Yesterday was the BIG day for football (soccer) lovers all over the world. Kolkata has always been crazy about football, and, as a die-hard Kolkatan, I am no exception. I have always loved the powerful manoeuvres of the players with the ball. And last night, I stayed awake to watch the dream-like finale of the European Champions League. Manchester United versus Barcelona F.C.
A little after midnight, as the television screen came alive with the players coming on to the field - with Andrea Bocelli's live, heavenly vocals resonating the stadium (Stadio Olimpico, Rome), I felt the goose-bumps. More importantly, it was the crucial question that waited to be answered: Who's bigger? Cristiano Ronaldo of Man-U? Or Lionel Messi of Barca?
Needless to say, it was a contrast of physiques and demeanours of Ronaldo and Messi, the two contemporary football legends that was being put to test.
While Ronaldo is more assertive and unpredictable, Messi relies on technique, more than anything else.
Cristiano Ronaldo is often called the Wonder Kid of football. His powerful shots galvanise into easy victory for his team more often than not. While Messi is ever impressive with his flair and finesse.
Sadly, yesterday did not go in favor for Manchester United. Right after the first ten minutes, after the scoring of the first goal against them by the Barca striker Eto'o, I sensed their despair. As if the lines of the Bard came true for Man-U:
"They've got the blues
Into their shoes...
Never shall they win again,
Destined to lose.."
- that's how they played thereafter!
While we saw Ronaldo becoming isolated and frustrated, Messi not only scored the second goal - a fine, cushioned header - after seventy minutes of play, he was central & integral to the fine and focused performance of Barcelona. Messi's status was sealed. But just for now. It isn't the end of story for young Ronaldo. And nor is it the end of the great debate which will surely continue to engage football lovers.
[pics courtesy: DailyMail]
http://www.sakagaze.blogspot.com is the blog address for some of the cool and not so cool observations by Anindo Sen, a passionate Kolkatan. Kolkata is likely to feature prominently on this blog, just as it is likely to feature the personal preferences - as far as films, books or music or other finer aspects of life are concerned.
Popular Posts
-
Two thousand and seven has been a good year for Indian films. Why do I think so? For one, this year has seen more of what is commonly call...
-
Asha Bhosle , the original & ultimate songstress-diva turns 76 today! Being an ardent admirer of the singer, I wish her a VERY HAPPY BIR...
-
'Into the Wild' is not a film that is easy to make. It is also not a film that is easy to distance oneself from. As a viewer,...
-
'3 Idiots' rocks ! I loved '3 Idiots' , but more than that, I felt after reading the t2 review (with The Telegraph) of...
-
No one is comfortable dissecting one's own weaknesses. But here I am attempting to do just that. I know that one of my biggest weaknes...
-
This year I am delighted as an animation film lover that 3 really beautiful Hollywood animation features were released at the Kolkata mult...
-
Twitter has been voted last year as the most popular word by Global Language Monitor. It actually means, as a verb, to utter a succession o...
-
I have been revisiting some of the films directed by Satyajit Ray lately, and have been wondering why they make as much or even more sense t...
-
When we talk about child labour, a common and grossly exploitative facet of poverty in countries like ours, we hardly focus on the real pic...
-
Who'd have expected vultures to hover over Park Street ? After all, Park Street has always been the happily-bustling passageway, where b...
2 comments:
Messi had insisted before the final that he wasn't looking at it as a chance to get one over ManU winger Ronaldo in the race for the year's Ballon d'Or. He even said that he'd have paid to watch Ronaldo in action! And that kind of positivity augured well for the smooth sailing Barca, who went on to win the treble of league, the Spanish cup and the European Cup! The likes of Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez & Berbatov could do absolutely nothing to stop Messi and his mates at the Euro finale.
well Messi was the hero and i always believe in his potential .. his awesome techniques though ronaldo is the wonder kid but still he proved his skills nicely that day .............
Post a Comment