(Bài viết được lấy từ thành viên Erkka , Juventuz.com )
Geatano Scirea
This time I'm writing about a man that was respected by everyone, including the opponent's players and fans.
At 80's Juve was full of stars. Although there were players such as Bettega, Zoff, Tardelli, Platini, Brady, Boniek, Gentile and Furino, just to mention a few of them, there was one above of everyone else. Gaetano Scirea, a name that is a synonyme for a word 'legendary'. He was born at 25th of May at a village called Cernusco sul Naviglio, just few miles from Milan.
Scirea played for Atalanta as youngster, and he made his debut for them at 1972. He spent two seasons with them after making his dream move to Juve at 1974. He moved at the club he loved and that loved him back at least with the same passion. The co-operation between Juve and Scirea would calve many championships, starting with the debut season. As soon as Scirea started, the bianconeri fans all over Italy got to celebrate the scudetto at the summer of '75. Scirea was just 21-years-old bloke that had just two seasons at Serie A and Serie B with Atalanta when he started off with Juve. Despite his inexperience, he immediately earned his place at the starting line-up of Juve and lead the Old Lady towards victory playing practically every game for Juve. Magnificent season for the biggest and the prettiest of the clubs also attracted the Azzurri, and Scirea played his debut for Italy at December 1974 against Greece. On that way too young Gaetano would see a lot...
A year 1982 was probably the most significant of Scirea's career. Then he won his fifth scudetto with the zebra-shirts and was naturally selected by coach Bearzot for the World Cup. In the games Scirea was one of the best if not the best of players. Along with Zoff, Gentile, Cabrini, Collovati and in the end Bergomi, they formed maybe the best of the defensive lineups in the history of the World Cup. Italy's team snuffed everyone else, and in the end Scirea & co. got to lift the trophy. They earned it.
Scirea played fourteen seasons for Juve, wearing number six from the start until the end.
Scirea is remembered all over Italy and footballing world as a gentleman, as a player who never got booked (with Juve) along his long career. Not getting even a warning is an increble accomplishment itself, specially when we are talking about a defender. His role at the back of the field brought new dimensions to the game, he read the game better than everyone else, which can be proved just by looking at his stats with bookings. He had a great technique which made him capable of decisive passes and scoring. He was a leader with capital L and possesed a bucket full of charisma, which naturally lead him to be a captain of both, Juve and the national team. He was the one that grabbed the microfone during Heysel's catastrophe and tryed to calm people dow. Perhaps that incident and the true unselfishness that he proved along his life described Scirea's one of a kind personality, elegant and stylish gentleman that truly was contributed much to this world.
Along with the Azzurri Scirea got his World Cup, and with his beloved Juventus he won practically everything else. During his victorious career he won seven scudetti, two Italian cups, Intercontinental Cup and the European cup. During his career he played for 552 games for Juve while scoring 32 times. That made him the most capped player in the long history of Juve. He also capped 78 times for Italy and made two goals for them.
Scirea's end after all that glory was massively tragic. Right after he hung his boots to the close with Juve at the summer of 1988 he moved as a scout for Juve. At the September 1989 Juve was supposed to meet Polish team Gornik, and naturally Juve's coach back then, Scirea's close friend Zoff assigned Gaetano to watch on the opponent's performance. For everyone's sorrow, a place called Skiernewice was proved to be lethal for him. Scirea was an victim of a tragic car-accident that lead him trapped in his car and he burned alive when the extra-gas tank set the fire off...
Luckily the most important ones never die. You can still hear chants dedicated to Scirea and see the banners made for his honour by Juve-fans. The sacred place for the most dedicated fans, the curva of Delle Alpi wasn't named for Scirea for nothing. Nowadays everyone, the fans, the opponents and the friends that played with him can only try to gasp the memories of that legend of all legends that for everyone's misfortune past away for the heavenly playing fields at the young age of 36 leaving a hole behind him that can never be replaced.
Thank you for everything Gaetano, rest in peace. The words can never describe good enough how important you were for Juventus. Your memory shall never die.
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(Bài viết của thành viên ZhiXin , Juventuz.com)
Pavel Nedved
Pavel Nedved is an excellent player who has demonstrated leadership and great fighting spirit when on the pitch. A left sided midfield player with tremendous skill, vision and pace packed with a venomous shot, Juventus has bought him for 41.2 million euros from Lazio.
