Showing posts with label football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label football. Show all posts

Football World Cup’s Biggest Upsets

Switzerland scored 2010 World Cup’s biggest upset when they defeated hot favourites Spain by a single goal by Gelson Fernandes. Fernandes himself was surprised as he netted the goal from a close range past goalie Iker Cassilas and defender Gerard Pique. The big loss of Catalans underscores the fact that the game is highly unpredictable and that even the best squad is vulnerable to defeats.We also saw the mighty Spanish armada giving up before the little known Swiss army. France, Italy and even the indomitable Argentinians have met with such disastrous defeats before. Here’s a look at biggest upsets of World Cup history.


                                SENEGAL TOPPLES  FRANCE  1-0

 Senegal, a little country located in West Africa was no match for the mighty France – the 1998 World Champions. France had a league of first class players like Zidane, Henry, Viera and all. A lesser-known Papa Bouba Diop’s shot pierced right through the heart of the French army, Senegal made history, and France was shown the exit doors.




                             SOUTH KOREA BEATS ITALY 2-1

Remember the 2002 World Cup that witnessed the rise of Asian power? 3-time world champions Italy were facing Korean Republic in the second round. Striker Christian Vieri gave Italy an early lead scoring in the 18th minute (his 9th goal in WC). As the Italians were about to win the match, Seol Ki-Hyeon scored an equaliser stretching the game to extra time. During the extra time Ahn Jung-Hwan scored the golden goal sending off the Azurris.
  


                                       CAMEROON DEFEATS  ARGENTINA 2-1
Diego Maradona’s Argentina too got a real shock during the 1990 World Cup when Roger Milla’s Cameroon defeated them 1-0 in the opening game of the 1990 finals in Italy. Argentina later survived the shock and reached the finals where they eventually lost to Lother Matheus’s German squad.




NORTH KOREA DEFEATS ITALY 1-0
Italy’s Korean jinx can be traced back to history. If it was South Korea in 2002, it was North Korea way back in 1966. Then North Korea stormed past Italy to reach the quarter finals. Their World Cup anthem – “We can beat everyone, even the strongest team,” proved them right during that WC.



 
NIGERIA DEFEATS SPAIN 3-2
In 2010, it was Switzerland; and in 1998, it was Nigeria. Spain suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Nigerian squad who edged past them 3 goals to 2 then.

Football Wives-Girlfriends and Their Glamourous Lives

Klara Medkova
Sometimes it’s ok to take your eyes off the field and focus on something colourful instead. Pleasing distractions I say. These soccer (Wives & Girlfriends) WAGs who make their presence felt by being out there supporting their husbands/boyfriends are the cynosure of the camera crew. With World Cup talks in the air, let’s get into some lighter stuff. Being a soccer star is no less than being a prince – you get everything – fame, money and of course beautiful women, making them enviable in all ways. The picture (above) shows model Klara Medkova, wife of Czech football player Radoslav Kovac. She is one of Czech Republic’s top models who graced the cover of Playboy once. Do I need to say more?
Alex Curran
Alex Curran
An ex-model, and a fashion columnist for Daily Mirror, Alex Curran is a busy WAG. She is the gorgeous wife of Steven Gerrard. Curran boasts of her own fragrance line named “Alex”! That means Gerrard can take a bottled Alex along with him whenever he is away from his dear wife.
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole
‘Girls Aloud’ singer Cheryl Cole is the ex-wife of English footballer Ashley Cole. Both separated after Ashley cheated on her. Cheryl later filed for a divorce. We don’t really know whether Ashley is missing his dimpled wife, but her absence in the gallery is indeed a big loss.
AbigailClancy
Abigail Clancy
With a 5 ft 9 inches stature, Abbey Clancy is the on-off girlfriend of the tallest English footballer Peter Crouch (He is 6 ft 7 inches!). She is a lingerie model who was in the limelight during the 2006 WC. Crouch dumped her once by sending a fax after learning that she had cheated on him with her ex-boyfriend. However, both re-united after a while and even got engaged. Crouch might have felt that Abbey is too hot to let go.
Caroline Celico
Caroline Celico, Kaka
Caroline Celico can be regarded as the luckiest WAG! The love affair of Brazilian star Kaka and Caroline dates back to their childhood. Their love only grew with time with Kaka’s career spanning new heights. She is indeed lucky to have a guy like Kaka who has never been involved in controversies.
Melissa Satta
Melissa Satta
Meet Melissa Satta – she plays soccer and knows karate too! No wonder former Italian striker Cristian Vieri found her appealing. Melissa, who already was famous for her TV show ‘Strip the News’, got all that extra attention she had been craving after she began dating Vieri.
Cesc Fabregas, Carla (Image: 27.media.tumblr.com)
Cesc Fabregas, Carla (Image: 27.media.tumblr.com)
Carla is the girlfriend of Spanish hunk Cesc Fabregas. Both have kept their affair quite personal, shying away from the public eyes. But even Cesc came under attack for cheating on Carla though it never was confirmed. With Cesc having a huge fan base, Carla would do better to keep a constant check on him.
Sneijder, Yolanthe Kasbergen
Wesley Sneijder, Yolanthe Kasbergen
Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen! You are gonna take ages to get this name right. Wonder what Dutchman Wesley Sneijder calls her. Like her name, long is the list of her accolades. She was awarded the FHM Sexiest Woman award twice! Wesley was married to Ramona Streekstra before. He met Yolanthe after he separated with his wife.
Beckham, Victoria
Beckham, Victoria
The WAG list will be incomplete without the mention of Posh Spice, Victoria Beckham. Posh’s marriage with Beckham has gone through all the trials and has survived it all. Still, Posh knows that it’s not a wise thing to leave a hunky hubby all alone, and hence she has been accompanying him on his tours (Beckham managed to escape her eyes and was caught twice for cheating). Posh is a real busy bee who has so many other things also to worry about – like maintain her ultra thin figure, fashion designing plus her singing career (the latter two are nothing to write home about, if you know what I mean).