Pakistan’s Eternal Quest for Resilience: Mohammad Rizwan Is The Leader Pakistan Need

 

The sun hovered over the final session, setting the stage for a gripping spectacle. Pakistan's last-wicket pair stood like solitary sentinels, defying fate in pursuit of a draw that would etch their names into cricketing lore. The moment harkened back to 1988 in Trinidad, where Imran Khan’s Pakistan had famously survived 129 overs against a fearsome West Indies side, snatching an improbable draw. But history, cruelly impartial, often chooses its victors. On this day, the shores of safety remained elusive. New Zealand triumphed, leaving Pakistan adrift in the seas of despair.

Yet, amidst this heartbreak was a tale of valiance. Mohammad Rizwan and Fawad Alam, emblematic of defiance, scripted an eighth-wicket partnership that spanned 380 deliveries—the eighth-longest fourth-innings partnership in Test history. Together, they transformed the fifth day into a masterclass of grit, navigating the perils of a second new ball on an unyielding surface. Their union, born out of necessity, embodied the indomitable spirit of Test cricket.

Fawad Alam, long exiled from the national setup, once again proved his mettle. His resolve mirrored that of a seasoned artist, chiselling his innings with the precision of a sculptor reviving a forgotten masterpiece. Rizwan, the stand-in captain, demonstrated why he is regarded as one of Pakistan's most dependable cricketers, holding his nerve and his end with unwavering determination.

Despite their heroics, Pakistan fell short. Yet, the performance reminded the cricketing world of the beauty of a hard-fought draw, often dismissed in modern cricket’s frenzied pursuit of instant gratification. This match was a solemn ode to perseverance—a lesson that survival, in itself, can be a victory.

The Rise of Rizwan: Pakistan’s Unyielding Leader

Mohammad Rizwan’s evolution as a cricketer mirrors the resilience of Pakistan cricket—a system fraught with unpredictability yet capable of producing unpolished gems. Born in 1992, the year Pakistan conquered the cricketing world under Imran Khan’s stewardship, Rizwan has emerged as a beacon of stability amidst the chaos.

His rise was not meteoric but methodical. From a prolific domestic career to his exploits against international powerhouses, Rizwan honed his craft with discipline and hard work. As captain of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan’s domestic circuits, he exhibited leadership qualities that are now evident on the global stage. His ability to stay composed under pressure was evident in England in 2020, where he shepherded the lower order against a formidable attack, scoring a fighting 72 in Southampton.

That innings was more than just a number on the scoreboard; it was a declaration of intent. Rizwan showed he could bat on difficult surfaces, shield the tail, and farm the strike—a skill few wicketkeeper-batsmen master. It was a glimpse of what was to come.

Lessons from Mount Maunganui

In the shadow of Mount Maunganui, Rizwan found himself leading a team without its talisman, Babar Azam. The challenge was steep, but his approach was pragmatic. As New Zealand’s world-class bowling attack relentlessly probed Pakistan’s weaknesses, Rizwan marshalled his troops with quiet determination. His field placements were astute, his energy infectious, and his humility inspiring.

Day 3 saw Rizwan in his element, counterattacking with Faheem Ashraf to give Pakistan a glimmer of hope. Their partnership showcased the quintessential Pakistani flair—unpredictable yet captivating. Faheem’s audacity complemented Rizwan’s measured aggression, a dynamic that momentarily unsettled the Kiwis.

By Day 5, as wickets tumbled and the shadows lengthened, Rizwan and Fawad stood firm. Their alliance was a testament to the virtues of patience and adaptability, but cricket is often cruel. Victory and survival eluded Pakistan. Still, Rizwan’s leadership shone brightly amid the ruins.

The Way Forward

Pakistan’s cricketing history is a mosaic of brilliance and heartbreak. For every Imran Khan or Wasim Akram, there have been countless others whose talents were squandered by systemic neglect. With his all-weather batting and unyielding character, Rizwan could be the anchor Pakistan has long sought. However, his journey underscores a larger truth: talent needs nurturing, and leadership needs trust.

In Rizwan, Pakistan, a leader has been found unafraid of challenges. Whether facing Neil Wagner with a fractured toe or negotiating tricky declarations, he embodies the spirit of perseverance. But the onus is on Pakistan cricket to nurture this brilliance. Rizwan’s story is far from over, and with proper support, he could become a cornerstone of Pakistan’s resurgence.

As the team regroups for the next battle, one cannot help but wonder: will Pakistan finally embrace the stability Rizwan represents, or will his brilliance fade into the chaotic abyss that has consumed so many before him? Time, as always, will tell. For now, Rizwan stands tall, a testament to the enduring beauty of Test cricket and the unbreakable spirit of Pakistan.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

Sri Lanka need to fix the fitness issues

The historic series win over the Proteas just a few years back still fresh in the minds of everyone and Sri Lanka started the first day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Boxing Day with a lot of promise. The South African bowlers had the Lankan top-order on the rope, but Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjay de Silva arrested a collapse with enough intent.

But the smooth-sailing of the Sri Lankans experienced a telling blow when De Silva was seen struggling. The medical team came for help and ultimately had to retire hurt.

De Silva's 106-ball 79 had helped Sri Lanka recover from 54 for 3, and his fluent innings had taken them to 185 with no further loss when he completed a single off debutant Lutho Sipamla.

He has been ruled out of the remainder of the South Africa tour with a grade two tear in his left thigh. De Silva had retired hurt on 79 on the opening day of the Test series against South Africa on Saturday and had to be taken off the field in a buggy. He underwent an MRI scan after the close of play, which confirmed a tear of about 20% or 30% according to team manager Ashantha de Mel.

Chandimal kept the momentum going while Niroshan Dickwella and Dasun Shanaka supported well and put up a competitive fighting total.

But the fitness issues showed up again when Kasun Rajitha crumbled after delivering just thirteen balls. With De Silva’s effective offspin already unavailable, the absence of Rajitha was another blow. The workload was heavy for the others.

“Kasun Rajitha's injury is really going to affect us - we all know how well he bowled on the last tour here," Shanaka said at the end of day two at Centurion. Rajitha bagged nine scalps at 23.22 on Sri Lanka's last tour in South Africa. “Dhananjaya de Silva also comes in and bowls when they are batting well, and he dries up the runs for us. He does that job. I think we will feel their absence,” Shanaka said.

South Africa cashed in and scored in a care-free manner as if they were batting against a bunch of schoolboys.

In between the run-fest of the Proteas, Kumara walked off the field a ball into his 22nd over with a hand on his groin, although he took relatively easy strides to the dressing-room staircase. Sri Lanka's captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, finished his over.

Six overs later, Hasaranga, who had just taken his second wicket of the match, slid to the field on the cover boundary and appeared to land on the ball. He got up and attempted to walk off the pain but found he could not stand for too long and soon sat down for relief. He was helped into the emergency buggy and driven out of the ground. Kusal Mendis had to take over bowling from Hasaranga's end.

That left Sri Lanka with only Vishwa Fernando and Dasun Shanaka, who has only taken up as much bowling as he has in this match because of the absence of Rajitha and de Silva, and part-timers to bowl at South Africa.

The outcome was devastating – an innings defeat.

Now, the fitness issues are nothing new for Sri Lanka. There has not been any series, where a player did not break down in the crucial phase of the series.  

Again, just ten days before the start of the tough tour, Sri Lanka were engaged with their own T20 League, and one cannot deny the fact, it inflicted a devastating effect on the team – neither could they prepared well nor received enough rest for the tour.

Moreover, it is well known, how fragile the Sri Lankans have been physically over the years.

After the disastrous tour in England in 2016, Angelo Mathews blamed the poor fitness of the players. In 2017, the Sri Lankan government today warned the national cricket team to get fit in three months or get booted out.

The ultimatum came after the squad was found to be unfit for the series against Zimbabwe which starts Friday.