Pavel Nedved surely belongs to the soccer legend category in the Czech Republic as his brillant performances help promote Czech Republic as a footballing nation. In 1996, Czech Republic benefited from his play as they were taken to the Euro 96 England final, only to lose Germany with a scoreline of 1 - 2 on the Golden Goal rule after having taken the lead in the second half. Pavel Nedved enjoys playing for his country and was bitter that Czech Republic didn't make it to the World Cup 1998 and 2002 and managed only the group phase in Euro 2000. His diligent and relentless play finally paid off when Czech Republic has booked a ticket to Portugal in Euro 2004.
At 1st he struggled a bit when playing for Juventus, but as time goes by, Nedved is comfortable with his position, especially with his role in the centre middle assigned by Lippi. This is where all his attributes are showcased. His free kicks and corner kicks r also deadly to watch. However a booking caused a suspension for him in the CL Final in 2002 - 2003. This is where Pavel's presence is really felt. He scored 8 goals in the 2002 - 2003 season, lifted the scedutto and eventually won the 2003 European Footballer Award among fierce competitors. The team continued to do well for the 2nd half of 2003.
For some weird reason, the team crumbled in 2004 due to the aging defence as goals begin to leak everywhere. In between March and April of 2004, Marcello Lippi has announced that he will leave Juventus. This created a deep impact on not only Nedved, but on the team as a whole. This has definitely rubbed salt in Juventus' wounds as Juventus finished 3rd in the Seria A and having no silverware. They lost to Lazio, Nedved's former club, in the Coppa Italia final by a Corradi goal.
The Czech Republic player is also the captain of his country as he plays in the LCM position, where his skills, techniques and leadership are showcased as he led Czech Republic to the semi finals in Euro 2004. Czech Republic has argubly some great players in their team with names like Rosicky, Jankulovski, Poborsky, Cech and the list goes on. Czech Republic was grouped with Netherlands, Germany and Latvia in Group D, earning the nickname "Death Group". He played great in Euro 2004, grabbing important victories against Netherlands (3 - 2) and Latvia (2 - 1), topping their group and advancing to the 2nd round, where Czech Republic demolished Denmark 3 - 0. This has also aided Nedved in earning a spot in the Euro 2004 all star squad. An untimely injury against Greece which not only costed a position in the finals but also wrecked his form. The morale of the entire team has dropped drastically as they fight for the game without Nedved. In the end, they lost to a Dellas header amidst confusion in the penalty box after a corner.
This is shown in the 2004 - 2005 season, where injury almost destroyed the player. Moreover he is put in the LD position. This isn't the place where he excelled and his form deteriorates. He had a mix of good and bad games. Despite his dip of form, he runs a lot and help out the defence even though it isn't his day. His free kicks and corner kicks also contribute a significant bit to Juventus 28th scedutto. This is the year in which he announced his retirement from International football to help Juventus with the CL. He has also announced that Juventus will be the place where he will retire.
Nedved's World Cup journey ended prematurely. Despite being boosted with enormous talent, age has come to most of the players of the golden generation and Koller's untimely injury costed the team dearly. Speculations are present to predict that Czech Republic will be in the 2nd round after a convincing 3 - 0 victory over USA, the team fell to a suprise defeat to Ghana and they have an uphill task against Italy. Nedved tried to lead the team to defeat Italy, to rub salt on the wounds, Jan Polak was sent off at the final minute of the first half. Nedved has been inspirational trying to trouble Italy, however the Italian squad knows him too well and all his shots are tamed effortlessly by Buffon, ironically his Juventus teammate. Nedved's international career ended in a sour note, but many of his Juventus teammates console him and he says in an interview that he will support Italy to win the world cup, with them turning out to be the eventual winners.
Up to now Pavel is still a great player and his fighting spirit has lifted the club to newer heights even though some performances were bad. His runs and tackles have definitely contributed to game play a lot. Some people may label him as a diver, but he continues to show his fighting spirit on the pitch and shows how dangerous he can be by playing in the centre despite being at a age of 33. Nedved should tone down himself and not earning silly yellow cards by venting his frustrations on players.
