We present to your attention the text of Sergei Shevchenko from the magazine "Football" (№71).
Great football again in Kharkov! Metalist stadium will play for the first time a duel of the group stage of the Champions League. Miner takes Napoli - one of the most interesting teams of Serie A. Wards Maurizio Sarri admire in Italy, they are considered almost the main competitors of Juventus in the fight for the Scudetto. We singled out the top five football players who on Wednesday, September 13, will compete against the champions of Ukraine.
Lorenzo Insigneux Striker, 26 years old, Italian Last season: 49 games, 20 goals, 12 assists. Feature: he is not only the only Italian at the base of Napoli, but also a native of Naples, for which we especially like the stands of Sao Paolo Interesting fact: his the younger brother for three years, Roberto, is also a football player belonging to Napoli, but now he is rented by Parma; agent Insigne Jr. - none other than Mino Rayola To date, this is perhaps the most brilliant attacking footballer with Italian citizenship. Miniature (height - 163 cm. ), incredibly agile, with an excellent stroke - these qualities make Insigne one of the leaders of both Napoli and the Italian national team. Lorenzo became one of the hopes of Calcio still speaking for Pescara when he scored 18 goals in Serie B. Italian football experienced a severe staff shortage, against which the talented guy was a breath of fresh air. Since then, Insigne has matured, gained stability and was entrenched on the left flank of the attack. His hobby is the displacement to the center and the strokes with the right. When the rumors about Lorenzo's possible retirement to Barcelona started in the summer, Aurelio De Laurentiis, president of Napoli, was categorical: "Only through my corpse".
Dries Mertens Central striker, 30 years old, Belgian Last season: 46 matches, 34 goals, 15 assists. Feature: an amazing example of a change of position when a player with a height of 169 cm. , who previously left on the flank or in the middle of the field, became a first-class center forward. Interesting fact: when he scored on Roma's goal on March 4 of this year, he decided to celebrate the goal in an unusual way-depicting a pissing dog. A key player in the Neapolitan "attack group" who managed to push Arkadyush Milika. Thanks to Mertens on Sao Paulo there is no nostalgia for Gonzalo Higuain, because the Belgian demonstrates no less impressive statistics. At Дрис outstanding indicators, and it concerns not only goals and transfers. Participation in scoring attacks, strokes, single combat in the attack - according to these criteria Mertens is the best player of the team. His style of play includes both deft dribbling and rapid jerks when defenders are instantly behind their backs. Дрис along with Инсинье define the face of Napoli - a command where the game ahead is made by low, but extremely dangerous guys.
Marek Hamshik Central midfielder, 30 years old, Slovak Last season: 49 games, 15 goals, 14 assists. Feature: exactly ten years played exclusively in Napoli, despite the numerous proposals from the top clubs. Interesting fact: when in 2008 he lost expensive wristwatches because of the robbery and the police proved powerless, the fans of Napoli joined in, who returned the watch five days later to the owner Captain Napoli and football player No. 1 in independent Slovakia. Hamshik - a symbol of the revival of the Neapolitan club. He came in 2007, when the Parthenopes barely returned to the elite. Now the team is claiming the highest places, and Marek is still the leading midfielder and one of the cornerstones in the constructions of Sarri, which builds the game through possession of the ball and the abundance of programs. Hamshik's horse is a vertical split passes, as well as a powerful blow, his performance was always in order (93 goals for Napoli, 21 for the national team of Slovakia). Marek is a rare case of a player betrayed to a club, in the current conditions he can even be called "one-club-man".
Kalidou Coulibaly Central defender, 26 years old, Senegalese Last season: 38 matches, 2 goals Feature: the team record for martial arts in fights, fouls and interceptions Interesting fact: a year ago he wanted to get Chelsea, but the Neapolitans steadfastly rejected all proposals, they were not satisfied even more than a tempting 60 million. euro A player who compensates for his physical data miniature representatives of the "attack group". Coulibaly is powerful and huge, for which he was awarded the nickname "The Wall", but the speed is not deprived. Team Maurizio Sarri feels confident at the standards, where Coulibaly is indispensable. In the defense of Napoli, which is not the strongest link in the team, Kalidu is the only top performer. The biography of this defender is curious because he was born in France and played for the youth team of this country, but at an adult level signed for his historical homeland, Senegal.
Jose Manuel Reina Goalkeeper, 35 years old, Spaniard Last season: 48 matches, 57 goals conceded, 14 matches to zero Feature: the first goalkeeper in history to play in all the big four championships (Spain, England, Italy, Germany) Interesting fact : he is the world champion (2010) and two-time champion of Europe (2008, 2012), although he only held one match at these tournaments - with the Greeks in 2008. A native of Madrid and a student of Barcelona, ??he played for nine years in Liverpool, and on Sunset career found himself in Napoli. Reina along with the reserve defender Maggio - the most experienced players of the team, who managed to play a little in the last century. He is valued for leadership qualities, ability to hedge defenders, and, of course, for saves, Pepe sometimes helps out a great team. This charismatic goalkeeper could leave Naples in the summer, yet age is already beginning to tell, but the next year he will spend in Napoli. Probably this is his last season at a high level.
Sergey SHEVCHENKO, magazine "Football" (№71).