When I started to watch this game my first thought was 'I want the penalty shoot-out and I want Everton to win'. And surprisingly it did happen.
Both teams wasted so many good situations in the regular time! It was much better in the additional time, the game became faster. But I'm not complaining, because it was extremely pleasant game to watch for a goalkeepers' fan. Petr Cech made 10 saves, Tim Howard 8. What's more they both saved a penalty each.
Lampard scored in 104' but sometimes 1:0 is not enough to win. Like in this match. Baines scored an amazing goal from a free kick just outside the penalty area, one minute before the end of the additional time. It was literally their last chance to draw the game.
Too bad for Ashley Cole to miss the last penalty for Chelsea. Phil Nevill scored for Everton and they were through.
Great to see Everton celebrating in front of their fans.
As for Chelsea 'the penalty curse' affected them again. It was the seventh penalty shoot-out lost in a row...
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Łukasz Fabiański ruled out for the rest of the season, Wojciech Szczęsny - a new No. 1
Łukasz Fabiański is going to miss the last four month of the season due to an injury of the shoulder. He had already undergo a surgery. Now he is slowly coming back to health and it's going to take time before he can start rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Wojciech Szczęsny, replaced his compration both as No. 1 in Arsenal and in the national team.
Liked his performance in Poland's game against Norway. Polish team needs a self-confident goalkeeper, on whom one can rely on. Luckily, the goalkeeper position is the one, where the coach has a wide choice. Even with Fabiański and Boruc out, there is plenty others, who can replace them. Szczęsny is the first choice now.
He is also expected to play in the Championship League against Barcelona. Who would predict such a turn in a career of the young goalkeeper? It can be his big chance.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Wojciech Szczęsny, replaced his compration both as No. 1 in Arsenal and in the national team.
Liked his performance in Poland's game against Norway. Polish team needs a self-confident goalkeeper, on whom one can rely on. Luckily, the goalkeeper position is the one, where the coach has a wide choice. Even with Fabiański and Boruc out, there is plenty others, who can replace them. Szczęsny is the first choice now.
He is also expected to play in the Championship League against Barcelona. Who would predict such a turn in a career of the young goalkeeper? It can be his big chance.
Ricardo debuted in Leicester City
Today Ricardo debuted in Leicester City and played full 90 minutes in the away game against Derby. Nice gift for the birthday, which he had yesterday.
So happy to see him again in the goal, after so long time. It's almost two years since he played last time. Unbelievable for the footballer who used to be no. 1 of the Portuguese national team.
I think Ricardo played good today, although he should be more careful when there is a need to run out of the goal. One of such situations almost ended up with a goal for the opponents. However, Derby didn't troubled him much and had to make only two saves.
Leicester controled the game in the first half and scored two goals. Derby tried to catch up with the result at the beginning but then again, Leicester was better.
Looking forward to see Ricardo again in the next game.
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Iker Casillas - LCTrussell1992's video
A video about Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas made by YT User LCTrussell1992.
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Premier League: Arsenal vs Everton 2-1, 1 February 2010, video highlights
szólj hozzá: AR2-1EV[matchhighlight.com]HL
Great game to watch. Everton opened the game when Louis Saha scored in 24'. They lead till 70'. Five minutes were enough for Arsenal to catch up with the result (Arshavin) and add to it the second goal (Koscielny).
Wojciech Szczęsny who is now Arsenal's no. 1 didn't had too much to work. Hard to blame him that he allowed a goal from an offside...
Liked the performance of Tim Howard, escpecially his excellent save of Van Persie's shot from free-kick, who tried to send the ball into top right angle. Howard somehow managed to tip it over.
Ricardo signed up the contract with Leicester City
The club has confirmed that Ricardo joined it until the end of the season.
Ricardo left Betis in early January by mutual consent and found a new club on a free transfer. He was training with Leicester since the last week and apparently his performance was impressive enough to earn him a fifth-months deal.
Leicester City plays in Football League Championship and currently is on 10th position in the table.
"I am delighted that we've been able to secure Ricardo on a permanent contract. He has impressed during his time at the club and brings extra competition to our goalkeeping department,” said Sven Goran-Eriksson, Leicester's coach.
“Ricardo is an excellent shot-stopper with agility and he plays with great confidence. He has played at the highest level and will be a great addition to our squad. Plus, he owes me after 2004 and 2006, so I'm sure he will be keen to do well for us." (quoted from PortuGOAL.net).
