#calciopoli

[campadailyblog]

Luciano Moggi: Dirigente sportivo, colpevole nello scandalo Calciopoli.

Luciano Moggi è stato al centro dello scandalo Calciopoli nel 2006. Era il direttore generale della Juventus. È stato accusato di aver fatto contatti illegali con dirigenti e arbitri per influenzare i risultati. Le accuse hanno portato alle sue dimissioni dalla Juventus. Il processo sportivo ha condannato la Juventus a retrocedere in Serie B. I dirigenti hanno ricevuto anche altre sanzioni…

[footieridiculosity]

Browsing Juventus’ squad for fire sale pickups and there’s not even anyone worth buying smh. Last time this happened you could get a Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Patrick Vieira, Lilian Thuram or Fabio Cannavaro. Serie A really has fallen behind.

[uniteds]

stuff that happened in the 2022/2023 football season that should send us into a coma but we’re too desensitized:

1. the whole ass world cup in the middle of the season. what was that

2. manchester united sacking ronaldo and announcing a sale of the club in the middle of the world cup

3. ronaldo getting dropped at the world cup and his replacement scoring a hattrick immediately after

4. keeping up with the belgians (world cup edition)

5. keeping up with the belgians (courtois saying he doesn’t respect kdb after stealing his missus)

6. ronaldo stans beefing with a little moroccan girl

7. the kingdom of saudi arabia buying newcastle united and then telling the premier league that they didn’t and the premier league going “oh okay if you say so”

8. megan thee stallion being romelu lukaku’s date to lautaro martinez’s wedding

9. pique cheating on shakira and then shakira releasing a diss track about it

10. shakira figuring out pique cheated on her because someone ate her strawberry jam and pique doesn’t eat strawberry jam

11. apparently the girl pique cheated on shakira with (clara) cheating on pique with pep

12. wagatha christie libel case

13. real madrid dropping a video accusing barcelona of fascism and the government of cataluyna getting involved

14. the pope coming out as a manchester united fan

15. the one napoli fan that basically made zielinski strip on the pitch

16. mount vesuvius park shutting down because napoli fans wanted to fake an eruption as a celebration

17. frank lampard taking everton into a relegation battle, getting sacked, and then taking chelsea into a relegation battle

18. on that note: chelsea were in a relegation scrap and finished 12th

19. mourinho lost his first ever european final to sevilla europa league black magic

20. whatever the fuck borussia dortmund did on the last day of the bundesliga season

21. anthony martial’s ex wife chasing his first wife down a french motorway with a baby in the passenger seat

22. psg suspending messi because he took an unsanctioned trip to saudi arabia and then unsuspending him two days later because they didn’t want people talking about geopolitics

23. the absolutely bizarre messi apology video released by psg

24. spurs refunding their fans’ tickets after being embarrassing

25. pep’s heartbreak over the fact julia roberts is a manchester united fan

26. chelsea scored one goal in the month of april

27. chelsea and spurs had six managers between them and won one match combined between march and april

28. mourinho fighting anthony taylor after the europa league final

29. milan derby in the ucl for the first time since 2005

30. luis enrique saying he’s cool with the spanish players having sex during the world cup as long as they’re not having orgies

31. luis enrique saying he doesn’t have sex anymore unless his wife wants to

32. man city charged with 115 counts of financial doping and trying to get the barrister in charge disqualified because he’s an arsenal fan

33. mourinho wire-taping himself to catch referees being corrupt

34. ryan reynolds and mac from it’s always sunny in philadelphia buying a football club and that football club getting promoted

35. pele died rip

36. women football awards sponsored by shein and klarna having a category for “male football ally of the year” and it’s just random men that went to one (1) women’s game

37. barcelona negreia case (how do you say calciopoli in catalan?)

38. infantino saying he feels gay, african, like a migrant worker, disabled, arab, and qatari

39. infantino saying he was oppressed as a child because he was ginger and italy is not safe for gingers

40. david alaba’s father in law getting arrested for being one the leaders of a far right group plotting to overthrow the german government

41. richarlison being tumblr’s it girl for a month and then not scoring a goal for the next four

42. juventus being in the middle of another corruption scandal and being docked points because of it

43. two teams getting investigated by the british government for playing football the weekend the queen died

44. gavi getting a yellow card in the first minute of a football match

45. pogba’s brother was arrested by french authorities for being part of a group-organized extortion attempt against pogba

46. richarlison getting a tattoo of neymar’s face and neymar paying him 30k to get it removed

47. iker casillas coming out, puyol implying they had a thing, and both of them retracting it in the most misha collins way possible.

48. sane and mane fight

49. zlatan retired from football

50. barca withholding about 50 million in wages from their players and somehow frenkie still didn’t want to join manchester united

[immortaltale]

what really amazes me about everything is that so many c*ty fans (and this applies to j*ve fans too) will make excuses for all their accusations or pretend they don't matter??? like i can fully acknowledge milan's participation in calciopoli and its blight on our history but then you have these people who deny everything or just straight up embrace their charges??? do you have no shame??? it's easy to tell who loves football for the beauty of the game and who only cares as long as it brings success

[vanbasten]

ogni volta che vado a fare shopping con un’idea specifica in testa quel capo di abbigliamento o quel colore cessa di esistere immediatamente. si volatilizza. quando passo a caso per dare un’occhiata veloce trovo duecento opzioni, gli sconti, il sacro graal, le intercettazioni di calciopoli, i gol che si è mangiato il milan a gennaio

[yesungsh27]

"Sisi Gelap Sepak Bola: Dari Skandal Pengaturan Skor hingga Suap Wasit"

Sepak bola, sebagai olahraga yang paling populer di dunia, menghubungkan miliaran penggemar dan memicu emosi di setiap pertandingannya. Namun, di balik semarak sorak-sorai penonton dan semangat kompetisi, dunia sepak bola juga memiliki sisi gelap yang kerap mengguncang integritas permainan. Skandal pengaturan skor, suap wasit, hingga manipulasi hasil pertandingan telah beberapa kali mencoreng nama baik sepak bola di berbagai negara.

Artikel ini akan mengulas beberapa sisi gelap yang paling mencolok dalam sejarah sepak bola, serta bagaimana dampaknya terhadap kepercayaan publik dan langkah yang telah diambil untuk memerangi masalah ini.

1. Pengaturan Skor: Menghancurkan Integritas Kompetisi

Pengaturan skor adalah praktik di mana hasil pertandingan sengaja dimanipulasi untuk memenuhi keuntungan pihak-pihak tertentu, biasanya untuk tujuan perjudian. Skandal semacam ini dapat melibatkan pemain, pelatih, dan bahkan wasit. Dengan nilai taruhan yang mencapai miliaran dolar setiap tahunnya, godaan untuk terlibat dalam pengaturan skor seringkali sangat tinggi.

Contoh Kasus:

Pada tahun 2006, skandal "Calciopoli" di Italia mengguncang dunia sepak bola. Beberapa klub besar seperti Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina, dan Lazio dituduh terlibat dalam pengaturan skor, dengan berusaha mempengaruhi pemilihan wasit untuk pertandingan-pertandingan tertentu. Skandal ini menghasilkan hukuman berat bagi klub yang terlibat, termasuk degradasi Juventus ke Serie B dan pengurangan poin bagi tim lainnya.

2. Suap Wasit: Manipulasi dari Tengah Lapangan

Wasit memiliki peran penting dalam menjaga fair play dan mengawasi jalannya pertandingan dengan adil. Namun, ada beberapa kasus di mana wasit menerima suap untuk memberikan keputusan yang menguntungkan salah satu tim. Tindakan ini merusak kepercayaan pemain dan penonton terhadap integritas pertandingan.

