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Showing posts from December, 2023

Blocking Behind the Wall to Defend Free Kick, the Origin and Beyond

  The blocking behind the wall to defend free kick, surprisingly did not begin at the top flight competition. Blocking the free kick behind the wall, either by lying down or simply kneeling, has been common to see in modern football matches. Almost all teams are using this unusual defensive trick to block the low-driven shot in free kicks, particularly those aimed through the wall while the defenders jump, creating a space to shoot and stun the opponents. The Origin Such might be rather unorthodox but it has proven to be effective. It is believed that the origin can be traced down to the land of magical Jogo Bonito football, Brasil, despite the fact that it has become viral and well known worldwide due to Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic’s stunning action in 2018. It is not surprising that such a trend began in Brazil, as the low-drive free kick was also invented by one of Brazil's modern football maestros, Ronaldinho. In the group stage of the UEFA Champions League 2006/07,

Less Header in Football for Health Cause, Is it Possible?

The recommendation to lessen the number of heading in football games to reduce the risk of dementia appears to be easier said than done. Concerns about the impact of headers in football have grown since the departure of former England internationals from the 1966 World Cup squad, Nobby Stiles, in 2020. He was diagnosed with dementia, which was linked to the repeated headings. Stiles' teammates in the Three Lions squad, including Martin Peters, Ray Wilson, the former Republic of Ireland manager, Jack Charlton, and his younger brother, Bobby Charlton, who died in October 2023, reportedly shared the same neurodegenerative condition. The Potential Risk Such tendency has been supported by the date from further study and research. During an interview with Sky Sports, Dr. Willie Stewart, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Glasgow and the study's lead expert, expressed his concern. He claimed that footballers were 3.5 times more likely than the general pop