Six Reasons To Play "laligafantasi" This Season

Yep, La Liga season kicks off at the end of August as always do. After winning the European Championship and World Cup 2010, Spanish league have gained huge reputation. Officially start with some of the big names have joined them starting from last year when Real Madrid cashed on some big boys of Ronaldo, Kaka and Benzema to name a few, while Barcelona brought in Ibrahimovic and now they have David Villa in the house. So without doubt, the most intriguing star of this season is the introduction of Jose Mourinho. His arrival has added a new element to the already complex Barcelona versus Real Madrid rivalry. His past with Barca (as the ex-translator, and his personal rivalry as both Chelsea and Inter manager) gives this fixture the sort of hate figure probably not seen since Figo switched to Bernabeu. With his famous confrontational and often very arrogant style of management now injected in to one of the fiercest football derbies in world battle of the club. Hold your breath, we don't need to be exceptionally intellectual to realize that once again it will be either Real Madrid or Barcelona who will win the league. Even though the likes of Valencia, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid continue to claim that they can challenge the big giants in Spain. However, outside the title race, we have competition for each and every other day. Let me deal with six reasons why La Liga is definitely worth keeping up with, and people should enjoy to play YFF La Liga in group "laligafantasi" (ID :  1775, Password : 1234).

1. The Most Entertaining League On The Planet.

Dengan berbekal materi tim pemenang Piala Eropah dan Piala Dunia teranyar, termasuk tim Europa League Winners 2010 yakni Atletico Madrid, La Liga boleh disebut sbg kompetisi sepak bola terbaik dunia. Perbedaan prinsip antara La Liga dgn Liga Premier Inggris terletak di sini, faktor dominasi pemain lokal. Klub besar Inggris masih berkutat dgn peraturan rasio pasukan pemain lokal, sementara Spanyol gak mengalami masalah yg sama. Jika melihat skuad Barca, delapan pemainnya adalah pasukan inti timnas yg berjaya di AfSel 2010. Sementara Real Madrid dgn program Galacticos II, masih menyumbang tiga pemain nasional termasuk sang kapten. Serta secara prestasi, sedikitnya empat pemain kaliber dunia mentas di Spanyol. Kaka dan Ronaldo adalah mantan pemain terbaik dunia sebelum Messi di 2009. Serta yg teranyar adalah Diego Forlan (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid) sbg pemain terbaik di Piala Dunia 2010, juga Santa Casillas menegaskan dirinya sbg kiper terbaik dunia melalui ajang yg sama. Mereka semua bergabung di pentas panas, bahkan Paul si gurita tak ragu memilihnya sbg ajang kompetisi tim terbaik sedunia.

2. The Battle Of The Two Finest Coaches.

Siapa yg berani nekat mengaku penggemar sepak bola terkini tapi bengong waktu mendengar nama Pep Guardiola dan Jose Mourinho. Untuk singkatnya, Pep adalah pelatih muda debutan saat mengambil alih posisi dari senior Frank Rijkaard. Gak banyak bunyi, sembilan piala yg tersedia langsung disabet habis dari tingkat lokal sampai dunia pada tahun 2008 hingga 2010. Barcelona menjadi tim yg amat serakah dan lapar kemenangan, sering bikin frustrasi lawan untuk berhenti jadi pemain bola saja. Namun Pep selalu secara bijak dan rendah hati dapat membesarkan hati untuk menghibur lawannya. Sebaliknya Mourinho dikenal sbg manusia berbibir pedas namun sejalan dgn prestasinya. Salah satu keberhasilannya adalah membawa Inter Milan sbg juara liga Champion 2010, sekaligus pelatih pertama yg sukses menggenggam tiga piala Champion dgn tiga klub berbeda. Diyakini dirinya langsung diincer Real Madrid adalah terutama karena sanggup mengalahkan Barcelona pada ajang juaranya para juara klub tersebut.