Contoh Kasus:

Pada tahun 2005, Robert Hoyzer, seorang wasit di liga Jerman, terbukti menerima suap untuk memanipulasi hasil beberapa pertandingan, termasuk pertandingan Piala Jerman. Hoyzer akhirnya mengakui bahwa ia bekerja sama dengan sindikat taruhan Balkan untuk memastikan hasil yang menguntungkan mereka. Kasus ini mengejutkan masyarakat Jerman dan menyoroti kelemahan dalam pengawasan wasit di berbagai liga.

3. Kasus Match Fixing dalam Kompetisi Internasional

Pengaturan skor tidak hanya terjadi di liga domestik, tetapi juga di kompetisi internasional, termasuk Piala Dunia dan Liga Champions. Dengan perhatian global dan taruhan besar yang melibatkan pertandingan ini, ancaman manipulasi hasil selalu ada.

Contoh Kasus:

Pada 2013, FIFA menemukan bukti bahwa beberapa pertandingan kualifikasi Piala Dunia di Asia dan Afrika terindikasi pengaturan skor. Hal ini melibatkan beberapa pihak yang bekerja sama untuk memanipulasi hasil demi keuntungan finansial. Meskipun bukti rinci tidak selalu dapat dipublikasikan, investigasi ini menunjukkan bahwa tidak ada turnamen yang sepenuhnya bebas dari risiko manipulasi.

4. Pengaruh Sindikat Judi dan Kejahatan Terorganisir

Di banyak kasus, pengaturan skor dan suap wasit dipengaruhi oleh sindikat perjudian dan kelompok kejahatan terorganisir. Mereka memiliki sumber daya dan jaringan luas untuk mendekati pemain, pelatih, atau wasit demi keuntungan finansial. Tidak jarang pemain atau ofisial yang menolak kerja sama mendapat ancaman serius.

Contoh Kasus:

Di Asia Tenggara, sindikat kriminal memiliki sejarah panjang dalam mempengaruhi pertandingan. Pada tahun 2011, Wilson Raj Perumal, seorang agen pengatur skor asal Singapura, ditangkap karena terlibat dalam manipulasi banyak pertandingan di liga-liga Eropa dan Afrika. Perumal mengaku bahwa sindikatnya telah mempengaruhi hasil pertandingan dengan menyuap pemain dan ofisial, bahkan pada pertandingan kualifikasi Piala Dunia.

5. Teknologi Video dan Pengawasan yang Semakin Ketat

Dengan kemajuan teknologi, upaya untuk mengurangi manipulasi hasil pertandingan menjadi lebih ketat. Teknologi seperti Video Assistant Referee (VAR) telah diperkenalkan untuk membantu wasit membuat keputusan yang akurat. Selain itu, lembaga anti-pengaturan skor seperti Sportradar bekerja sama dengan liga dan federasi sepak bola di seluruh dunia untuk mendeteksi pola taruhan mencurigakan yang mengindikasikan adanya pengaturan skor.

Namun, meskipun teknologi ini membantu, tidak ada jaminan bahwa pengaturan skor bisa dihilangkan sepenuhnya. Pihak-pihak yang ingin melakukan manipulasi masih terus mencari celah.

6. Upaya Penegakan Hukum dan Hukuman Berat

Untuk mengatasi skandal semacam ini, badan-badan pengatur sepak bola seperti FIFA, UEFA, dan AFC terus memperketat peraturan dan memberikan sanksi keras kepada pihak yang terlibat dalam pengaturan skor atau suap. Hukuman yang diberikan mencakup larangan bermain seumur hidup, degradasi klub, pengurangan poin, dan denda besar.

Contoh Kasus:

Pada 2018, FIFA memberikan larangan seumur hidup kepada beberapa pemain dari tim nasional Kenya dan Zimbabwe karena keterlibatan mereka dalam pengaturan skor. Sanksi berat ini bertujuan untuk memberikan efek jera dan menegaskan bahwa sepak bola harus tetap menjadi olahraga yang adil dan jujur.

7. Dampak Jangka Panjang pada Kepercayaan Penonton

Skandal pengaturan skor dan suap wasit memiliki dampak yang menghancurkan pada kepercayaan penonton. Jika penonton merasa bahwa hasil pertandingan telah diatur, mereka akan kehilangan minat dan kepercayaan pada olahraga ini. Ini bisa berujung pada penurunan pendapatan, baik dari penjualan tiket, hak siar, hingga sponsor.

Ketika Calciopoli terjadi di Italia, banyak penggemar sepak bola Italia yang merasa dikhianati dan mempertanyakan integritas liga. Kepercayaan yang hilang membutuhkan waktu bertahun-tahun untuk dipulihkan, bahkan ketika tindakan tegas telah diambil untuk memerangi masalah tersebut.

Kesimpulan: Menjaga Integritas Sepak Bola

Sepak bola adalah olahraga yang melampaui batasan budaya dan negara, dan kejujuran dalam kompetisi adalah inti dari popularitasnya. Meskipun pengaturan skor dan suap wasit tetap menjadi tantangan serius, langkah-langkah telah diambil untuk menekan pengaruh negatif ini. Penerapan teknologi canggih, investigasi menyeluruh, dan hukuman berat merupakan upaya untuk menjaga integritas sepak bola.

Namun, tanggung jawab ini tidak hanya ada pada badan pengatur, tetapi juga pada seluruh komunitas sepak bola—termasuk pemain, pelatih, wasit, dan penggemar. Dengan terus memantau dan melaporkan tindakan mencurigakan, sepak bola dapat terus menjadi olahraga yang adil dan menginspirasi bagi semua. Di balik gemilangnya permainan, menjaga integritas sepak bola adalah pekerjaan berkelanjutan yang membutuhkan komitmen dari semua pihak.

[liamhaydn-blog]

Team of the Decade: Part 6- The 2000's

Goalkeeper- Gianluigi Buffon- Italy

Buffon came through the ranks at Parma where he won the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup, both in 1999. In 2001 he became the world's most expensive keeper when Juventus parted with €52.9M for his services. Buffon would quickly justify this huge fee, helping Juventus to back-to-back Serie A titles in 2002 and 2003, aswell as reaching the 2003 Champions League final which the Old Lady would lose on a shootout to AC Milan.

In 2006, Italian Football was rocked by the Calciopoli scandal which saw Juve stripped of two Serie A titles and demoted to Serie B. Buffon stayed with the club, helping them to be promoted straight back to Serie A. Juventus would go on to dominate Italian Football in the 2010's with Buffon winning a further 8 Serie A titles and reaching another 2 Champions League finals, though he was never able to lift the trophy, as Juventus suffered losses on both occasions. Buffon left for a short spell with PSG in 2018, before returning for a second stint at Juventus and then a second stint at Parma where he would retire at the age of 45.

Buffon holds the Serie A record for most championships with 10 and he also holds the appearance record with 657 games in Italy's top-flight. Buffon also won a record 176 caps for Italy and in 2006 helped them to lift the World Cup for the first time in 24 years. His performances at the tournament saw him voted 2nd for that year's Balon D'or.

Buffon is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers ever, renowned for his remarkable consistency and the incredibly long time he spent at the top. He was known for his instinctive keeping, producing moments of outstanding shot-stopping due to his quick and acrobatic reflexes. Buffon had a calming and commanding presence between the sticks, working in perfect harmony with some of the best defenders of the era.

