Some Football Snippets

We are still recovering from Brazil's surprising and seemingly avoidable loss, reminding us that no man is an island. Certainly Melo could have been mellower and perhaps would have served more if he stood and waited. Meanwhile, life has come to a standstill in Calcutta (the heartland of Indian football) and Bengalis are indulging in a spate of pujas (prayers and rituals) on behalf of Lionel Messi as India, lacking a football team, supports the Argentine favourites. In the midst of all this frenzy, one comes across several snippets- interestingly written, about players and coaches, of which I quote a few:


One of the secrets of the success of Fernando Llorente's physical playing style is a skin-tight shirt that makes him look like the Incredible Hulk, according to the powerful Spanish striker, reports Reuters from Potchefstroom. He came off the bench shortly after halftime to replace the misfiring Fernando Torres, sowing chaos amongst the Portuguese defenders with his strength and height, and was involved in the build-up to David Villa's winning goal.
"Everyone was laughing because (the shirt) was very tight on me and I looked like the Hulk," the 25-year old said. "But I feel very comfortable with it and it also helps my physical performance," he added.


London, IANS: The wife of assistant referee Mauricio Espinosa, who wrongly disallowed British footballer Frank Lampard's goal against Germany in the World Cup, says 'she couldn't believe his decision'.
"We knew it was a goal. I couldn't believe his decision," said Sandra Espinosa. She wept and shouted at her TV: "No, no Mauricio, you're wrong!"
England lost 1-4 in Bloemfontein on Sunday.


Okada (coach of the Japanese football team) is set to retire to a life of poetry and farming after the Blue Samurai were knocked out of the World Cup in the last 16, triggering a search for his successor.
"I want to get away from soccer," Okada told Japanese television on Thursday. "Even if I was offered a new contract. It won't happen so let's not talk about it."


Guardian News and Media (Richard Williams): There were candlelit vigils not just outside the hospital in Buenos aires but around the world. After spending 12 days in critical care with heart and lung problems, Diego Maradona was lying among the patients in a psychiatric ward while his family argued about further treatment.
"They were all crazy there," he later recalled. "One guy said he was Napoleon and they didn't believe him. I said I was Maradona and they didn't believe me either."
...The contrast with other coaches at this World Cup is almost hilariously vivid. But then none of them has lived a life remotely like his. It is as though everything in Maradona's 49 years, the bad and the good, the sublime and the reprehensible, has been leading up to this and he is not going to let it go now.


DPA: The prediction of a German octopus named Paul that Germany will beat Argentina in Saturday's quarterfinals has not gone down well in the South American nation. Some newspapers have called for Paul to be boiled and made into paella, while others have sought out local animals and tested their psychic powers. Not surprisingly they all picked Argentina to win.
Among the tipsters were Pepe the parrot, Jorge the tortoise and Sayko the dolphin.