Soccer balls in the goal. Photo credit: Stevendepolo http://flic.kr/p/6Hc3VN
The background
As hosts of Uefa Euro 2012, Ukraine and Poland qualified automatically for the tournament. But the pressure will be right on the joint hosts from the off as expectant home crowds pack stadia and demand spirited home turf performances.
Voronin’s howler of a miss
One player seeming to be struggling with a bout of pre-tournament nerves is Ukraine’s 32-year-old striker Andriy Voronin. Despite scoring in Ukraine’s encouraging 4-0 win over Estonia on 28 May, the former Liverpool forward produced a viral moment that has already been labelled “the worst miss ever” by many in the sports commentariat.
Liverpool fans might be less surprised than others by Voronin’s howler of a miss. Despite a big-money move to Anfield, Voronin effectively lasted just one season at Liverpool before being shipped out on loan to Hertha Berlin and then to Dinamo Moscow. Despite his patchy club form, the player has racked up over 70 caps for Ukraine.
Other offenders
Voronin really shouldn’t stress out too much. Why? Because The Periscope Post has identified four way worse misses:
Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo’s monstrosity of a miss versus Norway:
Liverpool player Ronnie Rosenthal’s relentlessly replayed 1992 miss may never be forgotten:
Even in his worst nightmares, non-league player Rocky Baptiste probably never imagined that his inexplicable miss in Harrow Borough’s 5-3 win over Waltham Abbey in 2009 would be viewed by over 4.5 million people on YouTube!
Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs blazes over an absolute sitter versus Arsenal: