(Bolasepak) Ramalan FIFA World Cup versi pemenang

6.6.2010 9.50 a.m

Less than a week before the official kick-off of pertandingan bola sepak terbesar di dunia, dan banyak perkembangan terkini baik dari segi keputusan friendlies dan kecederaan yang dilanda oleh pemain-pemain ternama just adding the spice to this year’s tournament. Kali ni, I would like to tell who am I picking as the possible winner for the whole damn thing. Aku akan rank top 5 pilihan aku berdasarkan potensi dan chances untuk mereka memenangi World Cup. Tanpa membuang masa lagi.

1) Brazil

In my opinion, pilihan paling utama untuk menang kali ni. Under Dunga, they may not be the most fun and visually attractive Brazilian sides in history, but they are the most practical and determined. Defensive mentality yang baik adalah key untuk memenangi apa jua tournament dan Dunga berjaya menyerapkan mentality ini ke dalam skuad Brazil kali ini, terutamanya di bahagian pertahanan dan defensive midfield. Besides that, creative flairs from Kaka and Robinho, accompanied by lethal finishing by forwards such as Luis Fabiano will truly help their cause.

2) Spain

I am installing the EURO 2008 winner behind the Brazilians simply because of one factor; tenacity. Despite the world-class talent that they have, I do not think that they have enough character to go all the way. Namun, harus diingat yang they are very good in all areas. Their three goalkeepers are easily in and fitted into many people’s top 10 goalkeeper list. Their midfield juga adalah yang paling creative di antara 32 nations competing this year. Dengan tahap penyerang-penyerang mereka seperti Torres dan Villa yang terbukti sangat hebat, there will be plenty of goals coming from this European side.

3) Holland

Pasukan Oranje pada kali ini still lagi star-studded just like what they have in the previous years of World Cups. However, ada sense of unity dan lack of ego dalam skuad ni akan menjadi satu petanda yang mereka akan pergi jauh. This team also has a lot of power offensively with the lights of Sneijder, van Persie, Robben (if he’s not injured badly) dan ramai lagi. Selain itu dengan van Bommel, mereka ada midfielder yang boleh bertindak as a brute force in that area. Namun, barisan pertahanan yang kurang solid mungkin merencatkan kempen mereka this time around.

4) England

Pasukan yang akan aku sokong dengan sepenuh hati pada kali ini. The Three Lions might be seen as a bit weak but their tactical awareness and discipline has improved tremendously under Fabio Capello. Mereka pasti akan member impak dalam pertandingan kali ini. The talismanic Wayne Rooney will be key, as his performance can truly define their course in this tournament. Besides that the balanced midfield line-up that they have in their disposal is crucial as they will face various opponents with various style of play throughout the World Cup.

5) Argentina

Perhaps the underdog team besides France among the big nations to go far in this tournament. Tapi aku ada faith in Diego Maradona. He will get his tactics right and get his players head together for the World Cup. Kempen kelayakan yang sangat grueling is a test to their great character in the field. Dan dengan kehadiran perhaps the best football player in the world in Messi, jangan count them out just yet. This side also packs with forwards and attacking midfielders yang full of flair dan talented.

That is my top 5 pick untuk kejohanan kali ni. But let’s not forget the other top nation yang mampu memberi impak yang tersendiri seperti Italy, Germany dan sebagainya. The next entry will focus on the Asian nations yang layak pada World Cup kali ni dan kemampuan mereka untuk leave a good impression this time around.

Notakecil:

-Key players for their nations such as Drogba, Ballack, Mikel and Essien (all playing for Chelsea) are out of the World Cup. Chelsea’s curse I must say.

- Cuti sekolah pula. Looks like I will be more into blogging now that my sisters are conquering the TV set. But I will not be denied when it comes to the World Cup.

- Now that I have the World Cup sticker book, aku akan be heavily involved dalam aktiviti mengumpul stiker, dengan matlamat menyudahkannya sebelum tamat World Cup.

- Academic Writing is starting to haunt me. No worries, that is the work that I want to do.

