All Hail Alex!!

by vetriciawizach on Kamis, 06 November 2008

Just a quick note

I think last night result between Madrid and Juventus was fantastic.
In mye eye, this was the game between two living legend. One have played for 15 years in that black and white stripes and have become the club all time goalscorer. And the other has played for 14 years and become the champions league all time goalscorer. Both of them were called prince and both has been captain for years.

At the last fixture, Alex steal the show. He created a fantastic goal from outside the box and created couple of great chances for his mates.

But, I never tought that he will steal the show once again...at Calderon!

And the goals, oh dear gracious, soooo briliant.

The first one was from outside of the box, just like on the first leg, and the second from a free kick.
Oh..and he just missed a few inches to score a hattrick, from a brilliant play inside of the box. No, I'm not exaggerating. It's really only a few inches.

Cassilas just stood there, watching Alex strikes. And the looks on Casillas face was immense. It's like he was watching messi's hattrick all over again.

and thank you Ranieri for subbing Alex at the last minuet, so that he could receive a warm appreciation from both fans.

Oh Sid, please..write an article about this game. I beg you.

No...no....nooo (pt.2)

by vetriciawizach on Rabu, 29 Oktober 2008

What's wrong with AFA (Argentina Football Association)?

They have Batista or Bianchi on their hands, why did they appoint Maradona as their National Team coach? As good as Maradona was as a football player, his coaching ability is surely questionable. The last time he managed a club was at the mid 90's, and he never ever learn, officially, modern football.

Why do they want to screw a handfull of talented players, like Messi, Mascherano, Aguerro or Gago, for a financial rewards? I mean, if they win the SA World Cup 2010, they'll get all the publicity that they've wanted.

Oh...i'm rooting for this Argentina team. If the WC 2014 will be held at Brazil, then their only chance to win this is at South Africa, while Messi, Aguerro, Mascherano will be at their prime. Don't ruin this chance by appointing unexperienced person. Even though he's the god of football.

A Bloody Fantastic Week

by vetriciawizach

What-a-game!!

From the beginning I want them to win so badly. For keeping the momentum. For being the team who break Chelsea's 86 unbeatable record. For stepping up against the other three. You name the reasons. It’s there.

And for once I didn’t want to settle for anything other than three. Even if my logic says that it’s fine with only 1 point, considering how good Scolari is. But still, I’m clinging to my faith. I want the reds to prove their quality.

And they did it!

Alonso, with his experience of being expelled on the first leg of 2005 UCL semi final and having a broken ankle by fat frank, deserves his goal.

Our defensive players also play superbly! (Four thumbs for them!) Even though A.Cole, Malouda, Kalou, Anelka, or Bossingwa sometimes could penetrate the penalty box, our player could anticipate their crossings. And thank God Drogba wasn’t there. The blues front threesome are sh*te. Well proven against the likes of Boro or Stoke City, but flaking against MU or Liverpool. With all the money that they have, they should’ve bought Berbatov or Robinho last summer.

But, I still applaud Chelsea for having their record. It’s a bloody fantastic record after all. And just like our 18 titles, it will be written at the premiere league history, that they remain unbeaten for 86 home games.

On a slightly different note, this game compared to Barcelona vs. Almeria is like heaven and earth. When I was watching Liverpool, for 75 minuets I just can’t stop praying for them. And my heart is racing faster as the times goes by.

But, at Nou Camp, the game was already stopped at break time. I mean, Barca has already led the game by 5-0, and Almeria was down with 10 men. What else do you expect? Barcelona winning the game? It’s as sure as the sun will rise from the east. Barcelona winning with big scores? Duh, it’s 5-0!!

Basically, there’s nothing to be waited for.

Well..i'm so happy with this results. All i want for Christmas is title challenge, both for Liverpool and Barca.



Now I got it.

No..no..nooooooo

by vetriciawizach on Kamis, 23 Oktober 2008

Is there anyway I could sign a petition for rejecting Beckham to Milan?
The image of the world most over-rated player alongside one of the greatest football character ever, Paolo Maldini, devastated me.

Yes, it's only for four months. Yes, he will make a financial contribution to Milan. But, what about the pitch? How could Ancellotti put Beckham in the midfield full of talented players like Pirlo, Seedorf, Kaka, Ambrossini, Flamini, Gattuso, or Ronaldinho? Whose spot would he gave?