“No one has a satisfactory level of fitness, but I have made an exception this time,” sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera said.

Back in April 2020, Sri Lanka have been ordered onto customized home training regimes during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 Pandemic by coach Mickey Arthur following frequent accusations of poor fitness.

“I have been sending out exercises to each player,” said Arthur, adding that the strengths and weaknesses of each man were being discussed.

“We are using this time to reflect on the first three months of our tenure and recalibrate our individual and team plans going forward to the very important series that we have coming up later in the year.”

“The players all have individual fitness plans to keep them up to speed with their levels of fitness.”

“These plans are tailored to the facilities that each player has at his disposal at home to maintain the expected fitness levels.”

On June 1, 2020, Sri Lanka trained for the first time in more than two-and-a-half months to sharpen their skills and fitness ahead of a potential restart of the international game.

The efforts were definitely there, but in the end, it was the same old story.

The fitness issue requires further evaluation and this would be the first step towards improvement.

Obviously, sanity should prevail among the Sri Lankan think tank regarding such T20 Leagues which ultimately gives birth to problems.

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 29/12/2020 Sri Lanka need to fix the fitness issues

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

After darkness comes the sunshine

 

“India took the lead riding on Rahane’s courage and this time around, Australia failed to essay something spectacular – their batting, still, seems to be trapped in the bubble of Big Bash League. After the darkness came the sunshine in the Indian dressing room”

“I felt [I learned] backing your instinct, remaining calm under pressure, backing your own strengths and methods, which I really focus on. I really learned a lot during that Test.”

“We have got to back our basics, back our plans. We just had one bad hour so it is all about staying positive, backing your own ability, and batting in partnerships. As a batting unit, that matters a lot: communication and batting in partnerships. We are focusing on that.”

That is what Ajinkya Rahane said before the start of the Boxing Day Test. A few days back, it was a nightmare in Broad Day Light at Adelaide. To the astonishment of their fans and neutrals, the Indian team folded for just 36 runs, and Australia, who were on the back foot from the start, took the lead.

That defeat was a disgrace and until and unless the team shows the character in Melbourne, would be tough to stay alive in the series. Moreover, the absence of Virat Kohli would test the temperament of the team and the stand-in captain Rahane more.

But team India kept their basics right and the basic is playing Test cricket the way it should be.

On Day 1, the Indian bowlers shot-out Australia under 200 runs once again – minus Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma. And, guess what, the leader of the pack turned out to be Ravichandran Ashwin – the man, who is more often criticized for his dismal record away from the subcontinent.  

Rahane introduced him in the first hour - only the second time he is being used as an attacking option before the third seamer in a Test outside Asia and the West Indies. The intention was to exploit the moisture on the surface and extract turn against the batters – especially against the southpaws. By now, Ashwin has mastered the art of not only extracting turn from the deck but exploit the bounce like Lyon on Australian decks.

Wade was done and dusted for not trusting his defence and footwork – danced down the deck to dominate and succumbed under pressure. When the right-handers started to settle on the wicket, the field changed to 6-3 and a leg trap with two short-legs and midwicket –when required, two men were placed in the midwicket position.

Ashwin trusted on the straighter lines, changed his pace, trajectory, and seam position consistently, but one important could be said, Ashwin’s variation and discipline are well known to Steve Smith, who should have spent enough time on the wicket rather than falling to the middle-and-leg stump line.

Marnus Labuschagne was another interesting case, who was undone by a delivery that held its line and then changed direction to square-up Marnus. Whereas the kind of caliber Marnus possesses, he could have played it forward and cover the length – he played it back and closed his bat.

With Smith and Marnus leaving cheaply – the rest of the Australian batters fell quickly.

Nevertheless, Ashwin should be credited for his guile and fighting spirit.

He is an improved customer and of course, had he taken the T20 Leagues too seriously, he would never have been the bowler that he is now.

It was time for the Indian batters to bury the ghost of Adelaide and it was time for the captain to dish out an absolute master class down under, which would be talked in years to come.

Rahane should have flourished more than the present batsman he is.

But in the last couple of years, his grit and determination had determined the fate of India in test cricket – from that gritty 48 runs at the Wanderers to that knock in Trent Bridge and Adelaide in 2018 – Rahane’s impact can never be undermined – still, he is not right up there.

Here come another testing days of cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with the Australian bowlers breathing fire to claw back into the game.

Rahane shunned the hangover at Adelaide and trusted his defence and footwork.

He backed the basics of cricket – occupy the crease, use the feet, more faith in back-foot stroke-play, and keep the back lift straight in line with the wicketkeeper rather than facing it to the slip or gully.

Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara exhausted the pacers, but yet again, another collapse was around the corner and Rahane entered the scene to arrest that.  

Rahane dropped the anchors and started to occupy the crease. Until and unless, you don’t spend time at the crease, you would not be able to gain control over the likes of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon.

 17 runs off 59 balls did not satisfy those, who barks like a street dog about strike rates in Test cricket, but such ignorant classes forget, this resolve is the basic to graft an innings in Test cricket.

After the resolve, came the next phase – display of high-quality technique and fluency along with it.

Rahane dominated Lyon by exhibiting astute footwork – he played the ball forward and defended when Lyon pitched the ball in that length to extract bounce and cut him into halves – but Rahane covered the length with his front foot and bat, while Lyon pulled back his length to outweigh Rahane’s resolve, he was quick to shift balance on the back foot and play the ball late.

In that afternoon session, he rotated the strike and did not hit a boundary. The five false shots which Rahane did give up to Lyon all came to good length deliveries – he became more and more assured of himself.

Now, this was Test batting at its very best – the sort of thing, which we watched before T20 emerged as the demon and destroy the fun.

Against the red-hot Australian pacers, he was equally authoritative.

As Cricviz says, “Yet after lunch, Tim Paine either instructed his bowlers to get straighter, or they simply lost their lines. 24% of the seamers’ deliveries in the afternoon session were in line with the stumps, a figure which before lunch had been only 12%, the majority of their bowling happily in the channel. Rahane obliged, tucking readily into the feast off his hip, 22 of his half-century runs coming square on the legside.”

“Then the second new ball arrived, and everything changed – and at first, it was for worse. Rahane threw his bat at a wide ball from Starc, and the edge flew up to Steve Smith at slip, who duly let the ball through his hands. Then, things changed for the better. The second over with that new ball got the treatment, first over of second new ball; second over, got stuck into driving Cummins. A full-blooded four in the V drew a beaming smile from Rahane, the sense of relief visibly washing over him. Most of the work had been done; now it was time for some fun.”

“His scoring areas became straighter, moving from squarer earlier in the day, those drives moving from a rarity to a once, twice an over event. His attacking shot percentage went from 18% to a massive 39%, and his last 33 deliveries (those against the second new ball) brought 31 runs. There were hard, flashing cuts through point, exaggerated flourishing flicks; an air of ostentatious flair coming through after all the hard yards, and in truth, the pressure had subsided.”

A marvelous hundred was scripted and one also can’t deny how well he was supported by Ravindra Jadeja at the other end – who provided the perfect foil o Rahane’s grit and composure.

India took the lead riding on Rahane’s courage and this time around, Australia failed to essay something spectacular – their batting, still, seems to be trapped in the bubble of Big Bash League.

After the darkness came the sunshine in the Indian dressing room.

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer as CSdesk on 29/12/20 After darkness comes the sunshine

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

 

 

When Football stopped War on Christmas Day

 

 “The boys left their families in July thinking of returning quickly, but it never happened. WWI left a huge impact throughout the world.  But football stopped the war on December 25, 1914 – only for a day!”

On June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb Yugoslav nationalist, assassinated the Austro-Hungarian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, leading to the July Crisis.

In response, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia on July 23.