- Serangan Israel ke atas kapal bantuan ke Gaza is a huge PR mistake on their part. Now the world has been awaken by what they have done towards the people of Palestine.

A Thing or Two to be said tentang ‘The Special One’ dan AF8, among other things..

23.5.2010 10.43 a.m.

Time does flies that very fast and now I am back at home where I truly belong sooner than expected. Pengembaraan dan penimbaan pengalaman itu was short-lived disebabkan atas beberapa factor yang tak dapat dielakkan. Namun aku percaya when it comes to blessing in disguise, kerana dapat juga melepaskan rindu terhadap my three angels and do what I had not done for a very long time; rest, rest and more rest. This is the time to recharge my battery of life dalam preparation for the upcoming semester yang sudah semestinya much tougher than before.

Entry kali ini agak random kerana aku ingin meluahkan a few things on my mind. First up, the UEFA Champions League yang berlangsung last night. It was a tactical victory for Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan side against Van Gaal’s Bayern Munich. Perlawanan semalam sangat taktikal baik dari segi attack mahupun defense. In the end though, two goals by the Argentinian maestro, Diego Milito sealed the deal and Inter won a historic treble. Bagi aku, ini telah membuktikan lagi my perception that Mourinho is the best football manager in the world right now. He took this above average side of Inter and made them into a very formidable side in Europe. Strategi yang baik meletakkan two defensive midfielders as a cover in Cambiasso and Zanetti menyebabkan Bayern had no real ideas to attack, relying heavily upon Robben yang dikawal ketat sepanjang perlawanan. On the other hand, Sneijder was influential for Inter, creating attacks and opportunities at any given time during the period of that final match.

Mourinho memang seorang yang special. Baik dari segi taktikal dan man management he is the best. He picked the right type of player to play within his system of football. Case and point Diego Milito. In my opinion, he is an Italian style Argentinian striker. Finshing dan presence in attack dia mengingatkan aku kepada Hernan Crespo dan Cannigia. Namun, at that final aku sangat kagum dengan kemampuan dia to fend off challenges and his ability untuk retain possession ever so strongly. If I was Maradona, I would pick him as the central figure in Argentina’s attacking setup ketika World Cup nanti and make Leo Messi play off him. As for Mourinho, cabaran seterusnya adalah Real Madrid dan the quest for that illusive tenth UCL triumph. Dengan talents yang ada di sana and with several decent signings, I believe Mourinho will deliver the goods for the Madrid side. Hopefully after that he will return to England and manage Manchester United. Face it people, it is truly fated.

Semalam juga aku berkesempatan melihat final AF yang kelapan. In my opinion, the simplest final that one can come up with. Baik dari segi stage, production value dan segalanya sangat simple and dwarfed in comparison to the previous AF finals. Dari segi quality of the show and contestants, it was the most well-prepared in the history of AF. Kesemua finalis member persembahan yang flawless, especially apabila performing their won singles. Astro struck gold when they cooperate with KRU because KRU provides the right type of platform for all of the contestants to step up. They all get their chance with a single each. These singles will make or break them. It is up to the people of Malaysia to decide. There is an advantage with the Final 7 contestants because they each have their own music videos from KRU, which is one of the best in this country.

Life does go on. Masa yang ada ini will be used to just rest at home, helping dad whenever I am needed and looking after my sisters. Oh ya, and also lots and lots of writing. I need to express it in the best possible way so that it can be shared with the world. Just one small step in my quest to become somebody in this world.

Au revoir for now, mon ami.

Notakecil:

- KBSWorld is my favorite TV channel now, so much variety show showcasing my beloved K-POP stars. I am also following ‘Cinderella Stepsister’s’, a very intriguing Korean drama.

- Riding a bike is hard. Planning to do so as a way to exercise and also a mean of transport. One has to preserve the environment, right?

- Ada beberapa lagu dari finalis AF8 yang menarik perhatian. Definitely digging ‘RSVP’ by Maulana. Somehow it relates with my current situation.

