Jump to content

Adblocker Detected

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.

'Legends' of Earlier World Cups


Recommended Posts

Posted

I'm anticipating being fairly bored during much of the first phase, until things warm up for the knock-outs.....and it's still close-season time here.

I thought I'd start a new topic where anyone can post & share videos or stories about any of their 'old favourites' from earlier tournaments. This was prompted by BBC's excellent article (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/yashin) about the man who is the icon of this WC, the great Lev Yashin, voted the 'goalkeeper of the 20th century', and the only keeper to win the Ballon d'Or....and one of my childhood global football legends.

In the late 1950's/early 1960's, european cups & improved television services, as well as the kids magazines like the Hotspur, were bringing these exotic & previously 'mysterious' players into the lives of young football fans whose interests went beyond the fortnightly pilgrimage to Dens (or other places). My Dad had been a goalkeeper (with YM Anchorage), good enough to attract interest from Stoke City, until they found he had a leg injury rooted in the rickets he had as a toddler, and I'd developed an interest in the 'black art'....and none blacker than the mighty Lev Yashin, a giant of a man, who 'rewrote' the goalkeeping manual in his time.

The link above has a very interesting & well-presented overview of his life, his abilities, and how all of this turned out arguably the goalkeeper of all time.

I was fortunate to have seen him play live, just once, for USSR against Scotland at Hampden, in the early 70's, not too long before he retired. He was an imposing figure, always in black, and he must have seemed to cover the whole goal to strikers. He apparently saved around 150 penalties in his career, still a world record by a long way. He wasn't overly bothered by Scotland that day (USSR won 2-0), but I was fascinated to see how he had become 'the extra defender' playing just outside his penalty box, and could start counter-attacks so quickly with huge throw-outs to players over the halfway line.

I often wonder if the 'modern great' keepers like Schmeichel, Buffon & Nueyer studied Yashin's style & were influenced by aspects of his game, as all 3 of them remind me of him in a few ways.

 

Adblocker Detected

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.

Adblocker Detected

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Adblocker Detected

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.

Adblocker Detected

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.


Adblocker Detected

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.
×
×
  • Create New...