Serbia's reply failed to satisfy the Austrians, and the two moved to a war footing. A network of interlocking alliances enlarged the crisis from a bilateral issue in the Balkans to one involving most of Europe. By July 1914, the great powers of Europe were divided into two coalitions: the

Triple Entente, consisting of France, Russia, and Britain; and the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

The Triple Alliance was only defensive in nature, allowing Italy to stay out of the war until April 1915, when it joined the Allied Powers after its relations with Austria-Hungary deteriorated.

Russia felt it necessary to back Serbia and approved partial mobilization after Austria-Hungary shelled the Serbian capital of Belgrade, which was a few miles from the border, on 28 July.

The First World War broke out.

Only five months into the War, an unofficial ceasefire occurred on the Western Front on the eve of Christmas.

Hostilities had lulled as leadership on both sides reconsidered their strategies following the stalemate of the Race to the Sea and the indecisive result of the First Battle of Ypres.

ESPN stated, “The German high command, hoping to boost morale, sent thousands of little Christmas trees to the trenches. The aim was to keep the soldiers' hearts in the battle. Instead, it had the opposite effect. Christmas highlighted similarities between Christian nations in opposite trenches. When German soldiers at La Chapelle d'Armentieres in France sang the carol, "Stille Nacht" (the original of the English "Silent Night", with the same tune), a British regiment shouted for more. Near the French village Fleurbaix, British soldiers in their trenches saw Christmas trees hung with lights advancing into No Man's Land. The Germans were making a seasonal gesture. The Brits responded.”

“As well as sharing Christmas, the soldiers had gotten to know the enemy. In some spots, the trenches were barely 50 meters apart. You could see enemy soldiers shaving in the morning. Often there were informal truces while stretcher-bearers went around No Man's Land collecting the dead. Few French or Belgian regiments participated in the Christmas truce. They had more reason than the Brits to hate the Germans, who had invaded their countries. But for hundreds of miles along the British-German lines, there was fraternization.”

“It began spontaneously and slightly differently - in each sector, and yet a coherent story emerges. Germans would raise sheets with texts scrawled on them like, "You no shoot, we no shoot." A head would pop up above the parapet. Suddenly German soldiers would be walking in No Man's Land. Britons left their trenches to meet them.”

“Everywhere enemies shook hands, wished each other Merry Christmas, and arranged not to shoot the next day. Together they fantasized about the war dissolving in a burst of brotherhood. In the surviving photographs - one of which appeared in several British newspapers on January 8, 1915 -- they still stand huddled together in No Man's Land. They all wear mustaches, thick coats, and scarves. Smoke rises from the German cigars they are sharing.”

“They also shared Christmas dinners, promised to meet again after the war, and wondered why they were fighting. Britons donned German helmets. Germans sang "God Save the King." Some Germans told stories of working as waiters, barbers or taxi drivers in prewar Britain. "Good morning, sir," a German said to a British lance corporal. "I live at Alexander Road, Hornsey. And I would see Woolwich Arsenal play Tottenham tomorrow."

The best way to express friendship was through sports – football!  

But, whether the football-match took place or not, the historians have shared their doubts, meanwhile, there is also a group of historians, who have given evidence that the football match did take place.

ESPN stated, “Many people, including some veterans of the war, have doubted that these games were ever played. The story seems too good to be true.

Indeed, Geoff Dyer in his 1994 book "The Missing of the Somme" dismisses it as a myth. Some historians believe the truth is somewhere in between. Others contend that the impact of the games has been overstated as we witness the Premier League and FA, among other organizations, commemorates the moment.”

On the other hand, Historian Taff Gillingham thinks otherwise!  

Taff has been studying British military history for more than 25 years. He was an adviser to Sainsbury’s in the making of their 2014 Christmas advert, which focused on the 1914 Christmas truce.

According to Taff, there was a football match on December 25, 1914.

“You can count on one hand the number of accurate accounts about football during the truce. There are plenty of hearsay accounts, and a few fantasists account too – for example, an officer named Peter Jackson claimed to have played, but in 1968 was rumbled and admitted he had made the whole thing up – and there are a number of hearsay reports, of people having heard about a match, but there are only four pieces of evidence from soldiers who either played or witnessed the match. After researching the Christmas truce for 15 years, I can usually spot the real accounts from the fakes.”

“Until this year, I, like Mark, believed there was not enough concrete evidence to say that any football took place. And we need to be clear: what did happen can certainly not be called a ‘match’. However, several months before I started working with Sainsbury’s I got in touch with an old friend who is a historian of the Norfolk regiment, who sent me some papers he thought could be of use.”

“Two were accounts by men who said there was no football, the third – after 15 years of looking – was an account by a Norfolk corporal who said he played.”

“Sure enough, in that pile were three very important sheets of paper – a letter written by Corporal Albert Wyatt of the Norfolk regiment, published in a newspaper in 1915, who said he had played a match in Wulverghem, Belgium. This was a breakthrough, as it corroborated a letter sent by Sergeant Frank Naden from the 1/6th Cheshires, telling home that he had played a Christmas Day match.”

“Naden’s letter is widely known but, until now, there had been no corroboration for it. Here’s the thing – the two regiments units served together in the winter of 1914: the Cheshires, who were part of the Territorial Force, had just arrived on the front line, and were mixed with the Norfolks for trench training.”

“So here we suddenly have two people in the same place saying they had played a game of football. That is corroborated evidence. I can now say, hand on heart, that there was a kickabout. I don’t even think it was on the scale that the Sainsbury’s advert suggests – the fact we don’t see lots of soldiers talking in letters and diaries about having seen the match indicates it was on a small scale – but there was a kick about.”

 “Indeed, the fact the kick about was small is unsurprising, because many British soldiers were more interested in fraternizing with the Germans: they just wanted to see them – to talk to them, to swap photos and food. Some even cut one another’s hair. Remember, many of the German troops would have worked in bars and restaurants back home, so would have a decent grasp of English. So there were lots of conversations [on Christmas Day].”

“A few months ago German historian Rob Schaefer uncovered a postcard sent home by another soldier of IR133 who claimed to have played. The card corroborates a well-known account by Lt Johannes Niemann of the same Regiment. Again - two men, same place, same time. The kick about at Wulverghem and Frelinghien are the only two places where kick about are corroborated, although in both cases there is no corroboration from the opposing side.”

“In spite of this, I think it is a great tragedy that football is hijacking the Christmas truce – in reality, football played an insignificant role in the truce. It really was more about fraternization, which is why in the end Sainsbury’s toned down the emphasis on the football and instead highlighted the sharing aspect.”

 In 1999 Rudolf, son of a German Lieutenant in WWI, Kurt Zehmisch, found his dad's diary in the attic.

In the diary, he wrote, “A couple of Britons brought a ball along from their trenches, and a lively game began. How fantastically wonderful and strange! The English officers experienced it like that too- that thanks to soccer and Christmas, the feast of love, deadly enemies briefly came together as friends.”

A 19-year old Private in the 6th Battalion Cheshire Regiment named Ernie Williams stationed near Ypres, Belgium, depicted how football brought the two sides together in Peter Hart’s book, Fire and Movement: The British Expeditionary Force and the Campaign of 1914.

Williams also recounted his story with minor variations in a recorded 1983 interview.

“The ball appeared from somewhere, I don’t know where, but it was from their side – it wasn’t from our side where the ball came. It was a proper football. They took their coats off some of them and put them down as goalposts. One fellow went in goal and then it was just a general kick about. I should think there would be at least a couple of hundred taking part. I had a go at it – I was pretty good then at 19. Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves. There was no sort of ill-will.”

“There were some of the Germans who could speak English. I don’t think many on our side could speak German! No referee, we didn’t need a referee for that kind of game. It was like playing as a kid in the streets, kicking the ball about and the referee being the policeman and chasing you off. There was no score, no tally at all – it was simply a melee. Nothing like the football you see on television. The boots we wore were a menace – those great big boots we had on – and in those days the balls were made of leather and they soon got very soggy.”

