The Double Draft

Joga Bonito

The Art of Football
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Jul 14, 2014
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Can't have the match today unfortunately, and I can only have it on Friday or Sat (already 2 matches on for that date, so will try my best to avoid that) @Edgar Allan Pillow . Have already PM-ed Invictus about it and he's fine with it.
 

Ecstatic

Cutie patootie!
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PsG
You can start the game asap with or without me: sent to EAP
 

harms

Shining Star of Paektu Mountain
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Game on.


Though I may need to implement some changes to the write-up's

- Make it short and crisp.
- No videos/gif's.
- No player profiles.

Too long will just be TL;DR'd and takes time to load.
Does my write-up needs further editing? (re: player profiles)

And what about our game, has @Cal? sent you the write-up?
 

Joga Bonito

The Art of Football
Joined
Jul 14, 2014
Messages
8,242





Mario Coluna was one of the world's most influential and comprehensively gifted midfielders throughout the 1960s, majestically bestriding the European football scene as captain of Benfica and Portugal, operating for both club and country as the ideal foil for the revered Eusebio, his fellow Mozambican - who, even after they had both brought their illustrious careers to an end, continued to call his former captain “Sir”. That deference was borne out of more than respect for the seven-year age gap.

'Senor Coluna' formed an immediate bond with the extravagantly gifted rookie, who carried with him a letter from his mother asking Coluna to look after her fresh-out-of-Africa boy in the bustling Portuguese capital. The established star did just that, taking the teenager under his wing and looking on as he developed into one of the most devastating forwards the game has ever seen.

As well as opening a bank account for the Black Panther, Coluna also kept an eye on the fledgling’s finances until he found his feet and started a family. A friendship blossomed and soon their co-operation on the pitch was bearing bountiful dividends as the Eagles embarked on an era of lofty eminence. When Benfica were awarded a penalty in the European Cup Final with the score tied at 3-3 and 28 minutes remaining, Coluna collected the ball and readied himself to take it, at which point Eusebio stepped up and politely enquired: “Mr Coluna, may I take the penalty?” Perhaps impressed at his younger team-mate’s courtesy, Coluna stood aside and looked on as the rising star held his nerve to put Benfica in the lead for the first time. Moments later Eusebio scored again to set the seal on a famous 5-3 win.

Eusebio had one more request to make of Coluna before they left the pitch that night. Too shy to summon up the courage to ask his hero Alfredo Di Stefano for his shirt, the two-goal hero implored Coluna to approach him. When the prized garment eventually came his way, Eusebio kept it with him throughout the evening’s celebrations, and still regards it as one of the greatest trophies he collected during his amazing career.

Inevitably, perhaps, Coluna basked in less of the global limelight than he deserved due to the phenomenal goalscoring exploits of Eusebio, but close observers of the game recognised his immense worth. In Portugal he was dubbed O Monstro Sagrado ("The Sacred Monster"), an appropriately imposing sobriquet. Though he was not a tall man, the muscular Coluna exuded an aura of effortless command, combining formidable physical authority with an elegant style and delightfully subtle skills which seemed somehow unexpected in one so powerful.

The son of a Portuguese father and Mozambican mother, Coluna showed himself to be a supreme athlete from a young age. A keen boxer, basketball player and a track-and-field athlete, Coluna once held the Mozambican high jump record with a leap of 1.82 metres, when he was 16 years old!

Humberto Coelho said:
He was a sportsman of excellence. We mustn't forget he was an athlete and a high jumper – something which led directly to Portugal's best-ever showing at the World Cup, in 1966
Benfica President Luis Filipe Vieira said:
Mario is part of Portuguese and Mozambique heritage. It is said we are born equal, which is untrue: Mario was born different, for the better, much better. He never renounced his roots and won admiration from those who saw him play, and respect from those who didn't.

He was and will always be a football genius who magnified football and took Benfica to a global dimension. He will forever be in our heart



Though the striker’s prodigious feats in Mozambique had preceded him, Benfica coach Otto Gloria was unsure at first where to play him. With Jose Aguas as his undisputed first-choice centre-forward, the Brazilian coach sought another role for his new star, finally opting to deploy his passing abilities and muscular presence in midfield. It proved to be an inspired choice. It was only after his transition deeper that Coluna came into his own as one of the greatest players of his epoch. The broad view of the field in front of him brought to the fore his superb vision and expert reading of the game, which allied to his outstanding natural athleticism enabled him to dictate matches from the middle of the pitch - so successfully that he was described as "The Portuguese Didi", after the famous Brazilian play-maker.

