TOP-10 EVENTS OF THE YEAR 2008

Il 2008 è stato un anno indimenticabile e straordinario per il calcio russo, andiamo a ripercorrere i 10 eventi che più di altri l'hanno caratterizzato, in ordine di importanza.

TOP-10 EVENTS OF THE YEAR

Sport Express reviews the last 12 months of the year and gives the top-10 events of the sport season.

Top-10 events of the year (Sport Express version)

1. Russian national team reached Euro-2008 semifinals

June 21. Basel. Holland – Russia 1:3

Many specialists and supporters have voted this game as the best one for Russia at the European championship, as players demonstrated fantastic football and finished off one of the favourites of the tournament in injury time. This victory gave Russia a place in playoffs.

2. Zenit wins UEFA Cup

May 14. Manchester. Zenit (St.Petersburg) – Rangers (Glasgow) 2:0

Having passed through the whole competition, Zenit beat Rangers in the final match thanks to Igor Denisov and Konstantin Zyryanov’s strikes.

3. Zenit wins UEFA Super Cup

August 29. Monte Carlo. Zenit – Manchester United 2:1

European Super Cup went to Russia for the first time in football history. Zenit upset such a big football superclub as Manchester United.

4. Andrei Arshavin and Yuri Zhirkov are included into nominees list for the Golden Ball, while Zenit striker enters the final list on the sixth place.

Preliminary list of candidates for the Golden Ball has been cut down to 30 this year. Nevertheless two Russian players have included into it, and Andrei Arshavin jumped to the highest place for Russian players. It’s noteworthy that Arshavin has also been capped to FIFA list of 23 players, who can become the best player of the year.

5. Four Russian players enter the best team of the European championship.

Andrei Arshavin, Yuri Zhirkov, Konstantin Zyryanov and Roman Pavlyuchenko entered the best team of Euro-2008, made by UEFA committee. Many specialists admitted that several other players deserved to be picked too.

6. 700 thousand Moscovites came out to the streets to celebrate Russia’s victory.

After Russia’s victory over Holland around 700 thousand people entered Moscow streets.

7. Server Djeparov became Asia’s best footballer.

Uzbekistan national team and Bunedkor midfielder, Tashkent best goalscorer Server Dzheparov has been voted the best player of the year in Asia.

8. Guus Hiddink extends contract with the Russian Football Union.

On March 24 the RFU president Vitaly Mutko and Russia’s head coach Guus Hiddink announced that they put their signatures under the new contract. The Dutch specialist will work in Russia until 2010.

9. BATE Borisov storms into the Champions League and grabs three points in the group stage.

BATE’s breakthrough to the Champions League is a real sensation, while three points earned by them in the group with UEFA Cup title-holders Zenit and two European superpowers Real Madrid and Juventus are priceless.

10. Zenit sets a new record of Russian transfer market, Roman Pavlyuchenko moves to London, while Zico and Rivaldo go to Tashkent.

St. Petersburg club acquired Danni from Dynamo for 30 million euro, thus beating Russia’s previous transfer record – 18 million euro paid by Dynamo for Maniche. Summer transfer period surprised football work by three great moves – Roman Pavlyuchenko switched to Tottenham, while Budedkor (Tashkent) reinforced with famous Brazilians – Rivaldo and coach Zico.

english.sport-express.ru


Potevano mettere però anche lo storico titolo conquistato dal Rubin