Also, it's an important season for Milan. They need consistency if they want to regain their spot at the Champions League, not to mention to be a title contender. The last thing they need is a distraction.

So, no Becks. Please!!!

Aora TV

by vetriciawizach on Rabu, 08 Oktober 2008

Dear Aora TV

Andai saya punya pemindai, pasti sudah saya pindai dan masukkan iklan Aora TV di Pikiran Rakyat edisi hari ini (8/10), halaman 28, ke blog ini. 

Biar saya jelaskan, di iklan itu Aora menampilkan empat pemain liga inggris sebagai representasi dari BPL, produk utama yang ditawarkannya. Ada Deco dengan kostum Chelseanya, ada CR7 dengan kostum Unitednya, ada Fabregas dengan Arsenalnya dan ada..............Djibril Cisse (?) dengan kostum Sunderlandnya!!

Begini ya Pak/Bu, mungkin anda pernah mendengar istilah The Big Four. Istilah itu bukan sekedar istilah, tapi menggambarkan empat klub yang memang menguasai liga inggris lima tahun terakhir. Siapa tahu Bapak/Ibu belum mengetahuinya klub itu adalah: MU, Arsenal, Chelsea dan... LIVERPOOL!! Bukan..bukan Tottenham Hotspurs, bukan Everton, bukan Newcastle United dan pastinya bukan Sunderland!

Jadi, sewajarnya, empat pemain dari klub itu dong yang merepresentasikan iklan anda? 
Tunggu..tunggu...jangan-jangan anda berpikir Cisse masih bergabung dengan Liverpool, makanya anda menaruhnya sebagai Icon? Tapi...jelas-jelas kostum yang dipakainya kostum Sunderland dan bukan kostum Liverpool. Berarti anda tahu dong kalau dia sudah pindah?
Atau............... anda salah mengenali kostum Liverpool? Ga mungkin lah ya...penyedia jasa siaran langsung BPL, pastinya kredibel dong untuk sekedar mengenali kostum.

Eh..jangan-jangan...Bapak/Ibu tidak tahu lagi pemain Liverpool yang terkenal dan bisa dijadikan Icon? Ada kok Pak..ada kok Bu. Banyak lagi! 

Ada Fernando Torres, yang kebetulan mencetak gol kemenangan spanyol di Piala Eropa kemarin. Ada Robbie Keane, yang langganan nyetak lebih dari 15 gol di BPL, ada lagi Ryan Babel yang nyetak gol kemenangan The Reds ke gawang MU kemaren. Atau....Steven Gerrard juga boleh. Yah, memang sih dia tidak begitu terkenal di liga inggris, tapi kemaren baru nyetak gol ke-100nya kok buat Liverpool. Jadi masang dia sebagai ikon juga ga masalah kok. 

Eh..jangan-jangan, malahan saya yang kurang informasi. Jangan-jangan Sunderland memang lebih populer di Indonesia dibanding Liverpool! Jadi, masang gambarnya Cisse mungkin akan menarik perhatian banyak orang. Mungkin....sekedar mungkin loh...kalo masang gambarnya Cisse, orang-orang akan tertarik berlangganan Aora TV. 

Yah..kalo keadaannya seperti itu si ya apa boleh buat. 

Saya hanya bisa mendoakan semoga Aora TV semakin laku dan maju, sehingga tidak memerlukan BPL lagi sebagai daya tarik. Dengan demikian BPL bisa kembali lagi ke pihak televisi tak berbayar, yang tahu siapa Fernando Torres atau Steven Gerrard, yang tau kostum Liverpool, dan yang pasti......terjangkau oleh saya. Amiiiiinnnn.

**gw nulis apa siiiiiiiiiiii....iseeeeng...

New Season

by vetriciawizach on Selasa, 07 Oktober 2008

I know..i know

The new season has already started long long time ago. But, it's still 7 games in Premiere League and 6 at Italy and Spanish. I guess I just haven't really found something interesting to write about.

Anyhow, it's a really great week. I didn't know which one made me happier, the great come back from LFC against City or the brutal murder that Barcelona did to Atletico. Or that great performance Leo Messi shows at the game. He is breathetakingly genius. 