Right-Back- Cafu- Brazil

After converting to wingback from a right winger whilst in Sao Paulo's youth team, Cafu would enjoy success with the club winning the Copa Libertadores in 1992 and again in 1993. He joined Real Zaragoza in 1995 but the move was short-lived and he would return to Brazil to play for Palmeiras after less than a year. However in 1997, Cafu moved to Europe once more this time settling much better at AS Roma.

With Roma, Cafu earned the nickname "Il Pendolino" ('the express train') for his marauding runs up and down the right flank. Cafu spent 6 seasons with the club, winning the Scudetto in 2001. In 2003 Cafu joined AC Milan where he would spend the last 5 years of his career, winning another Serie A title and reaching 2 Chamoions League finals both coming against Liverpool, losing the first in 2005 and then gaining revenge 2 years later.

Cafu had an incredible international career, becoming the most capped player ever for Brazil, earning 142 caps. He played at 3 World Cups and played in the final at all of them, winning in 1994 and again in 2002, this time as team captain. Cafu also played in the 1998 final defeat against France and is to date the only player to have played in 3 consecutive World Cup finals. He also won 2 Copa America's and a Confederations Cup for Brazil.

Cafu is regarded as one of the best full-backs ever, a classy, composed player on the ball with skills which reflected a player who'd started out as a winger. His pace, stamina and intelligence made him both defensively and offensively a difficult player to get the better of.

Centre-Back- Alessandro Nesta- Italy

Nesta came through the ranks at Lazio, the club supported by his Father and in 1997 he was made club captain having not long turned 20. As captain Nesta led Lazio to winning the Coppa Italia, the Cup Winners Cup and UEFA Super Cup before winning the league and cup double in 2001. The following year Nesta joined AC Milan where he joined a rock solid group of defenders including Cafu, Maldini, Costacurta and Stam.

In his first season Nesta won the Champions League and he would go onto reach a further 2 Champions League finals, losing one and winning the other. Nesta would also lift 2 Scudettos during his 10 years with the Rossoneri. Nesta was part of the Italy team that lost in the Euro 2000 final against France and he was also a member of the Italy squad that went to the 2006 World Cup, however he was injured in a group match and was forced to watch from the sidelines as Italy went onto lift the trophy.

Nesta drew comparisons with Baresi due to being a complete defender, strong and imposing due to his athletic and physical capabilities but also elegant with great composure on the ball with an excellent passing range. Nesta was outstanding in the air and also very quick across the ground, with high tactical intelligence when positioning himself and timing challenges to perfection.

Centre-Back- Fabio Cannavaro- Italy

Cannavaro began his career with Napoli before joining Parma in 1995, where he would spend 7 seasons making almost 300 appearances for the club. With Parma, Cannavaro won 2 Coppa Italia's and the UEFA Cup before moving to Inter Milan. After a fairly unhappy 2 years however, Cannavaro moved on again this time to Juventus where he won 2 Serie A titles in his 2 years with the club. However the Calciopoli scandal saw Juve stripped of those titles and demoted to Serie B and with that he moved on to Real Madrid, where he had a successful stint winning 2 La Liga titles in his 3 years with the club. Cannavaro left the club for a final season with Juventus before retiring in the UAE.

Cannavaro won 136 caps for Italy and played in 4 World Cup's and 3 Euro's. He became captain after the international retirement of Maldini and led Italy at the 2006 World Cup, the tournament for which he is best remembered. His performances at this World Cup held in Germany earned him the nickname "the Berlin Wall" for his imperious performances which helped Italy concede just twice in 7 games, once from an own goal and once from a penalty kick. Cannavaro's role in helping Italy to win the World Cup saw him win the Ballon D'or, as he became the first defender to win the award for 10 years.

Despite his relatively small height for a central defender at 5 foot 9, Cannavaro was renowned for his aerial ability, his timing and impressive leap allowing him to outjump larger attackers. He was also regarded as an excellent tackler due to his expertly executed sliding challenges. Cannavaro excelled in starting attacks out from the back after winning possession due to quality technical ability on the ball. As a leader Cannavaro was expertly suited to the role of captaincy due to his leadership with showcased his charisma, steady calming presence and ability to organise the defence.

Left-Back- Ashley Cole- England

Cole came through the youth ranks at Arsenal and in just his second full season as an established player he won the league and cup double with the club. 2 years later and Cole became an "Invincible" as a member of the 03-04 Arsenal team which went an entire Premier League campaign without losing, on the way to claiming his 2nd Premier League title. In 2006 he played in the Champions League final for Arsenal in which they were narrowly beaten by Barcelona. This would be his final match for the club as that summer he joined London rivals Chelsea.

With Chelsea, Cole picked up another Premier League title and took his FA Cup count to a record 7, 3 with Arsenal and 4 with Chelsea. He also played a further 2 Champions League finals, losing against United in 2008, before finally getting his hands on the trophy at the 3rd time of asking in 2012 against Bayern Munich. Cole won 107 England caps and appeared in 5 international tournaments, where he was usually one of the best performers in England sides which regularly flattered to deceive.

At Arsenal, Cole thrived as an attacking full-back who loved to bomb forward and link up with Pires and Henry down Arsenal's devastating left-side of attack. At Chelsea, Cole's defensive qualities improved further under Mourinho as Cole developed into one of the toughest full-backs in the world to get the better of 1 v 1. Due to his strengths both defensively and going forward, Cole is regarded as one of the best left-backs of recent decades.

Centre-Midfield- Steven Gerrard- England

Gerrard quickly established himself as a key player for his beloved Liverpool not long after joining the first time. In his 3rd season he made 50 appearances as Liverpool won the UEFA Cup, the FA Cup and the League Cup in the same season. A couple of years later he was made club captain, a role he would hold for 12 years. In 2005 Liverpool reached the Champions League final, progressing out of the Group Stage due to a late Gerrard strike from 25-yards. In the final they met AC Milan and trailed 3-0 at half time. However Liverpool scored 3 goals in 6 minutes, Gerrard scoring the first and winning the penalty which Alonso converted via the rebound to level the game up at 3-3. The game progressed through to penalties, with Gerrard as the designated 5th taker in the end not required as Liverpool pulled off "the Miracle of Istanbul".

The following season Gerrard scored 23 goals and helped Liverpool lift the FA Cup, producing one of the all-time great cup final performances scoring twice including a last minute equaliser from 35 yards. This led to the final being known as "the Gerrard final" and made him the first player to score in FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup and Champions League finals. Gerrard racked up 710 appearances for Liverpool and scored 185 goals. He holds the record for most appearances in the PFA Team of the Year with 8.

Gerrard won 114 England caps, scoring 21 goals and featured for England in 6 major tournaments. Gerrard is one of the best long-range shooters in Football history, possessing a viciously powerful and accurate shot from distance, he was also an exceptional passer of the ball, possessing every type of pass in his locker including the Hollywood long-range passes to inch perfection, but also more intricate passes in tight spaces. Despite his on the ball quality, he also had a tireless workrate, being willing to do the dirty work and he was an exceptional tackler. Gerrard played in Liverpool sides which were often exceptionally average, but he was a player who could elevate the collective through his sheer desire and individual quality.

Centre-Midfield- Zinedine Zidane- France

'Zizou' Zinedine Zidane began his career with Cannes before moving to Bordeaux where he was a runner-up in the 1996 UEFA Cup. That summer he joined Juventus, where he really began to make a name for himself worldwide. In 5 seasons with Juve, Zidane won 2 Serie A title's and aswell reached 2 Champions League finals, but was on the losing side for both. His displays for the Old Lady convinced Real Madrid to part with just over £46M to secure his signature, a world record transfer fee which stood for 8 years. Zidane would justify the fee at the end of his very first season, when he scored the winning goal in the 2002 Champions League final with a spectacular, unforgettable volley from the edge of the box against Bayer Leverkusen.

