Despite coming up against Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, former Chelsea goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has named another player besides the famous duo as his toughest opponent.
In goal for Bosnia at the 2014 World Cup, Begovic was tasked with the responsibility of stopping Messi’s Argentina side but had his goal breached by the record Ballon d’Or winner.
He also faced Ronaldo on two occasions in the Euro 2012 play off and conceded twice against the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star forward.
Begovic has also had to deal with Fernando Torres, Sergio Agüero and Luis Suarez at some point but none of the ditto stars gave him more sleepless nights than former Liverpool forward Andy Carroll.
Carroll isn’t as prolific as Torres, Agüero and Suarez and while he has never been at the level of Messi and Ronaldo but was a nightmare for goalkeepers due to his aerial prowess, not thanks to his lanky structure.
Prior to his move to Anfield in the second half of the 2010/2011 campaign, Carroll had scored 11 Premier League goals, five of which were headers.
While his stay with the Reds was terrible, there is no denying that the English striker was once upon a time a dreaded force in the Premier League.
Speaking in an interview with TALKSPORT, Begovic was asked about who he feared facing and named the former Newcastle number 9.
“You’ve got the usual suspects, I’ve played against some of the best strikers – especially in Premier League history.”
“Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Luis Suarez, those sorts of players that can do everything.”
“But actually from a physical point of view, the likes of Andy Carroll.
“When a high ball comes and you’re challenging them, no matter if you’ve got your hands there, they are such big guys.
“A great spring, they were always very difficult and very much a handful.
“Not just for myself, but also for the defenders.”
Caroll’s career took a tragic turn when he moved to Liverpool and was unable to replicate the form he showed with the Magpies, scoring 11 goals in 58 games for the Merseysideiders.
He left the Reds in 2013 for West Ham and since then spent a second stint at Newcastle, played for Reading and West Bromwich Albion and currently plays for Ligue 2 outfit Amiens.