Juventus has been relegated to Serie B after the verdict of the Calciopoli scandal. Nedved choose to stay in Juventus and has shown keen interest in new coach Didier Deschamps'' reforming project where most of the players will retire from football and enjoy life or look for new challenges. He has even sent a message to Secco saying "I'LL BATTLE WITH YOU!!". This is welcoming news for Juventus fans and players, as they have another leader with vast determination and experience on the pitch to help them in the promotion for Serie B. Let's hope that Nedved will continue to bring in the goods for many years to come.
Nedved statistics (international)
Int'l Caps: 90 (as of 22-Jun-2006)
Int'l Goals: 18
Honours
Czechoslovakian Championship: 1992/1993
Czech Republic Championships: 1993/1994 - 1994/1995
Czech Republic Cup: 1996
Italian Cup: 1997/1998 - 1999/2000
Italian Super Cups: 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003
Italian Championships: 1999/2000, 2001/2002, 2002/2003, 2004/2005, 2005/2006
European Cup Winner's Cup: 1998/1999
UEFA Super Cup: 1999
Honours quoted from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavel_Nedved Updated on 3/8/2006 10:17 pm
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(Nguồn tin : AFP )
Paolo Rossi: From outcast to hero
Banned for his alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal, Paolo Rossi spectacularly ended two years out of the game by inspiring Italy to victory in the 1982 World Cup.
A lithe, skillful striker, Rossi had been marked down as one of Italian football's brightest young talents after a series of impressive displays for the Azzurri at the 1978 tournament.
Quick in thought and deed, 'Pablito' had formed an intuitive partnership with Juventus' Roberto Bettega in Argentina, one that seemed destined to flourish for years to come.
But in 1980, Rossi's world fell apart. Playing for Perugia against Avellino while on loan from Lanerossi Vicenza, he scored twice in a match that finished 2-2.
Yet when it emerged that the result had been fixed, Rossi was hit with a three-year ban, though that was later reduced to two. Despite being out in the cold, he was bought by Juventus for $700,000 in 1981.
Critically short of match fitness, Rossi was nevertheless recalled to the Italian squad as soon as his suspension ended on April 29, 1982, less than five weeks before the start of the World Cup.
"I knew that if Rossi wasn't in Spain I wouldn't have had an opportunist inside the penalty box," said Italy coach Enzo Bearzot, explaining his decision years later.
However during the first phase in Spain, it looked as if Bearzot's gamble on Rossi's fitness was going to backfire dismally.
Another sterile performance against Cameroon, again 1-1, and Italy's press immediately began pointing the finger at Bearzot and his out-of-form striker.
With time running out, Rossi played well in the Italians' opening game of the second round group phase, involved in the first goal as Argentina were beaten 2-1.
Suddenly, against Brazil in a match Italy had to win to reach the semi-finals, Rossi found his goalscoring touch. A well-taken hat-trick sent favourites Brazil to a 3-2 defeat and Italy were in the semi-finals.
Rossi later described his first goal against Brazil, a perfectly timed header to connect with a cross from the left by Antonio Cabrini, as one of the most important of his career.
"It freed me psychologically and also increased my motivation. Like all strikers, once you get a goal you want more as soon as possible," he said.
From that point on Rossi was unstoppable. Both goals in the 2-0 semi-final victory over Poland and the opening goal in the 3-1 win over West Germany in the final saw Rossi finish as top scorer and player of the tournament.
In the mid-1980s Rossi enjoyed great success with Juventus, winning the league, cup, Cup Winners Cup and European Cup against before moving to AC Milan in 1985.
He returned for his third World Cup finals in 1986, but by then a series of injuries had taken their toll and he failed to make a single appearance.
AFP
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( Nguồn telegraphindia.com )
Michel Platini, the midfield artist 
Over the course of a career that included three World Cups, Michel Platini’s midfield artistry earned him the right to be regarded as the finest French footballer of all time.
Beautifully balanced, Platini’s principal weapons in a formidable arsenal were wonderful awareness, a laser-guided passing ability and an unfailing accuracy from free-kicks.
Born in 1955, the grandson of Italian immigrants, he had schoolboy trials with Metz, where he was rejected for not being strong enough, before being snapped up by the club’s rivals Nancy.
He made his first international appearance in 1976, scoring on his debut against Czechoslovakia and cementing his place in the French team for the World Cup two years later.
