Soccer in Sun and Shadow

Yashin

When Lev Yashin covered the goal, not a pinhole was left open. This giant with long spidery arms always dressed in black and he played with a naked elegance that disdained the spectacle of unnecessary gestures. He liked to stop thundering blasts with a single claw-like hand that trapped and shredded all projectiles, while his body remained motionless like a rock. He could deflect the ball with a glance.

He retired from soccer several times, always pursued by torrents of gratitude, and several times he returned. There was no other like him. During more than a quarter of a century, this Russian blocked more than a hundred penalty shots and saved who-knows-how-many goals. When asked for his secret, he would say the trick was to have a smoke to calm your nerves, then toss back a strong drink to tone your muscles.