta goal.
So, it didn't end in a tie, which would have been best for Brazil, but at least the Mexican win was only by one goal.
Oh, right!... -- ...And is nobody wondering why at this damn World Cup all the matches are scheduled to start between 13:00 and 19:00 Brasilia official time (with one 22:00 exception), with most matches starting between 13:00 and 17:00, including and up to the final?
They did install light fixtures at these stadia, did they not?
Or maybe they just have nocturnal illumination at the Arena Pernambuco, in Recife??!?...
Why such start times? Well, if I had to guess:
It ain't to help Europeans watch the matches, which would, if scheduled later, take place in the middle of the night, by European times!...
It's probably, the way I see it, because most high-level matches in Europe are being played in way cooler conditions, and generally at night, and the Brazilian organizing committee, with FIFA's approval, must be dying to make conditions as hard as possible for European teams at this World Cup.
(Good thing, for them, that Sweden, Norway, and play-off hopefuls Iceland, did not make it to play in these barbaric conditions! - Just making light of the situation, here, but, really, the whole thing is not too funny at all for the good of football, in general, and for European teams in particular, at this WC.)
Yup, it's looking to be a very good World Cup... if you're a Brazilian supporter.
Highlights from Mexico - Cameroon:
Thursday, 25 July 2013
Surprising, or Not So Much?
No Mexico in the Gold Cup final?
That would probably constitute a surprise, under normal circumstances.
But given the squad Mexico brought to this year's competition it's not really such a big surprise that they lost to Panama. Twice.
There's only one positive thing, which is that the Mexican forwards got some saves - two - out of Panamanian goalkeeper Penedo (who has not saved much in this tournament until now).
As a matter of fact, talking about the second save, Isaac Brizuela should really have scored with that chip of his (in minute 80).
Even though he had milliseconds to shoot, he was alone with the keeper. That would have made it 2-2.
But, seeing as how he is a reserve player, people won't be too harsh on him.
It should have been Chicharito there, not Brizuela.
Mexico's defense disappointed, too.
Everyone was left stunned when Ramon Torres scored his header, 16 minutes into the second half.
But, in all honesty, United States and Panama have been the two best teams in this tournament.
And the only two unbeaten.
So, the final USA - Panama makes sense more than the Mexicans might like to admit.
Highlights:
That would probably constitute a surprise, under normal circumstances.
But given the squad Mexico brought to this year's competition it's not really such a big surprise that they lost to Panama. Twice.
There's only one positive thing, which is that the Mexican forwards got some saves - two - out of Panamanian goalkeeper Penedo (who has not saved much in this tournament until now).
As a matter of fact, talking about the second save, Isaac Brizuela should really have scored with that chip of his (in minute 80).
Even though he had milliseconds to shoot, he was alone with the keeper. That would have made it 2-2.
But, seeing as how he is a reserve player, people won't be too harsh on him.
It should have been Chicharito there, not Brizuela.
Mexico's defense disappointed, too.
Everyone was left stunned when Ramon Torres scored his header, 16 minutes into the second half.
But, in all honesty, United States and Panama have been the two best teams in this tournament.
And the only two unbeaten.
So, the final USA - Panama makes sense more than the Mexicans might like to admit.
Highlights:
Sunday, 21 July 2013
Something Wrong with Mexico
Clearly, Mexico is having trouble moving ahead in this year's Gold Cup.
They barely made it past Trinidad and Tobago (who frustrated Mexico for practically the entire match) courtesy of one lucky goal, scored by Raul Jimenez six minutes before the end.
But there's an explanation for this.
Having a look at the squad present at the Gold Cup, versus the squad that was at the Confederations Cup, one can clearly see that the best players are not in the United States right now.
Where are de Nigris, Hernandez, dos Santos, Guardado, Torrado, Ochoa, and others?
Why would Mexico care more about that Confederations Cup? It's a filler tournament.
I guess when they are two Gold Cups ahead of United States, the nearest rival, you start to get cocky...
Still, I have to wonder who made the decision that the first squad would be sent to play in the Confederations Cup, but the Gold Cup would be defended by second-string players.
Maybe the players asked for it, because the clubs don't want them injured, meaning it's a financial/business issue. Otherwise, I find it hard to think that the Mexican football federation would willfully neglect a tournament that is always so good to their national team.
Anyway, now, that they still managed to make it to the semifinals, are they going to manage a better result against Panama than they did in the group stage? That's the question every Mexican fan is asking.
The Panamanians clearly take this competition seriously. If there was any doubt as to their abilities, they put that to rest after getting a better score against Cuba than even The United States did.
Highlights from Mexico - Trinidad and Tobago:
Highlights from Panama - Cuba:
They barely made it past Trinidad and Tobago (who frustrated Mexico for practically the entire match) courtesy of one lucky goal, scored by Raul Jimenez six minutes before the end.
But there's an explanation for this.
Having a look at the squad present at the Gold Cup, versus the squad that was at the Confederations Cup, one can clearly see that the best players are not in the United States right now.
