Eusebio: The Passing of a Legend

Portugal legend Eusebio passed away Sunday at the age of 71 (Yahoo Sports)

I admit to feeling old a lot of the time, but there are times when I feel too young as well, particularly when it comes to being a soccer fan.  I say that because I never got to see so many of the legends of the game live, even on TV.  This is a particularly sad case with legendary Portuguese attacker Eusebio, who played in his final games for the New Jersey Americans of the old ASL the year after I was born.

It's fitting that as I return to the blog to start 2014 that I pay tribute to this legend.  But what do I say?  I've never seen him play except on video clips.  I could rehash and summarize the feelings of a million news stories and blogs from around the internet, but you've all read those if you care to.  

I want to use the occasion of the passing of this great man as a reason to reflect on the heritage that the game of football, or soccer if you prefer, leaves us.  Many sports have a long history.  In the United States the history of baseball stretches back into the late 1800s.  Ice Hockey has a distinguished lineage in Canada and the USA as well.  However, in my opinion few sports leave us the rich international heritage that soccer gives us.  It's easy for American boys like myself to think back on the legends of baseball from the same time period that Eusebio played football.  I think Hank Aaron or Willie Mays.   However, much of the rest of the world thinks back to players like Eusebio, players of the world's game.  Players who helped define what that game is to us today.  When you consider the worldwide reach of soccer and it's history, you realize the scope of it's power and that the greats like Eusebio will forever live on in the minds of a great many fans from all over the world, not just in the streets of Portugal or Mozambique.

As I've read about him, I've learned that he only stood 5'9, weighing in at a mere 160 during his career. Seeing pictures of him next to CR7 reinforces this fact.  Still, he was a hugely gifted forward.  He has been named as one of the top 10 players of all time and was known for deflecting credit from himself and being a truly humble human being.  The New York Times said he "represented the best of soccer and of Portugal."

So as we enter this world cup year, take a few moments and read about this legend of the game.  Find some video clips if you can.  My guess is that during Brazil 2014, there will be more than a few reflections back to 1966, when Eusebio stole the stage from England for just a little while.

For more reading on Eusebio, hit up the NY Times Obit or Jerry Trecker's piece on FoxSoccer.com.

Eusebio's casket at midfield of Luz Stadium in Lisbon (BBC)

Eusebio statue covered in scarves outside Luz Stadium (Yahoo)

Ronaldo Out of Portugal Squad With Eye Injury

Cristiano Ronaldo will be undergoing tests on his eye after this injury (Mirror.co.uk)

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo suffered the above eye injury during a 2-1 win at Levante on Sunday.  In the third minute of the match Levante defender David Navarro caught Ronaldo in the left eye with his elbow, resulting in the bloody injury.  Ronaldo would continue and eventually score a goal in the match, but he was eventually subbed out at halftime.

According to Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, Ronaldo had trouble seeing out of the injured eye throughout the first half, and then by the halftime break we was dizzy and having trouble seeing from either eye.  He was due to undergo medical tests upon his return to Madrid.

The bad news extends to Portugal's national team, as the injury has forced him to withdraw from this week's international match. They'll play Gabon in a friendly on Wednesday, but I'm sure both Portugal and Real Madrid would rather have him get the medical help he needs.

The Puddle wishes Ronaldo a speedy recovery and return to the pitch.  It's truly a gruesome injury.

Euro 2012 Quarters: Czech Republic vs Portugal

Petr Cech makes a save on Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Images)

I'm not sure how many people gave the Czech Republic a chance versus Portugal today, but for the most part, they acquitted themselves well.  Petr Cech had a great game in goal, and were it not for a fantastic header by Cristiano Ronaldo, this match very well might have seen extra time.  However, in the end the Portugal captain provided the needed moment of magic to send his country through to the semifinals.

The Czechs actually came out of the tunnel really well and pressed Portugal through much of the first half.  In the 17th minute Vladimir Darida sent a cross into the six, but Miguel Baros just missed it.  It woke the Portugal side up just a bit.