3. The Most Talented And Finest Player On Earth.

Seperti disinggung di atas, secara berurutan ada tiga pemain terbaik dunia versi FIFA. Kaka untuk 2007, Ronaldo giliran 2008, serta Messi yg dua tahun berturutan menguntit ketat akhirnya secara mutlak ditahbiskan pada 2009. Ketiganya memiliki perbedaan karakter juga sekaligus kesamaan yakni pemain paling berbakat di bumi saat ini. Kaka bergabung dgn Ronaldo namun Messi yg menang dalam dua babak El Clasico maupun persoalan mengangkat trofi di level klub. Ironisnya ketiga anak muda ini gigit jari saat mewakili negaranya, maka giliran singa tua Forlan yg berjaya di piala dunia. Yang pasti nama mereka hanya segelintir dari para bintang di liga Spanyol untuk membuat perbedaan dari hasil tiap laga tim masing2. Sehingga amat picik jika sepak bola Spanyol hanyalah Barcelona dan Real Madrid belaka, apalagi ada si goblog yg mengatakan bahwa sepak bola dunia hanyalah urusan Brazil, Italia, Inggris dan Jerman saja.

4. Unpredictability Outside The Title Race.

Sekali lagi, memang sepak bola Spanyol seolah hanya dua raksasa saja dari Castilans dan Catalans. Hal itupun terjadi murni bukan karena rivalitas olah raga, melainkan persoalan ideologi, budaya bahkan ke meja politik. Maka ketika sepak bola menjadi presentatifnya, yg terjadi begitu dahsyat hingga ke luar Spanyol. Real Madrid gak bisa dipungkiri sbg pilar Eropah dgn menguasai trophy terbanyak (dan gak masuk akal) ada sembilan piala di raknya. Pada era modern, Barcelona ganti menguasai selama dekade terakhir berikut paham sepak bola yg bikin klub lain ingin jadi tim volley saja. Namun di luar itu, sebutlah klub tradisional seperti Valencia, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid hingga Villareal bahkan Getafe yg selalu menguntit jatah ke ajang Eropah. Serta jangan lupa faktor derby yg selalu ketat antara duo Madrid, maupun Espanyol yg selalu menyulitkan Barcelona. Jika lebih terlibat dalam kompetisi Spanyol, anda bisa tercengang banyaknya pemain berbakat di planet ini yg menari tiap minggu di sana.

5. The Resurrection Of The Basque Giants.

Kejayaan Spanyol dalam ajang Eropah yg berpuncak supremasi dunia, tak pelak membuka mata dunia selebarnya. Mereka pantas jadi jawara bukan unsur kebetulan atau faktor di luar bola, melainkan sepantasnya disebut pakar. Mulai dari level individual, klub, kompetisi lokal hingga level continental dan dunia, serta bukan perkara kun fayakun setahun. Namun yg membuat semua bisa terjadi adalah faktor persatuan dan kolektif. Spanyol memiliki banyak pemain terkenal dgn gaji setara APBD Kabupaten setahun di Indonesia, namun semua rata jadi sebelas dalam timnas. Tidak ada seperti Messi di Argentina, Rooney di Inggris, Ronaldo di Portugal, melainkan kesatuan yg solid dan diakui di piala dunia 2010. Sekaligus menjelaskan bahwa Spanyol bukan cuma Castilan dan Catalan, juga Andalusia, Basque, Asturian, hingga semenanjung Canary. Terutama Basquets bukan cuma Xabi Alonzo dan Llorente belaka, melainkan kebangkitan bagi Athletic Bilbao yg hanya menerima pemain asli Basquets serta kembalinya Real Sociedad sbg tim promosi divisi utama. Selain akan tercipta derby panas, simbol ini menjadi bagian terpenting dalam sejarah La Liga sekaligus membentuk timnas Spanyol menuju Piala Dunia 2010 di Brazil.

6. Weekly Live On TV.

Sudah pasti akan disiarkan secara langsung maupun tunda di salah satu TV Indonesia saban wiken, meski kudu rela bergadang hingga subuh. Pastinya gak ada alasan untuk ingkar terlibat secara langsung dgn menyaksikan pertunjukkan terbesar berikut seniman bola terindah di galaksi ini. Anda ingin lebih terlibat di dalamnya? Silahkan gabung ke group ligafantasi bersama 28 tim lain yg telah mendaftar di blog yg dikunjungi 61 negara tapi miskin komentar Indonesia ehehee (*)

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South Africa 2010 – Group G:

The main fact:

A group with superstars and an unknown "Kim Il-Sung".