I just can't wait to get back to the league after the international break this week. I mean, in La Liga there are 5 teams that look decent enough to be the title contender. Five! Meanwhile in the champion league, Torres will be facing his former club, Atletico. 

But, for me, the greatest expectation will be Liverpool against Wigan and Chelsea. After a superb come back last sunday, one can only assume that the reds boys has finally pull the string. There's a diffrent mentality compared to last seasons. And there's Riera who give a life to the right flank. So, I just hope that this will continue for the rest of the seasons. Who knows..it might be our year.. :smirk:

Cheers to the new season!

History Maker

by vetriciawizach on Rabu, 30 April 2008

Will Liverpool score at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 4 years? Will Chelsea go to the final for the first time, ever? Well...both are happening at the same time.

Good gracious, my hands still trembling. I can’t continue to write.

[Sigh]

Okay. Here we go.

From scale 1 to 10, I would rate this game with an 8. Far...far more interesting than the other semi. More goals. More drama. More passions. More movie-material things. And whoever said that the game is going to be dull must’ve been deluded. I don’t care how many world class players that MU and Barca have, but the world class game absolutely happen in today’s game. I mean, how can you even compare a total 1 goal for 2 games to 7 goals?
Hmmm....maybe I exaggerate it a little. After all, this is coming from a fan.

Well…IMO this is how the game played.

In the first half Chelsea outplayed Liverpool.

Misunderstandings happen among Liverpool players, hence many inaccurate passes happens. Lack of pace and lack of spirit was also becoming a problem. So, it wasn’t a surprise when the first goal came. Another mistake from the defender and along came Drogba. 1-0. Fair outcome.

At the second half, the reds brought the game to a higher level. I don’t know what Benitez or maybe Gerrard said at half time, but they definitely play it with a different pace and a different attitude.

A brilliant strategy came from St. Rafa. He changes position by placing Kuyt at the left and Bena at the right, something I’ve never seen before for sure. And the gambling paid of. Bena makes a tremendous run and give a wonderful pass to Torres. Well, you could never over-rate Torres. With a simple touch, but deadly of course, he placed the ball to the right side of the net. 1-1. 

And the real semifinal begin.

Chelsea begins to strike back as Grant replaced Kalou with Malouda. Liverpool, at the other side, replaced Bena with Pennant. It wasn’t a shock. Pennant played well against Birmingham and Fulham, plus he’s a wonderful passer too. But nothing serious happens. Both teams create chances but the goalkeeper played well too. So, 1-1 remains until the ref blew his whistle. (Hmmm…somehow I made it sound so simple, but actually the tension is increasing. Both could never afford to be conceded, and the result…..my heart beat ten times faster that usual.)

And the drama began at extra time.

Rafa started another gamble, replacing Torres with Babel. Whilst Grant replaced one of Chelski players with Anelka. (sorry, I wasn’t paying any attention to Chelski). Liverpool and Chelski have their opportunity, and Chelski grabbed the hell out of it. 

Essien, again, was taking advantage out of the defender mistake, creating a powerful goal. But………the referee said no. Three players were offside. And the lino already pulls the flag before Essien kicked the ball. 

And if you think the drama is over, you got it all wrong.

One minute later the ref gave Chelsea a penalty due to a late tackle from Hypia at the penalty box. And I said: “Man…you’ve sent us to heaven only to pull us back to the ground, ref”. But it’s a fair decision. Lampard takes the penalty, scored, and do the I-love-you-mom-this-is-four-you things. Well done by him.

Cut to the chase, Chelsea scored again. With a fine pass from Anelka, Drogba showed that he’s more than a whiny player. Scoring 17 goals, he’s now Chelsea’s top scorer at the UEFA CL. Actually, Anelka’s position was a little bit offside when he made the pass. It’s a close call but the linesman failed to notice. 3-1. And I’m down on my knees starting to pray.

At the second extra time the tension was downed. With a 2 goals ahead, Chelsea focused on their defense but once in a while come out to attack. But Liverpool won’t give up on the game yet. From a long distance Babel makes a shoot and Cech makes a mistakes. 3-2. The flair is rising again. Alonso, Gerrard, even Carra desperately penetrate Chelsea defense system.

But there’s no enough time. 3-2 remains and Chelsea is now the history maker.

Overall…it’s a wonderful game to be seen, and both team deserved to win. But we all know, that only one could. Unfortunately, it’s the blues who won the gamble.