Lieutenant Charles Brockbank, also a member of the 6th Battalion Cheshire Regiment penned an entry detailing the day’s football match in his journal, “The most extraordinary incident … the Germans started shouting to us to ‘come out’ and ‘have a drink’ and also climbing about in the trenches. One of them came out in front without a rifle or arms, as one of ours went out, too. A huge crowd formed. We had found a little rubber ball so, of course, a football-match came off and we exchanged various things.”

The same book shares an account from the German perspective as Lieutenant Johannes Niemann of the Saxon 133rd Regiment told of a football match between the Germans and the Argyll and Sutherlands Highlanders deployed in the BEF:

“A Scottish soldier appeared with a football which seemed to come from nowhere and a few minutes later a real football match got underway. The Scots marked their goal mouth with their strange caps and we did the same with ours. It was far from easy to play on the frozen ground, but we continued, keeping rigorously to the rules, despite the fact that it only lasted an hour and we had no referee.”

“A great many of the passes went wide, but all the amateur footballers, although they have been very tired, played with huge enthusiasm … but after an hour’s play when our commanding officer heard about it, he sent an order that we must put a stop to it. A little later we drifted back to our trenches and the fraternization ended. The game finished with a score of three goals to two in favour of ‘Fritz’ against ‘Tommy’.”

The games played were not highly competitive, but it was more about relishing the moment. The Goalposts were either a couple of pieces of wood, or caps or helmets, and even though the corpses had been cleared from the battlefield earlier that day, shell holes and the huge boots of the soldiers made close control impossible. Players who fell in the mud were pulled out by the enemy, to cheers from spectators, who gathered to watch the tough boys of war enjoying and spreading the message of love through football.

The boys left their families in July thinking of returning quickly, but it never happened.

WWI left a huge impact throughout the world. 

But football stopped the war on December 25, 1914 – only for a day!

Note: Information gathered from Wikipedia, ESPN FC, These Football Times and History

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer on 25/12/2020 When Football stopped War on Christmas Day

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

 

 

On the European Super League

 

“Football is the game of the people and unites the world and the officials of this game are sane brains and one can say that they would not come up with any destructive ideas, which disturb the quality, balance and rhythm in world football like the officials in cricket did”

In the annual meeting of the greatest cub in the history of football, Real Madrid, President Florentino Perez spoke out in favour of the European Super League. The idea is to develop a league similar to the model seen in the United States with the NBA with the ambition of increasing the income of the elite and lightening the load on players.

Perez pointed to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the massive impact it has had on the landscape of European football as providing the impetus to push through this change.

“Nothing will ever be the same again,” Perez said.

“The pandemic has changed everything; It has made us all more vulnerable and also football. Football needs formulas that make it more competitive and exciting.

“[Madrid] has participated in all the innovations and has protected these innovations in our sport. The club was the sole founder of Fifa in 1904 along with seven country federations, and in 1955 collaborated with L’Equipe to promote the creation of the European Cup, a revolutionary moment that changed the history of football.”

“Without all these changes, football could not have been what it is today, but we need a new change. Football has to face this new era and that’s what Madrid will do, to defend the fans.”

Josep Maria Bartomeu also admitted in his final press conference as Barcelona President that he had signed the club up for the European Super League.

The comments of Perez have relived the concept of European Super League, which has around the corner for more than three decades.

In the early 1990s, a group led by Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, media mogul and one-time owner of AC Milan, considered a breakaway European competition

In 1998, the Italian company, Media Partners investigated the matters.

The plan experienced a premature death when UEFA planned to expand the Champions League and abolish the Cup Winners Cup in order to better accommodate clubs that were considering defecting in order to join the proposed Super League.

In 2009, Perez endorsed the idea again! In the same year, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger predicted a super league would become reality within 10-year time due to revenue pressure on the continent's elite teams.

In 2012, legendary Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf also predicted the inception of the competition and gave it his backing.

A year later, Scotland manager Gordon Strachan said that he believes the Old Firm clubs of Celtic and Rangers would join a future new 38-club two-division European Super League.

In 2016, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United, were seen leaving a meeting with Stephen M. Ross' representatives that discussed the proposition of a European Super League.

The same year, UEFA again discussed the possibility of creating a closed league containing the 16 best teams in European football from the highest-ranked national leagues. These 16 teams would have been divided into 2 groups, with 8 teams in each group.

After 56 games in each group under the round-robin system, the teams that finished in places 1-4 would qualify for the quarter-finals.

That plan was finally rejected and UEFA, in order to avoid the creation of a Super League, made changes to the structure of the UEFA Champions League.

In 2018, Football Leaks claimed that there had been undercover talks about the creation of new continental club competition, the European Super League, from 2021.

In October 2020, Sky Sports claimed that FIFA was proposing a replacement for the UEFA Champions League called the European Premier League involving up to 18 teams in a round-robin system and post league playoff-style knockout tournament with no relegation similar to major league sports competitions in the United States such as the NFL, NBA and MLS.

English Premier League clubs, as well as clubs from Spain, Italy, France, and Germany, have been invited. Barcelona has accepted the proposal for it to join the Super League the day before President Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned.

 Last year, UEFA and the ECA proposed reforms which envisaged a promotion and relegation system, with the top 24 teams in the Champions League gaining automatic qualification for the following year’s competition.

Those plans were shelved because of protests from smaller clubs, national leagues and fans.

Mr. Agnelli maintains that changes to the Uefa competitions are needed to retain enthusiasm among younger audiences. “It’s not about today or next cycle,” he says.

“It’s about 15-20 years from now . . . what I would like is that football remains, if not increases, it’s premium position as the best sport in the world.”

The debate and further meetings about this reformation had been paused courtesy of the COVID-19 Pandemic and thus, the Super League is trying to fill the vacuum.

The idea gaining the most traction is to replace the opening Champions League group stage — in which groups of four teams play each other home and away — with a so-called “Swiss model” based on chess competitions.

Each team would play 10 matches against 10 different opponents. Those with the best records would qualify for the knockout rounds.

This Swiss model is generating excitement because “for the first time in history, these Champions League teams would be ranked together on the same tables.”

Then there is the possibility of replacing home and away legs with one-off ties — a format instituted last season due to the pandemic.

The smaller clubs and leagues worry that altering the status quo cuts them further adrift from the game’s financial giants.

Lars-Christer Olsson, chair of European Leagues, the body which represents national competitions, insists there are “red lines” in any format changes. This includes maintaining the link between performances in domestic leagues in order to qualify for European contests.

“We don’t want anything to be established to make the Champions League closer to a private league at the top of the European pyramid,” says Mr Olsson.

 Marca stated, “Leaders of the elite clubs believe that the Champions League's format has passed its best by date and that 15 games aren't enough.”

“They are of the belief that a 30 game season could be reached with 16 teams forming the Super League, but he knows that a closed league isn't the most convenient, meaning the format is still under development and alternative options are still being considered with the hopes of attracting the widest possible market to tap into.”

“A lot of clubs also feel that the distribution of television rights in a number of countries is unfair, so there's a desire to join another competition that can see things spread in a way they're happier with.”

“There has been a lot of talk of money, but those behind the project are confident that the prize fund for the winners will be much more than the 120 million euros that winning the Champions League delivers.”

“In the case of Spain, the COVID-19 crisis highlighted and worsened the problematic distribution of finances. Clubs that have the biggest attendances are the most hit, leading to those upstairs trying to find ways to keep money flowing.”

“Their positions are clear. There's an understanding that there's a need to change, and to evolve.”

“Clubs intend to go ahead with their domestic leagues, rather than going to war with them, but they understand that the Super League will become the priority, leading to them boasting larger squads. Most of the big clubs are in favour of the top leagues shrinking in size in order to reduce the number of games they'd have to play.”

