The Triumph Of The Underdog Is What Makes Football Romantic

Football brings about thrilling moments that lives long in the
subsconcious for years.

Whether its a free kick from metres out that nests in the far corner,
a spinning dribble to create space, a sixty yard pass from deep in
midfield to set up a goal or a tackle to stop an imminent goal scoring
opportunity, football reveals different kinds of moment to different
people.

A goal scored to clinch a title or to win a tournament is always like
a signature in the memory that never fades.

Many fans would always remember Diego Maradona's hand of God goal
against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter final and his
mesmerising run and dribble that took out the entire English midfield
and defence in the same match.
This is how others would also remember Emmanuel Amuneke's goal that
clinched the gold medal in the footbal events of the 1996 Olympics in
Atlanta against Argentina. His brace two years earlier against Zambia
that won Nigeria its second Afcon title in Tunisia 94 remains an
abiding memory.

Sunday Mba's goal against Burkina Faso at 2013 Afcon which gave
Nigeria her third title is even more so, because its happened just
three years ago.

Just as there are abiding memories of joy and esctacy, so also there
are moments of anguish brought about be missing a vital goal scoring
opportunity that would have made a club or country to win a tournament
or advance to the next stage of a competition.
Asamoah Gyan's penalty miss that struck the post in the quarter final
against Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup stands as an memory of
disappointment because if that ball had gone in, Ghana would have made
history as the first African semi finalist in a World Cup. As it was
the Black Stars lost the penalty shoot out that followed.

Few would forget Victor Ikpeba's hands on head after his penalty kick
struck the under side of the bar and crossed the line, but to him it
was a miss, which handed Cameroun the Afcon title in Lagos sixteen
years ago.

There are numerous moments like this that remembers football fans of
what the game is all about. Be it moments that creates joy, or moments
that brings sadness like a Sunday Oliseh crying after the defeat to
Cameroun in the Afcon finals in Lagos in 2000, and a Buffon shedding
tears after Italy lost on penalties to Germany in one of the quarter
finals of Euro 2016.

Yet, all these moments put together whether good or bad doesn't
compare to the triumph of an underdog in football. It is such unlikely
triumphs that makes football what it is. An unpredictability that is
hinged on several factors that makes it romantic. Just like a
beautiful love story that results in a marriage.

Leicester City's run to the Premier League title last season is the
sort of thing that makes football a romantic sport. A triumph that was
never in the dreams of anybody, talk less of it happening in reality.
But it did happen, and it is a sporting triumph that would be told for
generations to come just as the William Shakepeare's Romeo and Juliet.
What made Leicester City's triumph so romantic, was that it didn't
occur by chance, they were simply the best side in the Premier League.

Leaving Leicester City's triumph, the exploits of Iceland and Wales at
the European Championships in France has provided a romantic scene to
a tournament that has been devoid of moments that will live long in
the memory.

Iceland's win over England was reminiscent of Leicester City's triumph
as they were the better side on the day. If a big team beats a smaller
team in a tournament, it doesn't make much of a news as it was
expected, but when a smaller team in every sphere of the word causes
an upset by beating a much more bigger team, the news reverbrates for
ages, and it becomes a tale that is told to generations which makes it
take the form of a romantic story in people's heart.

The Icelandic adventure might end or continue against France on
Sunday, but one thing is clear, the beautiful moments they have
created in football sphere will never be forgotten by the 330,000
Icelandic people. It will ring on for ages, just like the tales of the
Vikings.

The Welsh win over Belgium in the quarter finals created another
romantic sub plot to a tournament that has seen the underdogs come to
the party as the centre of attraction when many bookies and football
fans alike would have flirted with the more bigger teams.

These teams might not go on to win the tournament in France, but
looking at the story from another angle, an average football fan would
always remember what these teams did, because the triumph of the
underdogs certainly makes football romantic just like a love story.

Arsenal Confirms Signing of Takuma

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Japanese international striker,
Takuma Asano.
The 21 year old confirmed a couple of weeks ago that he has been
approached by the Premier League club. And his subsequent signing was
in sync with what the player himself had told the press few weeks ago.

Arsene Wenger said of this of new signing:

"Takuma is a talented young striker and very much one for the future.
He has had an impressive start to his career and we look forward to
him developing over the next couple of years."

The younger samurai would be representing Japan in this year's
Olympics in Rio in August. He was voted as the best younger player of
the year in Japan's J-League for his prowess for his club Sanfrecce
Hiroshima.

He is likely to be fan out on loan as its unlikely that he would be
granted a work permit. The last Japanesse player Arsenal signed, Ryo
Miyachi had a couple of loan spells from the club before his contract
expired.

Going by Arsene Wenger's words, he is a player for the future, and
considering how such signings have gone in recent years, those of
Arsenal persuasion might not be enthused by a signing which will not
immediately contribute to the success of the club.

His signing brings to two the number of players that have arrived
Arsenal this summer, the other being Swiss international midfielder
Granit Xhaka who was signed in May.