http://la-nuestra.co.uk Blogging 'The Beautiful Game' Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:12:14 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Liverpool have lost 2-1 away to Spurs. Now they will never win the league under Rafa Benitez, they will fall out of the Top 4 and perhaps face relegation, oh, and Spurs are going to qualify for the Champions League. Pocketing that £30m for Xabi Alonso seems like a mistake ... http://la-nuestra.co.uk/2009/08/has-rafa-just-cost-liverpool-the-title/ A truly inspirational goal by a truly inspirational player. Not only was it a sublime finish it also sealed the European Championship for Holland. http://la-nuestra.co.uk/2009/08/remembering-marco-van-bastens-1988-european-championship-final-goal/ Over the past few weeks the interval in the football season has given me time to reflect on the game itself. While the media works itself into a frenzy over the next big name superstar to jump ship and the dedicated fan is drooling over pre-season friendly’s I have been ... http://la-nuestra.co.uk/2009/08/the-appeal-of-football/ When you mention the name 'Ronaldo' today most people send their thoughts to a talented 24 year old Portuguese attacker who is known for moments or brilliance and the occasional moan. However those of us who are not caught up in 'CR7' mania and associate the name 'Ronaldo' with perhaps ... http://la-nuestra.co.uk/2009/07/remembering-ronaldo-becomes-world-cups-highest-scorer/ In football many events replace the sport itself in terms of their importance, significance and consequence – The Superga Air Disaster is one of these. When we think about all the tragedies of football our thoughts at instantly thrown back to the Munich Air Disaster, Heysel, Hillsborough to mention just a ... http://la-nuestra.co.uk/2009/07/il-grande-torino-superga/ I wrote an article for Goalpost.tv on the, somewhat strange and baffling, move of Sven Goran Eriksson to lowly Notts County. Even though they are the self-proclaimed 'oldest club in the world', I didn't expect this. Check it out: http://www.goalpost.tv/2009/07/23/latest-news/notts-county%e2%80%99s-coup.htm http://la-nuestra.co.uk/2009/07/sven-goran-eriksson-and-notts-county/ Like Zindane's goal in the Champions League Final this goal is one that leaves us almost lost for words. From this Roberto Carlos (of União São João, Palmeiras, Inter, Real Madrid and now Fenerbahçe) carved his name as a masterful free kick taker. Unfortunately he was not as consistent in this ... http://la-nuestra.co.uk/2009/07/remembering-roberto-carlos-and-that-freekick/ Barcelona. Think Messi, Ronaldinho, Cryuff,  Zubizarreta and Luis Suárez to name a few. Indeed this whole post could be used just to name the great players who have played for Barça. What about Joan Gamper? Formally Hans Kamper before he decided to become more 'Catalonian.' He might not have been ... http://la-nuestra.co.uk/2009/07/barcelona-and-footballs-most-famous-announcement/ Throughout football's long and patterned history there has always been drama, excitement, heartbreak and jubilation. The Uefa Cup Final in 1995 when Nayim ridiculously scored from the half-way line past a disbelieving David Seaman; the 1999 Champions League Final where Ole Gunnar Solskjær's right foot will forever be etched into ... http://la-nuestra.co.uk/2009/07/a-last-minute-goal-that-was-more-than-just-a-match-winner/ Before he became UEFA President and often figure of controversy and ridicule in Britain, Michel Platini was one of the best midfielders' ever to grace the beautiful game. Regardless of how some perceive him today we should not overlook the incredible career he had that took him from Nancy to ... http://la-nuestra.co.uk/2009/07/remembering-michel-platini/