Top 11 World Cup Celebrations

The World Cup is the ultimate dream for any footballer, if not any sport inclined person.

I’m sure we have all harboured dreams of pulling on our nation’s jersey, striding out in front of thousands of fans, and score the winning goal to lift that little golden trophy.

Yes they may be dreams, but for the talented few who actually get the chance to represent their country on the premier stage, not only do they get the opportunity to play against the world’s best, they also have the chance of making history if they score. That’s right, they get the opportunity to celebrate, and boy do they celebrate in style.

Here are some of the best goal celebrations to ever be flaunted at the World Cup.

11. Falcao – 1982

Brazilian midfielder, Falcao starts of our list of the Top 11 World Cup celebrations with his effort in his team’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Italy in the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
The former Roma player cut inside on the right wing to sweetly hit a left footed effort which nestled into the Italian net. What followed were scenes of jubilation which included Falcao sprinting towards his team’s bench and jumping up and down with his team mates.
They joy soon ended as Italy went on to win the tie which sent Brazil crashing out.

10. Ahn Jung-Hwan – 2002
South Korea were joint hosts in 2002 with Japan and enjoyed a memorable tournament which saw them reach the semi-final stage and lose out to Turkey in the third place playoff.
One of the star men was Ahn Jung-Hwan and his goal against USA was followed by an interesting celebration. After nodding a 77th minute header past the American goalkeeper, Ahn imitated the actions of a speed-skater. This was in reference to the controversial disqualification of Korean short track speed skater Kim Dong-Sung in the 1500 metres at the 2002 Winter Olympics, which allowed an American to win.

9. Gordon Strachan – 1986
Now this celebration doesn’t have any fancy dance moves or any gimmicks, but it isn’t half funny!
Scotland midfielder, Gordon Strachan had scored against Germany in Mexico ’86 to which he wanted to celebrate with the fans. Now normally this would mean jumping over the advertisement boards. Strachan is 5ft 5ins, that’s little. So when he charged towards the boards the ginger Scotsman backed out, as evident in his little ‘jump’ followed by placing his right leg on top of the board.
Without doubt the poorest attempt to jump the advertisement boards ever seen, however it was a great save and Strachan’s overall attempt to look cool was still achieved. Kind of.

8. Papa Bouba Diop – 2002
Senegal faced highly rated France in the group stages of World Cup 2002 and produced the shock of the tournament. Papa Bouba Diop scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory for the African team.
The gargantuan midfielder, now of cash strapped Premier League club, Portsmouth scrambled the winner on 30 minutes after missing at the first attempt. Bouba Diop jogged to the corner flag, removed his jersey which was then placed on the floor, then was joined by the rest of his team before continuing to dance around his jersey as if around the camp fire back home in Senegal.

7. Diego Maradona – 1994.
Everybody knows the quality that this little man had, and everybody knows the trouble this he’s been in. The World Cup in USA of 1994 saw a great team move by Argentina, finished off by Diego Maradona followed by a celebration which would have had little American children quaking in their Doc Martins.
Maradona smashed a left-footed strike into the roof of the net following a swift, one-touch passing move against Greece, a fantastic goal celebrated by running directly to the camera and staring at the lens which still freaks me out today. Call it passion, call it determination, whatever you call it, it was pretty much Maradona’s last act in that World Cup as he was sent home after the match against Nigeria. The now Argentina coach failed a drug test following his suspicious celebration and return to form.

6. Rashidi Yekini – 1994
Nigeria’s debut World Cup goal is one which all Nigerian’s will remember, however it is the celebration which other football fans will remember.
Rashidi Yekini was leading the line for the youthful looking Super Eagles in 1994 and after tapping home a pull back from just a few yards out, Yekini followed the ball into the net and proceeded to tangle himself up in it. He put his face into net and clenched his fists in celebration, followed by putting his arms through the holes and blowing kisses to the Nigerian support. Yekini was clearly very emotional in what is another classic celebration.

5. Bebeto – 1994
Now this celebration which marks the start of our top five is probably the most copied that still does the rounds today - The Cradle.
Brazilian forward Bebeto had celebrated the birth of his third child several days before the quarter final tie with Holland. Not content with keeping this news quiet, after brilliantly rounding Dutch goalkeeper, Ed de Goey, Bebeto ran over to the near touchline to pretend to rock a baby. Teammates Mazinho and Romario decided to join in to make the whole thing look incredibly joyous. What made it look even better was that the three men were in sync. All that was needed was a cheesy ‘90’s dance track to be dubbed in and it would be the World Cup’s version of the Macarena.

