This is probably the best football commercial that I’ve ever seen. Features Didier Drogba, Cannavaro, Wayne Rooney, Frank Ribery, Ronaldinho (funny he’s not even going to South Africa!), Kobe Bryant and Cristiano Ronaldo. Superb!
The dream to rub shoulders with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter is an admirable one for any professional footballer. Since 2004/05 the top four of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool has been inter changing with one or the other trading places. It was only in the 2004/05 season that Everton managed to “breach” this area by finishing in fourth ahead of Liverpool while the other three remained the same.
After yesterday, the change in top four premier league standings would exist too. Spurs being the breaching party this time after they beat Manchester City at Eastlands and again Liverpool not being amongst the top four.
Last nights game between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur couldn’t have been bigger and held bigger stakes in terms of the monetary incentive that was running on it or the motivation value that it presented both teams with. Spurs who were a point ahea of Manchester City were eager to get the three points thus ensuring Champions League football for them (counting qualifiers as part of it too). While City on the other hand who have been exceptional at home this season wanted to keep it neck and neck on the final day of the season where Spurs would travel to Burnley and City face West Ham United at Uptown Park. Expectedly billed as a cup game as over 47,000 thronged the City of Manchester Stadium to witness who would be going for the Champions League next season and who would be playing in the Europa League.
It was great news from the beginning for Spurs as Gomes was declared fit. City piled on the pressure from the onset with Tevez being the front runner with his great runs and withstanding Spurs’ defensive pressure of King and Michael Dawson. As play progressed, City’s attack began to grow but Spurs defence was in good order and Gomes was in great form to deny a low cracking hit by Adam Johnson. Later, Tevez was close to scoring but again Gomez was equal to it as the teams headed into the tunnel with no goals scored by either sides. King had also headed the ball into the goal but it was adjudged as a foul as the Englishman had leaped on top of Barry.
Spurs looked more likely to score in the second half with Gareth Bale’s brilliantly controlled shot was just wide.
Assou-Ekotto’s low driven cross was perfect for either Jermaine Defoe or Peter Crouch to get to but neither of them could get their toes to it.
Crouch had a fantastic opportunity and one which he should have buried with a Bale cross but 2nd choice goal keeper, Fulop somehow managed to deny the tall England forward.
As time went on, cracks in City’s defence began to emerge as they pushed on for a goal. This provided the opportunity for Spurs to get a goal for themselves. And it came finally in the 82nd minute after a powerful shot by Younes Kaboul was deflected to Fulop who could only flap his gloves at it as the ball fell kindly to Crouch so he could head the ball in.
Another chance came by way of Pavlyuchenko later on but his well placed shot was pushed away well by the City goalkeeper.
When Steve Bennett blew the whistle for full time, it was a time for rejoice for Spurs players and fans and a time for sorrow and an opportunity lost for City players and fans. More importantly, the future of Roberto Mancini had been uncertain for quite some time and now with no champions league, he could surely get the sack?
Question is, will he get the sack? And if he does, is he accountable for it?
Agree or not, even play acting takes some skill and experience. You can’t be like Busquets and get away with a blatant dive all the time, you need to be like well Ronaldo! Or Drogba! (You know it too Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea fans!) However, these people need some serious coaching when it comes to cheating and going down like they’ve been hit by a bullet!
Enjoy!
Weekend beckons after the Champions League finalists and Europa League finalists were decided as the prospect of an all English final in the Europa League was cancelled out by Diego Forlan’s away goal at Anfield which sent Atletico Madrid through to play Fulham, who were exceptional in their win over Hamburg SV. Its now back to the Premiership for the title to be decided and the fourth place for the Champions League next season to be decided. The league table currently looks like this :
1. Chelsea - 80 points
2. Manchester United – 79 points
3. Arsenal – 72 points
4. Spurs – 64 points (35 games)
5. Aston Villa – 64 points
6. Manchester City – 63 points (35 games)
7. Liverpool – 62 points
Now Arsenal have nothing to play for as they are out of the running for the title while two above them are still neck and neck and its even possible that the goal difference would play a pivotal role in deciding who wins the title. Chelsea have been scoring goals like the opposition is from the third division (7-0 against Stoke last week, 7 past Villa a few weeks back).
As for the fourth place, Spurs, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool are separated by 2 points, although Spurs and Manchester City have played a game less. The remaining teams would vie for the Europa League place.
So which are the games that you should keep an eye out for this week? (Includes Saturday, Sunday and Monday)
- Manchester City v Aston Villa (Saturday – 1500 GMT) – With Tevez v Mancini battle going on in the press, the locker room is expected to be intense. Mancini even delivered a blow to the Argentinian by saying, “Tevez can leave the club if he’s unhappy with my methods” . Aston Villa on the other hand have been on an impressive run in the last five games with thirteen points from a possible fifteen. It would be a very interesting game to see in the midfield and with striking options too.
- Liverpool v Chelsea (Sunday – 1330 GMT) – Liverpool desperately need all the six points from the remaining two games and hope the other sides mess up to get the fourth and final champions league spot. Otherwise, it would only be Europa League for them next season (considering they manage that too!) Liverpool looked without a plan vs Atletico and that’s not a good thing to do when you’re going to be facing the side who scored seven goals a week ago. Chelsea with the way they’ve been playing recently, Liverpool better watch out.
- Sunderland v Manchester United (Sunday – 1600 GMT) – Sunderland have a great home record with nine wins out of eighteen home games played thus far. Manchester United would try their best to get past a forever spirited Sunderland side. It makes for a great game.