- World Cup can’t come soon enough. The best in the world compete for the richest and prestigious prize in the world of football. What more can you ask for?

- Daniel Bryan beating up Michael Cole is the most satisfying thing I saw from WWE for a long time. He deserved it.

- Another project of recollecting stuffs from the lost hard disk is another thing that I am doing throughout this semester break.

Aku dan FIFA World Cup...

20.5.2010 8.56 a.m

Dalam lebih kurang 20 lebih hari lagi, the most famous sports competition ever on the face of this earth, FIFA World Cup akan berlangsung buat pertama kalinya di bumi Afrika. Satu occasion yang hanya berlaku empat tahun sekali dan sesunguhnya, amat dinantikan khususnya bagi football enthusiasts seperti aku. Bagi aku, it is the ultimate football competition disebabkan sejarahnya yang sangat menarik serta football greats yang memahat nama mereka dalam pertandingan ini. Di sepanjang 22 tahun kehidupan aku atas planet ini, I had experienced 4 World Cups (Italia 90 tidak dikira because baru berusia 2 tahun at that time). Setiap World Cup itu memberi pengalaman unik yang tersendiri bagi aku.

a) World Cup USA 1994

World Cup yang berlangsung di satu-satunya tempat atas Bumi ni yang tak berapa nak appreciate sangat sukan yang satu ni. Mereka lebih embrace sukan-sukan buatan mereka sendiri seperti American Football dan Basketball. Masa ni aku was 6 years old. Tak banyak yang aku ingat tapi I do know that the football was in the morning most of the time. Bapa aku sering melihat the football matches yang ada ketika World Cup berlangsung. Aku masih ingat jadual competition yang ditampal di ruang tamu dan bapa will always update the scores on that schedule. Oh ya, schedule tu berlatarbelakangkan Carlos Valderrama kalau tak silap, pemain berambut gerbang dari Colombia. Anotehr memory yang aku ingat dari World Cup ni was the Final and saat Roberto Baggio gagal menjaringkan penalty masa penalty shootout, thus handing the World Cup to the Brazillians.

b) World Cup France 1998

Kembali ke Eropah, pertandingan ini diadakan di negara yang kaya dengan sejarah bola sepak iaitu France. Masa ia diadakan, I was in Year 4, so pengetahuan bola tu masih lagi sedkit cetek tetapi dah terbuka untuk tahu tentang certain teams sepert Brazil, England Holland dan France. Aku masih ingat masa opening match which was at late night here in Malaysia. Hanya aku seorang sahaja yang berjaga melihat perlawanan tu. One of the more vivid memories that I remembered was England’s run that ended abruptly thanks to Argentina, Paraguay and Mexico’s impressive runs and also shocks by the Croatian. The final was a letdown bagi aku kerana team Brazil yang aku support lost to the host nation and Ronaldo was no where at that time.

c) World Cup South Korea/Japan 2002

World Cup yang pertama kali dilangsungkan di bumi yang aku pijak, iaitu bumi Asia. Satu-satunya WorldCup yang boleh dianggap fleksibel dari segi timing sebab matches banyak berlangsung eiterb waktu petang, Maghrib atau prime time malam. Sangat sesuai bagi aku yang berada di Tingkatan 2 waktu tu. For me, this was the best World Cup because there were so many shocks and surprises by the smaller nations against the powerhouse nations in football. Aku amat menyukainya kerana it broke the status quo. I was fully behind Brazil at this time. Aku juga behind every underdog nations juga, most notably South Korea because of its unbelievable rum to the semi finals. Ini membuktikan that Asians juga mampu berdiri sama tinggi dan duduk sama rendah dengan other nations in football. Aku masih ingat diri ini that was so excited in every Korean matches and became ecstatic whenever they pull a shocker seperti saat Pak Ji Sung scored ketika menentang Portugal, Ahn Jung Hwan’s header against Italy, and the penalty save against Spain. The final menyaksikan team yang aku support, Brazil akhirnya berjaya by beating Germany thanks to two goals by Ronaldo.

