Pride: National anthems in football

Call it 'World Cup fever' but there's something about national anthems in football that I find remarkable. Don't know if it is having the whole stadium singing together or merely watching the 11 players whispering the lyrics as they're about to play.

It is a unique moment prior the match and I admit there a couple of national anthems - apart from the Portuguese that is - that give me the shivers.

Here are the ones I find more powerful (in no particular order):

Russian Federation (hard not to think about Rocky IV, right?)



Italy (Check Gattuso with his eyes closed...)



Netherlands (Beautiful rendition of Wilhelmus with the addition of Maud Mulder....)



England (love how the people in the stadium take over the song!)



Portugal (how could I forget this one, especially when played at the Euro 2004...shame we didn't win it though!)

Clutch: Rivaldo wonder goal against Valencia

Clutch is a term often used in America to describe the ability to perform extremely well under pressure. It is mostly used in basketball and American football with all their timeouts and game plans, but it can also be used in other sports.

Brazilian wizard Rivaldo - still playing at the age of 38 for Uzbek side Bunyodkor - was at the top of his game in 2000/2001 in a Barcelona team that lacked the quality it today possesses.

It was the last match of the season and Los Culés needed to win at home against Valencia to grab a Champions League spot. With match delicately poised at 2:2 and with only a few minutes of injury time to play, Rivaldo did the following:



The Brazilian scored his hat-trick in the most amazing way and sent the legendary Camp Nou into raptures. To score such a wonder goal at such a critical time and take his team to the Champions League....is the definition of clutch.