Commentary on The great Rivaldo hat-trick of 2001 by a strange event now relegated to the historic past - WORLD CUP 2022
If the National Football Museum opened an exhibition called 'Hat -Tricks then surely Geoff Hurst's famous Wembley hat-trick would be his showpiece; the combination of left foot, right foot and head represents perfection when it comes to football's finest art form. An original trio would be next in terms of attracting crowds. Perhaps Alvin Martin's hat-trick against various Newcastle goalkeepers in 1986, or Martín Palermo's three missed penalties in a Copa América match. How about Ray McKinnon's hat-trick for Dundee United in the mid-1990s?
Forget gimmicks, every gallery has a critic's choice; a connoisseur dish, in this case devoid of the caveats of controversial second goals, imploding opposition and weak leagues. The recommendation in my fictional exhibition? A Rivaldo hat-trick, described by John Carlin as "the most gloriously implausible hat-trick anyone has ever scored in a top game." The Brazilian's exploits in that 2001 game against Valencia should forever be placed next to a golden asterisk in the logbooks, such was the magnitude of the timing and the audacity of the genius.
The date was June 21 and Barcelona were due to play their last game of the season after a completely miserable campaign. Following the resignation of Louis van Gaal, former Betis coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer had guided the club to early European elimination and fifth place in the league when, after the loss to Osasuna, he was dismissed, making him one of the least active players. managers in the history of the club.
Club legend and serial keeper Carles Rexach stepped in, but Barca were unable to take advantage of their rivals' inconsistent form and, after dropping points against lowly Oviedo and Valladolid , he was still outside the top four. in the last round of LaLiga matches.
Twice Champions League finalists in the 1990s, the Blaugrana now faced the very real prospect of being banned from the continent's most prestigious tournament. A match, in the famous Camp Nou, would decide their fate and, curiously, the opposition would be Valencia, the team were three points ahead of Barça in fourth position.
Read | Romário: the menacing, outspoken yet still majestic samba star
Los Che, managed by the revered Héctor Cúper, had just lost their second consecutive Champions League final to Bayern Munich on penalties and should have seal qualification for the much earlier 2001/02 edition. Roy Makaay's 69th-minute goal for Deportivo at the Mestalla on Matchday 37 extended the agony and set up the final day showdown in Catalonia.
Visitors were much appreciated. In Roberto Ayala, Kily González and Pablo Aimar they had three Argentina internationals, as well as some of the best central midfielders on the Iberian Peninsula in David Albelda and Rubén Baraja. On the other hand, Barça was in the doldrums; Dutch...
If the National Football Museum opened an exhibition called 'Hat -Tricks then surely Geoff Hurst's famous Wembley hat-trick would be his showpiece; the combination of left foot, right foot and head represents perfection when it comes to football's finest art form. An original trio would be next in terms of attracting crowds. Perhaps Alvin Martin's hat-trick against various Newcastle goalkeepers in 1986, or Martín Palermo's three missed penalties in a Copa América match. How about Ray McKinnon's hat-trick for Dundee United in the mid-1990s?
Forget gimmicks, every gallery has a critic's choice; a connoisseur dish, in this case devoid of the caveats of controversial second goals, imploding opposition and weak leagues. The recommendation in my fictional exhibition? A Rivaldo hat-trick, described by John Carlin as "the most gloriously implausible hat-trick anyone has ever scored in a top game." The Brazilian's exploits in that 2001 game against Valencia should forever be placed next to a golden asterisk in the logbooks, such was the magnitude of the timing and the audacity of the genius.
The date was June 21 and Barcelona were due to play their last game of the season after a completely miserable campaign. Following the resignation of Louis van Gaal, former Betis coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer had guided the club to early European elimination and fifth place in the league when, after the loss to Osasuna, he was dismissed, making him one of the least active players. managers in the history of the club.
Club legend and serial keeper Carles Rexach stepped in, but Barca were unable to take advantage of their rivals' inconsistent form and, after dropping points against lowly Oviedo and Valladolid , he was still outside the top four. in the last round of LaLiga matches.
Twice Champions League finalists in the 1990s, the Blaugrana now faced the very real prospect of being banned from the continent's most prestigious tournament. A match, in the famous Camp Nou, would decide their fate and, curiously, the opposition would be Valencia, the team were three points ahead of Barça in fourth position.
Read | Romário: the menacing, outspoken yet still majestic samba star
Los Che, managed by the revered Héctor Cúper, had just lost their second consecutive Champions League final to Bayern Munich on penalties and should have seal qualification for the much earlier 2001/02 edition. Roy Makaay's 69th-minute goal for Deportivo at the Mestalla on Matchday 37 extended the agony and set up the final day showdown in Catalonia.
Visitors were much appreciated. In Roberto Ayala, Kily González and Pablo Aimar they had three Argentina internationals, as well as some of the best central midfielders on the Iberian Peninsula in David Albelda and Rubén Baraja. On the other hand, Barça was in the doldrums; Dutch...
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