Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez knows all about the highs and lows of a career in football. Tevez received national acclaim after scoring the winner that sunk champions Chelsea at the weekend, but was ridiculed for his miss in City’s defeat against Sunderland last month.
So here’s a few more horror misses that will make Argentine Tevez feel slightly better about his woeful effort against the Black Cats.
10. Jean-Claude Darcheville v Lyon
Former Rangers striker Jean-Claude Darcheville described his Champions League miss from three yards against Lyon as ‘the biggest disappointment of his career’.
The Scottish side needed just a point to qualify for the knockout stages in 2007 but conceded two late Karim Benzema goals following Darcheville’s unbelievable miss, and the chance to draw level from 1-0 down.
[youtube hnVyjzW_4Uk]
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9. Chris Iwelumo v Norway
Nerves obviously got the better of former Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo, who missed an open goal against Norway on his international debut.
Iwelumo was handed his first cap for Scotland at the age of 30 and the substitute proceeded to demonstrate just why he hadn’t been considered up until that point with a hapless miss in 2008. The World Cup qualifier ended 0-0 and was a major blow to the nation’s qualification hopes.
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8. Nwankwo Kanu v Middlesbrough
Former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu spoiled Bryan Robson’s return to management with West Brom in 2004 when he blasted the ball high into the stands from a yard in Albion’s 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough.
Robson lamented the missed chance, saying: “It seemed far easier to put it in the net than over. It looked impossible.”
Luckily for Kanu, The Baggies survived relegation on the final day of the season and the lost points didn’t prove too costly.
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7. Cristiano Ronaldo v Sheffield United
Proof that even the best player in the world can have an off day, after £80m man Cristiano Ronaldo missed from three-yards for Manchester United in 2006.
‘How did he miss from there?’ exclaims the commentator as the Portuguese superstar casually knocks the ball over the bar in a league game against Sheffield United, before looking for a hole in the ground to swallow him up. Watch the amazing miss below-
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6. Peter van Vossen v Celtic
Dutch striker Peter van Vossen only made 22 appearances for Rangers and will be remembered for a shot described on the Ibrox club’s official website as ‘The Miss of the Century’.
Unfortunately for Van Vossen it happened in the Old Firm Derby against rivals Celtic in 1996. Luckily, Rangers held on to secure a 1-0 away win.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DEkKs_dj2I
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5. Yakubu v South Korea
Everton striker Yakubu can be inconsistent at the best of times and this conflicting streak was highlighted with this wayward miss against South Korea at the 2010 World Cup.
The Nigerians would have qualified from their group had they beaten the Koreans and Yakubu was blasted after the game by the slightly hypocritical Kanu, who also features on this list of astonishing misses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G55c8tFAIAQ
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4. Kei Kamara v LA Galaxy
Kansas City Wizards striker Kei Kamara does no favours for the tarnished reputation of the MLS with this astonishing miss earlier this year. He misses the ball completely before falling over and knocking it into the net with his hand. He even has the cheek to confront the linesman after the goal is disallowed!
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3. Diego Forlan v Juventus
Uruguayan forward Diego Forlan restored his reputation as a clinical marksmen in Spain, during spells at Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, following a dismal two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford.
Forlan was also voted the best player at the 2010 World Cup, however here’s a little reminder of just why Sir Alex Ferguson sold him after this shocking effort in Manchester United’s 4-1 pre-season win over Juventus in 2003.
[youtube 6_A6QHdWcXg]
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2. Ilija Sivonjic v HNK Cibalia
Croatian footballer Ilija Sivonjic managed to miss from an incredible three inches away. Watch the attacker somehow manage to backheel it off the line below-
[youtube QIa8UZ1S7yM]
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1. Rocky Baptiste v Borough and Waltham Abbey
Non-League striker Rocky Baptiste was guilty of one of the worst misses of all-time in 2009. After rounding the goalkeeper, Baptiste somehow managed to smash the ball out for a throw-in instead of rolling it into a gaping empty net.
Luckily the incident happened in extra-time with his side already 5-3 up, maybe this goes some way to explaining his casual execution.
Is there any I have missed? Leave your comments below. You can read more of my blogs HERE or follow me on Twitter. Thanks for reading.
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