But the reds boys should held their head up high. They fought bravely. They won’t give up. They set a game to a higher level and they’ve showed United and Barca that this is how a UCL semifinal should be.

After all, this is a blazing year for them. Against Porto, Marseille, and Benfica they showed us that no matter how small it is…the hope is still there. And you should never loose faith. They even create an 8-0 history along the way. Against Inter, Arsenal and Chelsea they showed courage and a never give up attitude. That fortune always favors the brave!

Fare well my red lads. We’re going to come back next years and get to final for the third time under Rafa’s guidance.

YNWA!

My usual unimportant comment:
1. Poor Mourinho. He left as a hero to the fans, but only to see his successor succeeded. People can say anything they want to Grant, but he actually brings Chelski to the final stage (both at UCL and EPL). Salute!
2. When Chelsea was given a free kick near Liverpool penalty box, Drogba and Ballack are standing together. And I said: Hey, aren’t the two of you supposed to be fighting? He he..
3. Drogba...drogba. I think he has learned from his mistakes. No more theatrical act this time. Whenever the ref blew the whistle against him, he only smiled. Good for you.
4. What happen between Torres and Terry? What’s up with that ear pulling thing?
5. For 4 years Liverpool didn’t know what it takes to score at Stamford Bridge. But now they do. It was Babel and Torres who made the different. The Bridge?? Naaah…not so scary anymore.
6. Before the game I was thinking, between Lampard and Riise which one would create a drama? Riise could pay his mistakes and creates a goal with his head. At the other sides there’s Lampard, who could play this strong figure and overcome his grief with a victory goal. And one of it happened. It was Lampard who did it.

Classic European Game?? Nah...don’t think so. (pt. 2)

by vetriciawizach

Di sportblog the Guardian beberapa orang berkomentar bahwa hasil 0-0 yang terjadi di leg pertama merupakan hasil yang baik untuk para pecinta sepakbola. Bahasa yang mereka gunakan adalah: it’s fairly balanced. Karena MU tidak mencetak gol di kandang lawan, maka Barca akan dipaksa untuk mencetak gol di kandang lawan, meski tidak harus menang. Sedang MU pun harus mencetak gol dan menang untuk dapat lolos ke babak final. Dengan demikian masing-masing tim harus menyerang dan kejadian seperti minggu lalu (MU bertahan dan Barca menyerang) dapat terhindarkan. Tinggallah para pecinta sepakbola indah yang harusnya terpuaskan dengan permainan yang menarik.

Hasilnya? Permainan memang lebih atraktif dibanding minggu lalu. MU tampil percaya diri untuk menyerang, demikian juga Barca. Tapi jika disuruh menilai kemenarikan tingkat pertandingan ini, saya hanya memberikan nilai 6,5.

Di sisi MU saya harus memberikan acungan jempol untuk Tevez dan Ji-Sung. Mereka tampil dengan semangat tinggi. Berkali-kali mereka melakukan counter-attack dengan cepat dan cukup membuat para suporter Barca terkena serangan jantung. Tak hanya menyerang, mereka juga aktif mengambil bola. Ji-Sung juga sering memberikan umpan-umpan matang yang membuat saya bangga sebagai orang asia. 

Tapi, jika bicara soal hasil, pertandingan ini buat saya mengecewakan. Hanya ada dua peluang emas yang hampir membuahkan gol. Satu lewat sundulan Nani yang tidak terarah (umpan Ji-Sung) dan satu lagi lewat tendangan Tevez yang di blok oleh Valdez. Gol Scholes pun lahir oleh aksi pribadinya. Dia menyambar bola buangan Zambrota, dan, dibanding menyusun serangan, dia memilih untuk langsung menendang keras ke gawang. Minimum effort of his team there, pure his own ambition.

Sedang Barca adalah antitesis dari MU. Entah mengapa para pemain Barca kurang memiliki ambisi dan semangat seperti Scholes. Mereka sering kali menyusun serangan dengan rapih dan cepat. Tetapi ketika memasuki kotak pinalti, mereka menurunkan kecepatan dan menunggu anggota tim lainnya (yang pastinya dimanfaatkan oleh pemain-pemain MU untuk secepat mungkin kembali bertahan). 