d) World Cup Germany 2006

The World Cup was back to a nation that has a significant history of winning it. Ia dilangsungkan di tanah Bavaria yang penuh dengan sejarah bola sepak yang sangat significant terhadap perkembangan bola sepak seluruh dunia. This was the first World Cup yang aku ikuti dengan lebih serius dan analytical disebabkan ia berlangsung after I finished my high school and just before aku memasuki alam university. Not the most memorable World Cup bagi aku kerana tak banyak shocks yang berlaku dan many favorite nations performed agak teruk in this competition. Brazil dan England was a huge letdown. World Cup ini juga kurang menarik disebabkan defensive approach yang banyak dibuat oleh nearly all nations. Maka, it wasn’t surprising seeing Italy lifting the Cup. The final match aku dapat lihat di UiTM Melaka, right after berakhirnya Minggu Orientasi yang sangat hell-like at that time. First live football match yang aku lihat bersama warga di sana.

Itulah memori aku apabila berkaitan dengan World Cup. Tahun ni, aku amat berharap agar the World Cup would be something that is very memorable because we need something like that to be cherished. Life without surprise would be boring. Walaupun aku predict Brazil akan memenanginya, tetapi aku berharap other nations yang tidak diberi peluang langsung mampu melakukan sesuatu yang shocking. Go Argentina!

Au revoir.

Notakecil:

- Akhirnya aku decide to go back home and do what I do best, just rest, rest and more rest. This thing does not suit me at all. Just to stressful of a life to live.

- Planning to recover as much as I can the content of my lost external hard disk one thing at a time, although most of it will remain lost forever.

- Is starting to realize that he is falling in L again.

- Agak merindui content K-POP yang hilang.

(Bola Sepak) Perihal Tiga Generasi Peminat Bola Sepak

10.17 p.m. 14.12.2009

Alhamdulillah. Ketika entri ini ditulis, Malaysia baru sahaja layak beraksi di Final bola sepak Sukan SEA, beating the home team, Laos with 3 goals to 1. For the first time in 8 years, Malaysia has the chance to fight for the football gold. Kali terakhir was back in 2001, ketika KL menjadi tuan rumah sukan serantau ni. I was cautious at first tetapi apabila melihat kesungguhan pemain-pemain kebangsaan, aku rasa agak optimis yang Malaysia mampu mengakhiri kemarau 20 tahun tanpa emas dari sukan bola sepak.

But that wasn’t my main point of this entry. What I would like to share adalah semangat passionate terhadap bola sepak yang tersemat dalam keluarga aku. The best part about the match that I mentioned earlier was I watched it alongside my grandfather. He is a huge football fan. Tak kiralah kalau dapat tengok bola sepak peringkat manapun, from peringkat antara kampung, sampailah ke BPL, he would follow the match with huge interest, walaupun he is well into his 80’s now. Tadi pun, aku alongside atuk was in full support of the national team. The weird thing is that the last time this happened was back in 2001, during the same leg of the competition featuring Malaysia. Guess that things can happen twice in a lifetime after all.

Bila bercerita tentang pasukan kegemaran, selain Malaysia, atuk aku gemar melihat pasukan Arsenal. This is because they always pass the ball around, something that my grandfather said to be the most essential and the right way to play football. Hurts me a bit, considering the fact that I’m a Red Devil at heart. Mujurla di kampung ada Astro, so tetiap hujung minggu memang atuk aku layan bola BPL, if berkesempatan.

My dad also likes football, although not as passionate as my grandfather. My dad minat bola on an average level only. But still he watches football with me sometimes, if only the match itself is entertaining. Pak Long aku agak passionate tentang bola. Zaman dia dulu boleh dikatakan he was one of the most fierced player in the Muar district. Sayangnya, he chose to be a police instead of being a football player. Pasukan kegemarannya is Chelsea and favorite striker is of course, Didier Drogba.