“Without a 100 percent defined format, the idea is to fill the gap left by the Champions League, a competition that UEFA are already planning to give a facelift to in 2024. Clubs aren't willing to give UEFA too much room to maneuver though, and they're adamant that change is necessary. The idea is to listen to UEFA, but to put the clubs' demands first.”

How much FIFA would be involved in this concept remains a moot question, but in reality, this concept is totally out of their jurisdiction. But it has been learned, “FIFA accept and support the idea of a Super League. There could also be another change to come in the international football calendar.”

The idea of the Super League has not been received well by many as the German and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos stated, “The gap between the big clubs and small will expand even more. Everything does not always have to be faster, with more and more money.”

AC Milan chief executive Ivan Gazidis has downplayed the threat a potential European Super League poses to world football. La Liga Chief Javier Tebas saying it is a “weak and imaginary competition!” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he hopes it will “never happen,” Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola believes it would lead to the death of domestic football.

The Manchester United executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, has signaled the club would not take part in any mooted European breakaway league, saying that competition changes after 2024 must be “complementary to thriving domestic leagues.”

Gazidis said, “This conversation about the European Super League has been going on for probably more than 20 years,” he told BBC Sport. “The reality is there are many different ways that European football could develop over the next 5-10 years.”

“I don't think there's a big likelihood that we see a Super League in the way that people talk about it.”

“Do I think that there could be developments in the way that the Champions League develops? Absolutely I do. That's a conversation we should have and have it with an open mind.”  

Paolo Dal Pino, Serie A’s president, rejects the idea, saying: “There is absolutely no way we accept clauses like this.” The other option for the private equity groups, according to people close to their deliberations, is to invest in the super league itself.

BBC created a poll about the concept where the outcome suggests, the majority in London welcomed the idea.

In a Savanta ComRes poll of 2,100 football fans, almost half of younger fans (48%) said they would be happy about the prospect of a European Super League, while 18% said they would be unhappy.

In contrast, just 10% of fans aged 55 and over were happy about the idea, with close to two-thirds (63%) unhappy.

The poll also shows:

Across all ages, 30% of fans were happy about the idea of a European Super League, with 40% unhappy.

More than a third (35%) of fans aged 55 and over said they felt a breakaway league would be 'very bad' for football overall. Among fans aged 18-34, that figure was just 10%.

A fifth (20%) of younger fans thought the European Super League would be a 'very good' idea for football overall, compared to just 6% of older fans.

Close to half of male fans (48%) are unhappy at the idea of a European Super League, as opposed to just under a quarter (23%) of female football fans.

More than a third (35%) of female football fans are happy about the idea.

The Serbian-American economist, author of the book ‘Global Inequality’ and a visiting professor at the City University of New York, is a fervent soccer fan and admits, “The world has become very commercialized. We go where the money is. There is no reason why soccer wouldn’t do that. In the last 30 years or so, soccer has become much more commercialized and globalized.”

“The Premiership was important,” says Milanovic.

“The Bosman ruling was a turning point, which enabled movement of labor within Europe for soccer players. The players market is probably the most globalized market in the world in terms of one type of skill. You don’t have doctors who can move so easily from Mali to France, England, or Spain. You don't have any other profession - writers, software engineers. Nobody! “

“They all have limits in the ability to move across borders, but soccer players don’t and that is interesting because it gives us an inside how a totally open global labor market would work. I think that we would get a concentration of quality - because it is driven by money. There were several elements to soccer’s high commercialization: The Bosman ruling, the growth in England, the technological ability to project yourself.”

“The European Super League is inevitable,” says Milanovic. “All the commercial factors are in favor and Europe is a small area. Success between clubs is essentially driven by inequality in money. Manchester City is a recent example, a good club that was not at the top level. Once they had the money, they became a European top club, like PSG. There is very clearly a movement towards a Super League. It is totally feasible, and it would bring an enormous amount of money. Would Coronavirus make a difference? I doubt that. It is an intermission.”

According to Forbes, “Milanovic doesn’t believe the American sports model can provide a solution for European soccer. Franchises go against the grain of European soccer clubs, which often have socio-political foundations.”

“Even though the game is teetering on the edge, Milanovic still sees a bright future for soccer. He considers national teams and the inclusive format of the World Cup a positive, and an outlier. At the international level, the game hasn’t been commercialized entirely yet. Major international stars still play for their nationals teams, even if there is a little financial incentive.”

“I had a debate with Nate Silver,” explains Milanovic. “He was saying: Well, how about having the World Cup always on beautiful fields in Germany or the U.S. with the 12 best national teams? That would totally destroy the objective of soccer. There is actually no real money for Neymar to play well for Brazil. It leaves the de facto less commercialized part alive. If we were to do destroy that as well, we could really destroy the soul of soccer entirely.”

There are a lot of ifs and buts about this concept, but whether it is a demon or not, none can claim that directly on the basis of guesses. The whole project is still under construction yet to become reality. And for which, the doomsday scenario is not yet imminent in world football.

Football is the game of the people and unites the world and the officials of this game are sane brains and one can say that they would not come up with any destructive ideas, which disturb the quality, balance and rhythm in world football like the officials in cricket did.

Note: This article has been posted in Cricketsoccer on 22/12/2020 European Super League: It is too early to panic

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

 

The underrated Karim Benzema

 

 Karim Benzema shines again

Karim Benzema scored and provided two assists as Madrid made it five straight wins in all competitions by beating Eibar 3-1 in La Liga on Sunday.

It was the 30th time the Frenchman has scored and assisted in the same La Liga game. Only Cristiano Ronaldo (44) has done it more often for Madrid in the 21st century.

Benzema looked in the mood right from the start of an action-packed first half, the striker scoring and then teeing up Luka Modric in the early exchanges, before also having an effort disallowed for offside soon after Kike Garcia's stunning effort gave Eibar a lifeline.

Eibar certainly had their chances to clinch what had seemed an unlikely draw, but failed to take their opportunities and were punished again when Benzema played through Lucas Vazquez to wrap up the points in stoppage time.

Zinedine Zidane had been under intense pressure at the start of December due to a run of poor results, but the win at Ipurua was their fifth on the bounce across all competitions and leaves them on the tail of bitter rivals and pacesetters Atletico Madrid.

His tried tested players have delivered him the best when it mattered and now, Real Madrid can dream big.

With no Cristiano Ronaldo around and Gareth bale having an off-time, Zidane invested faith in his center-forward, Benzema, despite all the criticisms, which always haunted the French forward. Benzema paid back the faith put in him and until now, he has proved himself one of the best forwards in the history of Real Madrid.

Still, he is scoring goals and age is just a number for Benzema.

The Nine and a Half striker 

In addition to his goalscoring, Benzema is known for his willingness and ability to drop into A creative, skillful, quick, agile, and prolific forward, who is good in the air and capable of playing off the shoulders of the last defender, Benzema has been described as an “immensely talented striker” who is “strong and powerful” and “a potent finisher from inside the box” with either foot, as well as his head, despite being naturally right-footed.

An atypical number 9, although he is usually deployed as a center-forward, and can operate as an out-and-out striker, Benzema is also capable of playing in several other offensive positions and has been used on the wing or even behind the main striker as a number 10 or deep-lying forward.

deeper or wider positions, and either link-up play with midfielders, or use his strength and technical ability to hold up the ball with his back to goal to provide assists for teammates, courtesy of his vision, creativity, passing, and eye for the final ball; because of his playing style, he has been described as a “nine and a half” by the critics.

In Real Madrid, Benzema has also been praised by pundits for his work-rate and tactical intelligence off the ball, as well as his positional sense and attacking movement as a forward, which often draws opposing defenders out of position, and in turn, creates spaces for his teammates; as such, he formed a strong offensive partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo during the latter's time with the club.