Jaime Graca said:
It was he who led the way for us to occupy the spaces in the field. 'Go ahead, kid, or go further behind. He took control of the whole game to give directions
Antonio Simoes said:
His eyes alone talked to you. Both on the pitch and off it, Coluna was an example for the others. He was like a father at the head of the table. He didn’t even have to speak for everyone to understand how they should behave.
The 1960s was an astonishingly successful time for Benfica, and their captain was at the heart of it. Eight times in the decade the Eagles lifted the championship, on top of reaching the European Cup final on five occasions. Fittingly, Coluna scored both times Benfica lifted the ultimate prize and were crowned champions of Europe, in the 1961 and 1962 finals against Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. There were further defeats in the final of Europe's premier competition, against Internazionale in 1965 and Manchester United in 1968, despite colossal personal efforts by Coluna on both occasions.

It can be argued only rough treatment in the following year’s final prevented Coluna from making it three European Cups in successive years. Brian Glanville, in his 'Voice of Football' column in World Soccer Magazine, asked the question “Had Coluna not been kicked off the Wembley field by Milan’s Gino Pivatelli in 1963, would Benfica have lost that game?”

Three years later Coluna’s quiet authority as a born leader of men was on show on the biggest stage of all in the 1966 World Cup. It was the first time Portugal had qualified for the tournament, and playing under Otto Glória again, Coluna was a leading figure in a magnificent campaign that saw the Seleção finish third. Portugal’s captain and midfield general duly took his place in FIFA’s team of the tournament. His poise and precision in midfield would help the Black Panther finish the tournament as the leading goalscorer and take the team to third place, which remains Portugal’s best-ever FIFA World Cup finals performance.

Returning from England, Coluna would play for three more years at Benfica before leaving at the end of 1969/70 season for French club Lyon. He made an emotional return to Estadio da Luz in December 1970 for a tribute match against a star-studded world XI featuring the likes of Johan Cruyff and Bobby Moore.

After making a farewell 15-minute appearance in the red jersey, Coluna left the pitch to a rousing ovation. And such was his love for Benfica that he then decided against making his scheduled appearance for the world side, preferring to sit on the sidelines for the rest of the game than run out against the team closest to his heart.

A devoted, dexterous and highly respected servant for club and country, it was not for nothing that the tree-climbing kid from Mozambique became known as O Monstro Sagrado (The Sacred Beast) to Benfica fans, O Didi Europeu to Brazilian football writers, and, memorably, as Mr Coluna to the one and only Eusebio.



vs Barca (1961 European Cup Final)




Provides a cracking and penetrative, perfectly-weighted ball which leads to the equaliser for Benfica.



Scores a stunning volley - the goal which ultimately lands Benfica the European Cup, finally breaking the hold that Real had on the European Cup.




vs Real (1962 European Cup Final)



Grows in influence considerably as the match progresses with a fairly underwhelming start by Benfica resulting in Real going 2-0 ahead. Proves to be the driving force - being fouled for the free-kick to the first goal and scoring an absolute scorcher to level things against the run of play and being the general in the engine room.

Some great ball control (killing the ball directly from a goal-kick etc) and pacy dribbles in there, which highlight his technique and ability on the ball. The influence he exerted over his side and his all-round command he had in the engine-room shouldn't be understated though.
 
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Joga Bonito

The Art of Football
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A brilliant article by spielverlagerung on Coluna, focusing more on his style of play (page needs to be translated though)

http://spielverlagerung.de/2015/12/08/tuerchen-8-mario-coluna/

Quoting some of the key bits (google translated though but it's easily understandable)


Heart, brain and fists of the team

What you have to be for a player and what a character when the possibly best player of your nation you referred to only as "Senhor Coluna" and the fans you "O Monstro Sagrado" ( the sacred monster name)? Probably one as Coluna.



The captain of the former Benfica team was not only one of the most talented, but physically strongest players of that time. In his younger years he boxed - but not organized and without any real rules - was a strong basketball player and athlete. At age 16, he set a national record of 182.5 centimeters in the high jump. Football began Coluna until the age of 15 in the team;four years later he received his first professional contract.

In the next few years he established himself as tremendously important player at Benfica. He was promoted to captain and become a major player in the club's history.

In addition to its flexibility and its capabilities, it was also the psychological factor that made him a fundamental part of his team. At a time of hard fouls, personal watchdogs, casual referee (especially abroad) and with no video evidence it was Coluna who usually protectively stood before his teammates.

He should have said, inter alia, to opponents by fouls, "when you touch the boy again, then you will leave the place with a foot the other kissing". He also motivated his teammates, divided them and commanded them around - without ever receiving authority problems. Nevertheless, even the most outstanding personality can not express in a positive impact on the pitch without the necessary qualities.



Constant Allround playmaker

Colunas greatest strength was that he by this rare blend of physique, technique and tactics had enormous advantages over his opponents in that time. If you had to cover man Coluna, he could free himself not only by his great inaugural, his good turns and dribbles his strong, but simply ran so much and so fast that you inevitably eventually could not go.

Against less male-oriented players benefited Coluna fact that he had an outstanding inaugural in muscular-looking physique and strong ball control. Again and again Coluna could turn up under pressure quickly, attacking open spaces against opponents outside their balance and subtle body illusions or stressed weiträumigerer ball guide march past them.