Though giving flashes of class, Platini struggled to truly give full vent to his talents as France exited in the first phase after losing their two opening matches, against Italy (2-1) and hosts Argentina by the same score.
Marked into anonymity by the Italians, Platini had more success against Argentina. He scored his first World Cup goal to equalise, and twice created clear chances for Didier Six, who missed each opportunity.
With pride restored in a 3-1 consolation win over Hungary, Platini returned to France and the following year transferred from Nancy to Saint Etienne, having scored 98 goals in seven seasons.
Playing for St Etienne, Platini flourished and had firmly established himself as French football’s most exciting talent by the time of the 1982 World Cup.
Platini excelled in Spain as France started slowly before gathering momentum and reaching the semi-finals, where they were to lose to West Germany penalties after thrilling 3-3 draw.
Despite the bitter disappointment of that defeat, Platini departed as Man of the Match and one of the players of the tournament, the leading light in a wonderful midfield which also featured Jean Tigana and Alain Giresse.
Following the World Cup, Platini was transferred for $1.7 million from St Etienne to Juventus, where the Frenchman was to inspire the Italians to three league titles in four seasons.
His spell at Juventus also saw him recognised as European Footballer of the Year.
Two years after his move to Turin, Platini enjoyed the highpoint of his international career, inspirationally captaining France to victory in 1984 European Championship.
At the peak of his powers, Platini scored nine goals in five matches in the tournament, lifting him past Juste Fontaine as France’s all-time leading scorer.
At the 1986 Mexico World Cup, Platini’s performances again helped make France the favoured side of most neutrals. In a thrilling quarter final against Brazil, Platini scored and missed in the penalty shoot-out before the French advanced to the semi-finals.
There was to be no World Cup coronation for the King of French football: Platini and France were beaten 0-2 in the last four by West Germany in a repeat of their 1982 meeting.
In 1987, Platini bade farewell to football with a performance for the Rest of the World against an English football league side at Wembley, retiring with 72 caps and 41 goals.
After France’s failure to qualify for the 1990 World Cup, Platini returned as coach of the national side, leading France to the 1992 European Championship finals, where they were eliminated in the first phase.
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(Bài viết của Rebel , Juventuz.com)
Roberto Baggio
Reserved and silent, almost to unbelievable lengths, Roberto Baggio has spoken openly with few people. They were always the same, those he thought it right to trust.
Born On the 18th of February, 1967 and brought up in an old house opposite a petrol station, he shared a room with seven brothers and sisters and was happy when his mother made pizza. Roby never changed. Football never led him astray. Incompatible with a world built on image and business, on appearances which were futile, useless, exasperated and devoid of values, he chose to play only a marginal part in it.
Baggio used to play and still plays football because he enjoys it, the rest is not important and nor is popularity. And yet, with his magic on the field, looks loved by women the world over, and his humble ways, he did not and still does not go unnoticed.
Roby's career began in the place where he had been there for 9 years. Just after a few matches, Roberto had become a little star, always scored. At the end of a game in which he had 6 goals, a scout Antonio Mora persuaded him to join Vicenza, a Serie C team at that time.
However, under the coach Cad, Baggio didn't have much chance to play, and his first season just went pass. But a good news was that a new man arrived in the next season, Baggio therefore had more chances to play, he then gave his first career goal to Bruno Giorgi as a present, thanked the coach for putting him in a such important place. Furthermore, his good performance in this season brought him an under 16 national team place.
The 84-85 season, Baggio was on track, he got 12 goals in 29 league games, this helped Vicenza to climb to Serie B. But on the 3rd of May, Roberto went pass Serie B, joined a Serie A team, Fiorentina.
Baggio finished his first season in Fiorentina quietly. But in the next season, he finally took part in a Serie A game on the 21st of September, 1986, against Sampdoria. However, he hurt his knee in this season! Oh God! This is unfair, Baggio had just got a chance to show his talent, and now......wait a minute, he scored his first Serie A goal in the game vs Napoli on the 10th of May, 1987, not bad then! At least had a goal!
Good things continued to come, in the next season, he totally recovered, and had 9 goals. On the other hand, he was called by national team for the first time in November, 1988, to play in Rome against Holland. Moreover, everyone will get married one day, and no exception for a soccer player, Roby stopped his long run with girl friend Andreina, formally became a couple after the end of this season.