Indeed, Benzema's movement drew defenders away and created space for Ronaldo to make attacking runs into the center of the area from the left-wing, which essentially saw the Frenchman act as a false 9!

He was a promising youngster since he kicked the ball long ago.

The boy from Lyon

Benzema was born in the city of Lyon, France to French nationals of Algerian descent.

As a practicing Muslim, he observes fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. His grandfather, Da Lakehal Benzema, lived in the village of Tigzirt, located in the northern town of Beni Djellil in Algeria before migrating to Lyon, where he eventually settled in the 1950s.

Benzema's father, Hafid, was born in Tigzirt, while his mother, Wahida Djebbara, was born and raised in Lyon; her family originated from Oran. Benzema is the third youngest in the family and grew up with eight other siblings in Bron, an eastern suburb of Lyon.

His younger brothers Gressy and Sabri are also footballers.

The former currently plies his trade at the amateur level with Vaulx-le-Velin in the Division d'Honneur, the sixth division of French football, while the latter plays in the youth academy of a club in the family's hometown of Bron.

Benzema began his football career at his hometown club Bron Terraillon SC at the age of eight. While at the club, he was nicknamed Coco by friends and, after scoring two goals in an under-10 match against the Lyon youth academy, began attracting attention from the biggest club in the city.

According to Serge Santa Cruz, who was president of Bron Terraillon in the 1990s, Lyon officials had visited him directly in an attempt to sign the youngster; however, Santa Cruz refused.

After talking with Benzema's father, the club allowed the player to undergo a trial with Lyon.

Following the trial, Benzema officially joined Lyon and was inserted into the club's academy.

When Benzema was growing up as a footballer, Ronaldo O Fenomeno was ruling the roost in world football, which encouraged the Frenchman very much.

He said in an interview, “When I was younger, the way Ronaldo played had an influence on me. For me, he's the best striker of all-time. I watch videos of him and try to do what he does, but it's not easy. It's impossible to pull off the same moves as he did.”

Benzema quickly ascended up the youth categories in the academy.

He served as a ball-boy during Lyon senior team matches and performed well in school being described as a student who was “discreet and respectful.”

At the under-16 level, Benzema scored 38 goals in the Championnat National des 16 ans, the domestic league for under-16 youth players in France.

Ahead of the 2004–05 season, Benzema was promoted to the club's reserve team, which was playing in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth division of French football. Despite only playing with the team during the autumn campaign, he scored a team-high ten goals as the Lyon reserve team finished second in its group.

Benzema was called up to the senior team for the first time under manager Paul Le Guen during the break leading up to the second half of the season. As is customary with new players arriving at Lyon, the young striker had to stand up and speak to his new teammates, which at that time included the likes of Michael Essien, Sylvain Wiltord, Florent Malouda, and Eric Abidal.

While speaking, Benzema was subjected to jokes and laughter, which prompted the youngster to declare, “Do not laugh, I'm here to take your place!”

He, subsequently, made his professional debut on 15 January 2005 against Metz, appearing as a substitute for Pierre-Alain Frau. Lyon won the match 2–0 as Benzema provided the assist on the second goal scored by Bryan Bergougnoux.

He would subsequently sign his first professional contract, agreeing to a three-year deal.

The Lyon days

After making three more appearances as a substitute, on April 2, Benzema made his first professional start.

Benzema began the 2005–06 season under new manager Gerard Houllier. Under Houllier, he struggled for meaningful minutes due to the presence of newly signed Brazilian striker Fred, as well as Sylvain Wiltord.

But the opportunities came, he grabbed them.

Benzema made his season debut on October 2, 2005, in a league win over Rennes, appearing as a substitute. In December, he made his UEFA Champions League debut in Lyon's final group stage match against Norwegian club Rosenborg.

On his competition debut, he scored his first professional goal. A month later, Benzema scored his first professional double in the match against Grenoble in the Coupe de France.

In 2006, Benzema scored his first professional league goal against Ajaccio.

His ability to score goals earned him more playing times in the 2006-07 season.

Benzema made his competitive season debut in the 2006 Trophée des Champions against Paris Saint-Germain. In the French Supercup, Benzema converted a penalty which drew the match at 1–1. Lyon later won the league curtain-raiser 5–4 on penalties.

Benzema opened the league campaign on a quick note scoring in the team's first match of the season against Nantes.

Three weeks later, Benzema appeared as a substitute and scored two goals in the away win over Nice.

He also converted two goals in the Champions League group stage against Romanian outfit Steaua București and Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv.

But a thigh injury hampered his wonderful run.

 He returned after 3 months.

Benzema failed to score a goal until the final league match of the season against Nantes as Lyon recorded its sixth consecutive league title.

In the following season, Florent Malouda, John Carew, and Sylvain Wiltord all left and this gave Benzema the opportunity to don the number 10 shirt and take the role to lead.

He responded in style.

After forming a special relationship with new manager Alain Perrin, he struck 31 goals in 51 games. He topped the league with 20 goals, scored four goals in the Champions League, one in the Coupe de la Ligue, and totaled six goals in six Coupe de France matches, helping Lyon win their first ever double.

Some of his more dazzling performances that season included a hat-trick against Metz, an equalizing goal in the 90th minute from a free-kick against Derby du Rhône rivals Saint-Étienne, and a goal against Lens that was nominated for goal of the season by fans.

In the Champions League, Benzema scored an important double against Rangers at Ibrox Stadium on the last matchday of the group stage. The 3–0 victory assured Lyon progression to the knockout rounds.

In the knockout rounds, Lyon faced Manchester United and Benzema scored from outside the penalty box in the first leg match which ended in a 1–1 draw and United eventually won the tie 1–2 on aggregate.

For his efforts that season, he was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year, selected to the Team of the Year, and awarded the Trophée du Meilleur Buteur for being the league's top scorer.

He won the 2008 Bravo Award given to the most outstanding young footballer playing in Europe and was also shortlisted by French magazine France Football for the 2008 Ballon d'Or award, eventually won by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Sir Alex Ferguson was impressed and wished to sign Benzema

Sir Alex Ferguson was impressed with Benzema after that clash against his side.

Rio Ferdinand has revealed the admiration Sir Alex Ferguson had for Benzema.

Speaking on BT Sport, Ferdinand said, “I love him, I played against him at Lyon and he was so impressive.

“Sir Alex Ferguson was desperate to sign him as a kid, and you can see why.”

“This guy has had a sustained amount of success at the top level.”

In the 2008-09 season, Benzema was shining like a star – he was scoring goals and the big clubs in Europe were monitoring his progress.

Real Madrid was among them.

At the age of just 21, he had already amassed just shy of 150 appearances for Lyon and netted 66 goals.

A BBC Sport report at the time says Zinedine Zidane recommended Benzema to Real Madrid after a deal for David Villa collapsed.

Real had just signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson says they tried to use that money to secure Benzema.

However, the Frenchman ultimately joined Real and Jean-Michel Aulas, later, disclosed the details of this tug of war transfer saga.

When Karim asked me about leaving Lyon I had received two offers: one from United and one from Real Madrid,” explained Aulas.

“Karim, just as [Nabil] Fekir did, came to see me and this showed that we had a very trusting relationship. He [Benzema] said: ‘My dream is to play for Real Madrid.’

“We sold him to Madrid even though United had made a superior offer.”

The legend of Real Madrid

On July 1, 2009, it was announced that Lyon had reached an agreement with Spanish club Real Madrid for the transfer of Benzema. The transfer fee was priced at €35 million with the fee rising to as much as €41 million based on incentives.

On July 9, Benzema successfully passed his medical and signed his contract, a six-year deal, later that afternoon.

He was presented officially as a Real Madrid player later that night at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, similarly to the previous signings of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Benzema made his league debut for Madrid on 29 August 2009 against Deportivo La Coruna and kick-started a glorious journey.