In 5 seasons with Real, Zidane would establish himself as one of the greatest players in the club's rich history, making 230 appearances for the club and scoring 49 goals. Zidane also goes down as perhaps the greatest player in the history of the French national side, playing a huge role in winning them their first ever World Cup in 1998, as he netted twice in the final against Brazil. 2 years later he had another excellent tournament as France won the Euros for the first time since 1984. Zizou's final match as a professional player came in the 2006 World Cup Final, and he gave France an early lead with an audacious panenka penalty which fell just the right side of the line. However there was to be no fairytale ending, as Zidane was sent for an early bath in his last ever game after infamously headbutting Italy's Marco Materazzi for insulting his mother. Zizou's incredible legacy as a legend of France and Football, could not be tarnished however.

Zidane is regarded as one of the most aesthetically gifted Footballers ever, with balletic balance despite his powerful frame, and incredibly technical, quick feet which allowed him to manipulate the ball and the opponent to his will. His elegance and close control afforded him time on the ball no matter how hard opponents tried to pressure him and this made him perfectly suited to his role as either a playmaker from central midfield or a classic number 10. Zidane was also one of the best "big game" players in Football history, usually delivering his best level when the pressure was at its highest, relishing the high stakes and often inspiring his team to victory. This has ensured Zidane goes down as one of the greatest players and midfielders the game has ever seen. Zizou won the FIFA World Player of the Year award on 3 occasions aswell as the 1998 Balon D'or.

Right Attacking Midfield- Kaka- Brazil

Kaka began his career with Sao Paulo in his native Brazil before transferring to AC Milan in 2003. Despite the fact he was joining the reigning European champions, Kaka's quality was such that he quickly forced his way into the side and he would never leave it, helping Milan to win the Serie A title in his first season and reach the Champions League final in his second. In that final Kaka produced one of the greatest assists ever with his astonishing through ball for Crespo which helped Milan to take a 3-0 lead, that they would ultimately lose before succumbing on penalties against Liverpool.

2 years later though they would secure revenge in the rematch Champions League final, with Kaka producing another assist as this time AC Milan came out victorious by 2 goals to 1. Kaka was the best player in the world that season, scoring 10 goals in Milan's Champions League campaign. Kaka's performances led to a bid of over £100M from Manchester City in 2009, which would have been more than double the world record transfer fee at the time. Both Kaka and Milan rejected the deal, but later that year the Brazilian would join Real Madrid for a still-World Record fee of £56M.

Kaka never hit the heights at Real Madrid that he had for Milan, and he returned to the club after 4 years in Spain where he had won a La Liga and Copa Del Rey title. After Milan, Kaka returned for another spell at Sao Paulo before retiring in America. Kaka played just 25 minutes at the 2002 World Cup which he and Brazil won, but he would go on to feature at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and aswell won 2 Confederations Cups during his Brazil career which saw him earn 92 caps.

With over 100 goals for the Rossoneri, Kaka is one of the best players in Milan history, as during his time with the club he was amongst the best players on the planet, peaking in 2007 when he was awarded the Balon D'or and FIFA World Player of the Year. Kaka was an extremely quick dribbler, with an ability to glide past players whilst maintaining tight control over the ball. Despite being over 6 feet tall, Kaka maintained a low centre of gravity when carrying the ball, but with a longer stride than most number 10's who were smaller in stature, he could be even more unstoppable with an ability to gallop away from opponents and leave them trailing in his wake as he did on many occasions. Aswell as possessing an excellent long shot, Kaka was one of the best passers of his generation, making him a devastating all-round playmaker.

Left Attacking Midfield- Ronaldinho- Brazil

Ronaldinho moved to PSG from Gremio as a 21-year old and his displays in his 2 years in Paris, aswell as his role in helping Brazil to lift the World Cup, saw Barcelona beat off the competition in Manchester United to bring the Brazilian to their club in 2003. Barca had become something a sleeping giant, finishing 6th in La Liga in the season prior. Ronaldinho breathed new life into the club, revitalising Barcelona as their star player helping them to lift back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006.

It was in the 05-06 season that Ronaldinho would earn a standing ovation at the Bernabeu as he ripped Real Madrid apart scoring 2 wonderful solo goals in a 3-0 victory. Ronaldinho scored 26 goals that season and capped it off by winning the Champions League for the first and only time in his career. At his peak Ronaldinho was untouchable but after one more outstanding season with Barca, his lifestyle off the pitch contributed to the end of his very best days, however he continued to entertain crowds with his flamboyance and breathtaking skills for years at AC Milan and back home in Brazil where he helped Atletico Mineiro to lift the Copa Libertadores in 2013. With the Brazil national team Ronaldinho won 97 caps and scored 33 goals, winning the Copa America in 1999, the World Cup in 2002 and the Confederations Cup in 2005.

Ronaldinho is one of the most beloved players in the history of the game, due to being surely the most skilful player Football has ever seen. Ronaldinho in his prime years at Barcelona was one of the most entertaining Footballers ever, the type of player who justifies the entrance fee alone, due to his devastating trickery which could make his opponents look foolish. Ronaldinho looked like someone having fun on the pitch, because he was and he was capable of playing the same way no matter who the opponent was. Ronaldinho may have made La Liga's weaker sides look like children but he demonstrated he could do the exact same to Real Madrid and Mourinho's Chelsea, when at the absolute peak of his powers.

Aswell as being blessed with an endless repertoire of flicks and tricks, Ronaldinho was one of the best free-kick takers in Football history and an excellent striker of the ball scoring around 300 goals in his career. His vision and weight of pass also allowed him to create a high number of goals. Ronaldinho could play as a classic number 10 behind a striker, but was also very suited to playing on the left-wing, with this position allowing him to cut inside onto his right foot. Ronaldinho won the Balon D'or in 2005 and won the FIFA World Player of the Year in back-to-back years between 2004 and 2005.

Striker- Thierry Henry- France

As an explosively quick left-winger Henry came through the ranks at Monaco where he mostly stood out for that electric pace. His performances on the wing earned him a place in France's squad for the 1998 World Cup and he helped his nation along to win the trophy, scoring 3 goals on the road to the final which he did not feature in. The following year he joined Juventus, but failed to win the trust of manager Marcelo Lippi. After a single season, he was sold to Arsenal and under Arsene Wenger Henry would transform into the best striker and arguably best player in the world.

Once Henry had settled into life in the Premier League, he never looked back and his confidence in his game catapulted him and Arsenal to a whole new level, as Henry's goals fired Arsenal to a league and cup double in 2002. After failing to retain the title despite Henry's 24 goals and 20 assists in the 02/03 season, Henry came back somehow even better in 03/04 and with 30 goals he helped Arsenal to achieve an unbeaten league season. In 05/06 Henry delivered his 5th consecutive 30+ goal season and played a huge role in getting Arsenal to their first ever Champions League final, where despite having 10 men for most of the game they came agonisingly close to lifting the trophy.

The following year Henry departed Arsenal for Barcelona, leaving London as the club's all time record scorer. In 3 seasons with Barca, Henry got his hands on the Champions League in 08/09, as part of a treble. He retired at New York Red Bulls in 2014 but not before 'The King' had returned to Arsenal on loan one final time and added yet more incredible memories to his legacy there, taking his overall goal tally for the club to 228. Aswell as the World Cup in 1998, Henry also played a huge role in France lifting the 2000 Euros and 2003 Confederations Cup, and he was unfortunate not to lift the World Cup again in 2006.

