centre-halves

It was a night when everything that could have gone wrong for Estonia did so, with the dismissal of the centre-halves Andrei Stepanov and Raio Piiroja sparking the crowd's anger.

Giovanni Trapattoni hails Ireland side but warns against complacency 2011

As it happens, I think the writers and players were both wrong; for me, Tottenham's Luka Modric, a magical playmaker built in the image of Ossie Ardíles, was better than Bale, and just ahead of Nemanja Vidic, who demonstrated again that he is surely one of the great centre-halves.

Ricky Hatton needs to ignore the siren call of the Golden Boy | Kevin Mitchell 2011

Visiting centre-halves will glance up with trepidation on Saturday evening as the man mountain restored as the pivot of Chelsea's attack steels himself to deliver another bruising.

The real Didier Drogba is back, mean and motivated for Chelsea 2011

It was nervy, Ferguson said afterwards, but it was always going to be so, considering that this was a team deprived of their two first-choice centre-halves and pretty much having to make it up as they went along.

Chris Smalling helps make a shaky case for Manchester United's defence 2011

It may be best simply to hold a picture of a big, staring male head in one hand and intermittently thrust this in front of your face until the craving dies.2 An English commentator must say something jarringly inappropriate, like: "Yeah, he gives Madrid an out-ball" – as though Real Madrid's players really have been sitting around all week discussing out-balls and working the channels and bullying the centre-halves.

Ten ways to satisfy your constant craving for El Clásico | Barney Ronay 2011

A flurry of penalty appeals had gone ignored before Parker ghosted in between the centre-halves to flick in Barrera's centre.

West Ham United spring to life to overrun Stoke City in extra-time Dominic Fifield at Upton Park 2010

For more than a decade the 29-year-old has divided opinion at St James' Park but Richard Stearman and Christophe Berra, the Wolves centre-halves terrorised by Ameobi, will doubtless be convinced that his skilful turns, clever distribution, fancy footwork and heading ability comprise a formidable armoury.

Shola Ameobi has Newcastle's Alan Pardew praising his Geordie Tevez 2011

Technically he's a very gifted player but with that height and that control he gives you in the aerial game, it gives you a different dimension that teams and centre-halves just aren't used to on the continent.

Tired Spurs hope Peter Crouch can be Real thing in Champions League 2011

But he showed today it wasn't a problem, he scored the goal, he brought people into play, he held the ball up, and despite not being the biggest guy, he's worked the centre-halves, they never got free headers.

Kevin Phillips's maturity helps Birmingham see off Bolton 2011

The pair seem natural lone strikers, one as a battering ram as happy with his back to goal, the other slippery and intent upon exploiting space between full-backs and centre-halves.

The real Didier Drogba is back, mean and motivated for Chelsea 2011