But it was never without ups and downs.

Manuel Pellegrini preferred Gonzalo Higuain in the lead striker role. To coincide with his benching, the striker was also being criticized by the Spanish media for his under-performance and difficulties settling in the country as he had not yet begun learning the Spanish language.

He was even declared the “new Anelka” by a Spanish newspaper Marca blogger, referring to former Real Madrid striker Nicolas Anelka who had a tumultuous year at the club before being sold.

Benzema was defended by his compatriot Zinedine Zidane, who admitted “after two months, I was also criticized” and that Benzema was “a talented player and talented players in Madrid must win!”

In the carnage against Almeira, Benzema scored after coming in as a substitute.

Benzema responded to the criticism by stating, “I am totally integrated and very happy at Real Madrid and yes, I have improved my adaptation. I have a new home and I'm learning Spanish to understand myself better with my teammates.”

After nearly a month coming off of the bench, he started alongside Higuain away to Valencia on 12 December and responded by assisting on one of Higuain's two goals.

A week later, Benzema returned to the bench. On his 22nd birthday, he scored in a 6–0 home win against Real Zaragoza.

 Following an injury to Higuain in early January 2010, Pellegrini inserted Benzema back into the starting lineup.

After failing to score in his first two starts in the absence of Higuain, against Deportivo La Coruna on 30 January, he scored a double in an important away win.

Following the return of Higuain, Benzema was relegated back to a substitute's role and finished the campaign by making eight consecutive appearances off the bench.

The arrival of Jose Mourinho paved the way for Benzema to don the number 9 shirt.

The striker immediately drew the ire of Mourinho who declared to reporters during a pre-season media session, “Benzema must understand that he is extremely talented, but that in itself is not enough", while also stating that "[Madrid] need a striker who is sparky, not one that is listless.”

Mourinho's sentiments were later echoed by incoming France national team coach Laurent Blanc who acknowledged that Benzema was “not used to working.”

Blanc also stated that the striker needed to shed weight in order to fulfill his potential.

Following the arrival of Emmanuel Adebayor on loan, Benzema went unused in two consecutive league matches in February 2011. He returned to the starting lineup on 19 February and embarked on a run in which he scored ten goals in eight matches.

He finished the campaign second on the team behind Ronaldo with 26 goals as Real Madrid captured the Copa del Rey giving Benzema his first honour with the club.

For his performances during the campaign, particularly during the second half, Benzema was praised by Mourinho, club officials Florentino Pérez and Emilio Butragueno, as well as national team manager Laurent Blanc.

Prior to the start of the 2011–12 season, Benzema, taking the advice of compatriots Blanc and Zidane, ventured to Merano, Italy, to attend a high-performance clinic where he underwent treatment to reduce his weight.

The spell at the clinic was ultimately a success after the striker arrived at pre-season 8 kilograms lighter. While at the clinic, Benzema also underwent physical training to build up his muscle mass.

His most impressive tally came during the 2011-12 campaign as his 32 goals helped Jose Mourinho's side to a La Liga Santander triumph and in the following season, he scored 24.

The arrival of Gareth bale in Real Madrid led to the formation of the famous trio – BBC and despite being overshadowed by the great Cristiano and charismatic Bale, Benzema never stopped scoring and assisting.

In the memorable 2013-14 season, he scored 22 goals and was a vital cog of that team of Carlo Ancelotti, which essayed the La Decima.

After the departure of Ancelotti, Madrid faced a transient off-period, but as soon as Zidane took over, the Los Blancos experienced a period of absolute purple patch and Benzema shone greatly alongside his star teammates.

Real won the Champions League three times in a row, won the La Liga title, Copa del Ray, and World Club Cup Championship.

Real entered a transition period where they witnessed the departure of Cristiano and Zidane, Lopetegui and Santiago Solari getting sacked, and Zidane taking over the job of head coach again.

Benzema maintained his fitness and composure and gave his all for the club.

Marca stated, “Benzema understands exactly what it takes to succeed at a club like Real Madrid. Both he and Sergio Ramos are the leaders of the group and players and they understand exactly what is expected of them and the rest of the squad.”

“Those at the club knew that the Frenchman would get back to his best. They knew this because they could see how meticulously he prepares and the professionalism he has - football is everything to Karim Benzema.”

“His work rate and dedication are far better than when he arrived at the club. Improving and working day after day is almost an obsession for the forward and has seen him turn himself into a physical specimen. He is the driving force behind this Real Madrid side at the moment.”

“Club president Florentino Perez has always believed in Benzema. He's never for a moment considered letting him leave the club, even when he was going through his worst spells. Zinedine Zidane even came out and publicly said that he was France's best ever striker.”

“The hard work he is putting in on and off the training ground is plain to see. He's only missed five of Real Madrid's last 109 league matches and has scored 259 goals in 529 matches for Los Blancos.”

After a brilliant 2019-20 season, Benzema is showing the same intent in this season too.

“Benzema is a match-winner because what he's doing is on a different level, not just because of the goals,” Zidane told the press after last night’s victory over Eibar.

“I always repeat myself saying the same thing about Karim. It's not only his goals; he's a focal point in our game. He's very important for us and when he scores, it's even better, obviously, but he's very important for our team.”

In the era of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, many shining stars have gone unnoticed, while there are misunderstood and underrated customers, who continue to deliver as a genuine team-man.

The way he was ignored by the national team, still hurts and the World Cup campaign in Russia could have been the perfect reward for his hard work and dedication.

Benzema is one of the underrated forwards in modern football.

But the time has come to give the man the due credit.    

Note: Information gathered from Wikipedia

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsoccer on 21/12/2020 The underrated Karim Benzema

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

 

 

India Sink: Nightmare in Broad Daylight

 

Test cricket, in its purest form, thrives on nuance. The advent of the Pink Ball Test, particularly under lights, has amplified this essence, transforming traditional cricket into a spectacle brimming with unpredictability. In the glow of the evening, the pink ball skids, seams, and swings in ways that demand technical finesse and mental resilience. Unlike the boundary-laden frenzy of T20 cricket, the Pink Ball Test elevates the role of bowlers, creating a rare equilibrium in modern cricket’s increasingly batter-dominated landscape.  

It is in this unique setting that the much-anticipated clash between India and Australia unfolded at Adelaide, the opening salvo of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. What began as a contest of promise quickly morphed into a masterclass in the ruthlessness of Test cricket and a stark lesson in its unforgiving nature.  

Day 1: A Canvas of Patience and Precision

The first day encapsulated the beauty of Test cricket. India, choosing to bat, displayed commendable discipline against a formidable Australian bowling attack. Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, epitomizing classic Test match virtues, resisted the urge to chase deliveries outside the off-stump and occupied the crease with determination.  

Nathan Lyon, Australia’s premier off-spinner, showcased his ability to exploit bounce—a rarity among contemporary finger spinners. His persistence, bowling at an ideal length just back of a good length, paid off when he drew Pujara into a rare lapse. A defensive prod with hard hands resulted in an inside edge to short leg, a dismissal born of guile and precision.  

While Kohli looked set for a big innings, a misjudged run between wickets cut short his stay. India ended the day in a position of relative strength, but Test cricket, as always, had reserved its surprises for later.  

Day 2: Australia’s Fragility and India’s Opportunity

The second day saw India’s bowlers, led by the crafty Ravichandran Ashwin, seize control. Ashwin’s tactical brilliance shone in his dismissal of Steve Smith, Australia’s batting lynchpin. By altering his trajectory and seam position, Ashwin deceived Smith into misjudging a delivery, a rare occurrence for a batsman with a staggering average of 80 against India.  

The Australian batting lineup, heavily reliant on Smith, crumbled under disciplined Indian bowling. Only Tim Paine, the captain, offered resistance, guiding Australia to a semblance of respectability. However, a lead seemed elusive as the Indian attack maintained relentless pressure.  

