What is to be done?

I'm killing football. These projects are all too unwieldy; I don't want to research and write them, and Google Analytics tells me that you don't want to read them. So, while I continue chipping away at some larger tasks, I will be expanding the scope of this site. It will now certainly extend beyond Eastern Europe, and likely beyond football itself. For the time being, the Goal of the Week will remain, though. To ring in this new era of liberation, here is an exceptionally clever free kick tactic:

Rivelino free kick (with assistance from Jairzinho - visible on the replay)
Brazil 1: East Germany 0
26 June, 1974
Niedersachsenstadion (Hannover)
World Cup group stage




Much obliged, felixahlner

Goal of the week (4)

Despite all appearances, this blog will not become a historical highlight reel. I am setting a deadline of next weekend for my next actual entry. In addition to being quite busy recently, I've also been conflicted about football, given the rumors surrounding Kaka's transfer from AC Milan to Manchester City. Even though this is well outside the sphere of my usual interest, I can't help but be shaken by the phrase "100 million pounds." It just reinforces a lot of what I already know and believe, but this is never pleasant (see "Thoughts from the road"). But moving on to what is...

I've bent my own unspoken rule here by posting a goal scored against an Eastern side. Enjoy Marco Van Basten's ludicrous volley. Genius.


European Cup final
25 June 1988
Netherlands 2: USSR 0
Olympiastadion (Munich)




Nicely done, SlurfSeweden.

Goal of the week (3)

I'm currently working on a piece about East Germany, and one reader requested some material about Scotland (unusual, but I will oblige, out of duty to the site's swelling legion of fans), so the wheels are in motion...

In the meantime, here's a run of play that I absolutely love...It also features one of the greatest bits of shamelessly biased, hilarious announcing ever encountered in sport. Mladen Delic manically progresses from coaching the great Safet Susic (" ne sam, Safete! = not alone, Safet!), through pessimism and fatalistic clock watching, all culminating in a timeless display of giddy bewilderment. This match eliminated a strong Bulgarian side from EURO 1984 qualifying but is remembered more for the mercurial announcer than for Ljubomir Radanović's goal. This is great football, typical of the early-mid '80s in east-central Europe, but you should pick up a bit of Serbo-Croatian for the clip's full effect (the relevant material ends at ~ 1:57).

21 December 1983
Yugoslavia 3: Bulgaria 2
Poljud Stadium (Split)
"Ljudi moji je li to moguce?" (people, is this possible?)





Thanks, drvosjecaF

Goal of the week (2)

I promise some politics-football crossover material soon, but for now enjoy Oleg Blokhin's wondergoal from the 1975 UEFA Supercup (starting at 00:34). Beckenbauer & co. absolutely helpless here against the greatest ever from the Soviet Union...

09 September 1975
Dynamo Kyiv 1 : Bayern Munich 0
Olympiastadion (Munich)

L'eurogol di Oleg Blokhin
by James_Conway

Courtesy of dailymotion.com

Bilic's Boys and beyond

Last week Slaven Bilic announced that he will resign as manager of the Croatian national football team after the World Cup qualifying matches. I think ultimately this will benefit the side, as Bilic’s exuberance and passion feed into the abundant emotions of a country whose team has twice paid for overcelebration in major tournaments. Last June’s loss to Turkey, like the 1998 loss to France, turned on a moment of joy. Despite the memory of Zvonimir Boban’s brief lapse, players and coaches failed to compose themselves following a dramatic goal in the EURO quarterfinals, allowing the possibility of an unthinkable response.

Neither Boban nor those celebrants can be held wholly responsible for Croatia’s painful losses. However, in a game of finite opportunity, failures of mental discipline are often definitive. It is also vital that teams achieve balance and learn, as it were, to overcome their strengths. Italy must not overdefend, while Brazil’s incredible talent base can hinder cohesion. In the same vein, Croatia must avoid being overwhelmed by emotion.

Slaven Bilic and Croatia will both remain prominent in football, and neither should be simply defined by their passion. The success of this team, particularly in the Bilic-Asanovic era, can be traced to definite decisions made by the coaching staff. The emergence of young players like Luka Modric and Eduardo was due largely to Bilic’s work with the U-21 squad, his judgment of talent and a commitment to generational change. This was evident in his first game as manager, a 2:0 friendly victory over Italy, with Modric and Eduardo leading the way.

Bilic also oversaw Croatia’s belated mastery of the 4-4-2, replacing an often stagnant 5-3-2. He used the new formation to good effect at EURO, cleverly shifting Niko Kranjcar to a more advanced position, while allowing Modric to pull the strings from center midfield. The side’s achievement in Austria/Switzerland was especially impressive given the absence of its one reliable marksman (Eduardo), and a perennial weakness in central defense.

Spirit and national pride have always been major factors in Croatia’s footballing triumphs. Bilic’s tenure, like his own golden generation of a decade ago, hinted at the possibilities when such sentiments buttress strong developmental and tactical systems. His management (and role in the rescue of Hajduk Spllit) established a foundation for lasting success. However, like his predecessors, he was unable to harness the players’ emotions, resulting in clouded judgment at key moments. Bilic is the best football manager in the team’s history, but his nature, while entertaining, reinforces a consistent problem which ultimately limits the club’s success. I will miss his intelligence, charisma and massive love of both country and sport. I will also long remember his fatherly consolation after the devastating loss to Turkey. However, a cooler, if not detached, approach is needed to foster a blend of talent, composure and execution to prevent the recurrence of such scenes.