BRAZIL

Coach : Dunga

Appearances : 19

Best Result : Champions 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002

FIFA Rank : 1st

Key : Kaka, Robinho, Luis Fabiano.

The Samba King is the only nation that have qualified in 19 consecutive World Cups ever, or the only nation to play in every single final's tournament. They have gained the most tournament titles with five in three different continents, the only country to ever win tournament outside their own continent. They are also being the first FIFA rank and one of the top giant favorites. Now they are heading to South Africa, again after experiencing success on the same land last summer by winning the Confederations Cup 2009. With tons of extraordinary talents, Brazil can be a shadow squad under similar level lead by superstars such as Ronaldinho, Pato, even Marcelo and Heurelho Gomes. They live by the following philosophy, *big names might win matches, but a group win titles*. So far it has worked well. Led by coach Dunga, the former player, captain, and world cup winner for Brazil at USA '94, it seems all element of Brazilians are focused to return to the podium for the sixth time record. But still they have to start carefully concerning one of the toughest World Cup Groups assembled. One small slip-up could mean an early final with Spain in Round 16.

IVORY COAST

Coach : Sven-Goran Eriksson

Appearances : 1

Best Result : First Round 2006

FIFA Rank : 27th

Key : The Toure Bros, Salomon Kalou, Didier Drogba.

The Ivory Coast has a team full of players who have made big impacts in European club soccer, it has been touted by many to be the African nation with the best chance to win the world cup. But wait, what did they do to get two terrible World Cup draws in a row? In 2006 they got Argentina, Netherlands, Serbia & Montenegro, and now get along with #1 ranked team Brazil, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and the mysterious North Korea? Football is football, they really need more than hard play and .. hard to say it, "pray hard". Their opening match against Portugal may be the most important step to advance, seems they will make it with 100% of Didier Drogba. With other European stars include Emmanuel Eboue, the Toure brothers, Sevilla's Didier Zokora also Salomon Kalou, they should be able to make up their missing mate. The Elephants have a shot to proof they still can win the highest level of football.

NORTH KOREA

Coach : Kim Jong Hun

Appearances : 1

Best Result : Quarterfinals 1966

FIFA Rank : 105th

Key : Myong-Guk, Jong Tae-Se.

North Korea is the lowest ranked team in this world cup, this is their first comeback after their last round in 1966. The Choilima back to business is by qualifying second behind South Korea and scored only 7 goals in 8 games although they have better goal differential over Saudi Arabia. After spending over 40 years off the world stage, they should prepare to get disappointed to unfavorable draw result into unfriendly group. Otherwise, as a team which is very much unknown, they do have all the experiences to cause problems with an unfamiliar style of play to others. The team leader will likely be Myong-Guk who is recorded ten shutouts in qualifying, or Jong Tae-Se who have alias "Wayne Rooney from North Korea". They will concede possession and play counter attack, because their reputation on strong defense will be messed apart this time to keep them out from predators likes of Robinho, Ronaldo, also Drogba.

PORTUGAL

Coach : Carlos Quieroz

Appearances : 4

Best Result : Third Place 1966

FIFA Rank : 3th

Key : Paulo Ferreira, Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Portugal has qualified for its fifth World Cup appearances after reaching semifinals against France in Germany 2006. As the third ranked in the world now, they do not seem to be as good as the 2006 team and being qualified second in the group behind Denmark. Selecao needed an aggregate playoff win to advance, and they weren't that impressive. Based on offensive minded, Portugal remains to do so. With the highly marketable Ronaldo, for his talent I mean, he needs more effort to make dramatic impression and to score as well on the national stage like the club level. One thing to worry about is their defense and midfield since Bosingwa, Pepe and Nani weren't lucky enough to comprise primarily of the injured. But some golden generation talent can fill in with Ferreira, Bruno Alves and Miguel Veloso will be expected to step up. In overcoming the Elephants, the Navigators have good memory to beat the coach Sven-Goran Eriksson once again this time after Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006.