Henry is regarded by most as the greatest player in the history of the Premier League and likely the best player ever not to win either the Balon D'or or the FIFA World Player of the Year, with 'Titi' having a very strong case in both 2003 and 2004. Blessed with extraordinary pace and strength, Henry also possessed a high level of creativity and flair, scoring a huge amount of goals despite not being a "penalty box 9", often preferring to get involved in the game by coming deep or drifting wide. Despite his individual quality, Henry was also an unselfish team player who loved setting up chances for others which made him the complete centre forward.

Striker- Samuel Eto'o- Cameroon

Eto'o joined Real Madrid as a youth from a Sports Academy in his native Cameroon, but made only 7 appearances for the Madrid first team, having 3 spells on loan away from the club, until he made a move to Real Mallorca permanent in 2000. He found a home at the club and helped them to win the Copa Del Rey for the first time in their history in 2003, with Eto'o netting a brace in the final. His displays convinced Barcelona to sign him the following year.

The Cameroonian spent 5 seasons with Barca, scoring 130 goals in 199 games, helping the club to 3 La Liga titles and 2 Champions League's within that time. The first came in 2006 with Eto'o scoring the equalising goal in the final against Arsenal, as his goal helped Barcelona to an eventual 2-1 win. 3 years later he was on the scoresheet in another Champions League final against English opposition, as he opened the scoring in a 2-0 win over Manchester United to help Barca to secure a historic treble.

That summer Eto'o joined Inter Milan and won the third Champions League title of his career and a back-to-back treble with 2 different clubs. The following season Eto'o had the most prolific season of his career scoring 37 goals. After departing Inter, Eto'o had spells in Russia, England and Turkey before retiring in Qatar. Eto'o also had a very successful International career winning 118 caps and scoring 56 goals for Cameroon. His goals helped Cameroon to win the 2000 Olympics and 2 African Cup of Nations titles in the early 2000's.

Eto'o was a striker renowned for his finishing abilities with both feet aswell as his head, and a clinical composure infront of goal. His speed and quality of his first touch and close control made him a forward who was constantly dangerous. Eto'o was also an excellent team player due to his ability to combine with others, and his workrate for the team which afforded him the tactical ability to slot in either as a winger or a support striker, roles he fulfilled under Mourinho at Inter Milan.

Subs:

Roberto Carlos- Brazil

Carlos moved to Europe from Palmeiras, joining Inter Milan in 1995. After just one season in Italy, Carlos signed for Real Madrid where he would spend the next 11 years of his career. With Madrid, Carlos would win 4 La Liga's and 3 Champions League titles, making a total of 527 appearances for the club before departing in 2007 for Fenerbahce. Carlos won 125 caps for Brazil, winning the Confederations Cup and 2 Copa America's. He featured at 3 World Cups, reaching the final of two. The first final in 1998 he was on the losing side against France, but 4 years later Brazil made it to the final again and this time triumphed 2-0 over Germany. Carlos made the FIFA Team of the Tournament at both editions.

Nicknamed El Hombre Bala ("The Bullet Man"), Carlos is regarded as one of the best offensive full-backs ever, renowned for bombing forward to contribute in attack for either Real Madrid or Brazil. Carlos was capable of generating incredible power in his shots and scored a number of free-kicks with this technique. His free-kick goal against France is regarded as one of the best in history, with Barthez in goal capable only of standing and watching in astonishment as Carlos' shot swerved in from over 35 yards out.

Andrea Pirlo- Italy

Pirlo joined Inter Milan from Brescia in 1998 but was unable to fully break into the side and after a couple of loans he eventually moved to city rivals AC in 2001. Pirlo quickly found it a better fit and lifted the Champions League with the club in his second season. Pirlo would stay for 10 years at Milan, making over 400 appearances winning 2 Scudetto's and adding another Champions League in 2007. With Pirlo in his 30's Milan opted to let him go in 2011 feeling his best years were behind him. This turned out to be a misjudgement as Pirlo performed at the highest level for a further 4 years, ageing like wine as he helped Juventus to win Serie A every year during his time there and aswell playing the 4th Champions League final of his career, with Juve missing out to Barcelona.

Pirlo won 116 Italy caps and was part of the team which lifted the World Cup in 2006 with the maestro converting his penalty in the final shootout. Pirlo would also appear in the Euros final in 2012 but was this time on the losing side. Pirlo began his career as an attacking midfielder but dropped back to a deep-lying playmaker role which suited him perfectly. Despite lacking pace and defensive qualities, Pirlo's on the ball ability meant these things scarcely mattered. One of the best passers the game has seen, l'architetto ("the Architect") set the tempo of games with his passes weighed and measured to perfection, enabling him to quickly be able to change the direction or speed of his team's attack by switching the play. With time on the ball from his deep-lying role, Pirlo's long balls were always on the money, with teammates not needing to move or break stride to be picked out.

Patrick Vieira- France

Vieira began his career with Cannes before moving to AC Milan in 1995. However Vieira was unable to break into the side and was let go to Arsenal after just 5 appearances. At Arsenal Vieira quickly won over everyone, and in his second season helped Arsenal to achieve the league and cup double for just the second time in history. 4 years later Vieira achieved a second double for Arsenal before in 2004 he and the team reached their pinnacle going an entire league campaign without suffering a single loss with the French midfielder captaining the side. The following year Vieira left Arsenal after 9 years with the club in which he made over 400 appearances, spending the next 5 years in Italy with Juventus and then Inter Milan before retiring at Manchester City.

Vieira won over 100 caps for the French national side, winning the World Cup in '98 coming off the bench in the final and the Euros and Confederations Cup in 2000 and 2001 as a starter. Vieira also started the 2006 World Cup final which France lost on penalties to Italy. Vieira is considered one of the most complete central midfielders ever. From a defensive side he excelled at slide tackles due to his long limbs and good reading of the game, and his imposing size of 6 feet 4 made him impossible to intimidate or bully. Despite his height and defensive quality, Vieira was also exceptional with the ball and very difficult to cleanly dispossess which made him perfect in the box-to-box role. A powerful runner, he could get up and down the pitch to contribute a lot in both defence and attack.

[campadailyblog]

Simone Farina: Ex calciatore, al centro di scandali di scommesse.

Simone Farina è un ex calciatore italiano che ha denunciato un tentativo di combine nel 2011. Questo ha segnato un punto di svolta nella lotta contro le scommesse illegali nel calcio. La sua storia ha rivelato un’organizzazione criminale internazionale con base a Singapore. Questa organizzazione, guidata da Tan Seet Eng, detto “il boss”, corrompeva arbitri e giocatori in Europa. Il loro obiettivo…

[footieridiculosity]

They’re wiring-tapping Juve officials again and it’s beautiful 🥹

[regina-del-cielo]

"Italian manwhore summer" MA SI RIFIUTANO DI QUALIFICARSI PER I MONDIALI. DI CONTINUO. É VERGOGNOSO.

È perché non c'è stato più un bel megascandalo stile Calciopoli. Se i calciatori non hanno le pezze al culo e il rischio di linciaggio dalla folla non giocano bene ai Mondiali. È comprovato

Se poi magari la smettessimo di convocare Immobile che l'unica cosa che fa è buttarsi per terra...

