If you every hypothesized that the Europa Cup last season was the competition with the talent,
the passion, and the more compelling matches, then you had your proof today. It was Atletico at the
end looking as if it could have played another 90 minutes while Chelsea looked like it wanted back
those 90 minutes, each minute more painful than the one before.
Finally the M57 to Liverpool to end all this in-sahinity
Reports from Spain, the Guardian, and the Beeb indicate that Arsenal were unwilling to budge
from their position to keep Nuri Sahin on just a year long loan move seeking instead a provision to
make him permanent. This did not find favour with Real Madrid.
Marcelo "El Loco" Bielsa has had a rocky couple of weeks
After meeting with Athletic Bilbao president Jose Urrutia, the volatile Argentinian who had
shockingly resigned over the club allegedly dragging their feet in opening a new training center
has re-considered that decision and decided to stay on for the present.
The remarkable thing about yesterday's match was the Dutch's utter lack of self belief. After
that great start by Rafael Van Der Vaart, they faded away and the Portugese started bossing the
ball around. Only in the last 10 minutes when the result was moot did they perk up and play with
some assurance with Van Der Vaart providing one more spark.
The world saw the genius of Leo Messi flower under Guardiola
And so the coach of the Blaugrana, the one who won in his four years every title that needed to
be won, appears in his final match, the Copa Del Rey finals against Athletic Bilbao today. Josep
"Pep" Guardiola comes full circle against a team whose 4-1 defeat gave Barcelona a triple crown and
capped an extra-ordinary coaching debut for the 37 year old.
Athletic Bilbao with 60% of the possession was the better team but Atletico with Radamel Falcao
and Diego had all the individual brilliance. The Colombian was virtually unstoppable in front of
goal proving too strong and too quick for the Atletico defense.
This was a hugely entertaining match. End to end breathless action at the San Mames as each team
went at each other. There was no let up in the second half. Athletic took an early lead through
Mikael Susaeta as the Basques pulled level on aggregate.
The all Iberian showdown between the Lusos and the Basques kept up the Europa Cup's fast growing
reputation of put whatever you're doing down and enjoin (an amalgam of join + enjoy) the thrill a
minute, eyeballs to the wall, non stop, box to box action on display by some of the world's best
talent.
A penalty miss by Cleiton Xavier in the 64th minute made all the difference to Sporting Lisbon
who squeaked out a draw to edge Metalist on aggregate. Metalist were the much better team this
evening and Rui Patricio was a busy man under the bar.
However, it was the Portugese side against the run of play going ahead through Rip Van Winkle
.
Probably the most entertaining quarter-final on display with a plethora of attack minded players
on both sides. Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Raul, Jose Manual Jurado for Schalke while the Basques had
Fernando Llorente, Oscar De Marcos, and Iker Munian.
It was Huntelaar in great form this season lashing a shot past Gorka Iraizoz who raised
Schalke's hopes for an upset win at San Mames.
Valencia became the first of three Spanish clubs to march to the Europa Cup semi-finals. The
semi-finals will be an all Iberian affair with Sporting Lisbon joining Valencia, Athletic Bilbao,
and Atletico Madrid.
Los Che swamped AZ Alkmaar. Adil Rami scored a brace with Jordi Alba and Pablo Hernandez adding
to the tally.
It's easy to see why Radamel Falcao is a Chelsea target. He can score at will unlike all the
huffing and puffing that goes on in that English club at present.
Falcao rock me I'm a deuce gave Atletico a very early lead at the Vicente Calderon as he headed
in a set piece for his 22nd goal in 23 Europa Cup appearances, the top goalscorer.
It's easy to see why Radamel Falcao is a Chelsea target. He can score at will unlike all the
huffing and puffing that goes on in that English club at present.
Falcao rock me I'm a deuce gave Atletico a very early lead at the Vicente Calderon as he headed
in a set piece for his 22nd goal in 23 Europa Cup appearances, the top goalscorer.
It's easy to see why Radamel Falcao is a Chelsea target. He can score at will unlike all the
huffing and puffing that goes on in that English club at present.
Falcao rock me I'm a deuce gave Atletico a very early lead at the Vicente Calderon as he headed
in a set piece for his 22nd goal in 23 Europa Cup appearances, the top goalscorer.
It's easy to see why Radamel Falcao is a Chelsea target. He can score at will unlike all the
huffing and puffing that goes on in that English club at present.
Falcao rock me I'm a deuce gave Atletico a very early lead at the Vicente Calderon as he headed
in a set piece for his 22nd goal in 23 Europa Cup appearances, the top goalscorer.
Many commentators have concluded that the heart and soul of European football lies in the Europa
Cup and those who saw this match will have little to disagree with that statement. Schalke at home
at the Veltins got another scintillating display from Raul, who is probably secretly relieved he's
not part of the Real Madrid circus anymore.