Samuel Eto’o pun tak segarang biasanya. Eto’o di dua atau tiga tahun lalu tidak akan memainkan bola. Ia pasti langsung memutar badan dan menendang sekeras mungkin ke arah gawang (oh..how I miss those days). Dalam melakukan serangan balik dia tidak akan menunggu timnya. Ia akan berlari secepat mungkin dan menendang sekeras mungkin. Eto’o yang sekarang...entahlah.

Serangan-serangan Barca juga mudah sekali terbaca oleh pemain belakang MU. Shoot on target Barca lebih banyak, tapi Van Der Sar tampak nyaman menjaga gawang. Dalam menyerang Barca sangat-sangat-sangat mengandalkan Messi. Berkali-kali ia menusuk lewat kanan, kiri, tengah, atas, bawah (hehe) dan memberikan umpan-umpan matang, yang sayangnya telat disambar oleh teman-teman satu timnya. Iniesta tampil dibawah performa terbaik, begitu pula Xavi. Buat saya, Barca tidak mendapatkan (atau tidak menciptakan?) momentum yang tepat untuk menyerang MU.

Saya selalu mengasosiasikan bek-bek MU dengan dinding yang tebal. Perlu momentum-momentum yang cepat, keras dan berulang untuk menghancurkannya. Keterulangannya sih sudah dapat, tapi kurang daya gedornya.

Tak hanya masalah tim terbaik, pertandingan ini diasosikan oleh orang-orang untuk menilai mana pemain yang lebih hebat. Ronaldo atau Messi. And for me, Messi still outclassed Ronaldo. Messi itu melayani pemain-pemain lainnya. Dia menjemput bola, mengatur serangan, membuka ruang dan memberikan umpan-umpan matang. Kalaupun dilanggar, dia hanya melihat wasit. Kalau pelanggaran ya tendangan bebas, kalau tidak ya dia teruskan bermain. Bukan mengeluh, bukan berteriak ke wasit dan, not like some other players, bukan mengangkat tangan ke atas dan berkata “Why?? Oh Why”.

Visinya pun luar biasa. Untuk seorang yang berusia muda dia sudah menjadi tulang punggung tim sekelas Barca. I just can't wait to watch him at World Cup 2010 along with Masche, Tevez and Kun Aguero.
 
Well...that's it. MU is going to the final. Barca is left with no silverware this year. Good luck to both teams.

**

Komentar tidak penting:
1. Ronaldo..Ronaldo. Setelah gagal mengeksekusi penalti di Camp Nou, dalam konfrensi pers dia berkata: “No problem. Now I’m gonna score at Old Trafford”. Hari ini terbukti, dia tidak mencetak gol atau menciptakan peluang emas. [sigh]
2. Saya kagum betapa berkembangnya sepabola modern saat ini. Nampaknya semua pemain dapat melakukan apapun. Minggu kemarin, Rooney berlari sampai kebelakang untuk membantu pertahanan. Hari sabtu, Shevchenko menjadi pahlawan Chelsea ketika menghalau bola dari garis gawang. Hari ini, Tevez menjegal Puyol yang overlaping di dekat kotak penalti MU. A striker for a defender, eh?
3. Salah satu hal yang membuat pertandingan ini menarik adalah duel antara Zambrotta dan Ronaldo. Dan sungguh saya terhibur melihat Ronaldo yang berkali-kali dianggap melakukan pelanggaran, bahkan sampai diberi kartu kuning. And as usual, Ronaldo came up with the theatrical act again. Hmm..looking forward for Italy meeting Portugal in June.

by vetriciawizach on Jumat, 25 April 2008

Once the shock wears off, we'll come to realise what felt like a defeat was only a draw.
Haha...nice line Paul. Well said!

Classic European Game?? Nah...don’t think so.

by vetriciawizach on Kamis, 24 April 2008

Rob Hughes, salah satu kontributor tabloid bola, memprediksikan pertandingan ini merupakan pertandingan akbar yang sarat dengan atraksi skill individu tingkat tinggi. Tak jarang pula orang yang mengatakan bahwa pertemuan ini merupakan final LC yang kepagian. Yah...siapa yang tidak kenal dengan “the big four” masing-masing klub. MU punya Ronaldo-Rooney-Tevez-Nani, sedang Barca memiliki Henry-Eto’o-Messi-Dinho. Walau Dinho sudah dipastikan absen sejak awal, tapi tetap saja pertemuan pertama antar the big-four sangat dinanti-nanti pecinta sepakbola.