Portugal gradually came more into the match as the half wore on.  In the 25th minute Ronaldo made a turn in the Czech penalty area and unleashed a shot that was well saved by Cech.  Howard Webb called Ronaldo for a foul on the play, but it was just a taste of what CR7 would have in mind for the Czechs.  In the 34th minute he sent a free kick just wide of the far post.  Finally in first half stoppage time he saw another shot bounce off the woodwork.  The Czechs limped in to the half lucky to still be on even terms.

The second half was all Portugal.  The Czechs barely got a sniff of the ball through the entire 45 minutes.  In the 49th minute Ronaldo hit the post again and then looked to the heavens in frustration like the drama queen he is. 

Still Portugal seemed to have an issue penetrating the Czech goal.  In the 58th minute Hugo Almeida appeared to have scored from a Nani cross, but he was correctly ruled offside.  The Czechs took a sigh of relief and wondered if their luck would hold into extra time.

That was not to be though, and it was Cristiano Ronaldo who finally provided the breakthrough Portugal needed.  In the 79th minute Joao Moutinho sent a spot on cross into the 6.  Ronaldo dove into action, heading the ball powerfully into the ground at the feet of Petr Cech.  The ball took a wicked bounce over the Chelsea 'keeper and into the top of the net to make it 0-1 Portugal.

In the end the Czechs would fail to threaten the Portugal goal, despite calling Petr Cech up for a last minute corner.  Ronaldo and company held on to the 0-1 win and sent the Czechs packing.  They certainly had a great tournament, especially after losing the first match 4-1 to Russia then winning the group.  It just wasn't to be today, Portugal was just too big of an ask.  They will play the winner of Spain vs France in the semifinals.

Euro2012: Germany vs. Portugal

Germany's Mario Gomez heads home the game winner (AP Images)

Euro2012's Group of Death continued Saturday night with Germany vs. Portugal.  With Denmark actually picking up three points earlier in the day vs. the Netherlands, it's likely that both of these teams knew they needed the full three points to keep pace in the group.  The Germans had the added pressure of being one of the favorites to win the whole thing.

Shades of Chelsea and the Champions League final began to emerge for the Germans, many of whom play for Bayern Munich.  Portugal played a pretty thorough defensive game for most of the match and frustrated Germany in front of goal.  Mario Gomez earned his first chance of the match on 2 minutes, as he headed a cross from Jerome Boateng on target, but Portugal 'keeper Rui Patricio made the save rather comfortably.  In the 9th minute Lucas Podolski tried his luck from just outside the area, but again Patricio was up to the task.

As for Portugal, they did enjoy a decent bit of the ball in the first half, but as usual, they seemed to struggle putting all of their individual talent together to carve out good chances on goal.  Their best chance of the first half came right on the 45th minute when Pepe managed to head a corner into the crossbar.  The ball bounced right back down on the line but the German defense was able to clear before it crossed, sending the two teams into halftime still scoreless.

The second half proceeded along much the same lines as the first, but Portugal did try to attack a bit more.  Cristiano Ronaldo sent a shot wide of the target in the 49th minute, then he had another chance in the 65th minute, being set up by a nice cross from Coentrao, but Boateng just got his foot in at the last second to block the shot.

Germany finally broke through the deadlock in the in 72nd minute.  With his manager prepared to sub him out, Gomez finally won his redemption.  Sami Khedira sent a nice cross into the middle of the box and Gomez rose to head it home brilliantly and give Germany the 1-0 lead.

At the point Portugal didn't really fancy their chances of advancement if they came away with nothing, so they started to pile on the pressure.  The last 10 minutes produced a flurry of chances.  In the 82nd minute, Ronaldo drove a shot in on goal that Manuel Neuer was able to parry away.  This resulted in a couple of corners that Germany managed to clear.  Then in the 84th minute Nani hit a cross/shot that again clanged off the crossbar.  Finally in the 88th minute Varela had a point blank look at Neuer's far post, but somehow the German 'keeper managed to dive in and save it just in time to preserve the 1-0 win for Germany.

NOTE:  In more bad fan behavior news, Germany has been cited for the fact that their fans tossed grapefruit sized wads of paper at the Portugal players. Those of us who have had our teams play in some Latin American countries think, "Well, at least it wasn't bottles of urine."  Portugal was also cited for delaying the 2nd half kick.