The Old Lady was helped immensely by their grey beards. Gigi Buffon brought off spectacular save
after another, Andrea Pirlo created most of the movement from deep within midfield, and Alessandro
Del Piero scored Juve's second goal to help keep the Derby D'Italia in their hands.
It was an enthralling match and Inter managed to give Juve some very anxious moments in the
first half through Diego Milito and Diego Forlan.
So yet another Spanish side had Utd's number for the second year in a row. Admittedly there was
no shame losing to Barca last year in the Champions League but surely they could do better against
Athletic Bilbao? But the Basques were absolutely phenomenal and in Fernando Llorente they have a
striker who is everything a striker needs to be plus has huge brass balls.
Arsene Wenger comes in for regular criticism for his re-definition of success. Gems like "if it
means coming fourth, I'll take it for the next twenty years" or the simpler "coming fourth is like
earning a trophy".
You may disagree with him but at least his premise is within the ballpark of an acceptable
milestone.
ATT: circa 35
Additional: Entrance £3.00, Programme Free with entry
Townfield in pictures
Ground Statistics (marks out of ten, maximum 40)
Character 7, Structures/Terracing 6, Hospitality 7, Backdrop/Scenery or aesthetics for larger
stadiums 6 Total 26
After the absurdly early start to the season at Bangor in the Europa Cup, I couldn't then wait a
whole month for my next hit of football and new grounds.
Date: Thursday July 05 2012
Ground: Nantporth
Comp: Europa Cup Qualification Round 1
Match: Bangor City 0 Zimbru Chisinau 0 HT: 0-0
ATT: 1,012
Additional: Entrance £15.00 Programme £3
Nantporth in pictures
Ground Statistics (marks out of ten, maximum 40)
Character 8, Structures/Terracing 8, Hospitality 9, Backdrop/Scenery or aesthetics for larger
stadiums 8 Total 33
When July arrives you can start to smell the new season.
In the old days, there was humour about the state of corruption within Italian football.
Now the tittering is about the rampant corruption in ScudamoreWorld - the Premier League Theme
Park.
Serie A, Serie B, the Bundesliga, La Primera Liga (to an extent), the Dutch Eredivisie, the
Champions League, the Europa Cup, the leagues in Portugal, Denmark, Sweden and even Russia have
taken institutional actions that target the match-fixers.
When I read about Roy Hodgson's appointment as the new England manager I was hoping my calendar
said April 1st not May 1st. This news would have been ideal on April Fool's Day. Now, I have
nothing against senior citizens. I believe they're a major reason why Britain is prefixed by the
word Great.
Two seasons ago, the English Premier League declared war on UEFA both over financial fair play and
the programming of EPL matches to coincide with ones from the Champions League.
The bookmakers, as ever, were most grateful for such impact as the success of the English teams
over the previous four seasons had been immensely poor for the bottom line.
Welcome to our Good Friday edition of the Friday Crackovia
Club! This week, Real Madrid's Iker Casillas and Jose
Mourinho suffer a "communication breakdown" at a press conference. And who better to
resolve the problem than a special appearance by horn-blasting Sergio Ramos?
Athletic Bilbao ended a 35 year wait as they despatched of Schalke 6-4 on aggregate with a 2-2 draw
at the San Mames tonight to reach the Euriopa Cup Semi's where they will face Sporting Lisbon who
despatched of Metalist Kharkiv 3-2 on aggregate 1-1 on the night.
Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon ended Ukranian interest in the Europa Cup tonight with a 1-1
draw in Metalist, 3-2 on aggregate. Sporting's win sets them up with a semi-final tie with Athletic
Bilbao who despatched of Schalke in the other quarter-final.
"Honestly, I think I have done more good things than bad things, but perhaps what I
have done wrong has been reported on more. Of course I am self-critical. I have to be. Any
footballer must learn from his mistakes to improve day after day and know what his weaknesses
are." Man United's David de Gea ahead of tonight's Europa Cup match against Athletic
Bilbao
Futbolita's note : Hey tipo, the scruffy look is pretty good on most days except today.
Forget the automn CL campaigns of old, Valencia in 2000, Barcelona in 2001 and 2007, Milan in 2002, Glasgow in 2003, Munich in 2008. All the glitter and gold is gone. The old stadium of Haifa, with barely one quarter of the seats occupied : that's what Lyon faces today in this Europa League campaign.
ADP with his wife, Sonia and son, Sasha. Image: Reuters.
The season ain't over until the bubbas say it's over.
Fine by us!
La Liga
Real Madrid beat Mallorca 4-1 last night, taking their points tally to a record breaking 100 for
the season. Mou's men made sure of the title a couple of weeks ago, which rendered Barca's failure
to beat Real Betis inconsequential as far as the table went.
It's not the End of the World.We lost a football match. Nobody got killed I expect you're all
looking forward to the Cup Semi-Final against Chelsea on Sunday. No? I can't imagine why not. It's
what the game is all about: Silverware ,Wembley; Marching Bands; Community Singing., Jumpers for
Goalposts, isn't it?
