Goal : Even the world’s most skilled strikers know the agony of letting a sure thing slip away; be it a breakaway called offside, a cross that lands just short, or worst of all, an open goal shot that sails metres wide of the crossbar.
Japanese broadcaster Nippon Television (NTV) can surely sympathise with the latter following a bizarre coda to Sunday night’s Club World Cup final that saw the station get the chance of a lifetime – a live interview with Fifa Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi – and waste it in a matter of seconds.
The scene was NTV’s on-location studio, set just off the pitch of Nissan Stadium. Barcelona players were celebrating following their 4-0 victory over Santos to win the 2011 Club World Cup, and the station’s touchline reporters and studio commentators were buzzing over word that a Barcelona player would appear for a live interview.
The player turned out to be Messi, who after scoring a brace in the match was declared the tournament’s MVP. The accolade, given by tournament sponsor Toyota, came in the shape of a golden key large enough to serve as a corner flag.