Ricardo left Betis in early January by mutual consent and found a new club on a free transfer. He was training with Leicester since the last week and apparently his performance was impressive enough to earn him a fifth-months deal.
Leicester City plays in Football League Championship and currently is on 10th position in the table.
"I am delighted that we've been able to secure Ricardo on a permanent contract. He has impressed during his time at the club and brings extra competition to our goalkeeping department,” said Sven Goran-Eriksson, Leicester's coach.
“Ricardo is an excellent shot-stopper with agility and he plays with great confidence. He has played at the highest level and will be a great addition to our squad. Plus, he owes me after 2004 and 2006, so I'm sure he will be keen to do well for us." (quoted from PortuGOAL.net).
Friday, 28 January 2011
Ricardo in Leicester City?
Last years were not good for Ricardo. His club Betis Sevilla was relegated to Segunda Division after 2008/2009 season and he himself lost the place in the frist squad. He was not even given a squad number ahead of this season.
But finally there is a hope for a change. Ricardo was released by Betis in this month and is without a club for the time being. It is said that he was invited to train with Leicester City club by Sven Goran-Eriksson. The Swedish coach knows Ricardo two well. He managed the English team when they lost against Portugal in penalty shoot-out on Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. In both those cases it was Ricardo who stopped England, sucessufully defending penalties.
Although a contract has been not signed yet Maisfutebol claims that Ricardo intends to make the move to the club.
Will Ricardo join Leicester and fullfill his dreams to play in England? I wish him all the best.
Video interview with the coach Bogdan Wenta after Croatia - Poland match
Before the game against Serbia there was such silence in the dressing room... There was a change later, but today... On the morning walk, on the meeting before the game the mood was full of optimism.
For Croats it was a game for everything, and it was the same for us. We commited mistakes in this match, we suffered a break down. It seems that this group lacks the leader, someone who will inspire the others. Sometimes Grzesiu [Tkaczyk] plays this part but he was ruled out by an injury. Sławek [Szmal] is a great figure, showed it today through his great performance, but we can't expect that he is going to cover the goal completely, save everything and we are only going to score.
It was a series of easy mistakes again. It's a bit embarassing. If it is only unused clear situation, the team can't be really blamed for it. If it repeats three or four times in the row the player can be always changed. But it's puzzling that in simple situations we are losing the ball or passing it straight in the hands of an opponent. Those throws are intended to be so easy just in purpouse to start the game well, to face the opponent. Today we expected that they are going to wait what we are going to do. There were good moments, we had postions to score. When we hesitated for a while, tried to slow down on the back, there were counter-attacks.
I know the Croatian team's way of playing by heart. To sum up today they also didn't play anything different than usual. But it worked out, they were more effective or perhaps they commited less mistakes, or, I don't know, the spectators were more favourable for them because thay are among the top teams not only for the last four years but for ten, right? Well, it's a certain advantage.
They say... Well, today Croats had a few players from Bundesliga in the squad... But in the backstage people generally say that players playing in Bundesliga are more tired that the others. But then again, it's standing in the front of the cameras and saying what we all want to hear.
We are the group where there is sixteen players and the coaching staff, so it's obvious that as in every group they are friendships but they are also anthypaties. Someone likes someone else more, someone is irritated by someone's else behaviour. We are together for nearly a month so you can be annoyed just by seeing the t-shirt another person is wearing or beg my pardon what is served for the breakfast or what hour we are drinking coffee. It's normal. Add stress to this to get the picture. If you win matches, everything is okay, the cooperation goes well. Even if something is not quite right... Like today in Grabarczyk's case. I have a lot of admiration for him, because it had seemed he was injuried and yet he managed to play quite well.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
22nd Men's Handball World Championship - Croatia - Poland 28:24 (13:11), postgame video interview with Piotr Wyszomirski and goalkeepers match stats
Postgame interview with the deputy goalkeeper Piotr Wyszomirski after Crotia - Poland game. His performance as well as Sławomir Szmal's belongs to the few positive sides of that game.
Szmal saved 42% of shots (15 of 36 attempts). He saved also two penalty shots and sucesfully stopped opponents in situations one to one a few times.
Wyszomirski replaced Szmal in 42'. He saved 46% of shots (6 of 13), one penalty shot and managed to save a shot in one to one situation.
But a goalkeeper can't win a game alone...
It was really an important match for us, as if it was the final. We were fighting for the qualification to the Olympic Games. We are going to play another final two days later. We will see how it's going to turn out. I think we lacked the spirt, everyone had had a different expectations in the first place. We arrived on those Championships with other plan.
