seanbennett³⁴

WOOHOO!

I’m getting excited. I bought my tickets the other day for Adelaide United’s AFC Champions League Semi Final first leg match against Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan. [that was a bit of a mouthfull, wasn't it?]

This match is the biggest game in Australian club football and it’s this Wednesday. Adelaide have gone further than any other A-League club and Hindmarsh Stadium will be buzzing. The game sold out days ago.

Being part of a full Hindmarsh Stadium is great and witnessing an historic game like this will really be something special. Adding to the match is the chance to see Bunyodkor’s newest star signing - Brazilian legend Rivaldo.

He is a star. For people who don’t know Rivaldo, he is the guy who infamously caused a Turkish opponent to get a red card during the 2002 World Cup with this appalling display.

His excuse?

“I was thinking in advance, I thought that the ball was going to roll up my body and hit me in the head, therefore I tried to protect myself”

Anyway, this got me thinking about diving (or simulation as FIFA call it) and there is a lot that has been written about it. It really is a blemish on the game and there are far too many controversial incidents that have decided big games. The most painful incident (for Australians) was in the 2006 World Cup game against Italy when an injury time dive earned Italy a match-winning penalty. Heartbreaking.

If Rivaldo thinks about trying any of that stuff on Wednesday he will cop it. But on a lighter note, there is the story of Jürgen Klinsmann. His reputation as a diver attracted abuse and ill-feeling from English supporters when he joined Tottenham Hotspur in 1990. However, he managed to endear himself to supporters with this cheeky celebration after scoring on debut against Sheffield Wednesday.

Oh, I can’t wait for Wednesday.