Other fixtures over the 3 days are :
Birmingham City v Burnley
Portsmouth v Wolves
Stoke City v Everton
Spurs v Bolton
Fulham v West Ham United
Wigan Athletic v Hull City
Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal
If you happen to be in UK or plan to be travelling then I highly recommend you go watch Liverpool take on Chelsea. Its going to be splendid! Buy the soccer tickets before its too late!
Fabio Capello can breathe a sigh of relief. Spurs’ Aaron Lennon would AT LEAST start from the bench in the away game to Manchester United at Old Trafford in the first game of the weekend on Saturday. Spurs manager, Harry Redknapp, too would be delighted to have his quick winger in the squad so he can use his speed and skills and give problems to United’s currently jittery defence.
Lennon has been out of action for four months now after he picked up a groin injury on December 28 in the win against West Ham.
Redknapp told The Sun -
He trained fully with us this week for the first time since the injury and it’s going well.
He should be on the bench at least and it’s great to have Aaron around again – not only for Tottenham but for England too. It’s good news.
More than for Spurs and their fans, its a big boost for England as Capello would most likely put him as his first choice player on the right wing.
Problems for bottom placed club, Portsmouth don’t seem to be ending anytime soon. While the club has already been relegated from the Premier League to the Championship after nine points were deducted as the clubs financial turmoils continued, they have made it to the finals of the FA Cup where they would take on Chelsea. Now as they made it to the finals and Chelsea would qualify for the Champions League, the third place from England was to go to Portsmouth but the Football Association (FA) and UEFA have come out now and shattered the hopes of Pompey players and fans.
The clubs financial issues would mean haunt them once again as the late application for a UEFA club license would not be considered. Joint statement released by the FA and Premier League said –
“The FA and Premier League have confirmed to the administrators of Portsmouth Football Club that they shall not consider any late application for granting of a Uefa Club Licence for the 2010-11 season.”
This therefore means the third team from England which would qualify for the Europa League would be the seventh placed side in the table, which looks likely to be Liverpool.
On the financial problems side, the hunt for Portsmouth’s prospective buyer goes on as the administrators sign autographs at Fraton Park. As per the administrators the club is in debt of nearly £120 million and owes money to 400 businesses.
South Africa World Cup will be the next most important event in the footballing world and the national teams of Brazil and Portugal will face in what is arguably the most attractive match of the first round in South Africa 2010 on June 25th.
Portugal is ranked above Italy and Germany in the FIFA world ranking in fourth place, while Brazil ranks second in the standings.
Brazil’s national selection has a very effective game and is one of the favorites as per the world cup odds. This will be the 19th consecutive World Cup of the Brazilian team and is the only country to have played in all World Cups, having won five and trying to add the sixth to the trophy cabinet in South Africa 2010.
The team coached by Dunga showed its strength in World Cup qualifying matches, they got 14 wins, two draws and one defeat. Brazil has a World Cup record of 64 wins, 14 draws and 14 defeats in 92 games.
The Brazilian team has been led by Dunga since 2006 and midfielder Kaka and defenders Juan and Lucio are the only players who will repeat their participation in a World Cup with the Brazilian team.
The last experience of the “Seleção” at a World Cup was not very successful; Brazil were eliminated in the Germany 2006 quarterfinals.
On the other hand, Portugal’s coach Carlos Queiroz has a lot of talent at their disposal, including the world’s most expensive signing, Cristiano Ronaldo. It took the players some time to adjust to the playing style of Carlos Querioz who was replacing Luis Felipe Scolari. The arrival of Queiroz after Luiz Felipe Scolari created some confusion in the team, and that was evident in friendlies and in official meetings of the qualifying campaign.
Portugese won five games, drew four and lost one in their World Cup qualifying campaign. Portugal played against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the playoff rounds and won in both games achieving its progress to South Africa 2010, which will be the fifth participation of Portugal in a World Cup.
Portugal, Euro 2004 finalist and semifinalist in Germany 2006 went from being a favorite in the qualifications to being on the brink of elimination. Nevertheless, the fans are anxious to see Cristiano Ronaldo take the field; the midfielder is one of the world cups’ most favorite players.
In the last two games between these teams, Portugal won 2-0 in 2007 while Brazil defeated 6-2 at home to Portugal in 2008. Who will win this time?
Unlike the UEFA Champions League where both the English sides crashed out, Europa League is still alive for both Fulham and Liverpool.
Fulham were away to Wolfsburg in Germany after a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage in the 1st leg. A slender lead but more importantly the Germans had an away goal in their kitty to fall back on. However, 
Bobby Zamora, who is arguably the most influential player for Fulham this year considering Andy Johnson has been out for a major part of the season due to injury, put the Londoners ahead within 20 seconds of the game. There were plenty of chances for Fulham to improve their aggregate scoreline but were unable to due to great piece of defending by the Wolfsburg players. One glorious opportunity fell by way of a Wolfsburg player too but it unluckily hit the post. Fulham win on aggregate and on the night. Roy Hodgson’s great season continues!
Liverpool were facing Portuguese side Benfica in the quarters. They were on a 21 game unbeaten run with a very solid defence and a very talented Cardozo in the attack. The 1st leg was 2-1 in favour of Benfica. Liverpool needed to be on their top game to go through in what is the only competition for any silverware this season. And they took the opportunity with open hands. Goals from Kuyt, Lucas and a Torres double ensured their progress. There was a small moment of bother when Benfica scored in the 70th minute through a Cardozo free kick when the score was 3-0. Torres made sure that any comebacks weren’t possible with a deft chip finish over the keeper. This game at Anfield was probably the best performance by the Reds this season. They were good in their passing, defending and were full of confidence.
SEMI FINALS
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Hamburg v Fulham