Calcio Debate: Has Zanetti Ever Had A Bad Game?

When Goal.com yesterday published the story that Javier Zanetti was set to play his 600th game for the Nerazzurri, one reader, Acekaz from England wrote: “Without doubt the most consistent player in football history. You just never hear the words ‘Zanetti had a bad game’. Even if Inter play bad he seems to perform. Mr.Consistent.”

Labelling Zanetti as the most consistent player in football history is a bold statement, but one thing is for certain and that is he is without doubt the most consistent player of his generation. Thirteen years and 599 appearances in an Inter shirt, and it really is hard to think of a bad game that Zanetti has played.

The Nerazzurri may have been the dominant side in Italy for the past couple of years, but prior to this there were many difficult times as Juventus and Milan regularly outperformed their rivals both at home and abroad. Even during these dark days, Zanetti was never anything other than a champion.

Win, lose or draw, Zanetti has never received less than a 6/10. Even during those all too regular European disaster nights, Zanetti has always been able to stand up and look at himself in the mirror. The best example of this was during the Champions League exit to Liverpool last season. While Zlatan Ibrahimovic and co. were busy flopping, Zanetti was a one-man machine, driving forward time-after-time, desperately trying to drag his 10 team-mates by the scruff of the neck.

What is so admirable about Zanetti’s Inter career is just how he has managed to be so consistently brilliant for so long. Some players can be at the top of world football for five or six years, a few for seven or eight if they are exceptional, but very few manage a decade or more. To think that at the age of 35 Zanetti is still probably the first name on the Inter team-sheet is testimony to his sustained brilliance. Indeed last year Goal.com named him as Inter’s Player of the Season, while he came third in the Serie A race behind Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Del Piero.
    
In the 13 years since joining Inter from Banfield, the lowest number of games that Il Trattore has played in one season is 34, while in six campaigns he has featured in 50 or more matches. When at full back, ask yourself if you have ever seen Zanetti tormented by a winger. Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs famously said that Zanetti was the toughest opponent he ever came up against. In fact the only time I can ever remember Zanetti being taken on by his man was for Argentina during the 2002 World Cup when England’s Trevor Sinclair, of all people, had a few successful runs down his right-hand side. Sinclair is most certainly the bizarre exception that proves the rule.

You could write a book about Zanetti, so much is there to say about this brilliant player, but the one thing that stands out above all else, even his consistency, are his qualities as a human being. Whether you are an Inter lover or an Inter hater, you cannot help but admire Zanetti for his class, sportsmanship and honour. The way he conducts himself in interviews, respects opponents and referees, even when his team have been hard done by, such as during the Liverpool tie. Just like Milan’s Paolo Maldini, who he is comparable to in so many ways, you will not find a person with a bad word to say about him.

I end this debate by repeating the title question – ‘Has Zanetti ever had a bad game?’ – a term that should be coined when he finally does retire from football.

What are your views on this topic? Has Zanetti ever had a bad game? If so when? Is the Argentine the most consistent player of his generation? Can you name any players more consistent during the history of football? How should Inter honour Zanetti as he makes his 600th appearance? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…

Carlo Garganese

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