Top 10 Most Eccentric World Cup Goalkeepers

Following the news that Rene Higuita has hung up his gloves, Carlo Garganese runs down 10 of the most eccentric goalkeepers who traveled to World Cups.

10) Carlos Kameni (Cameroon – 2002)

A Cameroon international since the age of 17, Kameni is best known for his reflexes and is capable of sublime moments of athleticism and elasticity. However, he is also somewhat unpredictable and prone to blunders as proven by his catastrophic display against Egypt in the African Cup of Nations.

9) Fabien Barthez (France – 1998, 2002, 2006)

The bald version of former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobelaar, Barthez was an excellent shot-stopper and played a key role in France’s 1998 World Cup triumph but if you were a team-mate or supporter you were always worried that he was about to do something stupid. Barthez took unnecessary risks outside his area, and his over-confidence often got him into trouble. He is remembered from his spell at Manchester United for standing with his hand in the air for an eternity during an FA Cup tie against West Ham while Paolo Di Canio raced through to slide home the winner. Les Bleus followers will also recall Laurent Blanc’s good luck kiss onto his forehead before France games.

6) Jan Tomaszewski (Poland – 1974, 1978)

One of the most depressing results in England’s history arrived in a decisive World Cup qualifier against Poland at Wembley in 1973. Needing a win to qualify, The Three Lions could only manage a draw after being denied time and time again by goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski. Before the game, Brian Clough had labelled the shot-stopper a “clown”, but it was his man-of-the-match performance that eliminated England. In truth, Tomaszewski was an incredibly unorthodox keeper, he would keep the ball out by any means possible – even with his backside.

5) Jens Lehmann (Germany – 1998, 2002, 2006)

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Lehmann is one of the most peculiar personalities in the history of football. The 40-year-old can be described as arrogant, aggressive, snobbish, as well as downright crazy. Germany’s No.1 during the 2006 World Cup has an atrocious disciplinary record and has often seen red for attacking opponents. He recently urinated during a Champions League game for Stuttgart behind an advertisement board, stole the glasses of a fan, while he also made the news after asking a journalist to lend him five euros that he wouldn't pay back.

4) Jorge Campos (Mexico – 1994, 1998, 2002)

Lit up USA ’94 and France ’98 – quite literally! Jorge Campos was an attention-seeker, and his bright, multi-coloured goalkeeping jersey is surely the most memorable of all time. Just picture Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Like many others in this Top 10, Campos left his area and took chances. He was also an unusual height for a goalkeeper, just 5ft 8in, but made up for it with his agility and spring. Campos made acrobatic saves for the camera, indeed he would fly across his goal even when he had no hope of preventing a goal – for evidence look up Oliver Bierhoff’s second round winner against Mexico in 1998.

3) Jose Chilavert (Paraguay – 1998, 2002)

For most of the 1990s, Jose Chilavert battled it out with Jorge Campos and Rene Higuita for the title of most eccentric goalkeeper. The ex-Velez Sarsfield hero had a goalscoring record during his career that would make some forwards proud, hitting 48 in 272 appearances for Velez and eight in 74 caps for Paraguay. The reason for this was due to Chilavert being a free kick and penalty kick specialist. He once scored from the half-way line against River Plate, and was also a somewhat fiery character. A fight with Colombian forward Faustino Aprilla has not been forgotten.

2) Hugo Gatti (Argentina – 1966)

Hugo Gatti is one of the most unmistakeable figures in South American football history. His fashion trademark was his headband, but he is even better remembered for his eccentric style of play that earned him the nickname El Loco (The Crazy).
Gatti would frequently depart his goalmouth, but not only to act as a sweeper. The Boca Juniors legend, who was a penalty save expert, would take on opponents and play one-twos. A real showman, he once scored direct from a goal kick, and he would tease forwards by patting the ball over their heads when catching crosses. Gatti once described Diego Maradona as a “fattie who plays very well.” The next game, Maradona scored four times past him!

1) Rene Higuita (Colombia – 1990)

Without doubt the most eccentric goalkeeper of all, Higuita is most famous for his performance during the second round of Italia ’90 against Cameroon. With the score deadlocked at 0-0 into extra time, Higuita attempted to dribble past veteran striker Roger Milla midway inside his own half only to be tackled. Milla dispatched into an open net and Colombia would be eliminated 2-1.
Higuita was notorious for taking risks. He would regularly leave his own area to venture towards the centre circle, taking on forwards, and attempting flicks, tricks and backheels. In 1995, Higuita created the ‘Scorpion Kick’ at Wembley in a friendly against England, a somersault heeled goalie clearance from a mishit Jamie Redknapp cross. Off the pitch he also created headlines, being implicated in a kidnap case involving drug baron Pablo Escobar in 1993, and testing positive for cocaine in 2004.

Uefa may act over Brad Guzan's Vienna barrage

Uefa is waiting to view the referee's report before deciding if action will be taken over Rapid Vienna fans' bombardment of Brad Guzan.

The Aston Villa reserve goalkeeper had lighters, coins and drinks hurled at him during the first leg of his side's 1-1 Europa League qualifier in Austria. Meanwhile, the club has apologised to Villa's Andreas Weimann after fans abused him as he was stretchered off. The club said the fans' behaviour was "disgusting, unfair and unacceptable". In a statement, the club added: "SK Rapid would like to officially offer this statement as a means of apology to Andreas Weimann, his family and to the club Aston Villa." Villa keeper Guzan said several of the items thrown at him had hit. He said: "It's obviously not something anybody should have to cope with, and it's not something you like to see." At one point, the American, who deputises for veteran first-choice keeper Brad Friedel during cup competitions, picked up one of the objects and handed it to Luxembourg referee Alain Hamer, who in turn passed it on to the fourth official. Guzan, though, was not overly perturbed by the barrage after suffering similar treatment on international duty. "It's part of the game, part of the environment," added the 25-year-old, who made three superb saves to deny Vienna a victory after Atdhe Nuhiu had netted in reply to Barry Bannan's opener for the visitors. "It's a situation when you go into a hostile environment you know the fans aren't going to be too kind to you and you try to get on with it. "Playing with the national team in central America and some of those countries, I've seen it before. "As to whether Uefa do anything, that's not for me to decide."