Where are de Nigris, Hernandez, dos Santos, Guardado, Torrado, Ochoa, and others?
Why would Mexico care more about that Confederations Cup? It's a filler tournament.
I guess when they are two Gold Cups ahead of United States, the nearest rival, you start to get cocky...
Still, I have to wonder who made the decision that the first squad would be sent to play in the Confederations Cup, but the Gold Cup would be defended by second-string players.
Maybe the players asked for it, because the clubs don't want them injured, meaning it's a financial/business issue. Otherwise, I find it hard to think that the Mexican football federation would willfully neglect a tournament that is always so good to their national team.
Anyway, now, that they still managed to make it to the semifinals, are they going to manage a better result against Panama than they did in the group stage? That's the question every Mexican fan is asking.
The Panamanians clearly take this competition seriously. If there was any doubt as to their abilities, they put that to rest after getting a better score against Cuba than even The United States did.
Highlights from Mexico - Trinidad and Tobago:
Highlights from Panama - Cuba:
Monday, 8 July 2013
Mexico, Too!?!
What a day to start off the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup!
Canada loses to an overseas region of France, with a population of only roughly 400000 inhabitants, and now Mexico loses to Panama, a team they're usually expected to defeat.
After Mexico tied the score, in first-half injury time, probably most people thought the match was getting back to normal.
But bad defending by Mexico 3 minutes after the break led to another Panamanian goal, scored by the same player: Gabriel Torres.
And that was all.
I knew Mexico had problems getting the wins, due to their 5 draws out of 6 matches played, in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, but this is a loss. It must be shocking for a lot of people, myself included. (Could there be a big shift of power in CONCACAF? Even Costa Rica is looking more dangerous than Mexico now.)
Highlights:
Canada loses to an overseas region of France, with a population of only roughly 400000 inhabitants, and now Mexico loses to Panama, a team they're usually expected to defeat.
After Mexico tied the score, in first-half injury time, probably most people thought the match was getting back to normal.
But bad defending by Mexico 3 minutes after the break led to another Panamanian goal, scored by the same player: Gabriel Torres.
And that was all.
I knew Mexico had problems getting the wins, due to their 5 draws out of 6 matches played, in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, but this is a loss. It must be shocking for a lot of people, myself included. (Could there be a big shift of power in CONCACAF? Even Costa Rica is looking more dangerous than Mexico now.)
Highlights:
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Super Match in Mexico
After a bland 0-0 result in the first leg, Monterrey and Santos Laguna offered one, if not the most, super-spectacular match of 2013.
The return leg of the CONCACAF Champions League had 6 goals, and a truly amazing comeback.
Monterrey, the winners of the previous two CCL finals, have succeeded to add yet another similar trophy to their name.
But it seemed all but over for the hosts just before the 60th minute. Santos Laguna had taken a 2-0 lead, with a nice goal minutes before the break and another somewhat fortunate headed goal 5 minutes into the second half.
And, then, Aldo de Nigris stepped in.
The Mexican forward blasted in a superb volley to pull within one.
And Monterrey could hope again.
But it wasn't until 24 minutes after that, that they were finally level. Neri Cardozo's lucky goal brought the two Mexican finalists level, but still Santos Laguna had the away goal advantage.
Monterrey was riding the wave at that moment, however. And it took only 3 more minutes, for the same amazing de Nigris to score the winner.
Even the broadcaster could not refrain from showing a split-screen with the two coaches, exactly what every viewer would want to see at that moment.
Like a true champion, Monterrey kept playing to score, and punished a desperate Santos on the counterattack. 4-2, final score; Suazo scored the last one.
It's going to be hard, for any other final, in any other competition, to match up to the drama and excitement of this final.
Highlights:
The return leg of the CONCACAF Champions League had 6 goals, and a truly amazing comeback.
Monterrey, the winners of the previous two CCL finals, have succeeded to add yet another similar trophy to their name.
But it seemed all but over for the hosts just before the 60th minute. Santos Laguna had taken a 2-0 lead, with a nice goal minutes before the break and another somewhat fortunate headed goal 5 minutes into the second half.
And, then, Aldo de Nigris stepped in.
The Mexican forward blasted in a superb volley to pull within one.
And Monterrey could hope again.
But it wasn't until 24 minutes after that, that they were finally level. Neri Cardozo's lucky goal brought the two Mexican finalists level, but still Santos Laguna had the away goal advantage.
Monterrey was riding the wave at that moment, however. And it took only 3 more minutes, for the same amazing de Nigris to score the winner.
Even the broadcaster could not refrain from showing a split-screen with the two coaches, exactly what every viewer would want to see at that moment.
Like a true champion, Monterrey kept playing to score, and punished a desperate Santos on the counterattack. 4-2, final score; Suazo scored the last one.
It's going to be hard, for any other final, in any other competition, to match up to the drama and excitement of this final.
Highlights:
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