Robert Enke

Today is a year since the death of Robert Enke. He was the goalkeeper of Hannover 96 and German national team. He was believed to become no. 1 at the World Cup 2010.

At 10th November 2009 he commited sucide. It was later revealed that he had been suffering from depression for years.

What a terrible illness it is. So many mourn him and yet nobody was able to help him when he was still alive...

Read article: Germany remembers Robert Enke at RTÉ Sport.

What is happening with those Polish goalkeepers?

Football in Polands seems to be reaching the very bottom. It's nothing new. It's getting worse and worse, and without serious reforms nothing is going to be better.

The system doesn't produce exceptional players. Only a few names of Polish footballers might ring a bell to football fans aboard.

For long time goalkeepers were an exception, thanks to the good coaching system, which helped to discover the talents. A lot of Polish goalkeepers started to make a career aboard.

At least it was like that a few years ago. But now it seems that most of them faces the bad time in their careers.

Artur Boruc has to compete with Frey in Fiorentina. The transfer from Celtic was a good move, but the position of Fiorentina's no. 1 is strong. He doesn't seem to be national team's coach favorite, so he needs to make really good impression to be at least considered.

Łukasz Fabiański, who seemed to be one step from becoming no. 1 in Arsenal, is again reduced to the second choice, as the coach decided to count on Manuel Almunia. Wojciech Szczęsny is third in the row. Tomasz Kuszczak has been waiting for his chance in MU since years, but there is still Van der Saar between the sticks. Only Łukasz Załuska in Celtic is now no. 1, but how long it's going to last?

I don't count in Wojciech Kowalewski, because I don't think he was considered to be a part of Euro 2012 team. He is not lucky, was called-up only several times.

There is also Przemysław Tytoń, a new face in the national team. He is the first-choice in Roda Kerkrade. May it be his advantage?

So far it seems that it's Jerzy Dudek who had the most sucessful career of all Polish goalkeepers.

Two years ago I could name who is the unquestionable no. 1 in Polish goal. Now I'm not sure who is going to be called-up for the next friendly match...

'It was 1800 days of cold, wind and rain", says Artur Boruc

"It was 1800 days of cold, wind and rain", said Artur Boruc, when asked about his time at Celtic Glasgow by Scottish media. "But seriously, it was a great time".

"Celtic and its fan will always stay close to my heart. This club is a part of me now, just like my family and my fiancée. It was a great honor to play for Celtic."

"I think that playing for Fiorentina is a chance for me, to develop my skills. I came here to be the goalkeeper, I have no indention of declaring I will do this or that, blah, blah, blah. It's easy to give promises. Instead of talking, I prefer playing. The quality of my performance should speak for itself.

"Whoever comes, he better know that he'll be my second goalkeeper", says Frey

Monica08 found an interesting article at http://www.tuttosport.com/ page about Sebastian Frey and his attitude to his club plans to sign a new goalkeeper. He is seems to be almost offended by the fact the Fiorentina hired Boruc. Below is her translation of this news.

According to Tuttosport.it July 21 2010.

Frey has been the indisputable #1 goalkeeper at Fiorentina since 2005. So why in the world did Fiorentina on June 12 2010 bother to go look for other top goalkeepers abroad??

In short, once Frey knew that Fiorentina was looking for another top goalkeeper he "complained" to the media. Fiorentina didn't like it and fined him! Fiorentina did it to provide Frey with more challenges and motivation (stimuli in Italian) but apparently Frey took Boruc' signing personally.

Frey's quote:
12 June - "My future, I still see it at Firenze. I am doing very well here. I have 3 more years left in my contract. Even if my [Fiorentina] sporting director is looking for other goalkeepers, I will stay here. I think I showed what I'm worth all these years and my love for the shirt. I don't understand how can one search for another goalkeeper when one has Frey as the #1goalkeeper [titolare]. The money will have to be spent in another manner. All these rumors have surprised me. In any case, whoever [new goalkeeper signing] comes, he better know that he'll be my second [goalkeeper] because I still have lots of willingness to play. I am convinced that I'm still important for my club [Fiorentina].

Meanwhile today the new Fiorentina manager was presented and he said "There is still time to decide. They are two great goalkeepers, it will be up to them.". Source: http://www.tuttosport.com.



Boruc of Frey? Who is going to win this competition?

World Cup 2010: goalkeepers ups and downs - summary after semifinals

In semifinals goalkeepers made 14 saves in total and allowed 6 goals. 7 saves per a match.

Most saves overall



Manuel Neuer (Germany), Maarten Stekelenburg (Netherlands) and Fernando Muslera (Uruguay) made 4 saves each. Iker Casillas (Spain) made 2 saves.

Most conceded goals overall



Fernando Muslera conceded 3 in Uruguay - Netherlands game. However, those shots were practically impossible to save.

Clean sheets



Iker Casillas kept clean sheet in Germany - Spain game.

A goal which could be saved



Maarten Stekelenburg could do better when Diego Forlan scored the first goal for Uruguay.

The best defence



Iker Casillas's dive to pounch the ball coming from a cross.

The best one to one save



Manuel Neuer saving Villa's shot.

The slippery attempt of save



Iker Casillas. Fortunately it didn't end up with a dangerous situation.

Could do better



Maarten Stekelenburg (Netherlands). He played a fine tournament till the match with Uruguay. The same with Fernando Muslera. It's not about the lost goal, but about the impression. Didn't look as self-confident as in the previous games.

Most worried look



Iker Casillas seen during Germany - Spain game.

The goalkeeper who did fine although his team didn't won



Manuel Neuer (Germany).

The most lucky goalkeeper



Iker Casillas (Spain) again! He is not faultless but so far he avoids conceding goals even when Jambulani tries to decieve him (except for Spain - Switzerland game).

World Cup 2010: goalkeepers ups and downs - summary after quarterfinals

Time to do another summary.

In 4 games 8 goalkeepers made 31 saves what gives 7,8 saves per match.

Most saves overall



Mauel Neuer (Germany) and Richard Kingson (Ghana) made 7 saves each. Fernando Muslera (Uruguay) made 4. Julio Cesar (Brazil), Maarten Stekelenburg (Netherlands) and Iker Casillas (Spain) made 3 saves each.

Most conceded goals overall



Sergio Romero had conceded 4 in Argentina - Germany game.

The last line of defence - best saves in a match



Iker Casillas (Spain). There were not many, but they include a penalty save and two crucial saves in the last minutes of the game.

The best save of a penalty



This round was thrilling. So many penalties! There were also sucessful saves. In the penalty shoot-out in Uruguay - Ghana Fernando Muslera saved 2.

Clean sheets



Two goalkeepers managed to keep a clean sheet. Iker Casillas (Spain) and Manuel Neuer (Germany).

A goal allowed in the most awkward way



Sergio Romero in Argentina - Germany match. It looked so strange... Although I wouldn't put it enterily on his account as Mueller slightly touched the ball to push the ball into the net past the goalkeeper.

The best defence



Will name here Sergio Romero's save. If he hadn't pounched the ball coming from a cross, Klose would have undoubtly scored and Argentina would have lost 5:0...

Fatal misjudgment



Julio Cesar (Brazil) missed a cross and crashed with his own defender. It points one things: the mistakes happens even to the best.

The most lucky save



Iker Casillas was very, very lucky that he managed to save both shots in the last minutes of the Paraguay - Spain game (after the first shot he bounced the ball on foot of Paraguay's player).

The postivie surprise



Justo Villar of Paraguay. I admit, after he misjudged the corner which resulted in a goal for Italy, I though he is going to make another mistake like this. I was wrong. Not only nothing like this had happen, but he also managed to save a penalty in the match with Spain which kept Paraguay in the game.

The negative surprise



Richard Kingson. It's not like he did bad in Ghana - Uruguay game, because he made some good saves, but after the lost goal he had lost focus for good 15 minutes, making a series of little mistakes which could end up in losing another goal. Then, however, he pulled himself together.

The most meaningful look



Fernando Muslera's look says everything. He knows what is going to happen. "Ooops, there is going to be a penalty." Wonder what he was thinking, facing in the last minute of the game Gyan, who had already scored two penalty kicks at this championships. Probably he was praying for a miracle...

A miracle "save"



Which did happen. The ball bounced off the bar.

Twist of game nobody would predict



Two penalties saved by two goalkeepers in one game in less than 5' minutes span. Amazing!

The goalkeeper who did fine although his team didn't made through



Justo Villar of Paraguay.

The most lucky goalkeeper



Justo Villar again. He could have been booked with a red card for clipping Fabregas. The referee didn't see it or chose to not see it.

The nicest moment



Fernando Muslera saying "thanks" to the bar.

The saddest moment



Julio Cesar crying after the lost match.

A suggestion...



...for Luis Suarez. He should consider changing postion and playing as a goalkeeper ;)

"We know that the Germany match is the most important in our history," says Casillas

Germany - Spain semi-final tomorrow. Spain is the only team left I was supporting from the very beggining (the others were Portugal, Brazil, Italy and USA). I hope Spain is going to win, but Germany... it's a very, very strong team.

Found an article today about the upcoming match. Some excerpts:

Casillas captains the European champions in a national record 53rd match Wednesday's semifinal meeting with Germany.

"We know that the Germany match is the most important in our history," Casillas said ahead of Wednesday's game at Moses Mabhida Stadium. "Even more than the Euro 2008 final in Austria."

(...)

Nicknamed "Saint Iker," Casillas has been Spain's first-choice keeper almost exclusively since his debut in 2000. Pepe Reina and Victor Valdes, likely starters on most other national teams, can only watch on from the sidelines in South Africa.

(...)

"He gives us such great confidence and we know how many times he's saved us," said striker David Villa, who leads the tournament with five goals. "Not just on penalties but (in regular play) too."

Read full story at USA Today.

Brazil team arrived in Rio

Julio Cesar was amongst a host of Brazil squad members to return home in the early hours of Sunday morning and on arrival at Rio airport he was overcome with emotion as the press and fans that turned up gave him a positive welcome.

He said: "I am very excited. I thank the Brazilian fans. It is the result of three-and-a-half years of work. The team rescued the love of the fans for the national team."

After emerging through the throng of press men, the Brazil number one joined his mother in a waiting car and the footage below clearly shows him crying again, simply overwhelmed with emotion.

Source: Goal.com.

Read full article here: link.

World Cup 2010: goalkeepers ups and downs - summary after 1/8

Next teams said goodbye to the World Cup, others qualified to the next round. Time to do another summary. Seems that this time one goalkeeper qualifies to be put in the most of the categories...

In 8 matches 68 saves was made what gives 8,5 saves per every match.

Most saves overall



Eduardo made 9 saves in Spain - Portugal match, saving also his team from an ashaming defeat.

The second place belongs to Jan Mucha who made 7 saves in Slovakia - Netherlands game. Manuel Neuer (Germany), Eiji Kawashima (Japan) and Jung Sung-Ryong (South Korea) made 6 saves each.

Most conceded goals overall



James allowed 4 goals in England - Germany match. Could act better in at least two situations...

The last line of defence - best saves in a match



There can be only one choice: Eduardo in Spain - Portugal match. However, Kingson in Ghana - US match did very good and it had to come to penalty to defeat him.

The best save of a penalty



There were penalties, there were penalty shoot-out, but no sucessful penalty save... However, for the attitude I put here Villar (Paraguay). He looked so self-confident, so easy-going that it had to make Japanese players at least a bit more unsecure.

Clean sheets



Only two goalkeepers managed to keep clean sheet in this round: Julio Cesar of Brazil and Iker Casillas of Spain.

The best defence



I could put Eduardo also in this category, but Kingson also deserves to named here for his amazing 1 to 1 saves in Ghana - US match. Did this more than once. Impressive.

Good performance in the game



Manuel Neuer (Germany). His long pass was an assist for Klose who scored the opening goal.

A goal allowed in the most awkward way



Some things in football are certain. There are two goals and one ball, Germans are always winning in the end and English goalkeepers are English goalkeepers. Means far from being good. James managed somehow to keep 2 clean sheets in the group matches. Unfortunately for him in the match with Germany he commited all mistakes he shouldn't. He made an error when he was late with coming out of the goal when the first goal for Germany was scored but his third attempt of save was the most fatal. He pushed the ball into the net with his left elbow. A blunder, no doubt.

Most effort put in the match but it gave nothing



Jan Mucha made good saves in Slovakia - Netherlands match but all this effort were wasted by one mistake and misjuding the cross.

A goalkeeper who yelled the most at his defenders



Tim Howard in Ghana - US. The defenders, however, seemed to not communicate quite well among themselves and didn't help too much his goalkeeper.

The most lucky save



Eduardo again. Save of Llorente's shot.

A rare sight



Two goalkeepers in one penalty box. Richard Kingson and Tim Howard in Ghana - US game.

The most funny moment



Mexico - Argentina game. Some paper streamers thrown by fans had landed on the pitch. The commentator said "The service is removing the streamers now " and then the camera showed Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez doing the work insted of the service. A helpful goalie.

It could end up with a lost goal...



What is happening with Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas? He let the ball out of his hands way too often in Spanish - Portugal match. It could end up with losing the goal. He was, however, focused when he rushed out of the goal to clear the ball.

The goalkeeper who did fine although his team didn't made through



Eduardo (Portugal). Tim Howard (US) also did fine as well as Kawashima (Japan) and Mucha (Slovakia).

The saddest moment



Eduardo in despair after the lost match with Spain.

A nice gesture



Fellow goalkeepers Beto and Daniel Fernandes consoling Eduardo.