In the follow-up actions Colunas the opposing team had about some tactical problems. Who out moves? Who covers the emerging options? In many cases, could Coluna thanks to his physique and technique even from running out precise, attach hard-range shots or simple interface passes to the offensive player by stuck, which accordingly moved to the gate. Occasionally Coluna was in his dribbles to evasive and progressive without being toro oriented manner while and sometimes a little unclean, yet he was an enormously dribbling midfielder, which explains his time as Central and inside forward.


Unlike his dribbling his passports and movements from a strategic point of were even stronger. Coluna was particularly long and high passes to process extremely strong and was very good at his ball assumptions. he could always change the ball position, thereby creating new passport angle and record on the opponent graduations with quick, deft passes through his great pace and many return movements of the ball.

For this he was good in the area occupation, especially in the backcourt cast for graduations from half distance after shelves, urgency clearance and passports in the backcourt the winger. His long-range shooting and dynamic penetration of the penalty area was cause for his goal threat, as well as faster and often even rudimentary loose statements.

Just as he created Goals forward, he prevented behind goals - subtle yet powerful. Defensive he was very good, used his physical strength not only in combat, but large areas to control, situational to double and intercept many passes dynamically. Here he showed what could create good positional play together with good physique.

Nevertheless Coluna was a game designer basically. He showed many attractive movements, led the opponents to the front and was with long balls behind the defense as well as flat passports change in the open spaces of the match rhythm quickly. Not for nothing he was once also captain of a FIFA World XI and was referred to as "the Didi Portugal", which was like an honorary title in that time - after all, was Didi 1958 named the best player of the World Cup.

His physique and defensive work deceived occasionally over it, that it was Coluna who was also responsible for the style of play and creativity in his team. In symbiosis with his team relevant vein and his protectiveness Coluna was one of the first football player who was too good for any task and its individual Input looked into play as part of a collective output. He might even resemble the other great star of the 50s, Alfredo Di Stefano, more than Brazil's Didi - although Coluna was never so pressing and present. He was too much Senhor Coluna .
 

harms

Shining Star of Paektu Mountain
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My write up has been submitted. Expect some of you to have palpitations when you see how short it is!
It's alright, it's even better, really - that is if you're able to answer all of the questions in the thread, obviously
 

Enigma_87

You know who
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Aug 7, 2008
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Lads, will anyone neutral be online to start the weekend matches?

I'll probably be able to start, but just as a backup....
Looks like I'll probably take some work home this weekend so I'll be on most of the time and can start the games if needed.
 

Raees

Pythagoras in Boots
Joined
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Domingos Da Guia - 'The Divine Master'




He is considered the best Brazilian defender of all time, and the first to take risks and innovate his position. The way he played led a revolution in football, since the ball didn't 'burn' Domingos. He liked to keep it next to his foot, and he never punted it away, which is what most defenders at the time habitually did. Watching him was true entertainment, and if that isn't enough, he was also solid and consistent in his marking.

The Brazilian was a central marker of inmense category. Great with his timing, skillfull with the ball, and never resorting to violence, Da Guia became a champion with teams from three countries: Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. The day he arrived to the port of Buenos Aires, a huge crowd was waiting for him. The Ebony statue, as he was known in Brazil, descended from the boat in an impecable suit of white linen, and he put all of us in his pocket forever.'

South American Legend...

In the 30s and 40s, a good defender was the one who focussed only on stopping the opponent by any means necessary and punted the ball away without any technique. Then came a defender who could not only stop moves better than his contemporaries but could dominate the ball with a certain class and make passes to teammates in the midfield without haste. This genius could also dribble, initiate moves and exuded grandeur and the aura of a sovereign.

His football was simply magical, lush and unique. The star commanded respect and inspired fear in opposing strikers who were afraid of being made to look stupid. In just one year playing in Uruguayan football (arguably the toughest league in the world in the 30's), aged only 20, in his first season for Nacional Domingos quickly charmed everyone with his class. The defender quickly earned the nickname the press "El Maestro Divino", with immense respect and admiration for his football. It was at the tricolor club that Domingos won his first title as a professional, the Uruguayan Championship with great performances alongside José Nasazzi (the captain of the Celeste the world champion in the World Cup 1930 - and the world's leading centre-back). Speaking of the world cup, Domingos lost the chance to play his first world cup in 1934 due to National, refusing to release the defender for selection unless Brazil paid 45 contos (a fortune for the time) to the club, which did not happen.

Following this dispute, in 1934, Da Guia returned to Vasco Da Gama and won another cup, the Carioca Championship LCF, with the team losing just two of 12 matches.

After the state title again defender was once again poached by a foreign team, this time Boca Juniors of Argentina, who had managed to sign the maestro for the season of 1935. In Argentina, Dominic was again flawless and won his third title in three years - the Argentine championship, forming a great defensive partnership with Victor Valussi and providing a "divine" protection to goalkeeper Yustrich. Boca was champion with 27 wins, four draws and only three defeats in 34 games, with 98 goals scored and 31 conceded - of course, the best defense in the competition. However, a disagreement with an Argentine referee brought the defender a suspension of two months, which led to renewed advances from Brazilian clubs. With proposals for Bangu, Flamengo, Fluminense and America-RJ, the Master preferred the red and black, to where it was in 1936 where he teamed up with the likes of Leonidas da Silva.