4. Brain Laudrup – 1998
It was Brazil versus Denmark in this quarter-final tie in France, with the South American team clearly the favourites. However the underdogs turned in a performance which actually made a cracker of a game. The Danes took the lead through Martin Jorgensen’s second minute strike, however that early goal was cancelled out by two Brazilian ones by Bebeto and Rivaldo.
Denmark had to get back into the game, cue our celebration hero. Brian Laudrup capitalised on the flamboyant, Roberto Carlos’ extravagant attempt of a bicycle kick clearance (which he unsurprisingly missed), by smashing home the equaliser. His celebration was as cool as you would like. The Danish midfielder skidded to the floor to leaning on his hand, feet crossed, as if lounging on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro.
The joy was short lived however, as Rivaldo completed his double just ten minutes later. Denmark may have exited the tournament, but at least Laudrup looked super-cool.

3. Finidi George – 1994
Nigeria may have had their reputation of being dangerous somewhat diminished in recent competitions, however in the World Cup of 94 the Super Eagles had that reputation fully intact, reaching 5th in the FIFA World Rankings in April that year. In USA they had the likes Emmanuel Amuneke, Jay Jay Okocha, Rashidi Yekini and the man who slots in at number three in our list, Finidi George.
The Nigerians were up against Greece in the group stages at Boston’s Foxboro Stadium and after absorbing pressure from their opponents they started a counter attach down the left wing. George provided support from the right, received the ball and continued to smartly chip the goalkeeper, Karkamanis, from the edge of the box.
What came next must have been inspired from walking the streets of Boston before the game, as George ran next to the advertising boards, dropped to all fours and crawled as if imitating a dog. George then lifted his back leg in homage to the K-9 species to ‘leave his mark’ on World Cup celebration history.

2. Roger Milla – Italia ‘90
It was a close run thing, but Cameroon’s Roger Milla, even at the youthful age of 38, couldn’t quite make it to number one.
At the request of the Cameroon President, Roger Milla came out of retirement to help the Indomitable Lions fortunes in Italia ’90, and somewhat surprisingly he scored four goals in the tournament helping his team reach the quarter-finals. But it wasn’t his knack for scoring goals which led him to become a star, it was his celebration.
Milla decided he would celebrate each goal with some funky dance moves around the corner flag. It wasn’t choreographed like something from Pineapple Dance Studios, but it did lead the way for future players to be imaginative once they had scored.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, this man changed the face of goal celebrations for all time.

1. Marco Tardelli – 1982 World Cup Final
The image of Italy’s Marco Tardelli wheeling away after scoring in the 1982 final is one of the most iconic moments of World Cup history.
Tardelli scored the second goal of the game against German opposition with a left footed drive from the edge of the area. The Azzuri man, clearly caught up in emotion, ran towards the Italian team bench punching his fists, shaking his head, repeatedly screaming “Goal!” all whilst crying tears of what can only be immense joy.
The celebration captures what is so special about the beautiful game – the emotion, the passion, the excitement and the realisation of the dream. The ‘Tardelli Cry’, as it is affectionately known, is surely the best celebration in World Cup history.

Anniversay of Sir Tom Finney's final Preston North End game

Today marks the 50th anniversary of England winger, Sir Tom Finney's final game for Preston North End.

In March 2009, the legend was celebrated for his services with his own day, apatly named, Sir Tom Finney Day.

Before the day, I produced a 3 minute radio package for my third year University course speaking to PNE General Manager, Ben Rhodes, Finney's lifelong friend and team mate, Tommy Thompson and then Academy product, Lee O'Gornall.

I have made this package available for you to listen to again, just follow the link below and click download. You may have to copy and paste in your address bar.

I would appreciate your comments on the package and on the man himself. Thanks to the guys for letting me interview them last year.

http://bit.ly/dASZtZ

ps. check out pne.com for more info

City dial 999 and get goalkeeper: Manchester City sign Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop

Sunderland goalkeeper, Marton Fulop has joined fellow Premier League club, Manchester City on a 'Emergency Loan' deal until the end of the season.

It comes after Shay Given dislocated his shoulder at Arsenal last weekend, aparently leaving City with just one goalkeeper, a bloke called Gunnar Neilson, Faroe Island's third choice shot stopper.

