While I wait for Le Bérubé to comment upon last night’s thrilling conclusion to the Stanley Cup, I thought I’d share one of my favorite moments from yesterday’s Spain-Tunisia World Cup match.
With Tunisia up 1-0, a Spanish player drove a perfect corner-kick towards the center of the box. A waiting teammate headed the ball towards the net, past the outstretched arms of the keeper. Standing on the goal-line, Tunisia defender Anis Ayari preserved his team’s lead (momentarily, at least) by heading the ball away from the net at the last possible second.
To see the play, let this video load a little less than halfway through. Go to the 3:05 mark, and watch Ayari use his head in brilliant fashion.
Of course, Ayari was not quite as brilliant when he reached the bench and attempted to remove his shirt:
Update: Phil Mickelson may have faltered, but Bérubé comes through in the clutch.
4 Comments on "Head Save, and a Beaut"
Rod:
So many sports. My job is really getting in the way at the moment.
A couple of things about all of the recent excitement:
The Stanley Cup Game 7 was exciting, even if my TV is so small I could barely ever see the puck and I’ve yet to see a goal in real time IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. By the way, is Brind’amour perhaps French for “Face Like A Rucksack?
Took off work for forty five minutes to watch the England play their best football of the World Cup so far in the first half against Sweden, and was lucky enough to see a very very fine goal by Joe Cole. Returned to work heartened, only to follow the live update online with increasing dismay. What on earth did Sven say to the boys at halftime? If it was, “Boys, let down your guard, forget how to defend, run around aimlessly and flail arms and legs to within a hair of losing the group,” then I think he succeeded almost completely.
I could suck at his job for much less than he’s getting paid.
Fingers crossed for a Mavs win tonight, if only so we can get more basketball and perhaps watch Mark Cuban lose even more of his money with the ranting and the raving and the hey hey.
Jim Groom:
Hey Matty,
Nice to see you back in full swing, I love the new look and feel of the blog - the blogosphere is a better place for your return.
As for the video, I was impressed by the play you frame, but I was even more excited about the 20 second introduction to the clip - the flags, the music, the teams filing into the stadium, the excitement and chanting of the crowd - there is something unbelievably exciting and frightening about the way in which thousands of people become entranced with nationlized spectacle. I could feel myself, as the music started and the crowd’s roar faded in, wanting to be there, wanting to believe in something so much that I would scream and yell and go crazy!
So, I just got online and bought tickets to a Yankee game for when I head back to NYC -thanks for the incentive!!!
Comandante Agi:
Yeah, that goal by Joe Cole against Sweden was fantastic. He and Rooney got their work cut out for them since Owen is out for good with a bum knee.
Argentina v. Netherlands should be a good game today. I’m recording it, so will try to avoid learning the outcome today. Must. not. check. scores. on. web.
Matt:
@Rod: great comment. Most people would find it hard to believe that a hockey goal could be more rare than a soccer goal, but there you go. That Cole shot was a beauty.
@Jimmy: thanks. And ¡Viva el espectáculo!
@Agi: I cannot wait for Argentina-Netherlands today. Good luck avoiding the score.
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