Serie A welcomed the world's most celebrated striker of a dead ball into its ranks at the weekend. Milan let David Beckham take some corners with his fabled right foot. But when it came to direct free-kicks from scoring range, Ronaldinho pulled rank over the on-loan newcomer. No Milan player scored from a dead ball in the 2-2 draw at Roma. Thanks to a direct free-kick, Italy's title race did get closer at the weekend. Alex Del Piero scored it, the only goal of Juventus's win over Siena, the only victory by any of the top three. It was Del Piero's 12th goal of the season. Half have come from free-kicks. So, step aside Becks, Ronnie, Andrea Pirlo and hail the man with the sharpest sense of geometry in Italian football. Del Piero is Alex The Precise.
The art of manipulating a motionless ball is both over-hyped and under-rated in modern football. Under-rated because, usually, we remember the best goals because they came from unexpected positions, follow fabulous dribbles or inspired passes. Over-hyped because ? well, because it is what Beckham does best. Here is an anecdote from Beckham's time at Real Madrid. Somebody asked the stars of Real to nominate their favourite goals: Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and others named slaloming runs, explosive volleys, impossibly angled chips and lobs. Beckham cited a free-kick. Ronaldo mocked him, jovially. 'What?' the Brazilian asked. 'That doesn't count. You got the chance because of a foul.'
That may be an old-fashioned attitude. The other Ronaldo, Cristiano, scores brilliant free-kicks. They made up a substantial portion of the goals that crowned him World Footballer of the Year 2008, they are clever and imbued with as much mystery and intrigue as a dazzling step-over. A theory is put about that Ronaldo obtains a unique curve and bend on his free-kicks because he punts the ball at the exact spot where the rubber valve, with a diameter of only a few millimetres, pierces the vinyl-clad surface of the ball. Others have their own secrets. Del Piero has consistently been very good at directing a free-kick for 14 years, rehearsing and modifying his technique almost every year. Manufacturers create new balls with new technology each summer and for the free-kick specialist, that means significant new aerodynamics to master. Goalkeepers generally complain that balls get lighter, swerve more, favour the kicker. The doyens of the direct free-kick, in turn, moan that referees seldom ensure the defensive walls stay 10 yards away.
A few winters ago, competition, complete with television rights and sponsorship was established to find the best direct free-kick taker in the world. It was a gimmick, but one that attracted curiosity. Beckham did not attend, so the organisers lacked their main draw-card but Sinisa Mihajlovic, then Serie A's unchallenged master of the art, did. Curiously, Mihajlovic did not win. But in the list of great free-kick artists, he had arrived with the best record. The former Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter defender had an exocet missile in his left foot and struck 28 goals from free-kicks in his Serie A career.
Of the game's specialists in this area from the last two decades, that takes some beating, though an even higher numbers of conversions in Holland are cited for the now-retired Pierre Van Hooijdonk, while the Brazilian Juninho of Lyon, has a terrific record in France. For the immediate future, it is safe to say Del Piero will score more or as many goals from free-kicks in Italy over the next two months as Beckham. The Juventus captain can guarantee being first in the queue for his club. Beckham may have to wait for Ronaldinho or Pirlo to decline the pot-shot if he is even to get a chance at it.
@Email:ihawkey@thenational.ae