[delectablywaywardbeard-blog]

La Juve del futuro secondo Capello: i consigli di Don Fabio per lo scudetto

Capello indica quali dovrebbero essere gli acquisti della Juve per contrastare l’Inter in chiave scudetto e guai a cedere i big Capello alla guida della Juve ha vinto due scudetti, entrambi cancellati da Calciopoli e uno di questi assegnato all’Inter grazie all’allora commissario federale Guido Rossi, già componente del cda nerazzurro. Don Fabio da diversi anni è opinionista tv e quando è…

[fuckthevar]

hanno riaperto persino il processo a Rosa e Olindo per la strage di Erba ma in questo paese non si è mai trovato un uomo con le palle che volesse riesaminare la farsa su #calciopoli: difficile riconciliarsi col resto del mondo se prima non verrà fatta giustizia su quegli anni

[alessandro54-plus]

La Juventus chiude Calciopoli: ritirato l’ultimo ricorso al Consiglio di Stato

articolo: La Juve chiude Calciopoli: ritirato il ricorso al Consiglio di Stato (calcioefinanza.it) Si chiude dopo 17 anni la vicenda: la Juventus rinuncia al ricorso al Consiglio di Stato sul risarcimento danni per l’assegnazione dello Scudetto all’Inter. La Juventus mette la parola fine alle rivendicazioni su Calciopoli. Il club bianconero ha infatti ritirato un ricorso — l’ultimo pendente di…

[cerentari]

Per un calcio più pulito 509

In principio fu il Totonero nel 1980, quando la polizia andò negli spogliatoi e arrestò alcuni calciatori che vendevano le partite, il Milan ci lasciò le penne e fu retrocesso in serie B, due anni dopo vincemmo i mondiali in Spagna. Seguì Calciopoli nel 2006, questa volta fu la Juventus a lasciarci le penne che fu retrocessa in serie B alla carriera, con tanto di scudetti revocati, ancora tentano…

[liamhaydn-blog]

Team of the Decade: Part 5- The 1990's

Goalkeeper- Peter Schmeichel- Denmark

Peter Schmeichel joined Manchester United from Brondby for a fee of half a million pounds in 1991, a price later described by Sir Alex Ferguson as the "bargain of the century." The summer after his first season in England, Schmeichel unexpectedly would play in the Euros for Denmark. Unexpected because Denmark had failed to qualify for the tournament, finishing behind Yugoslavia, but they would take their place due to Yugoslavia being banned due to the breakup of the country and warfare taking place there.

Even more unexpected was Denmark going on to lift the trophy, beating the might of France, Netherlands & then Germany in the final to achieve glory, with Schmeichel instrumental in denying forwards of the quality of Cantona, Pappin, Bergkamp, Van Basten & Klinsmann.

With Manchester United, Schmeichel was a pivotal player in helping the club win their first league title in 26 years, and then going on to dominate English football with the Great Dane winning 5 Premier League titles & 3 FA Cups, aswell as sealing a historic treble in what was his final game for the club, as United scored twice in stoppage time to win the Champions League against Bayern Munich.

Schmeichel is considered one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time known for his physically imposing presence between the sticks who made the goal extremely small when attackers ran through 1 against 1. He also possessed great shot-stopping ability due to his exceptional reflexes and was known to be able to launch quick counter-attacks due to his accurate long-throwing and kicking abilities.

Right-Back- Lilian Thuram- France

Thuram began his career with AS Monaco before transferring to Parma where he won the Coppa Italia & the UEFA Cup. This convinced Juventus to part with over 40 million euros in 2001 to bring him to Turin. In 5 seasons with the club, Thuram would win 2 Serie A titles (a further 2 were evoked due to the Calciopoli scandal) and reach the 2003 Champions League final which Juve lost on penalties to AC Milan. Thuram then finished his career with Barcelona.

Thuram was a key player in France's 1998 World Cup triumph on home soil, scoring a brace in their 2-1 semi-final win over Croatia, with those two goals being the only goals he ever scored for his country in 142 caps. Thuram was awarded the Bronze Ball as the 3rd best player of the tournament, which France sealed with a 3-0 final win over Brazil. Thuram would also win the Euros and the Confederations Cup with his nation in 2000 and 2003, and would aswell reach the 2006 World Cup final which France lost on penalties to Italy.

Thuram was rated as one of the world's best defenders in his prime. He was extremely difficult to get past either on the ground or in the air, due to his immense physical, technical and tactical attributes. He was aggressive and tenacious in his marking of opponents whilst still maintaining an elegance and the intelligence to read the game well. He could play either as a centre-back or a full-back, and when at full-back he was just as adept when going forward, known for winning the ball back high up the pitch then bombing forward to offer an outlet for the team.

Centre-Back- Fernando Hierro- Spain

Hierro made his La Liga debut with Real Valladolid where he spent 2 seasons before being snapped up by Real Madrid, where he would spend the next 14 years of his career. With Madrid Hierro won a considerable amount of trophies including 5 La Liga titles and 3 Champions Leagues. Hierro was club captain for that final Champions League triumph in 2002 against Bayer Leverkusen. Hierro went on to play in Qatar before retiring at Sam Allardyce's Bolton Wanderers.

Hierro won 89 caps for Spain and scored 29 goals, which remarkably made him his countries all-time leading goalscorer at the time of his retirement, and he still now remains the 6th highest scorer. Hierro was moved into midfield in his early years at Real Madrid, due to his incredible knack for goalscoring for a defensive player and in 91/92 scored a remarkable 26 goals for Real Madrid, with only 1 coming from the penalty spot. His 21 in La Liga alone made him the second top goalscorer in the competition that year. Hierro scored over 100 La Liga goals for Madrid and 127 across all competitions.

As well as an exceptional eye for goal and great passing range which made him adept when going forward, Hierro's physically intimidating defensive presence along with his intelligence when positioning himself and timing challenges made him one of the most complete defenders the game has seen.

Centre-Back- Marcel Desailly- France

Desailly began his career at Nantes before moving to Marseille where he won the first edition of the Champions League in 1993. He would win the Champions League the following season aswell after joining AC Milan, a club where he spent 5 years and won 2 Serie A titles. Desailly then became a fans favourite at Chelsea, where he won the FA Cup in 2000.

Desailly was part of the French team which dominated international football between 1998 and 2003, winning the World Cup, the Euros and the Confederations Cup twice in 2001 and again in 2003. Desaily captained France to their two Confederations Cup successes.

Desailly had success as a midfielder for AC Milan, due to the wealth of talent they had in defence and he excelled for them as a defensive midfielder which highlighted his tough tackling and ball-playing capabilities. Playing as either a centre-back or sweeper for France, he earned the nickname "The Rock" for his solid displays due to his physical qualities and football intelligence which allowed him to lead and organise the defence.

Left-Back- Paulo Maldini- Italy

Paulo Maldini spent every year of his 25-year career with AC Milan racking up 902 appearances for the club and winning 7 Serie A titles and 5 European Cups, amongst a whole host of other honours. Maldini won 126 caps for Italy, though was never able to win a major trophy, as he was a beaten finalist in both the 1994 World Cup and 2000 Euros.

Maldini spent his prime years at left-back where his ability to play with both feet, his technical ability and athleticism established him as the best full-back in the world. In later years as his pace declined he transitioned into one of the best centre-backs in the world, due to his commanding presence and exceptional reading of the game.

The Italian is considered one of the greatest defenders in the history of football, with an elegant style on the ball which meant he could pass for a classy midfielder, the physical stamina to be a tireless worker up and down the left flank as a full-back and a centre-back who timed tackles to perfection, but only when he had to, preferring to rely on his man-marking and positioning to make a tackle unnecessary. His consistency allowed him to make over 1,000 appearances at the very highest level, with the Brazilian Ronaldo calling him "the best defender I faced over the course of my career."