World Cup 1938 - Helps Brazil get to Semi Final, Makes All Star Team but suffers a 'Beckham' moment..

On June 16, 1938, in Marseille, Brazil faced world champions Italy in search of a place in the final. No Leonidas, the team lost a lot of quality in attack and failed to create scoring chances he needed. Faced with a superior opponent and very well armed by Vittorio Pozzo with Meazza, Piola, and Ferrari Colaussi, the Brazilian team succumbed and lost 2-1 because of Domingos da Guia losing his rag due to the foul play of Silvio Piola. When the game was 1-0 to Italy, the Brazilian defender did not hold the nerves in the face of provocative striker Piola, who kicked the Divine from the first whistle. He hit him a kick in the penalty area and Da Guia retaliated whilst the game was stopped, believing that nothing would happen. However, the Swiss referee saw the act of retaliation and gave a penalty! The Brazilians were unhappy, but to no avail. Meazza scored. In the second half, Brazil mounted a comeback but it was too late. Italy went to the final and Brazil had to settle for third place after winning by 4-2 to Sweden. The Guide Domingos himself commented the bid later:

"The game was paused. Piola hit me with a kick, I shot back. I admit that the judge was overly strict with me, but he could not hurt the team with the paused game. "Domingos da Guia.

Even without going to the decision, the Brazilian team was applauded in her back home and met with party for fans in what was the best team performance in the world. Domingos da Guia, even with the kick in Piola culminating in the defeat to Italy, was voted one of the best defenders of the tournament. A pity that the sweeper would not have more chances to shine for Brazil in the following years because of World War II. He was not given a chance to redeem himself at International level which was a great shame for a defender who was only 24 at the time. He lost 12 years worth of International football and was 36 by the time the 1950 World cup came round, where Brazil reached the final.

Continued Success at Club Level..

After the stress of the World Cup, Domingos da Guia came back in stunning style by winning an historic title with Flamengo. In 1939, he led them to the state championship, the first title after 12 barren years. The Rossoneri had lost just four of 24 matches and shone with the attack formed by Leonidas and Valido. In 1942 and 1943, with the strengthening of the emergence of Zizinho, Flamengo produced an unforgettable Carioca championship.

In 1942, there were 20 wins, five draws and two losses in 27 games, with 87 goals scored (best offense) and 29 suffered (best defense). The following year, an even better record with 11 wins, six draws and just one defeat in 18 games, with 51 goals scored and 18 conceded (again the best defense). The highlight was a merciless thrashing 6-2 of rivals Vasco, with a great attacking display by Perácio, Pirilo and Zizinho. It was the biggest win the Rossoneri handed out to a rival in the history of confrontation.

Retirement and Legacy..

In 1944, Da Guia fought with the board of directors, and was sent to São Paulo where he signed with Corinthians. At 32 and veteran Dominic no longer had the speed of before, but still possessed the class that so marked his career. In Timon, he did not win titles, would fill the eyes of fans with skills and great performances. After four years in the São Paulo club and 116 games played, Domingos da Guia hit his back to Bangu, his boyhood club and ended his career there in 1949.

The eternal defender died in 2000, aged 87, in Rio de Janeiro, and left the game of football a unique legacy of art, exuberance with the ball at his feet and unforgettable matches for a centre back, an icon and example for many generations to come after him. A Defender with the skills of a midfielder, divine by nature. That is the enduring legacy of Domingos da Guia - The Divine Master.
 

P-Nut

fan of well-known French footballer Fabinho
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It's alright, it's even better, really - that is if you're able to answer all of the questions in the thread, obviously
Yeah I'd much rather have a discussion about things rather than waffle on in the OP just for people to skim through it.
 

Raees

Pythagoras in Boots
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REMEMBERING THE OTHER BAGGIO [DINO]



Search for “Dino Baggio” in Google and one of the results that crops up is “Dino Baggio, Roberto Baggio’s brother”. Mention the name Baggio to most football fans and Dino will not be the player who comes to mind. Sharing a surname with the best player of his generation meant that Dino Baggio was forever living in someone else’s shadow, but the former Torino, Juventus and Parma midfielder deserves to remembered as one of Italian football’s greats.

It’s 23 June and USA 94 is nearly a week old. If you happened to miss the Italy v Norway match and, as one did in those days, checked Ceefax to see the headline “Baggio heads winner”, you might reasonably have assumed that Roberto Baggio had saved Italy from a surprising early exit from the World Cup. Italy’s talisman and creator-in-chief was the planet’s finest player, having won the Ballon d’Or the previous December and scored 17 league goals for Juventus in the season before the tournament.