PREDICTION :

As the first game always gives an impact, Portugal to meet the Ivory Coast is obviously one of the big match and the winner will take it all. Otherwise to think that Navigators vs the Elephants should end in a draw which means that is going into the last day with Brazil that may be already leading by 6 points in determining opportunities against Portugal at last. The current Brazil side is different to previous incarnations that has graced the world stage. They look defensively solid with one of the best goalkeepers ever had in Julio Caesar and the quartet (Maicon, Lucio, Juan/Alex, Dani Alves).

With Portugal's schedule looks a bit shaky, the Ivory Coast is definitely still has a chance of reaching the knockout stage. This could be a massive blow to Ivory Coast even by Portugal struggling. Finally their advantages in last matches could bring them to the next level, and the only thing North Koreans can hope for is doing better than an unknown quantity in world football. They're not so bad, it's only a matter that they sink in a wrong race to against improper match.

MY ORACLE :

Brazil (7), Ivory Coast (5), Portugal (4), North Korea (0).

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Cristiano Ronaldo To Barcelona

Cristiano Ronaldo appeared on television program in Madrid, sebagai bintang klub dan pesepak bola termahal sejagad setara APBD tahunan satu provinsi di Indonesia. Topik berkisar kesan dan tanggapan di musim pertamanya, peluang juara liga, termasuk *possibelitiy he would ever consider playing for FC Barcelona*.

Tanggapannya berkesan diplomatis, antara keinginan pribadi maupun pertimbangan karir atas nama atlit profesional :

"Madrid is my home, Real Madrid is my club. But I can never say that I won't *drink from that water*. I don't know what will happen in the future. One never knows, although, I would like to retire at Madrid".

Pada kisah lain, tim Barcelona saat ini sedang krisis pada posisi inti sebagai penyerang kiri. Henry dipastikan sulit mendapat kepercayaan dari Guardiola lagi, makin digusur oleh Pedro atau Bojan yang sebetulnya bukan posisi ideal mereka. Ditambah kesulitan adaptasi sang striker Ibrahimovic selain faktor cidera. Barca butuh predator berkelas yang permanen.

Beberapa kandidat yang santer disebut adalah David Villa, yang akan didampingi Frank Ribery. Tapi secara objektif jika ditanya, 'siapa penyerang atau sayap kiri terbaik saat ini?' Serta tidak akan menolak untuk bergabung se kelas Barcelona (yang otomatis sanggup dan pantas dibeli), why not Ronaldo? Bisa dibayangkan formasi predator ideal begini? It's overkill.
 
Villa / Ibra

Ronaldo - Messi

Iniesta / Ribery - Xavi / Cesc

Toure / Busquets



Tentu banyak pandangan, terutama point bagi yang kontra :

- Ronaldo pemain berkelas dan haus kemenangan, setipe dengan possession ala Barca. But he really lacks the Barca's attitude.

- Kendala 'kelakuan' disini bisa berarti arogan, namun yang terutama adalah faktor individualis (improvisasi). Sementara Barcelona bergaya kolektif dan terencana, tentu Ronaldo perlu 'belajar ngoper bola' lagi di Cam Neu. By 'learn to pass' meant he would actually *want* to pass and not always to go it alone.

- Tehnik individu dan skill Ronaldo jangan ditanya. Sebelum jornada terakhir, Ronaldo telah bermain 28 laga dengan 26 gol dan 8 assist. Dia diambang rekor abadi 28 gol milik Alfredo di Stefano sebagai pendatang baru di Real Madrid dengan 28 laga. Tapi ketika harus bergabung dengan Ibra terutama Messi?

- Dan persoalan utama sekaligus makna rivalitas 'el classico', haram bagi el blaugranas menjadi madridista, dan sebaliknya.

Bagaimana menurut anda, ataukah topik ini goblog seperti gobloknya membayangkan Messi bakalan pindah ke Real Madrid?

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