This video from a Champions League clash between Benfica and Manchester United is well worth a look, even though the footage flickers. Watch Cristiano Ronaldo’s hands very carefully.
Blowing snot out of your nose without a hankie is generally frowned upon (ask your mum if you don’t believe me.) Wiping it in someone else’s hair is the action of a bad, bad man. Poor Nuno Gomes thought it was a friendly pat on the head and returned the favour. If Ronaldo’s prepared to do that to his compatriot, how far would he go to get one up on someone who isn’t Portuguese?
It’s been a year since Scott Carson’s howler against Croatia. The England keeper spilled a long-range Niko Kranjčar shot to gift the Croats the opening goal in a 3-2 defeat. England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 as a result.
Just as Carson’s gaff was fading from the national consciousness, he blundered again last night. A mix-up with skipper John Terry handed Germany an equaliser and reminded everyone that he’s not a safe pair of hands.
It was Patrick Helmes who took advantage of the English indecision, although ultimately to no avail. Terry sealed a 2-1 win six minutes from full-time. Both second-half goals are in the embedded video. The highlights of the first half are here.
A 2002 World Cup masterpiece from Nike. Eric Cantona presides over a secret football tournament in the belly of a ship. Elvis Presley provides the soundtrack from beyond the grave with a remix of A Little Less Conversation. And with 24 of the world’s top players starring and Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam as director, it was always going to be great. This advert could well be Nike’s finest ever attempt to make us part with our cash. It’s definitely the pinnacle of Eric’s post-retirement career.
For the classic ad featuring a pitched battle between Brazil and Portugal, click here. Olé!
Barcelona went top of La Liga on Sunday night with a 2-0 win over struggling Recreativo Huelva. This video shows Barça’s opening goal - a cleverly worked free-kick.
The Recreativo defence - expecting a cross - completely overlooked Lionel Messi, who was hiding behind the wall. The Argentinian suddenly appears as Xavi Hernández plays the disguised pass into the box. It was Messi’s seventh league goal this season.
Recreativo are in trouble: one win in 11 games has left them second-from-bottom.