Ray Houghton’s winner for the Republic of Ireland in the opening match of Group E meant Arrigo Sacchi’s team had no alternative but to win their second game against the dull-but-resolute Norway. In the 68th minute Italy, who had been reduced to 10 men earlier in the match, were awarded a free-kick on the left hand side of the pitch. Beppe Signori, with his pint-sized left foot, whipped a glorious ball into the box and on to the head of the onrushing Baggio. He guided the ball past Erik Thorstvedt to give Italy the lead and eventually the victory.

Yet it wasn’t the pony-tailed genius that took the headlines this time. It was the other Baggio; the unheralded yet gifted central midfielder, Dino.

EARLY CAREER

Dino and Gianluigi Lentini were products of the Torino primavera system in the 1980s, with Baggio making his debut for the newly promoted club against Lazio in September 1990 at the tender age of 19. Under the guidance of Emiliano Mondonico, who had just arrived at the club after a successful stint with Atalanta, the club and Baggio would enjoy a fruitful season. Torino finished in fifth in Serie A, qualifying for the Uefa Cup, with Baggio playing in 25 games and scoring two goals. In a league that did not always give young players a chance, Dino’s first season in Serie A was a resounding success.

It was to be his only season with Toro as city neighbours Juventus recognised his talent and bought him in the summer of 1991, only for the midfielder to be immediately sent out on loan to Internazionale for the 1991-92 season. He produced another solid season, playing 27 times and gaining valuable experience playing alongside Lothar Matthäus and Nicola Berti.

In 1992, Baggio returned to the black and white half of Turin, where he was to compete for a starting place alongside new signings David Platt and Andreas Möller. Juventus, now hailing two Baggios in their starting XI, had a stellar season. Dino, particularly, was a revelation in central midfield. Not initially accepted by the fans due to his Torino past, he won over the skeptics with some fine performances, especially in the Uefa Cup.

In six European appearances he scored five times, including three goals over the course of the two-legged final against Borussia Dortmund. With Roberto scoring twice, the Baggio boys annihilated the Germans 6-1, the highest ever aggregate scoreline in the final. Dino picked up the first winner’s medal of his career.

The less famous Baggio was still largely unknown outside of the peninsula, especially in those pre-internet, pre-every-league-is-on-TV days. USA 94 would change all that.

WORLD CUP 1994

Having made his debut for the national team in 1991 under Arrigo Sacchi, Baggio had become a regular fixture in the Azzurri setup, however as the 1994 World Cup loomed, many felt he did not deserve a place in the squad. He was injured for portions of the 1993-94 campaign and couldn’t replicate his form of the previous season.

Sacchi always cherished players with Dino’s qualities – a strong work ethic combined with a keen sense of collective solidarity – and had no doubts that he deserved to be in the starting XI. Baggio had scored three times during the qualifying campaign, including the crucial goal against Portugal that guaranteed Italy safe passage to the tournament as group winners. “People didn’t believe in Dino Baggio,” said Sacchi. “He has silenced a lot of them. Now, he has become a major weapon for us.”

Italy’s World Cup could almost be divided into two parts, each named after a Baggio, with each player claiming a section. The passing of time has dictated that Roberto carried Italy to the final from the start, but that isn’t true. The group stages firmly belonged to Dino as Roberto struggled to overcome an achilles injury. Who can forget the infamous scene against Norway when Sacchi decided to substitute the No10 when Gianluca Pagliuca was dismissed in the 19th minute? “He’s gone mad!” said Roberto in disbelief as he trudged off the pitch. The World Player of the Year was not performing, but Dino was, and Italy made it into the last 16. Just.

The knockout stages belonged to Roberto as he almost single-handedly won Italy the World Cup with a series of virtuoso displays in what surely would have gone down as the best one-man show since Diego Maradona at Mexico 86. Dino also made vital contributions, clearing the ball off the line against Nigeria with the Africans 1–0 ahead, and scoring a stunning, dipping 25-yard piledriver against Spain in the quarter-finals. The Baggios had guided Italy to another World Cup final.

Despite his glowing performances throughout the tournament, Dino was still referred to as “the other Baggio” or “Baggio II” by the media. In an interview on the eve of the final he showed rumblings of discontent about sharing a surname with one of the world’s most famous footballers: “For years, no one knows who I am, and then after few World Cup games, everyone says I am the other Baggio. By the end, maybe I’ll show everyone I have a first name and last name.”

When Italy returned home after the heartbreaking loss against Brazil, being the lesser-known Baggio had its benefits. Roberto was the sacrificial lamb for the Italian media, while Dino returned home as one of Italy’s standout performers and his stock raised considerably. During the early stages of USA 94, Parma entered talks with Juventus over signing Baggio. Dino initially refused to entertain the idea of moving. As a result, in a move that could have radically altered the history of both clubs, Parma turned their attention to a promising youngster called Alessandro Del Piero, who was just a bushy-haired 19-year-old at the time.
 

