By Hadi Yahmid, IOL Correspondent
A record number of Muslim stars will lead the twice crowned European champions France in Euro 2008
PARIS — A record number of Muslim stars will lead the twice crowned
European champions France in the 13th European football championship,
Euro 2008, which starts Saturday, June 7.
The 23-man squad of Les Bleus (the nickname for the French soccer
team) will feature nine Muslim players.
Leading among Muslim stars is Germany's Bayern Munich right-sided
winger Franck Ribery.
The 25-year-old Ribery is known for supplicating to God before the
game kickoff.
"Islam is the source of power for me inside and outside the football
field," Ribery has said.
"My life was hard enough and I had to find something to take me to
safety and I foundIslam."
Ribery's reversion to Islam, which was leaked in 2006, was first
noticed during France's opener against Switzerland in the 2006 World
Cup in Germany.
The blue-eyed boy of the French soccer fans started his playing career
at his home town club US Boulogne and then moved to Alès, Brest and FC
Metz in consecutive seasons.
His move to Olympique Marseille has earned him top French player
honors for the months of August, October and November 2005. He was
selected for the French squad for the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany.
Muslim Stars
A second Muslim soccer star, Eric Abidal, will also appear in
Frenchcolors in Euro 2008.
The 29-year-old Barcelona defender reverted to Islam five years ago
and named himself "Bilal".
Abidal, who was considered one of the best fullbacks in the French
league, says his Muslim faith encourages him to spare no efforts to
serve his team.
"I embraced Islam in full conviction," Abidal, who is married to an
Algerian woman, has told Paris Match magazine.
Abidal, a father of two, started his professional career with AS
Monaco on September 16, 2000, where he earned 22 first-team
appearances.
He moved to Lille OSC and at the end of 2004, he returned to his
native region by joining Olympique Lyonnais.
In June 2007, Abidal moved to FC Barcelona, the world's second richest
club, for 15 million sterling pound.
Les Bleus also feature Muslim striker Thierry Henry, who moved to
Barcelona from Britain's Arsenal for 16.1 million sterling pound.
Henry usually encourages people to read more about Islam and the Noble
Qur'an to get more acquainted with the faith.
Henry, known as the magician, was twice nominated for the FIFA World
Player of the Year.
He led the French national team to win the 1998 World Cup and Euro
2000.
Defender Lilian Thuram is also another Muslim star in the French team.
Thereis also super striker Anelka, who reverted to Islam in 1991 when
he was 16.
The French team also features Muslim midfielder Lassana Diarra
(Portsmouth), striker Karim Benzema (Lyon), midfielder Samir Nasri
(Marseille) and left-winger Hatem Ben Arfa (Lyon).
France will play its opener game against Romania on Monday, June 9.
Sixteen teams are vying in the tournament, which is jointly organized
by Austria and Switzerland and will run until June 29,
The winner of Euro 2008 will represent the continent at the 2009 FIFA
Confederations Cup in South Africa.
DEUTCHLAND
Podolski Punishes The Poles…
A goal either side of half time from Polish speaking Lukas Podolski handed Germany a sound victory in their opener against Poland.. Gomez spilled an early chance but Klose and Podolski teamed up well to put zee Germans ahead.. And a thunder volleyt in the 2nd half saw the game to rest..
I personally think zee Germans could have scored at least 2 more. ”Abdul” Lehmann, a man who played 10 minutes of 1st team football whole season had a good game but did look shaky on occasions.. With Schweisnsteiger not at full strength for the 1st game, the man Fritz came big on the night.. However when the Schwein is back.. Expect a better more clinical German performance..
The defence once again was rock solid.. And ask the Italians how important a sold defence is.
Next game vs CROATIA
The group decider I feel.. I personally don’t see Croatia having the quality to over throw the tournament FAVOURITES..
TAKILLA
Super TUESDAY Talking Points or Debates
F1. What teh f#4k was Hamilton thinking by taking Raiknonan out?
f3$ked up the whole Grand Prix. He needs to be nominated as MUGG of teh week
Bafana. The readers thoughts on the victory?
Azee, ZK and Seth? De Villiers and the Rugby situation? How was the performance
And will Federer ever beat Nadal and win on Clay?
WHO GIVES A SHIT ABOUT THE BALL! WE WON THE DOUBLE! WHO GIVES A SHIT!
ReplyDeleteWhere's Seth's article on the Dutch? Where's Swooshes article on the Azurri? I was looking forward to reading them.
ReplyDeleteThe boys performance was class. It's just the first game and theres a long way to go yet, but the signs are goo for us long suffering Dutch brigade. Viva Oranje.
Swoosh I said it before the game, the Itals defence is suspect without Il Kapitano. Barzagli isn't solid and the Matrix is just plain swak. How could they not include Nesta. Chielini doesn't even instill confidence and as a juve man you have to agree he isn't the class of the Nesta's and Canavaro's.
Dutch defence was surprisingly better equipped than i thought though. I still don't think we have a leader in defence though, but our midfield is top class and Engelaar out muscled Rino Gatusso. Gullit said Engelaar will come good so lets hope it continues.
Van der Vaart finally delivered on all that promise and Wes Schjneider was his usual brilliant self. And De Jongh's performance reminded me a bit of Aron Winter, quiet but effective. I wasn't happy at first with Boulharouz and Kuyt in the starting line up but both had good performances, Kuyt more so.
Offside? Not offside? Who cares just like against Australia in 2006 was Grosso fouled or did he dive? Doesn't matter penalty was given.
And on a parting note, this Ibi Affelay is looking as good as he was touted to be. Hope we see a bit more of him.
Come now Seth, lets have the article, coz the performance derserves it.
Swoohs are those photo's from before the game? Both you and Mo are smiling in them so it cudnt be taken after the game.
You guys are lucky the French messed up.
Viva Oranje
Shakes
the guy that had the italian was an arsenal player
ReplyDeletevan brokhorst
he was all over the place and as composed as can be
simply sublime
sorry i have no time for rugby updates at the moment but take a read at this http://tinyurl.com/3u9cs2
ReplyDeleteFederer will never win on clay while Nadal is around...it was always his weak point...
Mini atleast Sampras won at times on clay Fed looks like he gave up :P
btw check out Will Carling on SportsLeader http://tinyurl.com/4q57td
ReplyDeleteOur newest recruit to the sports blog of Mail and Guardian Online
I agree with anonymous.
ReplyDeleteWho gives a shit?
WE WON THE DOUBLE!!!
GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!
I wonder what the Livertwats brag about now, seeing they won 4kol all season? Maybe they go around bragging about their sisters?
Henry? Muslim?
ReplyDeleteWasn't Kaka supposed to be a Muslim at some stage?
ReplyDeletestop talking shit about kaka!
ReplyDeleteDon't woory Federer I will do it for you. I'm playing Nadal next year in the finals Insha Allah and I will make him feel like how Federer felt in the French open this year, then I will meet Federer in the Wimbledon finals and make Federer feel like how Nadal feels every year on grass(not weed). Glory glory man united, glory glory man united and we don't feel like Federer on clay. glory glory man united and we don't feel like Nadal on grass. glory glory Man united and we don't feel like Italy against the Dutch. glory glory man united and we dont feel like Hamilton in Raikkonen's butt.
ReplyDeleteSHIT?KAKA? NO 2 (TOILET HUMOR)
ReplyDeleteWE WANT AZEE!
ReplyDeletewho the fU&k cares where i am hiding?we won the double and england are not in the euros, whats there to comment about? can only back the dutch now!
ReplyDeletehey swoosh del was bad the other night?