Ozymandias is
a sonnet written by the PB Shelly and published in 1818 ~ its central
theme is the inevitable decline of all leaders and of the empires they build
with the lasting power of art, the only thing that has any permanence. In Politics and in Sports, people do fall
from famedom !
Soccer is one of
the most followed sports and its players earn high - Lionel Andrés "Leo" MessiCuccittini
(Lionel Messi) [1987] is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for
Spanish club Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He is a forward and
serves as captainfor Argentina.By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or
and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2009, he
won his first Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. He followed
this up by winning the inaugural FIFA Ballon d'Or in2010, and then again in
2011 and 2012. He also won the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. At the
age of 24, Messi became Barcelona's all-time top scorer in all official club
competitions. In Sept 2014 he scored his 400th senior career goal for club and
country aged just 27. In November 2014, Messi became the all-time top scorer in
La Liga, and the all-time leading goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League. The
winner of 4 FIFA/BallonsdÓr is considered one of the best players of the World,
rated by some as the greatest of all time.
Chile has never won a major trophy before. Not one. Ithad come close four times as runners up in past Copa América tournaments. Copa América, is renowned for its storied rivalries, vibrant fan support, politically-charged history, and incredible star power on the pitch; a competition which, for the past near-century, has ignited a continent.The 2015 Copa América was the 44thedition of the Copa América, the main international football tournament for national teams in South America, and took place in Chile. The competition was organized byCONMEBOL, South America's football governing body.Twelve teams competed, the ten members of CONMEBOL and two guests from CONCACAF – Mexico and Jamaica. Uruguay were the defending champions, but were eliminated by the hosts in the quarter–finals.
In the finals on 4th July in Santiago's EstadioNacional, history was created – following a goalless draw, Chile defeated Argentina in a penalty shootout to win their first title and qualify for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia. It boiled down to Alexis Sánchez against Sergio Romero from 12 yards. The Arsenal forward attempted a Panenka, scuffed it badly, and scored anyway as the goalkeeper dived to his left. Misses from Gonzalo Higuaín and ÉverBanega in the shootout proved decisive and, finally, Chile, one of the four participants at the inaugural Copa América, had a first international trophy. ForArgentina the drought goes on: 22 years since their last trophy and an increasing sense that this gifted generation of players will remain unfulfilled.One of the reasons Argentina were so cowed was due to Chile’s aggression, which clearly outraged their coaching staff. This tournament has seen Chile chart a course from romance via the decision not to suspend Vidal over his arrest on drink-driving charges and Gonzalo Jara’s digital provocation of EdinsonCavani, to the pragmatic decision to try to kick Argentina off their stride. By half-time, all three central defenders had been booked and a game that had begun brightly had degenerated into something far scrappier.
The man of fame –
Messi is facing the wrath - members of Lionel Messi's family were attacked
during Argentina's Copa America final against Chile in Santiago on Sunday. Messi
scored from the spot in Argentina’s opening game against Paraguay but that was
to be his only goal of the tournament outside the shoot-outs. He simmered
rather than starred early on before really coming to the boil with a
sensational performance in a 6-1 semi-final win over Peru. Messi assisted three
goals in that game alone but the final proved to be a different story. He was
closely marked by hosts Chile and while he managed to convert his spot-kick in
the shoot-out, no team-mate could match his efforts and another tournament
ended in bitter failure. The reported incident
of attack, occurred just before half-time when supporters of Chile began to
insult the Argentine's family. It is
stated that the 28-year-old’s brother Rodrigo was hit by one fan after an angry
exchange and the whole family were moved to a television cabin at half-time. Sergio
Aguero's family were also insulted by a group of Chilean fans.
Argentina lost the
final 1-4 to Chile on penalties, ending a 99-year Copa America wait for Chile
but lengthening their own 22-year streak without a major trophy.It was the
second time in 12 months Messi had finished on the losing side in a major final
following Argentina's extra-time loss to Germany at the World Cup last year.
"This generation is desperate to win a title with the national team,"
Messi had said before this year's Copa America.
The attacks on
persons are shameful but are not new to sport – as fans often cannot accept
defeat and turn their ire on the once stars.
Way back in June 1994, in a match
against the US in Pasadena on Andres
Escobar stretched to cut out a cross from the left but instead stabbed
the ball past his own goalkeeper for the opening goal. In a normal game, it
would have looked like bad luck. In the context of Colombia, where betting on
football is like horse-race betting in Britain, there was just a suggestion
that he should have been able to steer the ball wide for a corner. For the rest
of the game the Colombians continued to play below form. Sadly, days later, Escobar only 27 [no
relation to Pablo Escobar, the cartel boss] was shot 12 times by 3 men who fled
in off-road vehicles of the type favoured by drugs and gambling mafiosi.
'Thanks for the own goal,' said one, according to witnesses.
MS Dhoni is one the
best ever to have arrived on the scene – but shortly after India’s loss to
Bangladesh in WC 2007, his house in
Ranchi was attacked by a mob. Years
earlier, AjitWadekar scaled newer heights winning Series in West Indies and
England in 1971 and became a phenomenon.
In 1974, India played 3 tests and 2 ODIs in England, losing all of their
tour matches too. The season became
known as the "Summer of 42", referring to the number of runs scored by
India in its second innings in the Second Test at Lord's that remains the
lowest total for a completed innings in a Test match for India.
The team returning were booed, attacked, soon the hero AjitWadekar
retired from Test cricket.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
6th July
2015.
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