Pick of the week
Friday 6 February 2009
e-mail
Print
Digg
Save
Photos/Wallpapers »
Andrei Arshavin's move to Arsenal FC, Cagliari Calcio's revelatory form, Runar Berg's generous pledge and Bixente Lizarazu's new career path all make the cut in uefa.com's one-stop guide to the week's top ten stories.
Team: Cagliari Calcio
They may not shock the Italian football establishment as in 1970 when they won the Scudetto with Azzurri star Luigi Riva in attack, but Cagliari Calcio are the surprise package of Serie A this season. Their 3-2 victory at Juventus on 31 January, a first away league win against the Bianconeri in more than 40 years, moved the Sardinian side into seventh place – a position all the more unlikely given they began the campaign with five straight defeats. "It would be a mistake to start thinking about Europe now," warned coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Player: Runar Berg (FK Bodø/Glimt)
After enjoying a successful career playing in Norway and Italy, Berg has decided to give something back by agreeing to play for Bodø/Glimt for free in 2009. "They need the money more than me at the moment," the 38-year-old midfielder said. The Tippeligaen club's director Bjørn Tore Hansen added: "I didn't know what to say when Runar came to my office with the proposal. This will make him a legend." Not quite a unique gesture, however, given Joseba Etxeberria will do the same for Athletic Club Bilbao in 2009/10.
Goal: Sérgio Conceição (PAOK FC)
Olympiacos CFP had threatened a clean sweep of domestic honours this season until Sérgio Conceição's sublime chip gave PAOK a 1-0 Greek Cup victory over the team they trail by eleven points in the league. After intercepting a loose pass, the former Portuguese international winger advanced before lifting the ball over visiting goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis from the edge of the area.
Milestone: Sander Boschker (FC Twente)
By turning out for Twente on Wednesday night in their 4-1 win against NAC Breda, Boschker chalked up his 500th Eredivisie appearance for the Dutch club. The 38-year-old keeper started out with the Enschede-based side in 1989, yet despite reaching such a lofty landmark, could not bring himself to feel totally satisfied with his work. "It's a shame we conceded that goal," he said, adding: "Every goal I concede still hurts."
Quote: Tomas Danilevičius (AS Livorno Calcio)
Lithuania's all-time leading scorer was tempted to request divine intervention after going 22 Serie B games without a goal for Livorno, saying: "I don't think I'm playing that poorly, but I just can't put the ball in the net. I am looking for a reason and cannot find one. I will probably have to go to church and ask the Almighty for help." He finally found the answer, and the target, in his team's 5-2 triumph at AC Mantova on Monday.
Numbers: 307 and 5,000
It was a week of magic numbers in the Spanish Liga as Raúl González equalled Alfredo di Stéfano's scoring record for Real Madrid CF with his 307th strike in Saturday's 2-0 success at CD Numancia. The next day, Lionel Messi came off the bench with FC Barcelona a goal down at Real Racing Club, netted twice to win the game for the Blaugrana and registered his club's 5,000th Liga goal in the process.
Transfer saga: Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal FC … just)
On then off, then on again. Such was the protracted nature of Arshavin's move to Arsenal, it was a relief when the whole episode was done and dusted. The Gunners finally got their man – a full day after the transfer window shut – as the English Premier League pronounced themselves happy a deal had been "substantively completed prior to the close". Now the wait is over, Arsenal fans and Arshavin himself will hope it was worth it.
Basketfoot?
It is not often a link is forged between football and basketball, so when it emerged that ex-RC Deportivo La Coruña maverick Djalminha is the inspiration behind one of the dunks to be seen at the forthcoming NBA All-Star Slam Dunk competition, Augusto César Lendoiro was quick to act. The Deportivo president sent Portland Trail Blazers' Rudy Fernández a club shirt in the hope of motivating the Spaniard to win the event, which takes place in Phoenix on 14 February. Fernández had said one of the moves he will be performing came to him when he saw Brazilian Djalminha fool opponents with a particular feint.
End of the road: Willy Sagnol (FC Bayern München)
After battling with a persistent achilles injury, Bayern and former France defender Sagnol was forced to retire from the game. "I always hoped it would end differently and would like to have played for a couple more years, but I just can't take any more," the 31-year-old said. "The pain is too much. I just have to call it quits. I have to accept it."
And finally …
Ever wondered what footballers do after retirement? FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000™ winner Bixente Lizarazu discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art, 18 months ago and on Sunday became European champion in Lisbon – the city in which the 39-year-old played the last match of his international career. "I am as happy as a little boy," he beamed. "I feel like I am 18 again, like I was when I started my football career."
©uefa.com 1998-2009. All rights reserved.