Di kalangan generasi aku pula, nearly all of my male cousins are into football. And the range of football team yang disokong varies dari Johor FC sampaila ke Barcelona. Memang kalau ada big game masa berkmpul ramai-ramai di kampung, semua will be glued to the TV set watching the game. Joy of victory, pain of defeat, all kinds of emotion will be experienced once you watch a football match at the Basiron household alongside the Basiron clan.

Penat pula tangan ni menaip. Until next time.

Au Revoir.

(Sepak Bola) Glory-Glory Man United!

17.5.2009 10.19 a.m

Semalam, buat kali ketiga berturut-turut, pasukan yang aku support, yakni Manchester United Football Club Berjaya memenangi Barclays Premier League. Aku tak tahu kenapa, tapi hanya ada this season yang aku feel yang akhirnya, aku menjadi seorang yang true Man U fan. I did not say yang aku tak pernah support team ni, Cuma this season, aku jadi sedikit passionate dengan team ni.

Aku sebenarnya dah lama support Red Devils ni, sejak zaman kebangkitan pemain-pemain muda bawah Sir Alex dulu. Ala, players like Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Butt, adik-beradik Neville serta beberapa lagi players yang aku tak dapat recall. Aku terus menjadi peminat (belum true lagi) masa zaman treble tahun 98/99. I still remember that dramatic winner during the Uefa Champions League final. Selama 90 minit aku dah lost hope, tapi kemudiannya dua gol injury time dari Sheringham dan Solskjaer mengangkat Red Devils menjadi juara Eropah. Kejayaan ini Berjaya diulangi musim lepas with another dramatic win, this time a penalty shootout against Chelsea. It was one of those rare nights whereby aku tak tidur langsung. Terlalu happy menyaksikan kemenangan United.

This season, aku akhirnya menjadi seorang yang true menyokong Man U. One of the factors yang mungkin menyumbang kepada this thing, aku rasa sebab penyokong Liverpool kot. Berlagak sangat support team mereka. Akhirnya, pulang dengan tangan kosong lagi walaupun Berjaya melakukan double ke atas team Red Devils. Ceh, harap menang Cup lain tapi League masih belum lagi didakap walaupun dah hampir 20 tahun berlalu sejak kejayaan terakhir.

Aku percaya, skuad yang telah Sir Alex pick this season adalah yang terbaik dalam sejarah Man U, given that they beat Barcelona dalam final Champions League tahun ni. Satu perkara yang aku sangat berharap akan terjadi. This season defense United sangat solid, eventhough berubah-ubah sepanjang musim. Rafael Da Silva is a breath of fresh air, seorang right back muda yang sangat talented. Begitu juga Jonny Evans yang berjaya membuktikan yang he can work well with both Vidic and Ferdinand. Pemain defense yang lain pun harus dipuji walaupun tanpa Wes Brown dan Gary Neville hamper the whole season.

In my opinion, midfield United adalah yang paling well balanced dalam dunia bola sepak sekarang. Ada experience with the presence of Scholes dan Giggs. Ada tenacity dan ketahanan yang tinggi, disumbangkan oleh Anderson dan Fletcher. Juga sedikit intelligence play melalui Carrick. Serta workload yang tinggi, provided by Park Ji Sung. Dalam setiap perlawanan, jarang aku tengok Sir Alex menurunkan midfield yang sama untuk dua straight matches. Lagi satu, midfielders United sangat adapt dalam interchanging position between them, membuktikan element of versatility dalam team ni.

Mesti ada yang pelik kenapa pemain no 7 a.k.a Cristiano Ronaldo tak ada dalam perenggan di atas. Ini kerana aku letak Ronaldo sebagai antara pemain penyerang bagi United. In several occasions this season, Ronaldo ditugaskan menjadi lone striker dan terbukti, he can do that job. Rooney is solid as ever this season, walaupun sering menjadi left winger. Pembelian Berbatov, for me was a good buy because he has been the ideal target man untuk United. Tevez juga menjadi seorang striker yang pivotal this season, scoring crucial goals this season. Satu lagi perkara yang menarik bagi aku adalah the emergence of young talented strikers in Danny Wellbeck dan Federico Macheda.

