The significance of a strong core for the best soccer players.

Often, people who lead fit and healthy lives encounter the term "core," which is relatively new. The "core" refers to a person's abdominal and lower back muscles, and it plays a significant role in almost all the movements of a person. 

 

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For today's blog, soccer fanatic Alexander Sabadash shares his thoughts as to why a strong core is integral to the best soccer players in the world.

A strong core means better balance.

People with a strong core can keep their center of gravity low. And this bodes well for soccer players, notes Alexander Sabadash. Soccer players often get into contact with other players at full sprint. They need all the balance they can muster.

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A strong core means quicker recovery.

By quicker recovery, Alexander Sabadash means how fast soccer players get up after being knocked to the ground or off-balance. A strong core allows a person to pick himself or herself up with relative ease.

A strong core means playing at a peak level for extended periods.

In tandem with stamina and endurance, having a strong core allows soccer players to run at their fastest, jump their highest, and do all the things to their limits for extended periods.

The fundamentals: What soccer players have to first master.

Like in all sports, soccer has several basic fundamental skills that people have to learn before being effective. Soccer fanatic and player Alexander Sabadash shares some of these fundamentals.

Dribbling: Dribbling is a basic skill that soccer players use to keep possession of the ball. It's either walking, jogging, or running while controlling the ball. More advanced players can maintain control of the ball while moving faster. 

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Passing and Receiving: Just as fundamental as dribbling is passing and receiving. Soccer is a team sport played on a pretty large field. Passing and receiving the ball is an invaluable skill that soccer players have to master.

Shooting: Another fundamental skill is shooting – after all, it's how people win matches. While kicking the ball into an opponent's net may seem straightforward, there are little nuances such as aiming, controlling the speed, and controlling the ball's direction, which all need to be practiced, notes Alexander Sabadash. 

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Defense: For newcomers, defending in soccer takes a bit of getting used to. Defenders don't stay in front of players with the ball. They usually run side-by-side with opposing players and close the distance enough before tackling to steal the ball.

How Arsenal's players made sacrifices for the good of the team.

    Football fan Alexander Sabadash had followed news and stories of his favorite leagues over the past months, even when games were suspended because of the coronavirus. One of his favorite stories was when Arsenal players made sacrifices, mostly from their pay, for the good of the organization. 

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The sad truth is that in the past few months, to survive, some football clubs have to let go of some employees to pay the salaries of players and coaching staff. In Arsenal F.C., however, players agreed to a 12.5% reduction in their wages instead.

While some see the pay cut as somewhat a loss, it was for the good of the team. However, what compounds matter is that during this time, they were eight points from entering the Champion's League, which had they made it would have the players getting a 100,000-pound bonus and 500,000 pounds if they win. 

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Alexander Sabadash sees the sacrifice as something that inspires people during these troubled times, especially when luminaries such as athletes give up a portion of what they are owed to make life better for many others. He hopes that more teams follow suit, or at the very least, make sure that their employees and everyone else who has given their time and effort to the team is taken care of financially.

The proper way to prime yourself before a soccer match.

 Soccer is a very interesting game to play, but one must always be reminded of the essential things that professional soccer players take to heart to prime themselves properly before a match. Alexander Sabadash shares his thoughts on this in today’s blog. 

Eating habits 

You must remember that soccer is one of the sports that is known to make use of all muscle groups in the body. Soccer demands a lot of energy from you. Prior to a match, get your fill of protein so that your muscles are able to do the work, and also make sure to get carbohydrates which will turn into sugar that your body needs to burn. For this reason, avoid additional sweets and sodas before game day. Instead, snack on fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating nuts is also highly encouraged. 

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Sleep 

Sleep is the most often ignored element of preparation before a match. Soccer is a game of reflexes and wits. You need to stay focused throughout the game. A good night’s sleep before game day will do well for you. Alexander Sabadash says that if you are able to get some undisturbed sleep for 8 hours, your body’s fluid consumption will be regulated. When a person does not have enough sleep, he tends to be dehydrated easily. 

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Stretching 

Stretching exercises must be done with the proper discipline before a match. In fact, some pros do conscious stretching a full day prior. Stretching ensures that your muscles are not going to be shocked with any sudden movement or contraction that you have to make during a game. Stretching also initiates good blood circulation so that oxygen is delivered commensurately to all parts of your body, adds Alexander Sabadash.

A look at a few more of the best soccer cleats in the last decade

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New Balance Furon: Adnan Janujaz and Jesus Navas are blindingly fast players who wore NB Furons. It goes without saying that these cleats pure a primer on stability. Lightweight, with a thin mid-foot section and stiffer soles, the NB Furon allows players to go quickly safely. 

 

Alexander Sabadash explains that as far as his favorite purchases go, nothing will ever match the thrill of unboxing a new pair of cleats. For today's blog, Alexander shares some of the best soccer cleats of the 2010s, some of which he's owned, others he wishes he had. 