The following season, Baggio finished beautifully with 17 goals in 32 league matches. He also took the team to the final of UEFA Cup, but they were beaten by a Torino team, Juventus, couldn't bring the cup back to Florence. The UEFA Cup winner Juventus, however, signed Baggio with a world record transfer fee -- US$17 million, it was about 7.5 million pounds. But this announcement made Fiorentina fans angry, caused riots in the streets.
Anyway, Baggio's great form gave him a place in Azeglio Vicini's Italian national team in World Cup '90. However, as he was not brought up by Vicini from junior team, in Italy's 1-0 winning first and second match, there was no Baggio. But these poor results forced the coach to change. In the last match in the first round, Baggio and Schillaci partnered in front aimed at beating Czechoslovakia. They successfully combined together! And Roby scored the best goal in this tournament.
After that, Italy went into the semi-final against Argentina. Before the match started, Vicini told Baggio that he was to be in the bench when the game began, the reason was he looked tired, but Roberto rebutted "I am 23! I will have eaten grass to play." No effect, he only played in the second half. 120 minutes over, the result was still leveled, penalty! Baggio luckily scored 1. But the game belonged to Argentine goalkeeper, who kicked Italy out......the host only got a third place.
Forgot about the sad memory in the World Cup, Baggio had a good start in Juventus, he scored 14 goals in 33 league games. On the 2nd of December, his wife brought a third person! Calm down, she just born their first child, Valentina. In the next season, Roberto played in 32 Serie A matches, got 18 goals.
92-93 seoson was Baggio's best season in Juventus, he put the ball into the net 21 times in 27 league games. Baggio also led Juventus to play in the UEFA Cup, he took part in 9 games and scored 6 goals, and Juventus became the champion, this was Roberto's first major title that he had ever won.
The following season, Baggio gave his 100th Serie A goal to Genoa. In December, he was recognized by the World, he became the European footballer and World's footballer. Baggio scored 17 goals in 32 league matches this season. In May, 1994, shortly before the World Cup, his wife born their 2nd child, named Mattia.
In World Cup '94, Roberto's ponytail and his excellent goals brought him a lot of supporters. Could enter the final was a good news, but Baggio hurt his thigh during the semi-final, and quite serious, the doctor told him not to play in the final. But he didn't want his fans disappointed, so he ignored his injury, went into the field again. However, his hurt thigh held him down, he couldn't find a way to score, but the most unfortunate was that during penalty shootout, Baggio missed the most important kick, therefore gave the cup to their opponent -- Brazil. Since then, the relationship between him and Sacchi has been worsen.
The injury from the World Cup made Baggio only played in 17 league matches and only got 8 goals. Although Juventus won both Serie A and Coppe Italia, the team moved towards Del Piero. And they said if Baggio accepted a decrease of 1/3 of the original salary, then he could stay. But he chose to leave, to either AC Milan or Inter Milan. Finally, on the 6th of July, he moved to the red and black AC Milan.
Roberto Baggio remains a Bianconeri legend. He scored more than 100 goals in Serie A, won trophies, large and small, and enjoyed success with the national side. There are goals which have characterized the story of this shy and introvert ace, goals scored with different clubs and on all pitches.
Baggio played his final match on 16 May 2004, with Brescia against an A.C. Milan led by his former teammate Paolo Maldini, when he left the field in the second half, all the players, coaches and staffs from both teams, as well as all the spectators at the San Siro Stadium gave him the biggest standing ovation to farewell one of the greatest football player in football history.
His remarks have gone down in history too. Unexpected, coming out of nowhere and never incidental. There was always silence after a wisecrack: he loved silence as much as he loved spending the time when he wasn't playing football at home.
His mother's pizza, a father who dreamed of seeing him become a cyclist, a wife he met while driving about on his motor bike under her balcony at the dawn of his first love, and two children he wanted more than anything else in the world.
Behind the door of his house in Caldogno, among the trees that he loved, there was also his God: his relationship with his faith, with Buddha, who inspired him to grow, recognizing his faults and urging him on to overcome them. He tells his friends that "since he has known Buddhism, a magic sleep has returned..."
The story ends here, but his legendary will live forever in the heart of all football fans.