Raees

Pythagoras in Boots
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SUCCESSFUL MOVE TO PARMA

With club and player both in agreement over the move and the deal going so far as the paperwork being submitted to the league, Baggio suddenly had a change of heart. He had held talks with the new Juventus regime and soon understood that the move to Parma would be beneficial for his career: “Going to Parma is good for me, because I want to play more,” he said. Del Piero stayed in Turin and would remain at Juventus for the next 18 years.

Over the next six years Parma saw the best of Baggio as he seamlessly blended into a team that already contained seasoned internationals such as Néstor Sensini, Tomas Brolin, Gianfranco Zola and Faustino Asprilla. Placed in the heart of Nevio Scala’s 5-3-2 formation, Baggio hit the ground running and played a pivotal role in what what ultimately be the club’s finest season.

Parma and Juventus, now with one Baggio on either side, embarked on a duel for domestic and European supremacy. The Old Lady secured a domestic double by winning the league with a 10-point margin over Parma, and then beating Dino’s side in the final of the Coppa Italia, but the two teams did battle once more in the final of the Uefa Cup, playing each other an incredible five times over May and June of 1995.

Just as he had done two years before, Dino played an instrumental part in the European competition. He scored three goals en route to the final and then scored two more in the two-legged final, scoring the only goal in the first leg and then the equaliser in the return leg that secured a 2-1 aggregate win and Parma’s second European trophy in three years. Dino had once more proven his aptitude for scoring on the big occasion, and in the process he had upstaged Roberto. Nobody has scored more goals in the history of Uefa Cup finals.

Dino was now regarded as one of the best central midfielders in Italy, excelling in every facet of his game. He would continue his excellent form over the next few seasons in Parma’s golden era. He helped the club qualify for the Champions League after they agonisingly missed out on an historic league title by a mere two points to Juventus in 1997.

During Parma’s run to another Uefa Cup triumph in 1999, he made international headlines after being struck on the head with a knife thrown by a fan in the stands during a game against Wisla Krakow in Poland. Baggio played on for the remaining 10 minutes of the match but required five stitches after. He maintained that he was very fortunate to escape serious injury: “I turned my head a second before I was hit. If I hadn’t, I could have been struck in the face or the knife could have gone in my eye.” Parma would go on to overwhelm Marseille 3-0 in the final in Moscow, with Baggio picking up his third winner’s medal in the competition.

RETIREMENT AND LEGACY

His continued excellence at club level transferred itself to the national side where he was a permanent fixture in midfield for the rest of the decade. Coincidentally, both Baggios’ careers would end in 1999 (if you discard Roberto’s swansong friendly against Spain in 2004). Italy’s Euro 2000 squad contained neither man for the first time since Euro 88; Dino made the provisional squad but was eventually cut by Dino Zoff.

Injuries were beginning to hamper the midfielder’s dynamism and his love affair with Parma ended in 2000, when he was sold to Lazio. He was used sparingly in Rome and found it difficult to hold down a first-team place in a squad that contained Juan Sebastián Verón, Diego Simeone and Dejan Stankovic.

When discussing great Italian midfielders, even within the confines of the 1990s, Dino Baggio is frequently overlooked, yet when evaluating his career and achievements, he clearly warrants a consideration. Had he been born a decade later perhaps his talents would have gained more appreciation and, even though he won more caps for his country than his namesake, he will forever live in the ponytailed shadow of Roberto and be known as “the other Baggio”.
 

Joga Bonito

The Art of Football
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Jul 14, 2014
Messages
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Great game from McGrath from a LCM/LDM position against Juventus in the European Cup Winners Cup semi final, keeping tabs on the likes of Platini and Boniek excellently, whilst being United's greatest threat on the night, with his aerial prowess causing absolute mayhem against a World Cup winning defense. His reading of the game is of course, on the money and his class on the ball apparent - his ball control, one touch passing etc without being too extravagant.

Will try to upload his second leg performance, game against Inter in 1990 and against Holland in Euros 1988 later if I get the time. Hopefully this video doesn't get taken down like the Coluna one.
 
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Pat_Mustard

I'm so gorgeous they want to put me under arrest!
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A never-nude? I thought he just liked cut-offs.

Great game from McGrath from a LCM/LDM position against Juventus in the European Cup Winners Cup semi final, keeping tabs on the likes of Platini and Boniek excellently, whilst being United's greatest threat on the night, with his aerial prowess causing absolute mayhem against a World Cup winning defense. His reading of the game is of course, on the money and his class on the ball apparent - his ball control, one touch passing etc without being too extravagant.

Will try to upload his second leg performance, game against Inter in 1990 and against Holland in Euros 1988 later if I get the time. Hopefully this video doesn't get taken down like the Coluna one.
Brilliant stuff Joga. An absolute monster of a player. Easily one of my all-time favourites.
 