Tapi, buat saya pribadi tingkat kemenarikan pertandingan ini masih berada jauh di bawah pertandingan leg kedua antara Liverpool dan Arsenal, atau, di tahun kemarin, antara Liverpool dan Barcelona di leg pertama. 

Memang, baik Ronaldo, Messi, dan Xavi menunjukkan skill individu yang membuat kagum penonton. Tapi, pertandingan tadi kurang memiliki aura pertandingan yang mampu dikenang. Alasannya? Tak ada satu gol pun tercipta!!

Kasarnya begini. In a classic game like this, it doesn’t matter how good you play, in the end people wanted the goal. Whether it will take you to win the game, or, in a ridiculous kind of way in previous night, put you in a lot of pressure. And to me, no matter how tactical inferior Liverpool is (compared to Barca or Arsenal), they know how to score and satisfy their supporters!! (ha-ha...somehow I managed to make it all about liverpool).

Taktik kedua pelatihpun belum dapat saya menegerti.

Di satu sisi, SAF memasang Rooney, yang striker murni, di posisi sayap kanan. Ronaldo, yang gelandang tengah, di duetkan dengan Tevez. Entah karena Ronaldo sudah mencetak 7 gol di LC, atau SAF lebih percaya Ronaldo daripada Rooney, entahlah. Yang pasti taktik ini tak berhasil. Counter attack khas MU tidak terlihat membahayakan dan mudah diantisipasi oleh bek barca (halah...bahasa gw dah kayak komentator membosankan di koran-koran). Bahkan valdes pun jarang terlihat di kamera, alias jarang perlu melakukan penyelamatan-penyelamatan yang brilian. Ketidakhadiran Puyol juga jadi terasa tidak terlalu berpengaruh. Kredit saya berikan untuk Abidal, Iniesta dan Toure yang berhasil menguasai lini tengah.

Di sisi lain, Riijkard tidak memainkan Henry dari awal. Memang chemistry antara Henry dan Barcelona belum terjalin dengan baik, dan Henry masih banyak belajar di posisi barunya di Barca. Tapi itu tidak mengubah fakta bahwa Henry sudah 18 kali bertemu MU dan (seharusnya) hapal gaya permainan MU. Kehadiran Henry di Barca hanya termanfaatkan di 20 menit terakhir, dan tidak cukup untuk membawa Barca menang.

Keputusan lain, yang buat saya mengesalkan, adalah Riijkard mengganti Messi di menit 61, saat pertandingan masih menyisakan l.k. 30 menit dan Barca sedang berada di puncak permainannya. Sepanjang 60 menit, messi, menjadi awal titik serang barca. Ia mengatur ritme serangan, dan menghasilkan tendangan-tendangan bebas (karena sering dilanggar). Ia mampu mempertahankan ball-possession di tangan Barca, dan yang pasti mampu menghibur penonton. I don’t know why Riijkard replaced Messi. Looks like being the world second best player doesn’t give him the privilege to play full time.

Kredit saya berikan untuk 4 bek MU. Mereka sangat rapih, disiplin dan jarang tertarik keluar. Dua bek sentral jarang melewati garis tengah lapangan dan selalu dekat-dekat dengan si kiper jangkung dari Belanda. Akibatnya mereka selalu bisa menurunkan tempo counter attack barca sambil menunggu dua bek sayap kembali ke posisi semula. Salut.

Overall....buat saya pertandingan ini rame tapi tidak mengesankan. Rame karena Messi sering menunjukkan aksi-aksi yang lagi-lagi membuat saya berkata “man...this kid is a symbol of perfection..” dan “brilliant pass!!”. Barca juga menunjukkan sepakbola indah dengan umpan-umpan pendek, cepat dan akurat. Tapi tetap saja tidak mengesankan... ga ada gol, ga ada drama, lack of passion...datar weh.

