5 Biggest Blunders in World Football This Weekend of Jan. 10-11
The world of football doesn't stop in January and features transfers, cup games, league resumptions and mid-season training camps. Which is all only relevant to say that matches still continue apace, and where there are top-level matches, there will be high-profile mistakes.
This weekend, we're paying homage to some of the goalkeepers of the Premier League—just not the ones featured on this list. These 'keepers are just here for our entertainment. There's one goalkeeper from Ligue 1 too.
Here are our top-five blunders of the weekend!
Asmir Begovic
1 of 5
Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has a bizarre reputation of being an exceptional stopper worth tens of millions in the transfer market, with heaps of teams tracking him, according to the British press (via AS, h/t Football Espana).
That might have been more accurate three years ago, but his past 24 months have been a trail of errors, bungled attempts at straightforward shot-stopping and costing his team goals with regularity at both club and international level.
The latest error came against Arsenal on Sunday, as he squirmed around on his line like a man in a vat of oil trying to clasp hold of a slippery fish, ultimately allowing Alexis Sanchez to score a free-kick.
Begovic's attempt to do anything but save the ball can be viewed right here.
Joe Hart
2 of 5
Joe Hart had had a terrific game for Manchester City against Everton in the Premier League on Saturday—right up until the time his team finally took the lead.
From there, with just about the next attack, Everton came right back to attack themselves—and Hart launched himself as if shot out of a cannon to punch clear confidently from a set piece. Except he didn't. Not even close. Steven Naismith leapt in front of him to head into the empty net and salvage a draw.
Check out a fan's awesome view of the goal right here.
Tim Krul
3 of 5
Newcastle United made things a little easier for Chelsea than might have been expected, mainly due to the fact that for the opening goal of the game, every defending player switched off completely.
A quickly taken corner came into the box with most Newcastle defenders not in position and goalkeeper Tim Krul not even facing the right way. He had no clue the corner had already been taken and couldn't recover in time to prevent Oscar scoring.
Watch Krul not watching here.
Allan McGregor and Ahmed Elmohamady
4 of 5
Hull City playing against West Bromwich Albion was always going to be tight, being the battle at the bottom it was. And with both teams somewhat lacking in attacking quality, it was always possible that a defensive error would be the difference.
That was indeed the case as Ahmed Elmohamady put a needless touch on the ball to send it toward his goalkeeper, Allan McGregor, who was clearly getting the ball anyway. Still, the 'keeper continued his original plan to pick the ball up, which resulted in an indirect free-kick that Saido Berahino gleefully smacked into the back of the net.
See the needless backpass and subsequent match-winning strike here.
Ali Ahamada
5 of 5
We finish up in Ligue 1, where the French showed it wasn't just the English league that had shoddily performing goalkeepers this weekend.
This hilarious bungle came with Toulouse already a couple of goals down to Lyon, who ran out comfortable winners, as Ali Ahamada failed to stop a routine shot from Nabil Fekir.
Watch the French 'keeper's lame attempt at a save right here.