Day 3: A Collapse for the Ages

Test cricket, for all its grandeur, has a way of exposing vulnerabilities brutally. Resuming with a lead of 62 and nine wickets in hand, India’s position appeared strong. What followed, however, was a collapse so dramatic it defied belief.  

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, operating with precision and aggression, orchestrated a historic rout. Cummins’ ability to hit the seam and generate sharp movement was exemplified in his dismissal of Pujara, where a delivery pitched on middle-and-leg and jagged back to breach the batsman’s defences. Hazlewood’s sharpness and discipline proved lethal as he claimed five wickets for a mere eight runs.  

India’s batting lineup, so resolute in the first innings, fell into patterns of poor judgment. Hard hands, indecisive footwork, and a lack of defensive resolve characterized their innings. The result? An ignominious total of 36—India’s lowest in Test history and a testament to the game’s relentless capacity to humble.  

Lessons from the Pink Ball Test

The collapse raised questions about India’s approach to Test cricket in an era dominated by T20 influence. Playing the format demands more than technical competence; it requires an unwavering mental approach, the ability to leave balls with discipline, and the grit to withstand relentless pressure.  

While Cummins and Hazlewood were brilliant, their deliveries were not unplayable. The Indian batsmen’s approach—marked by unnecessary drives, poor shot selection, and an absence of defensive resolve—ultimately facilitated their downfall.  

The Broader Context: A Reflection on Modern Cricket

The Adelaide debacle underscores a broader truth: Test cricket cannot survive as a T20 afterthought. Formats like the IPL, while commercially lucrative, have ingrained habits that undermine the longer format’s demands. Defensive techniques have waned, footwork is increasingly tentative, and patience—once the hallmark of great Test batsmanship—has become a rare commodity.  

Yet, the Pink Ball Test also offers hope. It reaffirms the value of bowlers, restores balance, and showcases the tactical depth of cricket. It stands as a reminder of the format’s enduring relevance and its capacity to enthral, challenge, and surprise.  

Conclusion: A Test of Character and Resolve

The Pink Ball Test in Adelaide was more than a contest; it was a crucible of character. For India, the humiliation of 36 all-out serves as a harsh lesson. Redemption lies not in excuses but in introspection and adaptation.  

Test cricket, in its raw and unfiltered form, remains the ultimate examination of skill and temperament. And under the lights, with the pink ball darting and dancing unpredictably, the stakes are higher, the margins finer, and the game all the more mesmerizing. Let this be a chapter India learns from, as the journey in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy unfolds.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar 

 

Thankfully, Robert Lewandowski won

 

When Lionel Messi won the FIFA World Player of the Year Award and Ballon d’Or last year, it raised eyebrows and surprised many because, in the 2018-19 season, Messi’s achievements were nowhere near to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, who enjoyed a dream season. Van Dijk was the choice of the majority, but FIFA and France Football showed their biased nature and awarded Messi.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, France Football canceled the Ballon d’Or award this year, but the rest of the award functions did take place.

All eyes were fixed on FIFA World Player of the year and when the top 3 nominated players were announced a few weeks back, the presence of Messi surprised everyone again. If someone looks back at the 2019-20 season, one could easily end up saying, Messi achieved nothing other than digesting the eight-goal humiliation against the German Giants – Bayern Munich.

To be honest, neither Cristiano Ronaldo deserved to be on the top 3!

Dimitar Berbatov has made clear that he could not understand why Messi is being considered for the award.

“I'm surprised that Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are among the finalists, I'm can't understand why they should fill those positions,” Berbatov explained in his column for Betfair.

“Unfortunately, football is a business and behind the scenes, there are agents, press, much more beyond the cameras and what we see. It's a bit embarrassing.”

 Deserving candidates like Neymar, who had a brilliant season in 2019-20 and took a mediocre team like Paris Saint-Germain to the finals of the UEFA Champions League, was ignored. Injustice towards Neymar by media and top officials of football is nothing new, but this exclusion from the top 3 and also the FIFA XI of the year did not make any sense.

Again, Manuel Neuer, who won the best goalkeeper of the year award, was not included in the FIFA XI, which was a surprising thing along with his exclusion from the top 3! There is no need to explain in detail how influential Neuer had been last season for Bayern Munich.

Neymar and Neuer should have been in the top 3 rather than Cristiano and Messi.    

When FIFA announced that Jurgen Klopp would be the winner of the best coach award, the doubts of yet another biased exhibition started to gather momentum in the minds of the fans and critics.

Klopp was a worthy contender, but if anyone deserves the award then it was none other than Hansi Flick, who brought glory to Bayern Munich with his ruthless footballing display.

Even Klopp was surprised after winning the award.

“I am [shocked]. I was sitting here because I thought last year I won it. I am here with my players. Thank you very much, wow,” the German tactician said after receiving the prize.”

“I have so many people to thank and most of all my coaches. If I had known we'd won it my coaches would be here with me. What we did in the last year is all about these boys.”

“We didn't dream 30 years but we dream already for a few years. It was absolutely exceptional and we all had a special year in an unfortunately not so positive way but for Liverpool fans at least we could make some highlights in a tricky period. I had no idea how it would feel and it felt absolutely overwhelming.”

“I said a couple of times I’m not the biggest believer in these kinds of individual awards for coaches but meanwhile I learned we just take it for all of us. We can obviously not change the world – one face gets the prize but it’s for all of us & I’m really proud of that.”

“I really think after winning the treble – German Cup, German League, and the Champions League – I thought Flick would win it, to be honest. He did an exceptional job.”

When the moment of the award of the best player of the year, the tension of denying the best and crowning the biased one was palpable, but thankfully, FIFA did not lose their mind.

Robert Lewandowski has been named The Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2020, with the Bayern Munich star beating Messi and Ronaldo to the coveted prize – a feat achieved by Kaka back in 2007.

The best number 9 in the world was without equal in the 2019-20 season, scoring 55 goals in 47 appearances as Bayern swept to a Bundesliga, Champions League, and DFB-Pokal treble – with Lewandowski the top scorer in all three competitions.

The 32-year-old has continued his stunning form into the new season and, on Wednesday, scored his 250th goal in the Bundesliga to help Bayern to an important win.

Lewandowski was the firm favourite to scoop the prize in a year in which the Ballon d’Or was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Robert was very unhappy with the decision.

He said, “Someone had to decide that this year there would be no Ballon d'Or.”

“Maybe they decided too early because every [other] trophy has been decided. So many players, coaches, journalists know that, for me, it was the best season.”

“We did what we did and it was spectacular. I'm glad everyone has seen it. These awards are something nice, amazing.”

“But I also know that every personal trophy is for the team. The team without the striker finds it difficult to work but the striker without the team doesn't work either.”

Well, FIFA, in the end, did not disappoint Robert!

“I feel fantastic,” Lewandowski said.

“I am very proud and happy, to be honest; this is a great day for me, and also for my club and colleagues. This award also belongs to my colleagues, the coach, and Bayern Munich in general. It is an incredible feeling, a lot of emotions.”

“If you win such an award and share that title with Messi and Ronaldo, that is unbelievable and it means so much to me. A long time ago, I remember I was longing for something like this and now I can win such an award. This really means, regardless of where you come from, all that matters is what you put into it.”

The FIFA and Ballon d’Or awards are very respected and prestigious and they should not be biased.

Hardly anyone used to question their selection in the past until the hype of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi rivalry emerged.

Such rivalries are good for football, but that should let the achievements of others down for the sake of business.

Thankfully, Robert Lewandowski won and broke the monotony.

Note: This article has been posted at Cricketsccer as CSdesk on 18/12/2020 Thankfully, Robert Lewandowski won

Thank You

Faisal Caesar