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Adidas Messi 15.1: Arguably, one of the legendary players' best cleats ever, the Adidas Messi 15.1 was extremely popular because of its messiFRAME tech that fit players' feel well. It was comfy, supportive, and sturdy.

Lotto Zhero Gravity: Lotto's previously laceless Zhero Gravity line has changed, with the addition of laces. However, it's the Puntoflex system of the shoemaker that allows for a better elastic return on the foot. 

Puma evoSPEED Superlight: Alexander Sabadash mentions that people will have a hard time looking for cleats in the 2010s that were as lightweight as the Puma evoSPEED Superlight. At 103 grams, the shoes were Puma's lightest pair. Anyone who's used it would testify to the barefoot touch. And at its weight, the evoSPEED Superlight is surprisingly sturdy.

Top reasons why Liverpool hates Manchester United.

Liverpool fans often describe Manchester United fans as glory hunters. With claims of over 300 million Manchester United fans globally, the truth can't be farther when you see the locals cheer for the Red Devils. In a way, the fans are only fans when Manchester United is winning. Spectators and fans alike often show little passion for the team, let alone the sport.

Perhaps the single best reason to hate Manchester United, according to Alexander Sabadash, is their manager Alex Ferguson. As a former player and current manager, Ferguson is known for ploys to get an advantage over the other team. The most debated tactic of his was called Fergie Time, where he would use injuries to add excessive amounts of time to the clock for his team to catch. This then reflects on Manchester United's long history of late game-winning goals. Liverpool fans even equate Ferguson as a hindrance to their team's 19t' title. 

If Alex Ferguson wasn't enough for a Liverpool fan to hate Manchester United, all one has to do is mention Gary Neville. Most, if not, all Liverpool fans have a shared hatred for Gary Neville. Neville takes great pleasure in Liverpool, losing to

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 Manchester United. He has long ridiculed the club and continues to do so through pundits on Sky, according to Alexander Sabadash.

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In the English Premier League, grudge matches are plenty, and rivalries are common. These are often hyped to generate support for an upcoming game. However, there are times that situations get a bit too sticky. And among the many rivalries in the league, long-time fan Alexander Sabadash claims that the Liverpool- Manchester United duel will outlast even the apocalypse. Here are some of the top reasons why Liverpool fans absolutely hate Manchester United. 

How is the Bundesliga continuing after the COVID-19 closure?

The Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. or DFB has over 6 million members, the largest sports club in the world. So imagine how the millions of players and fans reacted to the closure of the entire league due to COVID-19. Actually, there wasn’t much pushback from people regarding the postponement of the league considering the country’s stance against the pandemic. But after several months of halted games, the Bundesliga resumed on May 16 with some interesting changes regarding how live sporting events are to be enjoyed

According to Alexander Sabadash, Germany has had 7,000 deaths and over 170,000 infections since the pandemic began. Matches were only officially canceled on March 20 and suspended until April 2. The league even received criticism from the continued matches despite other football leagues suspending their entire seasons altogether. Some criticism even came from players like Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

The Bundesliga resumed on May 16, following strict health protocols and zero fans with the first game between Hoffenheim and Hertha. However, fans like Alexander Sabadash can still be a part of the live game by having printed cut-outs of themselves placed on the stands on the side of their preferred team. While the stands may seem quiet, they won’t be devoid of any colors. The players also came from their respective quarantined training camps to get them back into fighting shape.

With nine rounds of matches left since the restart, the league is set to have its finale at the end of June if no other disruptions will take place that will push the schedule further down the year. For now, Alexander Sabadash claims that football fans can only enjoy the games from their homes as sports pubs are still closed for health and security reasons.

More favorite exercises and drills of the best soccer players.

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Alexander Sabadash lives and breathes soccer. He follows the top Russian, English, and Spanish leagues religiously and spends a considerable amount of his free time playing games or simply passing the ball around on the field.

For those who are serious about getting better at soccer, Alexander shares a few more exercises and drills which some of the best soccer stars in the world do regularly.

Plyometrics: Soccer players need explosive quickness. Plyometric exercise is an excellent way to strengthen the fast-twitch muscles of the legs.

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Agility ladders: These ladders can boost footwork, which is a huge part of a soccer player’s game. It can also increase coordination and awareness and leg strength.

Zigzag sprints: A great supplement to agility ladder drills is the zigzag sprints, which increases the ability of a player to change directions and stop at a dime.


Single-leg hops: Normally done through a series of hurdles, Alexander Sabadash mentions this to be one of his favorite drills since it strengthens the legs and adds to one’s leaping ability for headers.

Calf raises: One of the more isolated and focused drills on this list, calf raises aims to increase the power in the lower part of the legs, the part responsible for quick, agile movements.

