Football

La Liga side Athletic Bilbao vs 100 children charity game

The massive game was played over a week ago but after seeing the video footage I had to put this article up.

Video of Athletic Bilbao vs 100 children charity game Joseba Etxeberria

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The game was played in honor of veteran striker Joseba Etxeberria, who announced his retirement from football after playing for La Liga side Athletic Bilbao for 15 years.

Athletico Bilbao vs 100 children - Photo by : EPA
Athletico Bilbao vs 100 children - Photo by : EPA

I must say that this was a hell of a game which most of us must have imagined. Usually a team will play a 4-4-2 or of late 4-3-3 tactical strategy.

But what do you do if you have 100 players who are all going to play at the same time. A hell of a time I suppose for the manager. But I suppose it was 30-50-17.

Now I know with the 30-50-17 tactics it adds up to 97, but the 100 children of mixed sex had three goalkeepers protecting the goal. Now is that not a spectacle to watch.

The charity match which was dubbed the “Impossible Game” was certainly impossible with the pro’s really struggling against the children.

The match changed the meaning of “all over the pitch”, literally. The charity game managed to attract 20,000 spectators.

The game was completed with 200 children participating, 100 in the first half and 100 in the second half but I wonder how many managed to have a touch of the ball.

One of the funniest scenes in the game was when the 100 children took the lead after a very classy goal actually which any pro would be proud of.

An unknown player took the ball from a throw-in and probably after 10 players kicking the ball managed to lob the ball over the Atletico Goal Keeper.

The scene after was one which must be seen. Over half of the players jumped on the scorer after netting the ball. Tell me he never regretted scoring.

However, sadly the children could not hold on to their lead and Athletic Bilbao won the game 5-3.

Who is Joseba Etxeberria?

Joseba Etxeberria is the veteran forward of Athletic Bilbao where he signed up for when he was just 17-year-old.

He has played 444 La Liga games for the Spanish side and is considered to be one of the greatest players to have played for the club.

The 31-year-old has scored a total of 87 goals for the club but also played a majority of his time at the club as a winger.

The player had come to the attention of the media in 2009 when he asked to play for free for Athletic Bilbao after his contract expired.

Joseba Etxeberria, was part of the squad and played for free for the entire of the 2009/10 season in which the club finished in 8th position with 54 points.

Etxeberria played his last league game for the club against Deportivo La Coruna where Athletic Bilbao won 2-0.

Etxeberria was seen crying after a standing ovation by the thousands of supporters of the club when being substituted.

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