Posts Tagged ‘Hat Trick’
Belgium’s win among the best
Among all of the Football World Cup highlights, one of my own favourite games came back in 1986 between two countries who failed even to make it to this summer’s finals in South Africa, Belgium and Russia (back then still known as the USSR).
The game came in the second round of that tournament in Mexico, a tournament most England fans of course remember for Diego Maradona and the ‘Hand of God’ incident, but one that was memorable right from the first game all the way through to Argentina’s eventual crowning as champions.
Two weeks before their 3-2 win over Germany, a game took place in Leon, which would be the tournament’s highest-scoring match and see a hat-trick scorer Igor Belanov end up on the losing side.
The Soviet Union had battled into the second round against the predictions of World Cup Football Betting experts as Group C winners ahead of France on goal difference thanks to their 6-0 hiding of Hungary, and would have fancied their chances against Belgium, who only advanced as one of the best third-placed teams back when the tournament included just 24 teams.
But despite their poor Group B record, this was a Belgium team with plenty of well-known stars and arguably one of their best international line-ups of all time.
Belanov gave the Soviets a first-half lead, and all was looking good for them until 10 minutes into the second period when Enzo Scifo, arguably Belgium’s best-ever player levelled the scores, apparently from an offside position.
Belanov again struck with 20 minutes to go, a cross shot past Jean-Marie Pfaff, but the ageless Jan Ceulemans, again appearing to be mysteriously offside, chested down a long ball and made sure there would be extra-time.
In the extra period, the Belgians took over with a powerful header from Guy Demol (no suspicions of offside this time) and a cracking volley from Spurs striker Nico Claesen before Belanov completed his hat-trick to make the final nine minutes a nervy one for Belgium.
However they managed to hold on for a 4-3 victory and knock out Spain on penalties in the quarter-finals before finally exiting to the eventual winners Argentina 2-0 in the last-four, both goals coming from that ‘horrible genius’ Maradona.
Tags: Belgians, Cambria, Diego Maradona, England Fans, Enzo, Extra Time, Fareast, Favourite Games, First Game, Font Definitions, Font Format, Football World Cup, Goal Difference, Hand Of God, Hat Trick, Jean Marie Pfaff, Line Ups, Mso, Offside Position, Orphan, Panose, Paper Source, Poor Group, Props, Sans Serif, Second Period, Soviets, Style Definitions, Style Name, Style Type, Theme Font, Times New Roman, Ups, Volley, World Cup Football
Are Arsenal the real deal?
I’m sure most people expected Arsenal to beat Porto in the Champions League - the Portuguese side have an awful record in England after all. However, the manner of the 5-0 victory, achieved without talisman Cesc Fabregas, should force people to sit up and take notice.
Arsenal put in a sparkling performance against the 2004 European Champions, dominating pretty much from start to finish. Nicklas Bendtner will no doubt take most of the headlines with a face-saving hat-trick going some way towards making up for his horror show against Burnley at the weekend.
But credit also has to go to the two chief architects, Samir Nasri and Andrey Arshavin, whose probing midfield runs were instrumental in the victory and eased the pain of being without captain Fabregas.
The win caps off a satisfying few weeks for Arsene Wenger, whose side are visibly growing in confidence. Following last Saturday’s win over Burnley they will firmly believe they can take advantage of their favourable fixture list and win their first Premier league title since 2004.
After the Porto result what is stopping them going all the way in the Champions League as well?
Wenger himself has admitted he would relish the chance to avenge their heavy league defeats to Chelsea and Manchester United should they be drawn together in the next round.
Personally I feel the Champions League is a step too far. The Gunners have shown already they struggle against the top sides in the Premier league and I feel that when up against a similar side in the Europe they will fall just short. The Champions League football betting certainly suggests this will be the case.
The momentum is definitely with them in the league, however. Their win at Stoke the weekend before last was celebrated with extra vigour, not just because it was in response to Aaron Ramsey’s shocking injury but because it was seen as a rare banana skin in what is a dream of a run-in fixture list.
Local rivals Spurs and fellow fourth place chasers Man City are the only other major hiccups remaining for the Gunners and if the past few games are to go by, they shouldn’t present a problem. If this proves to be the case, then the title could be heading to Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium for the very first time.
Meanwhile, hat-trick hero Bendtner will be hoping he can hit form in time for the World Cup.
He will be representing Denmark and while the side are unlikely to be many people’s World Cup 2010 tips they could still cause an upset.
Tags: Andrey Arshavin, Banana Skin, Burnley, Cesc Fabregas, Champions League Football, Chasers, Chief Architects, European Champions, First Premier, Fixture List, Going All The Way, Gunners, Hat Trick, Horror Show, Last Saturday, Man City, Midfield, Nasri, Vigour, Wenger