Harap-harap this season, United akan menang Champions League dan menjadi pasukan pertama dalam sejarah competition tu yang retain the title. Bagi aku, Barcelona sangat lucky during the semi final against Chelsea. Mereka hanya layak disebabkan beberapa referee’s decisons yang sangat teruk. Kalau referee tu tak teruk, masakan tiga kapten pasukan negara (Drogba, Ballack and Terry) menyirap dengan referee lepas match tu. Lagi satu, bagi aku Barca agak sukar bermain menentang pasukan yang ada defence yang sangat organized dan berdisiplin. It is up to Man U and its strikers to deliver the goods come 28th May.

Glory2 Man United!!

Ciao.

Notakecil:

- Harapfully 26 haribulan ni aku ada rezeki untuk naik ke Genting. Dah terbayang keseronokan menaiki rides di sana.

-Moving on with life is so difficult without thinking of her. Que lagu Westlife, If I Let You Go.

-Nak letak gambar menarik dalam entries akan dating, Insya Allah.

- Movie tak tengok-tengok lagi. Bukannya apa, kewangan yang tidak menentu membantutkan harapan. Aku rasa I will end up watching Night at The Museum 2 juga ni.

Glory-glory man united!

16.2.2009

Semalam aku tengok kemenangan Manchester United sekali lagi di dalm FA Cup, menewaskan Derby County 4-1. Another routine dan predictable win. Walupun tanpa recognized strikers masa permulaan permainan (Giggs dan Ronaldo jadi strikers, agak pelik), namun United still main dengan sangat fluent dan passing yang cukup mengasyikkan. Nak tengok skuad bola sepak Malaysia main macam ni, jangan harapla.

This season, aku rasa secara realistiknya United ada chance yang sangat hebat untuk menang semua empat piala yang ditawarkan. Carling Cup bagi aku dah dalam tangan sebab lawan Spurs sahaja. Team yang still struggle walaupun ada Harry Redknapp. FA Cup pula aku rasa peluang cerah sebab pesaing kuat pun cuma Chelsea sahaja. BPL pula pesaing terdekat adalah Liverpool yang penuh dengan drama dan Aston Villa yang masih mentah dalam pemburuan kejuaraan liga. Dan aku yakin United ada peluang nak kalahkan Inter Milan sebab second leg dekat fortress Old Trafford.

Bagi aku, great team wins cup, but great squad wins leagues and cups. Kalau nak dibandingkan top four (Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Man U), United ada squad yang sangat baik dari segi quality dan depth. Kat defence, ada Vidic dan Ferdinand, defensive pairing paling kental di United. Sambil tu, dibackup pula oleh Evans yang telah establish himself musim ni. Rafael pula, right back yang bagi aku sangat world class. Terkedu aku kalau dia tak terpilih pergi World Cup 2010 mewakili Brazil.

Di midfield pula, United mempunyai barisan pemain yang sangat versatile. Mereka ada Ji-Sung (most underrated di kalangan pemain United), Fletcher (pengganti Scholes di masa hadapan), Carrick (tak sekental Roy Keane tapi at least pass bola lebi bagus dari Keane), Anderson (sangat hebat di midfield, rajin dan kreatif), Nani (tenggelam sedikit season ni, tapi boleh bagi moments of magic apabila sangat diperlukan) dan of course Ronaldo (Fifa World Player of The Year, apa nak cakap lagi).

Di bahagian attack pula, United ada tiga strikers yang world class. Mereka ada Rooney (striker England yang walaupun panas baran, tapi sangat rajin dan lethal in front of goal), Tevez (pemain United paling rajin, selalu kejar bola dan membuat defense lawan tak keruan) dan Berbatov (semakin selesa bermain dengan United, aku akan rasa terkejut kalau dia tak scoe lebih dari 15 gol musim ni). Insya Allah, musim ni United akan dapat quadruple. Percayala.
Alamak, ada cerita best pula kat TV ni. Nak tengok la.

Ciao.