11/17/24
September 25, 2002
Greatest goalkeeping cock-ups.: Not one, but two attempts by the Guardian to reassure Aston Villa goalie Peter Enckelman that he isn't alone when it comes to goalie blunders. (Mr Enckelman, in a historic derby vs Birmingham last week allowed a throw-in from his defender to somehow bounce under his foot -- contact with the ball was disputed -- and roll into goal. It was the second goal in a 3-0 loss against their newly-promoted city neighbors.) And, no, BigCalm, Fat Buddha didn't put me up to this.
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 09:55 AM - 8 comments
Hmm, 3 out of 21 have played for the Villa in the last 3 years (Schmeichel, James, and of course, Enckleman). What does that say about the Villa eh? Nevertheless, I'm playing keeper because no on else wants to Ah, glad to see traditional UK footballing trends work in the US too (no-one over here ever really wants to be 'keeper in a kickabout).
posted by BigCalm at 10:55 AM on September 25, 2002
Nobody wants to play goalie anywhere in the world. It's universal. Everytime I play, I get to block a shot from someone who shoots torpedoes for breakfast. I usually end up with severely sprained fingers. I also have to wear glasses, which doesn't help. I've got to get some of those cool sports goggles that Davids (Holland) wears. As for the lists, don't worry Calmy, Villa shares the honors with Liverpool. We even have James in common. If we'd been smart, we woulda kept Friedel (whose doing wonders for Blackburn and the USA) and not have to shell out for two new ones. Altho, it must be said, Dudek seems to have put an end to a tradition of goofy goalies at the Pool including (beginning with?) Grobelaar, James and Westerveld.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:18 PM on September 25, 2002
In the 1950 World Cup Final, with Brazil only needing a draw to take the cup, Barbosa, the goalkeeper, let one slip inside the near post. It's still considered a seminal tragedy in the country's history. There's a well-known Brazilian book, "Anatomy of a Defeat", just about that one game. The story of The Fateful Final (from a bbc article): As calling's come there are few harder positions to occupy than standing between the sticks for the Brazilian team. The most infamous Brazilian goalkeeper is arguably Moacir Barbosa. In the late 1940s Barbosa was arguably the best goalkeeper in the world. Yet he became synonymous with the most famous error in Brazilian football history. Back in July 1950, Brazil were once again involved in a World Cup final, playing Uruguay in the Maracana stadium filled with almost 200,000 fans. In the second half, with the score at 1-1, Barbosa, expecting Uruguay's Alcides Gigghia to cross, was caught off guard when the Uruguayan shot and scored. Brazil's defeat to their South American rivals was regarded as a national disaster. Barbosa was made the scapegoat for the defeat and subsequently he was never allowed to forget his error. In 1993 Barbosa tried to visit the training camp where Brazil were preparing for the 1994 World Cup. But the superstitious coach Mario Zagallo would not allow Barbosa to meet him in case he brought the team bad luck. Shortly before his death at the age of 79, Barbosa said that under Brazilian law the maximum prison sentence was 30 years, but that his imprisonment had been for 50 years. Barbosa's misery explains why Marcos was keen to console Kahn after the game.
posted by liam at 12:52 PM on September 25, 2002
Update: I'm Canadian (the equivalent here is the "fat kid" always plays net in hockey). I, too, wear glasses (just had them fixed a month ago after getting a 3-metre shot in face). Playing keeper is fine by me as I now get winded too soon playing midfield at my age (31) and profession (computer programmer).
posted by grum@work at 01:44 PM on September 25, 2002
Was that Dudek I just saw let one through his legs against Basle?
posted by Fat Buddha at 04:42 PM on September 25, 2002
Hey, stop it, FB. ;-) It was Carragher's fault for leaving him exposed like that. Bugger.
posted by worldcup2002 at 05:30 PM on September 25, 2002
Carragher is a liability...Dudek is the best goalkeeper in the world right now. I have seen him make miraculous saves for Pool and Poland...
posted by StarFucker at 10:43 AM on September 27, 2002
I play keeper for my local intramural co-ed rec team. (Yah, it isn't a big deal, but I'm having fun.) I have a nasty habit of kicking a ball away instead of jumping/falling on it. It comes from playing the ten previous seasons as a midfielder. "Don't handle the ball!" can be a hard thing to ignore. Nevertheless, I'm playing keeper because no on else wants to. So the very first shot on my net is a long 25 yard worm-burner. Instead bending down to pick it up/block it, I decide to kick it out harms way. Obviously it decides at that point to hit a particular dirt clod and skip right over my foot and roll slowly into the net while I fall flat on my ass as my unimpeded kick tumbles me off-balance. I ended up with one of the dirtiest jersies you've ever seen by the end of the game as I was flinging myself to the ground on every single ball after that moment that came with 5 yards of my outstretched arms. We lost 1-0 nonetheless.