Right-Wing- Luis Figo- Portugal

Figo began his career with Sporting Lisbon, with the talented winger looking set to join Serie A for either Parma or Juventus. However after a weird saga saw him sign a contract with both clubs, he was given a 2-year ban from signing with an Italian club and so instead moved to Barcelona. In 5 seasons with Barca, Figo established himself as the club's talisman and the fan's favourite as he won 2 La Liga titles, 2 Copa Del Rey's and the Cup Winners Cup.

In 2000, Figo shocked the world by joining the club's arch-rivals Real Madrid in the most controversial transfer in Football history. Under intense scrutiny, Figo continued to perform to a high standard on the pitch and helped Los Blancos to win 2 league titles and the Champions League during the 'Galacticos' era that his arrival had kickstarted. Figo would retire at Inter Milan, adding 4 more league titles to his bulging trophy cabinet.

Figo won 127 Portugal caps, coming closest to winning a trophy for his country at the 2004 Euros where he lost on home soil to rank outsiders Greece. For a strong and stocky player, Figo was exceptionally quick and an excellent one v one dribbler with great balance and trickery. He produced a high number of assists just to excellent crossing ability. Figo also contributed a fair number of goals due to good ballstriking capability, including from dead-ball situations. Figo was the 2000 recipient of the Balon D'or.

Centre-Midfield- Fernando Redondo- Argentina

Redondo moved to Europe from Argentinos Juniors to join La Liga minnows Tenerife. In his 4 years with the club, Redondo was part of the Tenerife side which on two occasions denied Real Madrid the La Liga title on the last day of the season, with Cruyff's Barcelona the benefactor. In 1994, Redondo would move to Real Madrid and in his 6 years with the club he would win 2 La Liga's and 2 Champions League titles. His performances in the 99/00 Champions League saw him voted the UEFA club footballer of the year, with one performance at Old Trafford against United in the quarter-finals leading Sir Alex Ferguson to ask "What does this player have in his boots? A magnet?"

In 2013 Redondo was named in Marca's best ever foreign XI in Real Madrid's history as he earned the nickname "El Principe" ('the Prince') for his performances in the white of Real Madrid. Redondo would retire at AC Milan, where a serious injury limited his playing time. Redondo had a complicated International career, he turned down going to the 1990 World Cup feeling he would only be a squad player, but was a regular starter between 1992 and 1994 and in that time helped Argentina to win the Copa America and the Confederations Cup, where he won the award for best player of the tournament. Redondo played in the 1994 World Cup but then fell out with manager Passarella due to him banning long hair. Redondo refused to get a haircut, rightly insisting it had nothing to do with football and missed out on the 98 World Cup because of it.

Redondo was a deep-lying playmaker known for his outstanding close control when carrying the ball forward and his ability to control tempo with his creative passing and vision. He would also contribute from a defensive standpoint due to his effective aggression offering protection in front of the backline.

Centre-Midfield- Michael Laudrup- Denmark

Laudrup joined Juventus from Brondby, but due to the two foreign player limit he was immediately loaned to Lazio where he spent two seasons. Laudrup then got his chance at Juve, winning the Serie A in his first season but ultimately been unable to replace Platini's talismanic impact. The Dane decided it was time to leave and joined Cruyff's Barcelona in 1989 and immediately fared much better, winning 4 La Liga's and the 1992 European Cup in 5 seasons with the Blaugrana. Laudrup twice won player of the year in Spain, but when he was left out of the squad for 1994 Champions League final which Barcelona lost 4-0 to AC Milan, he decided it was time to move on.

Reported to have fallen out with Cruyff, Laudrup joined Real Madrid but stated it was a move purely to help a struggling team win again, not out of any petty revenge. Laudrup helped Los Blancos to held Barcelona's stranglehold over La Liga, as they became Champions once more, beating Barcelona 5-0 on the way. Laudrup became the first player to win 5 straight La Liga titles with two different clubs.

Laudrup remains admired and respected by both sets of fans due to his contributions for both clubs with Cruyff remarking: "When Michael plays like a dream, a magic illusion, determined to show his new team his extreme abilities, no one in the world comes anywhere near his level."

Laudrup is considered one of the greatest creators in football history. His vision, unselfish playing style and ability to play long through balls made him a favourite of any striker he played behind. A gifted playmaker, Laudrup could also operate as either a central midfielder, deep-lying playmaker or as a second striker and from anywhere he would create a whole host of chances for his teammates. Laudrup was also an excellent one v one dribbler, with exceptional skills and creative trickery to help him evade defenders, such as the "croqueta" which whilst he was playing was also known as "the Laudrup dribble", this move involved rapidly moving the ball from one foot to the other and has been kept alive by Iniesta, who also mastered the move.

Left-Wing- Hristo Stoichkov- Bulgaria

Stoichkov came to prominence with CSKA Sofia before joining Barcelona in 1990 and achieving success as part of Cruyff's 'Dream Team' as he scored 108 goals in 214 games and won multiple league titles and the 1992 European Cup. Stoichkov left Barcelona for Parma in 1995 but returned a year later for another more short-lived stint. He then had spells back in his native Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia and Japan before retiring in USA.

Stoichkov starred at the 1994 World Cup helping Bulgaria reach the semi-finals with 6 goals which won him the Golden Boot. His performances at this tournament helped him to win the Balon D'or later that year.

The Bulgarian was known for his explosive pace which he combined with great dribbling ability and a fearsome shot which made him at times an unstoppable forward. Stoichkov could play all positions across the front line well, with good crossing and passing ability which also helped him to rack up a decent amount of assists.

Number 10 Position- Roberto Baggio- Italy

Two days after joining Fiorentina from Vicenza, an 18-year old Baggio suffered an injury so severe some doctors feared he would never play again. Fiorentina remained committed to bringing Baggio to the club despite the setback, and Baggio repaid their faith, coming through another serious injury which required 220 stiches not long after he'd returned back from his first serious knee injury. However on that second return he scored an equalising free-kick goal which saved Fiorentina from relegation.

Baggio would establish himself as a hero of the La Viola faithful, and they were left devastated when "Il Divin Codino" ('The Divine Ponytail') joined the club's arch-rivals Juventus for a world record fee of £8M. The transfer led to riots in Florence which injured 50 people. Baggio scored atleast 20 goals in all 4 of his first seasons with Juventus, establishing himself as the teams standout star, who more than justified his fee as helped the club to win the UEFA Cup in 1993. He had to wait until his last season with the club to lift the Serie A title, and it was bittersweet as he began to fall down the pecking order at the club, but he still managed 16 goal involvements in 17 Serie A games. In total Baggio scored 115 goals in 200 games for Juventus.

Baggio won another league title with AC Milan before moving to Bologna where he recaptured his best form, scoring a career best 22 goals in Serie A before moving to Inter Milan where he spent a couple of years before retiring at Brescia. Baggio represented Italy at 2 World Cups, finishing 3rd in 1990 and losing the final in 1994, with Baggio missing the decisive spotkick against Brazil, clearing the crossbar with the most infamous penalty miss ever.

Baggio was described as a "9 and a half" by Platini, due to him creating more chances than a typical number 9, but also scoring more regularly than a traditional number 10. Baggio was a composed finisher, known for his precise, composed shooting rather than for powerful shots. He has the 2nd most assists in Serie A history with 123, behind only Francesco Totti and is remembered for his incredible technical quality which led his former manager at Brescia Carlo Mazzone to declare: "Without the injury problems and the difficulties with his knees, he would have been the very best player in history." Baggio was the 1993 recipient of the Balon D'or.