Something went wrong, we lacked the consequence in the attack and commited stupid mistakes in the defence. We had to chase the result again and that cost us dear. We were not able to catch up with the result and we lost.
Question: In your opinion that game could be won?
I think so. At the beggining Croats were very nervous. We also didn't look the best, but we lead the game at the beginning of the first half. So I think that if our counter-attacks had been sucessful and we had scored we would have had a chance. We could get clear lead and they would have to chase the result. I think we could have won this match.
Szmal saved 42% of shots (15 of 36 attempts). He saved also two penalty shots and sucesfully stopped opponents in situations one to one a few times.
Wyszomirski replaced Szmal in 42'. He saved 46% of shots (6 of 13), one penalty shot and managed to save a shot in one to one situation.
But a goalkeeper can't win a game alone...
It was really an important match for us, as if it was the final. We were fighting for the qualification to the Olympic Games. We are going to play another final two days later. We will see how it's going to turn out. I think we lacked the spirt, everyone had had a different expectations in the first place. We arrived on those Championships with other plan.
Something went wrong, we lacked the consequence in the attack and commited stupid mistakes in the defence. We had to chase the result again and that cost us dear. We were not able to catch up with the result and we lost.
Question: In your opinion that game could be won?
I think so. At the beggining Croats were very nervous. We also didn't look the best, but we lead the game at the beginning of the first half. So I think that if our counter-attacks had been sucessful and we had scored we would have had a chance. We could get clear lead and they would have to chase the result. I think we could have won this match.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
22nd Men's Handball World Championship - Croatia - Poland 28:24 (13:11), postgame video interview with Sławomir Szmal
Szmal: We lack the spirit. It's as if something died down in us. We play without a faith in ourselves, in our team. In such moments it's as if we had already lost. It could be clearly seen in the second half when we were playing but without faith, simply speaking... Well, it's hard to judge it now.
Journalist: So what had happened with this fight? Because we come here with great hopes but we lost three of four matches against top teams.
Szmal: Well, with great hopes. For sure we come here to fight as we had said. No one did say that we came here with an intention to give up. I think that up to this moment we put our heart into the games. There were of course weak matches, when we didn't play the best but we really put our heart into them. I think we can't say the same today.
Journalist: I'm under an impression that today, first time since a long time, Croats were within the reach. That's why it hurts even more.
Szmal: Well, I think that they played in their own style. They worked out good situations to score and here Piotrek [Wyszomirski, the deputy goalkeeper] deserves to be praised. Also the defence in the first half was good, the lads were fighting. Unfortunately, there were too much counter-attacks in the second half and it's always disheartening for a goalkeeper.
Journalist: We are on the fourth place in this group. This means "a game of everything" awaits us, because the seventh place on the tournament guarantees us a right to play in the elimination for the Olympic Games. The eighth will not.
Another journalist: It's as if it was a final.
Szmal: Actually it was also a final today. If we had won today we needn't to worry any more. We would play for the fifth place. Unfortunately we didn't managed to win. I hope we will pull ourselves together and we are going to play a good game.
Journalist: Most likely it's going to be Hungary. So it's an opponent which is theoretically weaker. Seems we are going to be the favourite.
Szmal: On those Championships we can't really judge who is weaker or not. As we had said before we should think about ourselves, belive in ourselves and give 100 per cent of ourselves.
Monday, 24 January 2011
22nd Men's Handball World Championship - Poland - Serbia 27:26 (10:11)
Another thrilling game. The ending was almost as desperate as in the match against Norway two years ago, when Poland won after Artur Siódmiak's throw from the distance, just a few second before the final whistle. They qualified to the semifinal back then.
This time there will be no semifinal, Poland is already without a chance to play for the medal. But is still in the game for the qualification round to Olympic Games 2012.
It was Tomasz Tłuczyński's match, no doubt about this, he scored 10 goals and was almost faultless today. He said later it's was a present for Karol Bielecki, whose birthday are today.
The ending was dramatic. Poland took the lead in the second half, but Serbia managed to tie the game just a few minutes before the end. The coach Bogdan Wenta took the timeout 30 seconds before the full time to give instuctions to the players. To try to score, but what was more important - to not lose. The plan worked. Karol Bielecki scored the goal which give the victory, and Piotr Wyszomirski saved the last throw of desperation of Serbian team.
Watch the last 30 seconds of the game: here.