Are You On The Path?

On the roller-coaster ride that is goalkeeping, one thing must remain consistent - Training. While the team and fans want a shutout victory, a goalkeeper requires shots, goals-against, and even losses to get better. Where will you find those shots? Will you wait until the cup final to realize that you must lead with your hands on a breakaway? Or will you accomplish that in training and be prepared to be the hero in the final? Imagine a keeper who sees very little action because of a strong defense, and has a shutout almost every game - are they prepared for the next level? or does it create complacency? It would take lots of training to make up for what you aren't seeing in those games, therefore good results actually mean more training. It is only painful, sometimes embarrassing results that will ensure progress and intensity - it's what keeps the fires lit inside. Through ups and downs, the training must remain constant - to correct what went wrong, is not-right, and is bound to happen.

A big part of goalkeeping is experience because it allows you to play at a high level while minimizing fluctuation and inconsistency. Development as a goalkeeper not only requires many hours of preparation, but also a strong mental game. As results rise and fall, a keeper must remain focused and on the path of development. Every shot you face as a keeper must be your most important yet - concern not for what has happened and cannot be changed, only for what's coming next. Emotions are best suppressed, and should not reflect the scoreboard nor those concerned with it. It is in this difficult facet that a goalkeeper coach is most crucial... a keeper coach who has both sunk and swum between the posts. When goalkeeping chooses you, choose Bravo... because you can't win 'em all, and we're counting on that.

Jill Mastroianni called into u23 National Camp

She a 2x All American, a BC Sophomore, and a Durham Native

Jillian Mastroianni

U.S. U-23 WNT TO HOLD TRAINING CAMP IN SUNRISE, FLA.: U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team head coach Bill Irwin will bring 24 players to a training camp in Sunrise, Fla., from March 7-14. Irwin’s roster reflects some of the top underclassmen in the college game.

U.S. U-23 WNT Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Kristin Arnold (Texas A&M; Centennial, Colo.), Natalie Kulla (Marquette; St. Louis, Mo.), Jillian Mastroianni (Boston College; Durham, Conn.)
DEFENDERS (7): Lauren Barnes (UCLA; Upland, Calif.), Jackie Carron (Michigan; Rochester Hills, Mich.), Lauren Fowlkes (Notre Dame; Lee’s Summit, Mo.), Liz Harkin (Arizona State; Granite Bay Calif.), Megan Jesolva (California; La Mirada, Calif.), Lindsey Kowal (Harvard; East Meadow, N.Y.), Jessica Tsao (Portland; Portland, Ore.)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Amanda DaCosta (Florida State; Katonah, N.Y.), Alexandra Elston (Arizona State; Phoenix, Ariz.), Sinead Farrelly (Virginia; Havertown, Pa.), Mariah Nogueira (Stanford; Westminster, Calif.), Eli Reed (Portland; Park City, Utah), Rachel Shipley (Texas A&M; Plano, Texas), Keelin Winters (Portland; Englewood, Colo.), Kylie Wright (UCLA; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
FORWARDS (6): Danielle Foxhoven (Portland; Littleton, Colo.); Sarah Hagen (Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Appleton, Wis.), Melissa Henderson (Notre Dame; Garland, Texas), Whitney Hooper (Texas A&M; Houston, Texas), Alex Morgan (California; Diamond Bar, Calif.), Danielle Toney (Penn State; Northville, Mich.)

Kranich Commits to Villanova

Wildcats have signed scholastic player and 8 year Bravo keeper Jami Kranich to National Letter of Intent

Feb. 27, 2010

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova women's soccer head coach John Byford announced today that the Wildcats have started their 2010 signing class with the addition of goalkeeper Jami Kranich (Hamden, Conn.) who will enroll at Villanova for the fall 2010 semester.

Kranich played her third season of soccer for Hamden High School this past fall and has also starred in club soccer with the Connecticut Football Club since 2002. The team has won the Connecticut state cup each year since 2005 to advance to the Region 1 championships. In 2007, the CFC team was a semifinalist at the Region 1 championships and the Disney Showcase. The club also was a US Club national finalist in 2008. Kranich played in 2009 for the CFC Passion in the W-League and also plays for the 2010 team in the WPSL. She has been a member of the Connecticut state and Region 1 ODP teams since 2007.

As a scholastic student-athlete, Kranich has earned high honors every semester in high school. She has been inducted into the Spanish Honor Society and is a Science Scholar. Kranich is also a recipient of her school's Scholar-Athlete award.

"Jami Kranich is, without doubt, the best goalkeeper in the region," Byford said. "She has been very successful at the high school and club levels and has been on the Region 1 ODP Regional Team for many years. Jami is an excellent shot stopper and has a great presence in goal. I am very excited that Jami is joining our program; she will definitely make us a better team."

Villanova is coming off a 2009 season in which it reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006 and finished the year with an 11-6-5 record. It marked the 13th straight season that the Wildcats finished the year with at least a .500 record and the team's 11th consecutive winning season.

John Byford

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