Mundo's 2008 Football Review - Part 1

A review in football for the year 2008, oh boy! Where do I start from? For sure there are plenty of things to talk about as this was yet again, another rollercoaster year. Not only that, being an Albiceleste supporter, you can runaway from talking about football. It’s just something you’re born into.

Perhaps the big news that got our attention back in January was the appointment Sergio BATISTA as the National Under-23 coach. Without wasting time, he quickly went out to establish in what could be the possible team that will go to Beijing. More on that later.

In Europe however, there were plenty of cheers from the Albiceleste Army as we were conquering from England to Russia. Take a look at this: -

• Spain (La Liga for Gonzalo HIGUAIN, Fernando GAGO, Gabriel HEINZE and Javier SAVIOLA)



• Italy (the third consecutive Scudetto for Javier ZANETTI, Esteban CAMBIASSO, Hernan CRESPO, Julio CRUZ, Walter SAMUEL and Nicolas BURDISSO)



• Germany (both Martin DEMICHELIS and Jose SOSA won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich)



• Portugal (another title for Porto with Lucho GONZALEZ, Lisandro LOPEZ, Ernesto FARIAS, Mariano GONZALEZ and Mario BOLATTI)
  

Not to forget there was also something to smile in Europe among which was Alejandro DOMNIGUEZ winning the UEFA Cup with Zenit St Petersburg.

By the way, did I forget something? Not at all because the one man that had the most smile in 2008 was non other than Carlos TEVEZ. While with West Ham he already had fantastic year in English football and when he joined Manchester United, he took his game to another level. First he got the Premiership title, shortly later the Champions League and to cap it all off, the FIFA Club World Cup that just concluded recently.

It comes to no surprise that in Mundo and Sam’s HEGS, Carlitos was voted by the readers as the best player of 2007/08. I wouldn’t want to argue on that. Though he may have seen his minutes on the field being reduced on the field, everyone knows that with his courage and heart, it’s only a matter of time before the lion strikes again.

As you can see, I’ve only mentioned on those playing in the first tier of European football league. You may add the rest in our comment box, incase if there is any. I’m sure there is.

I would also like to highlights on the achievement from those playing in the South America and CONCACAF zone. Copa Libertadores winner LDU was deeply inspired by the Albiceleste, both on and off the pitch (Claudio BIELER, Damian MANSO, Norberto ARAUJO and their coach Edgardo BAUZA).

While in North America, Pachuca with the likes of Christian GIMENEZ, Damian ALVAREZ and Bruno MARIONI captured the CONCACAF Champions Cup. In the MLS, Guillermo Barros SCHELOTTO of the Columbus Crew cleaned sweeps everything that available for them to win during the 2008 season.

Despite highlighting so many things, it seems like somebody is missing from the big picture. If you’re thinking of Lionel MESSI, then you’re right. The first half of the year was pretty much injuries ravage time for the Atomic Flea.

But what a way he turns things around in the second half of the year! He first had to overcome the club vs. country saga about his availability to play at the Beijing Olympics. Again, we will get into that later.

However as the new season gone by, MESSI is firing up all cylinders and maybe 2009 could be the year that will see him being crowned as the King of the World. This just goes to show that you can never have a year without talking about him.

These are the many great things that I would to highlight on the achievement from the Albiceleste at club level. In Part 2, we will focus more on the National team as I felt it was important to write a separate article on them. In the meantime, share with us your thought and view on 2008.

And one last thing. On behalf on the deadly duo from Mundo, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our reader a very Merry Christmas. Do have a great time during this festive moments with your loved ones and take care.