This time there will be no semifinal, Poland is already without a chance to play for the medal. But is still in the game for the qualification round to Olympic Games 2012.
It was Tomasz Tłuczyński's match, no doubt about this, he scored 10 goals and was almost faultless today. He said later it's was a present for Karol Bielecki, whose birthday are today.
The ending was dramatic. Poland took the lead in the second half, but Serbia managed to tie the game just a few minutes before the end. The coach Bogdan Wenta took the timeout 30 seconds before the full time to give instuctions to the players. To try to score, but what was more important - to not lose. The plan worked. Karol Bielecki scored the goal which give the victory, and Piotr Wyszomirski saved the last throw of desperation of Serbian team.
Watch the last 30 seconds of the game: here.
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Video interview with the coach Bogdan Wenta after Denmark - Poland match
We made a lot of changes in the first half but we lacked the effectiveness. Our playing sheme was too plain. In the second was more work and running, Tomek Tłuczyński scored, Lisek [Patryk Kuchczyński] scored, to cut long story short we started playing. We stopped thinking too much, we started playing how we are able to do. However, we are not always sucessful. I hadn't take the timeout because I though that we had a chance to tie the game and that it will be needed before the last action.
But when there was the last 16 seconds they didn't even give us a chance to touch the ball.
But that free-throw when Mariusz tried to pass the ball to the pivot... We shouted that he should pass to Zarek [Mateusz Zaremba]. We didn't counted too much on Zarek and perhaps he would be able to score... but... It didn't work anyway. What to add more? To be honest I will say that despite the fact the game was lost, there is a lot of interesting things to study. You have seen the game too so for sure you have a lot of thoughts about it, you can ask about many things. But sometimes one has to ask people, because it's a team game and everyone is important, every decision of the referee is also important, every decision how to play in the defence and in the attack is important too. And today I think... We can again, as we often do in Poland, ponder about 'what could happen if the things were different'.
It turns out that it's not as good as it could be, but it's also not as bad.
22nd Men's Handball World Championship - Denmark - Poland 28:27 (15:9)
What to say? The same scenario. Horrible first half and the mad chase to catch up with the result in the second. The match ended with one goal difference. So much and so few at the same time. Something is still not working good and it seems that it't too late for improvements.
Polish team is at the point where has no other options except for winning two games and count on that other results in the group will put them in favour.
Impossible?
I would say so if it was not Polish national handball team. Will belive in them till the final whistle of the last game. They proved that they fight till the very end and that they never give up. And even if they lose they will do everything trying. And that's why I support them.
Polish team is at the point where has no other options except for winning two games and count on that other results in the group will put them in favour.
Impossible?
I would say so if it was not Polish national handball team. Will belive in them till the final whistle of the last game. They proved that they fight till the very end and that they never give up. And even if they lose they will do everything trying. And that's why I support them.
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Friday, 21 January 2011
Serie A: Genoa - Lazio 0:0, 6 January 2011 video highlights
Video highlights of Seria A Genoa - Lazio game. Great saves of Lazio's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera! A lucky ones too. Eduardo was also playing in that game.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
22nd Men's Handball World Championship - Poland - Sweden 21:24 (12:14), video interview with Sławomir Szmal
After a hard, exhausting and even game Sweden won with Poland 24:21.
Postgame interview with Polish goalkeeper Sławomir Szmal, whose amazing saves allowed to keep up Poland's hopes to tie the game. Unfortunately too much mistakes in the attack didn't allowed to sucessed one more time.
Sweden, as well as Poland and Argentina qualifed to the second round of the Championships. In the group they are going to play against Serbia, Croatia and Denmark.
Our plan was to play aggressively because we know the opponent, we had know that the main threat are Andersson and Kaellman. We were suppoused to play offensive and harshly. Unfortunately, they managed to come off on good postions. We commited a number of mistakes in attack and they answered with counterattacks. In today's match we lacked consistency and the will to win. We had a real chance to win today with Swedes on their home soil, watched by 12 000 audience.
We had a few situations when we had a one man advantage but we didn't used it. Normally we should win in such moments by scoring two goals. There was a situation when we had a chance to tie the game but unfortunately we were losing the ball. Against such a opponent on their home soil it's impossible to win a game.
Having such an audience, when Swedes fans were cheering for their team, there were moments when only the Polish supporters could be heard. It should give us strength but unfortunately in those crucial moments we failed.
Postgame interview with Polish goalkeeper Sławomir Szmal, whose amazing saves allowed to keep up Poland's hopes to tie the game. Unfortunately too much mistakes in the attack didn't allowed to sucessed one more time.