Joga Bonito

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A couple of points about McGrath. Whilst there is always a tinge of regret that he never fully managed to capitalise on his immense potential, he had the innate talent to be one of the all time greats imo, there is no doubting the fact that he was one of the best defenders of his generation - this is the 80s & early 90s lot that we are talking about, mind. Whilst his exploits against Italy is arguably his 'greatest' game amongst his body of work, he's had plenty of those big-game performances in his locker (McGrath himself says he's had better games) and has always been a key figure for both club and national side.

He was an excellent defender for United - a MOTM performance against a strong Everton side in the FA Cup final, a great performance against Platini's Juventus in the Cup Winner's Cup semi-final and finishing runners up to Linker in the PFA's Player of the Year award for 1986. He'd do one better at Aston Villa and win the PFA's Player of the Year award in 1993; finishing as Football Writers' Footballer of the Year Runner up in 1992 and 1993; and winning 4 consecutive club POTY awards for Aston Villa, whilst leading them to two runners up finishes in the Football League Championship and the PL. His fantastic display against United in the 1994 League Cup Final deprived us of the chance to complete a domestic treble. In fact Fergie himself personally congratulated McGrath in the tunnel later, on his performance, despite the two not being on the best of terms. McGrath is arguably Villa's greatest player ever and is fondly referred to by Villa fans as 'God'. In fact his chant still reverberates throughout Villa Park on match-days, just as 'Ooh Aah Cantona' still does at Old Trafford.


He was an inspirational presence for Ireland at the back and was one of the driving forces behind the plucky Irish side of the late eighties and early nineties - a period in which where they were extremely unfortunate to go out in the Euros 1988 against eventual winners Netherlands (more on that later), made the quarter finals in the 1990 WC and the R16 in 1994 (where his display against Baggio's Italy was the stuff of legends). Needless to say he won Ireland's 'Player of the Tournament' for both Euro '88 and Italia '90, and the Irish International Player of the Year twice during this period (90 & 91). Keano's won two of the latter for comparison's sake.

Paul McGrath represented his country 83 times on the football pitch scoring eight goals. It is difficult to recall a single poor performance by Paul when playing soccer for Ireland. Even when playing out of his normal position on the pitch invariably he was one of the star performers match-in match-out. Two stand-out performances spring to mind when Irish soccer fans are asked about Paul's greatest matches for Ireland. Both were against Italy. In the quarter final of the 1990 World Cup in Rome Italy were overwhelming favourites to win the match. In a very good overall team performance McGrath's performance stood out as the Irish lost narrowly 1-0.

Great as that performance was, and it really was great, Paul gave an absolute master class four years later in the opening group match in the World Cup finals in New York. Back in his favourite position at centre-half McGrath was simply magnificent. Ireland lead from early through a Ray Houghton goal. The Irish defence had to endure some periods of sustained attack from the talented Italians.
Euro 1988 Match Report by UEFA said:
Jack Charlton's side, making their bow in the finals, had cause to feel aggrieved. Indeed, they had come closest to scoring in Gelsenkirchen from their only corner of the match. Paul McGrath rose majestically above the defence and headed the ball firmly down against the base of the post. A last ditch intervention by Gerald Vanenburgh prevented the ball spinning over the goal line.

McGrath was imperious, a colossus with bad knees. Injury to right-back Chris Morris forced him to vacate his midfield berth for this game as cover but he was as influential as ever – at both ends. He did not deserve to be a footnote for the winner, as with desperate Dutch pressure mounting it was his header that Ronald Koeman unintentionally turned towards Kieft.
McGrath also featured in the Ballon d'Or list 4 times during his career finishing 17th, 12th, 13th & 26th - the votes tally isn't earth-shattering stuff but it's vital to take into context that he was a defender who wasn't necessarily playing for a top team nor in one of the heavyweight continental leagues etc. A top notch player on his day and quite simply a wall at the back.





McGrath tended to be plagued by injuries throughout his career but it never stopped him from delivering on the pitch when it mattered most.

McGrath said:
I suffered from knee problems and underwent 10 operations in total, seven at Manchester United, another two at Villa and then one during my time at Sheffield United.

My right knee is now bone on bone, the left one was done back in 1988 after the European Championships and it took ages to come back from because I kept coming back too soon.

McGrath said:
I had plenty of memorable games in my time at Villa but the 1994 Coca Cola Cup Final when we beat Manchester United at Wembley was special.

I wouldn't have been listening to the instructions as I'd had a load of injections in my neck as I'd lost the use of my arm the day before and was late coming out of the tunnel.

Shaun Teale was magnificent on the day and helped carry me through the match as I had never lost the power in my arm before and it was so painful in my back, neck and shoulders.

It was so painful at the time I'd had to sleep sitting up.
McGrath said:
I reckon I was maybe sixty per cent fit for USA '94 and playing largely on instinct. My left arm was useless because of a virus in my shoulder and I needed about five paces to simply find my stride. Against the likes of Giuseppe Signori and Roberto Baggio, that made for a pretty never wrecking ordeal. If you look at photographs of that game, my arm might as well be in a sling. It's hanging limp down by my side, like a snapped branch on a tree. Yet the longer the game went on, the more confident I became.

