Dutch star Sneijder proves he's good enough
Soccer Betting Lines
07/07/2010 -
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wesley Sneijder wasn't good enough. That's
the way Real Madrid felt less than a year ago. Sneijder is one the world's top
players, but he is no Kaka. The Brazilian would replace the Dutchman, and Real
would return to European glory.
Real had it all mapped out, and Kaka - a FIFA World Player of the Year - would
obviously be a much better fit in midfield. Kaka would be the general. And new
teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, the most expensive part of the nearly $400 million
Madrid makeover, would provide the artillery.
Sneijder was dumped. Offered at a bargain price of $19 million (yes, that's a
lot of money, but put it into context with Ronaldo's $132 million transfer and
Kaka's $86 million price tag). Sneijder quickly found a new home in Italy with
Inter Milan.
Of course, Sneijder wanted to remain in Madrid. Every good player has no
doubts they can play a key role on a team. Even a team with Kaka, who plays
the exact same position as you. Sneijder left disappointed, but determined to
return for an encore performance.
No, Sneijder never wanted to pull on a Madrid jersey again. He just wanted one
last chance to play in the storied Bernabeu. The Champions League final was to
be played there at the end of the club season. It was a long shot for sure.
Nine months after he was sent packing, Sneijder returned to Madrid. He had two
trophies already, the Coppa Italia and Italian Serie A crowns. He departed the
stadium that May evening with a third, the Champions League title that Real
coveted when it cast him off. Funny, considering Sneijder wasn't good enough
for Real.
He was Inter Milan. Sneijder was the hamster that spun Inter's wheel. He added
a dynamic in midfield the Italians needed to end a 45-year drought in Europe's
top club event. There are arguments coach Jose Mourinho provided the influence
to change Inter's fortunes, but it wouldn't have happened without Sneijder.
Sneijder didn't provide gaudy numbers. Eight goals and 12 assists in 39 games
- that's it. Inter defender Maicon nearly equaled those numbers (seven goals
and 12 assists). Ronaldo scored 26 goals in just 28 La Liga games. Barcelona's
Lio Messi had 45 goals. Manchester United's Wayne Rooney scored 34 in the
English Premier League.
The Dutchman provided the intangibles. The leadership. The hustle. The ability
as a star to jell with his team. The willingness to set up others, without too
much concern for his own stats.
Ronaldo, along with Messi and Rooney, were watching the Champions League final
- Sneijder was playing in it. Which brings us full circle, more than 10 months
after his departure from Madrid, to the FIFA World Cup.
Sneijder, again, is the only one still playing. This time for The Netherlands.
This time in the final. Remember, he wasn't good enough for Real. The Dutchman
has been the most important player for his team in South Africa. And with much
more freedom in his Oranje jersey, has five goals.
Sneijder scored twice in the quarterfinals, a 2-1 win over Brazil. It was only
fitting the goals were against Kaka's Brazil, which lost a match for the first
time in World Cup history when leading at halftime.
The Dutch playmaker scored again in the semifinals Tuesday, leading The
Netherlands to a 3-2 win over Uruguay and into the title match for the first
time since 1978. Sure, Sneijder was a bit lucky on two of his goals, as the
ball found the back of the net after deflections against Brazil and Uruguay.
Sneijder's best luck came last August, when Real Madrid thought he wasn't good
enough. It lit a fire under him, and he's proven them wrong ever since. Madrid
covets world players of the year (Ronaldo has also won the accolade). However,
sometimes even the best player in the world gets overlooked.
FIFA recently combined the sport's two biggest trophies, the FIFA World Player
of the Year and the Ballon d'Or, and there is just one player in the world who
deserves the new FIFA Ballon d'Or when it is given out in January. Whether The
Netherlands win or lose, the World Cup final Sunday.
You won't find him in Madrid.
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Bonds nearly hits HR 751, SF wins
4 and drove in
a pair of runs, and Barry Bonds nearly hit homer No. 751 as San Francisco beat
1, in the middle contest of three at AT&T Park.
6) allowed five hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings, fanning
eight and walking three.
game slide.
Bonds, who came within five homers of Hank Aaron's record on Friday, went
1 with three walks, an RBI double and scored twice. The double ...
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