Sweden, as well as Poland and Argentina qualifed to the second round of the Championships. In the group they are going to play against Serbia, Croatia and Denmark.
Our plan was to play aggressively because we know the opponent, we had know that the main threat are Andersson and Kaellman. We were suppoused to play offensive and harshly. Unfortunately, they managed to come off on good postions. We commited a number of mistakes in attack and they answered with counterattacks. In today's match we lacked consistency and the will to win. We had a real chance to win today with Swedes on their home soil, watched by 12 000 audience.
We had a few situations when we had a one man advantage but we didn't used it. Normally we should win in such moments by scoring two goals. There was a situation when we had a chance to tie the game but unfortunately we were losing the ball. Against such a opponent on their home soil it's impossible to win a game.
Having such an audience, when Swedes fans were cheering for their team, there were moments when only the Polish supporters could be heard. It should give us strength but unfortunately in those crucial moments we failed.
22nd Men's Handball World Championship - Poland - South Korea 25:20 (10:11)
On Tuesday Poland won with South Korea. The first half was hard, but in the second Polish team took the lead and was dominating on the pitch.
Goalkeeper Sławomir Szmal, whose performance was very good, was chosen the best player of the match.
Surprisingly Argentina won with Sweden, which means that today game is going to be really hard for the host's team. If they lose today they are not going to have any points from the first round despite qualifing to the second.
Picspam of the game.
Goalkeeper Sławomir Szmal, whose performance was very good, was chosen the best player of the match.
Surprisingly Argentina won with Sweden, which means that today game is going to be really hard for the host's team. If they lose today they are not going to have any points from the first round despite qualifing to the second.
Picspam of the game.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
22nd Men's Handball World Championship - Poland - Chile 38:23 (15:13)
Poland beat Chile 38:23. Finally a fine victory. The first half didn't look the best, although Poland lead for the most of the time, but in the second the team rushed to the attack. Chile's defence played well at the beginning, but then Polish players found a way to go through it and also to stop opponents' attack.
Quite good game for the goalkeepers Sławomir Szmal and Piotr Wyszomirski. Both had to face penalties and they managed to save one each. Szmal was very good at the beginning of the first half, made a few good saves.
Wyszomirski played the second half. His biggest mistakes were quite unfortunate passes, which were snatched by the opponents (fortunately not used well in the most dangerous situation, the ball was thrown into the empty goal, but hit the post). However, overall he saved around 50% of shots.
Tommorrow Poland against South Korea. It's not going to be easy...
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Poland - Czech Republic (33:32), New Year's Tournament in Gdynia, 7.01.11, videos
Went to watch a handball games a week ago on the New Year's Tournament in Gdynia. Enjoyed both, Slovakia against Hungary and Poland against Czech Republic. Took some video footage during the latest.
Polish handball team before Poland - Czech Republic game (Gdynia, 7.01.11)
Warm-up session
Piotr Wyszomirski's warm-up session
Poland - Czech Republic game
The end of the match, Karol Bielecki is named the best Polish player of the game
I have also loads of photos but still need some time to chose the best ones.
Polish handball team before Poland - Czech Republic game (Gdynia, 7.01.11)
Warm-up session
Piotr Wyszomirski's warm-up session
Poland - Czech Republic game
The end of the match, Karol Bielecki is named the best Polish player of the game
I have also loads of photos but still need some time to chose the best ones.
"For me it is clear that Fabiański is No1", states Arsene Wenger
Over last two weeks Łukasz Fabiański has been out of the game due to an injury. However, accoriding to the coach, it didn't change anything. He still considers him to be the first-choice goalkeeper, while Wojciech Szczęsny is the second-choice. Vito Mannone went on the loan to Hull City. Manuel Almunia is still injuried and might leave the club in the transfer window.
Arsène Wenger has reassured his goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański that the shoulder injury that has kept him out of action for the past two weeks has not affected his position as Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper. The Pole is not yet fit enough to feature against West Ham tomorrow but will be buoyed by his manager's suggestion that he will be thrust straight back into the team when he completes his recovery over the coming days, despite the solid displays in Arsenal's past two matches by his deputy and compatriot, Wojciech Szczęsny.
Fabiański began this season as Arsenal's second choice but has become a regular since replacing the erratic Manuel Almunia in September. "We live in a world of competition but for me it is clear that Fabiański is No1," Wenger said."
Read the full article at guardian.co.uk.
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