There's a chemistry that kicks in between defender and striker. One eventually knows that he is being manipulated by the other. That day, Baggio was no longer inclined to move in my direction. Signori had been substituted. It was over.
Colm Keene said:
He was, quite literally, a walking wreck
It speaks volumes about his resilience and mentality that despite being injury prone (so much so that he stopped training and only did light sessions on the bike after a few months at Villa) he still managed to deliver top class performances well into his thirties.
 

Joga Bonito

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More quotes

Sir Alex Ferguson said:
Paul had this really nonchalant way of defending. He could just sally through a game. A ball would come into the box and he'd just back-heel it to safety... I dithered over whether I should play him or not, because Rush and Dalglish were a handful. I just wasn't sure that he was ready for them. I played him in the end and he was magnificent. Honestly, he just walked through the game. Never gave Rush a kick. And of course, Ian Rush never would score against United while McGrath was playing. We actually gave Liverpool a bit of a doing that day, came back from 1-3 down to draw 3-3. I know it doesn't sound great defensively, but McGrath was superb. It told you a lot about him
Sir Alex Ferguson said:
He was an exceptionally skilful and stylish defender, with marvellous innate athleticism, a man whose abilities stood comparison with any central defender in the game.

It was incredible that he could play to the level he played at, given what was going on in his life. He had an athleticism that was musical, if you know what I mean. There was a rhythm about Paul running, this change of pace he had. You'd see him do it and be thinking, "Jeeez, can he run..."
SAF after 37 year old McGrath had been named man-of-the-match for Derby County playing against Manchester United said:
You have to wonder what a player Paul McGrath should have been.
Franco Baresi in 1994 said:
...the best defender in the world
Roy Keane on his boyhood hero said:
Big Paul McGrath showed all the qualities demanded of us for half an hour in Giants Stadium that day. For him the word big is appropriate. Known for his poise, his ability on the ball, his unique gift for reading the game, Paul displayed these qualities on this day. One other huge asset was his courage. When the Italians did get sight of the goal, Paul presented a final, insurmountable obstacle. Paul inspired us as much as in the end he demoralised Roberto Baggio and the other Italian players.
Jack Charlton Ireland's Manager & Moore's centre-back partner said:
Paul McGrath is one of the all-time greats. Someone to compare with Bobby Moore. He's one of the best players I ever had.
Bryan Robson said:
This was really difficult because when I go back to when I first played at Man United I played with Gordon McQueen, Kevin Moran, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister... But I called McGrath the Rolls-Royce, he was quick, strong, fantastic on the ball and had a better touch than anybody in our squad at that time. He was so skilful.

There were many who felt Paul's career would end early. The fact that he played at the top level for so long, without the benefit of normal training was a tribute to his enormous natural talent.
Ron Atkinson said:
How good was Macca in 1993? Immense. Sometimes you'd be watching him and thinking, "Where's he going now, where's... oh, there's the ball, stuck to his foot!". He was a defender who always attracted the ball. Sometimes you'd think, "Uh oh, he's gone too far past the near post," but the ball would just come to him. He seemed like a magnet to the ball. And he had such immense power
Ron Atkinson said:
This is not possible. What McGrath is doing is just not possible with the amount of preparation that he's had.
Ian Rush said:
People talk about the lack of goals I scored against Man United and the reason for that was Paul McGrath, he was too good.
Martin Keown said:
"Looking back, I would have loved to have played with Macca here. 100%. I would have learned so much - I was only 22 at the time.

"Who wouldn't want to have played with Paul McGrath? That was a regret.
Daily Telegraph said:
Like Bobby Moore, Paul McGrath played football as though he was wearing a silk smoking jacket with a crystal glass in his hand.
Villa teammate Alan Wright said:
"I never saw him get beaten for pace - and I never saw him kick a ball with his left foot! To not train in the week and then perform like he did? That was just phenomenal. He just rarely put a foot wrong. For all his issues, what a player. He was the standout. That was just natural talent in my opinion.

He was a gentleman too, off the pitch. But on it, yes he was brilliant. He was exceptional. I have no idea how he fitted in so well on matchdays. We worked on shape all week and then he came in on matchdays and just did the business. He just knew what to do. Paul knew exactly where to be and what to do. He was like a magnet in our area - he cleared everything. And, remember, his knees were shot.

Obviously as a defender myself, I remember most vividly the lads at the back from that 1996 era. Paul was the lynchpin.
 
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harms

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The video was unavailable a few hours after your post.

We have one poster working for the UEFA who deserves to be banned :mad:

Fantastic job BTW
YouTube has an auto detection system of using the copyrighted footage (it mostly goes for the goals and the highlights though as full games are rarely posted by copyright holders), so you shouldn't look for a snitch here.

I spent hours, if not days, editing my Euro clips to go through that auto detection system, it's really good