Striker- Ronaldo- Brazil

With 44 goals in 47 games for Cruzeiro, Ronaldo was snapped up by PSV Eindhoven, and he seamlessly made the jump to European football, scoring 54 goals in 57 games for the club. A still teenage Ronaldo was then brought to Barcelona for a world record fee of $19.5M. In his one season with Barca, R9 scored 47 goals in 49 games helping them to lift the Copa Del Rey and the Cup Winners Cup. Ronaldo was then on the move again for another world record fee, now joining Inter Milan for $27M. Again Ronaldo settled instantly, netting 34 goals in his first season in Italy and winning another UEFA Cup.

Knee injuries then began to plague the Brazilian and immediately after returning from a ruptured tendon that required surgery, Ronaldo's "kneecap exploded" in what was called the worst injury physiotherapist Nilton Petrone had ever seen. Ronaldo would play just 24 club games across the next 3 seasons, and though he would never be quite the same electrifying player again, never again quite as explosively fast returing with a more top-heavy physique, his quality and his finishing ability ensured he returned to be one of the best strikers still on the planet, scoring 104 goals in 177 games for Real Madrid, before retiring after spells with AC Milan and Corinthians.

Ronaldo was part of the Brazil squad which won the 1994 World Cup, though he did not feature at the tournament. He won his first tournament with Brazil at the 1997 Copa America where he was voted best player, and Brazil retained the trophy two years later with Ronaldo winning the Golden Boot and scoring in both finals. In between this tournaments was the 1998 World Cup, where Ronaldo scored 4 and assisted 3 to lead his nation into the final against hosts France. However in the hours before the final, Ronaldo had a fit, likely induced by the stress and pressure he was under to perform. Ronaldo was a shadow of himself in the final as Brazil lost 3-0.

4 years later, Ronaldo returned to the World Cup stage after a turbulent few years in which he had battled career threatening injuries. Injury had forced him to miss the entirety of the qualifying campaign, but at the main event Ronaldo scored in 6 of the 7 matches, including 2 in the final to bring his total to 8. His brace in the final against Germany helped Brazil to lift their 5th World Cup. Ronaldo played his final World Cup 4 years later in 2006, where he became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history with 15 goals in 19 games.

Ronaldo is considered one of the greatest strikers and footballers in history. He is a two-time recipient of the Balon D'or and won the World Footballer of the Year award on 3 occasions. Considered one of the deadliest finishers ever and a goalkeepers worst nightmare 1 v 1, prime Ronaldo, before his knee injuries had one of the most highest peaks ever and if not for those injuries likely would have been amongst the top handful of greatest players ever, though plenty do still have him in that conversation due to his devastating blend of skill, strength, speed and finishing.

Subs:

Dennis Bergkamp- Netherlands

Bergkamp began his career at Ajax under the tutelage of Cruyff, where he would score 122 goals and win a number of trophies including the 1992 UEFA Cup. The Dutchman earned a dream move to Serie A the following year to play for Inter Milan and scored 8 goals in 11 UEFA Cup games in his debut season to help them to lift the trophy. However Bergkamp struggled in Serie A and fell out of favour with the club and its supporters so after a disappointing second season moved to Arsenal for £7.5M, which smashed the club's highest transfer fee 3 times over.

Bergkamp found a home in North London and in 97-98, helped the club to achieve the league and FA Cup double. He started that season on fire, and in August the top 3 voted goals for Match of the Day's goal of the month competition, were all scored by Bergkamp, including 2 from an unforgettable hattrick away at Leicester. 4 years later Bergkamp would win a second domestic double with the club, with a goal away at Newcastle considered by most sensible people as the greatest goal in the history of the Premier League. In 2004, Bergkamp was then part of the Arsenal team which went a full Premier League campaign without losing as part of a historic 49-game unbeaten run.

Bergkamp's defining moment in the 'Oranje' shirt came in the 1998 World Cup, where he produced one of the greatest World Cup goals ever to secure Netherlands path through against Argentina to reach the semi-finals. Bergkamp scored 37 goals in 79 caps for his country.

Bergkamp is considered one of the greatest 10's in football history, a dream to play alongside for strikers such as Ian Wright & Thierry Henry, who knew he would always try and succeed in setting them up with chances, due to his unselfish nature and the quality of his vision and passing technique. Bergkamp had one of the best first-touches in Football history and he oozed class in every aspect of his game, one of his trademarks was his chipped shot which he regularly executed to perfection to catch out unsuspecting goalkeepers.

Rivaldo- Brazil

Rivaldo joined Deportivo La Coruna from Palmeiras and after an impressive first season in La Liga, he was snapped up by Barcelona for around $26M. Rivaldo's peak years came in his 5-year stint with the club where he established himself as one of the best players in the world, with his goals and performances helping the club to win 2 La Liga titles and the Copa Del Rey.

2000/01 was a more difficult season for Barca with the club fighting for Champions League qualification. It would come down to a straight shootout against Valencia for the final spot. With Barca needing to win, Rivaldo scored arguably the finest hat-trick in Football history. The match was tied at 2-2 when in the 89th minute, Rivaldo chested down a lofted pass on the edge of the box with his back to goal, before in the blink of an eye acrobatically executing a perfect overhead kick into the bottom corner. In total Rivaldo scored 130 goals in 235 for Barca, and though he would go on to have spells with AC Milan and Olympiakos amongst others, it's with the Catalan side he will always be most associated.

Rivaldo had an outstanding international career, winning the Confederations Cup and the Copa America as the tournament's best player, sharing the top scorer award with Ronaldo. Rivaldo was part of "the three R's" along with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho who fired Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002, with Rivaldo scoring in the first 5 games. Though Ronaldo took most of the headlines, Brazil manager Scolari named Rivaldo as the best player of the tournament.

Few players have combined physical and technical qualities to the level of Rivaldo. At his peak he was bordering unstoppable due to his strength, dribbling ability, creativity and powerful finishing. He could operate as a winger, second striker or as a classic number 10 and his performances in 1999 earned him both the Balon D'or and the World Footballer of the Year awards.

Romario- Brazil

Romario's first 5 years in Europe came with PSV Eindhoven, the club he'd joined from Vasco da Gama. After scoring 128 goals in 149 games for the Dutch side and winning a host of domestic honours, Romario moved to FC Barcelona. He scored 32 goals in his first season with the club, helping them to win La Liga and reach the Champions League final where they were beaten by AC Milan.

Half-way through his second season Romario left the club after falling out with manager Cruyff and returned to Brazil where he would spend the majority of the remainder of his career scoring prolifically for Flamengo & Vasco. Romario only featured at one World Cup, but he left a huge impact, winning the award for player of the tournament as his 5 goals helped Brazil to win their first World Cup in 24 years. Romario also won the Confederations Cup and 2 Copa America's with the Selecao and scored 55 in 70 internationals.

Romario was a penalty box killer, a deadly finisher inside the 18-yard box due to his ruthless eye for goal. But he was alot more than just a goal-poacher, due to his ability to drop deep or drift outside giving headaches to the defenders tasked with marking him. Football came easily to Romario, maybe a little bit too easy, as if he'd dedicated more time to training and less to partying his European peak would have lasted longer.

[rockrzone]

Pierluigi Collina, wasit terbaik sepanjang sejarah sepakbola. Intimidatif, tegas, tapi sangat adil dan jeli; dia mungkin adalah role model terbaik dalam bersidang. Integritasnya tak tercela karena dia juga salah satu dari sedikit wasit yang bersih dari skandal Calciopoli (pengaturan skor yang akhirnya memenangkan Inter sebagai juara liga).