Komentar ga penting gw:
1. Ronaldo...ronaldo. Puas banget gw pas liat dia ga bisa nyetak gol dari titik penalti. Ketidakmampuan Ronaldo dan De Rossi (waktu Roma vs. MU) nyetak gol dari titik putih membuktikan bahwa Gerrard memang...err how can I say it..one hell of a captain. (again, all about liverpool).
2. Ronaldo...ronaldo. Lagi-lagi ada aksi teatrikal berlebihan. Sambil ngangkat-ngangkat tangan dan teriak-teriak segala pula! If you want to be an actor go to hollywood and stop playing football! Messi is way...way better than you. He doesn’t need to do that. All the reactions that comes from him is real, and far from teatrical.
3. Thank God Barcas supporters didn’t raise that white flag anymore. They should never do that in the first place. No matter what happen, always and always have faith in your team.

YNWA!

Could’ve....Would’ve... Should’ve

by vetriciawizach

Waktu di pojok kanan layar monitor menunjukkan menit 94:00 dan saya pun tersenyum. Pasukan merah ini akan mengantongi kemenangan pikir saya ketika satu sundulan “terarah” dari Riise mengoyak gawang Reina. Ooh...kini si merah harus berjuang lebih keras di London.

Beberapa menit berlalu dan satu air mata pun menetes. (satu doang loh!!)

Satu sms dari sesama liverpudlian masuk: “ternyata mencetak dua gol di kandang sendiri tidak cukup aman membawa liverpool ke final, hehe” tidak berhasil menghibur saya. Sambil meringkuk di bawah selimut saya memutar kembali detik-detik terakhir pertandingan tadi. Bayangan adanya cabang-cabang waktu di buku “Mimpi-Mimpi Einstein” membuat saya berandai-andai. 

Di cabang yang satu, Riise tidak menyundul bola tersebut. Dia hanya menghalangi Anelka, kemudian bola lewat begitu saja lalu wasit meniup peluit. Dan ketimbang tangis penyesalan Riise, senyum Kuyt kemudian menghiasi sorotan akhir kamera.

Di cabang kedua, sundulan Riise terhalang oleh tiang. Komentator tidak penting di RCTI, yang dengan kejamnya mengatakan Lyam Harker sudah meninggal, akan berkata “hampir saja liverpool melakukan satu kesalahan kecil yang berakibat fatal”, dan saya lalu akan segera meringkuk di bawah selimut dan tidur dengan tenang.

Di cabang ketiga ada wasit yang meniup peluit lebih awal. Yah...wasit meniup peluit lebih dulu beberapa detik itu suatu kewajaran bukan? Apalagi menimbang tambahan waktu 4 menit yang entah datang dari mana.

Di cabang keempat, pemain liverpool berhasil menghalau bola sebelum sampai ke tangan Malouda. Pertandingan dilanjutkan sebentar, dan liverpool menang. Benitez dengan dingin akan menyalami Grant kemudian lagu You’ll never walk alone pun berkumandang.

Saya lalu berhenti berandai-andai. One liner dari film SATC pun teringat.

... could’ve, would’ve, should’ve....

Sangat tepat untuk menggambarkan hasil pertandingan tadi.

Tapi tenang saja...mengalahkan Chelsea di kandang bukan suatu kemustahilan. Saya tahu anak-anak Benitez ini akan berlari lebih kencang, melompat lebih tinggi dan bekerja lebih keras dari pemain Chelsea di pertandingan selanjutnya. 

They’re going to walk trough the storm...and they’re going to win!
YNWA

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Komentar tidak penting:
1. Overall, permainan chelsea biasa-biasa saja. Mereka memang sangat kuat di belakang, tapi kesulitan menembus pertahanan liverpool (golnya aja dikasih Riise gitu loh). Drogba tampil tidak sesemangat dan sengotot biasanya. Semangat satu-satunya yang ia keluarkan adalah waktu ia berteriak-teriak ke arah suporter Chelsea sambil mengepalkan tangan setelah peluit panjang dibunyikan (ya elah....kayak gol itu hasil sumbangsih lo aje)

2. Another bad example from Terry. I really didn’t understand why he have to run toward Torres. I mean, he have the option to stop or to go to the other direction. Why the h*** did he need to do such an act like that! It reminds me of what he have done to Deco, in the previous UCL. As I recall, Terry intentionally kicked the ball to Deco, who have already fallen to the ground. Errrr....shame on you, Terry!! You should never be the English captain with an attitude like that.

3. Another good example from Kuyt. He deserves a high credit with his tireless effort running back and fort. And that goal! 50% of that goal comes from him. Really really admiring him. Kudos to Kuyt!