The football event that is Scotland vs. England

Alexander Sabadash explains that there are some matches in soccer that are more than just matches, that for some fans, are even more significant that championship games. Every Barcelona versus Real Madrid match, every Manchester United versus Manchester City match, every Brazil versus Argentina match -- these are just examples of rivalries that people wait for and follow.

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The fierce rivalry between Scotland and England also belongs to that prestigious list. Their match in the 2018 World Cup was more than just a World Cup match. It served as a reminder of how old and how enduring international football really is. In fact, Scotland and England were the first two teams that faced off in the very first international football match on Nov. 30, 1872. That was nearly 150 years ago.

On St. Andrew's Day, on a cricket ground in Scotland, the Scottish national team comprised of 11 players from the Queen's Park Club went up against England, which had nine players from different universities. The game ended in a scoreless draw.

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Ever since then, England and Scotland had played in over 110 matches with England winning a few less than 10 more games than Scotland, with 25 draws. There have been immortal goals and unforgettable performances from dozens of English and Scottish players.

And this rivalry will continue, much to the delight of everyone in the global footballing community, Alexander Sabadash included.

Why the World Cup matters

Image source: fifa.com

As a huge fan and disciple of the beautiful game of football, Alexander Sabadash finds his personal heaven every time the world unites for the World Cup. He has written about the World Cup being a commercial success in the past, but for this blog, Alexander focuses on how much the game brings everyone together, past economics and past territorial boundaries.
Football is a game played in practically every corner of the globe, by people of almost every age. There are countless leagues big and small, amateur and professional, school- and community-based that people join to enjoy the beautiful game. And in these games, millions of people dream of playing like their favorite superstars in the biggest matches of their lives.

And it doesn’t get any bigger than the World Cup, Alexander Sabadash mentions.

Image source: fifa.com

Yes, the World Cup is THE sports league and sports tournament of the world. Nothing comes close. Nothing compares. National teams earn their place to represent their countries with the best of the best playing and showcasing their skills. Yes, these are the same players that billions of people around the world have come to idolize.

Alexander Sabadash compares the World Cup to every football fan’s dream of seeing the current best players go up against each other in more than just friendly competition – pushing each other to the limit.

And once the victor has emerged, the world eagerly waits for another four years.

Learning about the World Cup from the eyes of fans.

No other sporting event in the world brings people together quite like the World Cup of soccer. With an even massive viewership compared to that of the Olympics, the World Cup has become the preeminent sporting event of humanity, notes longtime soccer fan Alexander Sabadash.

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However, for new spectators to understand the appeal of the World Cup, they have to look at it from the fans’ perspective.

The World Cup is often played in a single country and is usually televised according to the local time of the host nation. But this hasn’t stopped people from dropping everything they are doing or waking up in wee hours of the morning to cheer on their favorite team and players, explains Alexander Sabadash.

Image source: watchingtheworldcup.com

For amateur soccer players and ordinary folks who just love the game, watching the World Cup comes as a very welcome inspiration. For business owners, the World Cup is a great way to see how marketing is done. For restaurant and bar owners, the World Cup is an opportunity to attract customers. And the list of the positive effects of the World Cup on people goes on and on.


Everyone has a World Cup story. What’s yours? Share them with Alexander Sabadash in the comments section below.

Intriguing bios for soccer enthusiasts

Soccer personalities have some of the most exciting stories to tell, which is why soccer biographies are some of the most intriguing pieces of literature out there, explains long-time fan Alexander Sabadash. Not only is soccer the greatest game in the world, but it’s also a universe on its own, with little galaxies in each country, from Russia and England to Spain, Brazil, and Argentina, and so on. On that note, here are some of the best and most intriguing biographies and autobiographies written by global soccer personalities.

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'Brave New World: Inside Pochettino’s Spurs' by Guillem Balague

Guillem Balague delivers one of the unique perspectives on the life of Tottenham Hotspurs’ Mauricio Pochettino. After coming on board in 2014, Pochettino led the Spurs to the top of the mountain. Fans, notes Alexander Sabadash, will surely appreciate a few, rare, transcribed dialogues between the legendary manager and the people close to him.

Image source: PasteMagazine.com

'My Autobiography' by Sir Alex Ferguson

Very few names are as revered in English football as that of Sir Alex Ferguson. His extremely successful run with Manchester United has seen him handle some of the greatest players of the past three decades. In “My Autobiography,” Ferguson expounds on the most important events in his life, and his thoughts on the personalities he’s coached and played with.

'Why Soccer Matters' by Pelé

Pelé, without a doubt, is the greatest soccer player in the history of the game. In fact, he has been cited by many sportswriters and historians as the greatest athlete, period. For this and many other reasons, his book is a must-read for soccer enthusiasts everywhere, adds Alexander Sabadash.