How to be a creative football player like Lionel Messi.

The football community is in awe as Lionel Messi scored his 644th goal surpassing the great Pele. Diehard football fan Alexander Sabadash celebrates this historic occasion by sharing insights on how to be a creative football player like Lionel Messi.

Master the fundamentals

Players can’t make a creative pass or strike if they don’t have if they can’t make basic passes or strikes. A lot of practice is non-negotiable if players want to be a great creative player. The key is having players react to situations without thinking. Practicing drills for hours and hours will enable players to focus more on creative solutions rather than executing a basic pass. Alexander Sabadash shares a lot of training tips in this blog so be sure to look around.

Learn to see the field

To nail passes like Lionel Messi, players need to develop terrific field vision. Passing drills are great for this. Developing field vision shouldn’t only fall on the players’ shoulders. Coaches need to work closely with their players to develop an offense that would allow for creative shots and passes.


Practice mindfulness

Creative plays can’t be executed without a clear head. This is where meditation can be very useful. Beginners can start with a simple meditation practice that involves a breathing exercise. Of course, yoga can help with developing mindfulness. Not to mention, yoga is a great alternate warm-up routine. Although effective, Alexander Sabadash acknowledges there would be some resistance before we see mindfulness integrated with mainstream training programs.

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. 

Image source: trustmycoach.com

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. 

Image source: gftskills.com

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

Image source: goalnation.com

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. 

Image source: prodirectsoccer.com

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.