OK, so he clearly isn't that good if he can't get a game for the Faroe's, but why sign him then? Manchester City claim they don't have any other 'keepers...so they play without one in the youth team do they? Of course not, they have seven goalkeepers on their books.

But of course, this is an emergency isn't it. An emergency just like a earthquake, or the Icelandic volcano. Yeah, an emergency. Manchester City have dialed 999 and got the Idiotic Premier League Decision Making department. It is a simple case of bad luck. Teams have squad's for a reason, for moments like this. This is an opportunity for other players to have a crack at the top level.

I wonder if Tottenham had lost Crouch, Defoe and Pavlyuchenko could they apply for a emergency striker? Why have Man City been allowed this. I'm not saying they have been given preferential treatment, because no one else has been denied. But why have the rules been relaxed. Why have rules and not inforce them (I'm referring to the transfer window).

I find it laughable to be honest.

Pompey will NOT play in Europe. Too right.

Portsmouth Football Club have had their hopes of playing European football next season dashed by the Football Association and the Premier League.

The South Coast team, who are in dire financial trouble, had hoped to appeal against the ruling which had forbidden them from entering next season's Europa League after failing to apply for a Uefa club licence.

Pompey would have qualified for European competition after reaching the FA Cup final against Chelsea, who are set to play in the Uefa Champions League next season.

Avram Grant's team have been told that an appeal would be rejected because of the clubs financial problems which see them carry a staggering £120m debt.

A joint statement from the FA and Premier League said, "The FA and Premier League have confirmed to the administrators of Portsmouth Football Club that they shall not consider any late application for granting of a Uefa Club Licence for the 2010-11 season."

What this means is that the team who finish seventh in the Premier League - currently Liverpool, will claim the last Europa League spot.

For me, this is absolutely spot on. Portsmouth are a prime example of how not to run a football club. The finances have been managed poorly. This is not an exaggeration, just look at the figures. Even St Johns Ambulance are owed more than £5000, an amount which is vital to an organisation such as theirs. They were given a restbite with a relaxation of the transfer rules. They have received a handout from Lens who are allowing striker, Aruna Dindane to play and scrap the £4m deal they had agreed if he played another game. Lets not forget all the controversy whilst Peter Storrie and Harry Redknapp were there. All damaging the image of Portsmouth Football Club. They have been managed poorly. How many owners have they had?

I don't buy that its the responsibility of the Premier League to make sure they are looked after. Other clubs don't get into this situation, and the ones who have don't get charity.

I hope Portsmouth FC turn their fortunes around, literally, but this decision is absolutely the right one. Lets not take our embarrasments around Europe eh.

Register to vote?? Rubbish.

I wanted to vote in the General Election on May 6th. I wanted to give the three main parties a chance. I wanted a proper look at their manifesto's, what they had planned and see whether I would benefit from any of their policies. And yes, before you start, only the three main parties. Lets face it, the rest are so far beyond standing a chance for either being a joke, a mess, or right wing. That's what I wanted this year. That, a paid job, a Volvo C30 and two front teeth. But of course, I was bound to fail, wasn't I.

The adverts are telling me to register so I don't get whiplash from a huge elastic band and some burly blokes, who by the way, have no right to chain me up to something so dangerous I could sue and get a step closer to my dream of being on TV in the shape of a mid-morning insurance claim commercial! "As for the plastic, well that's sorted".

Anyway, I go to register, which I believe to be a hurdle in the publics attempts to make changes in society. A hurdle which most people won't want to jump because the majority are apathetic and by putting things in the way just makes the whole thing a chore. I decided to suck it up and go to register. This is on deadline day by the way. I enter in all the needed information, including letting them know I have no intention of being included in the edited list. Why would anyone want to be included in a book which Marketers buy so they can receive irritating calls from a machine?! The form is completed only to find I need to print something off, sign and post! Outrageous! I don't have a printer and didn't have time to find somewhere to print it out.

Result: I can't vote. My opinion doesn't count. The people who decide on this system cannot seriously think this is OK...My opinion matters!!

Ash-tonishing

One of the best pictures I've seen from the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano is this one by Lucas Jackson from REUTERS.

'Tis a little bit shocking!

Lightning denotes anger, so does a volcano and lava. The merger of the two conjures up so much emotion and anger is just what you feel. This photograph brilliantly captures two of natures most destructive forces in one place. Great work.