tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47208555246091503972024-02-08T01:12:54.000+00:00Fan With A LaptopComment on Scottish sport & sport in general.Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-31059315625977293952016-04-22T12:00:00.000+01:002016-04-22T12:00:17.881+01:00The Return Of Them...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">You will of
course be aware that last weekend saw the semi finals of the Scottish Cup take
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both ties went to penalties with
Sunday’s first meeting of the Old Firm since the liquidation of Rangers being
the most promoted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5fsakXeXpRbGmv1C2n6FaoVM3DcaYZUK6ieyInTEgD7uzuY4aXBYCFv7OlKJ9aUXy47OkaGiqeXU_2VX0GfIyuxSCDnUmBA9VnwGu0cmNubg9icU-EI6lhDa_N-lodompg5Z7LVeBdW7/s1600/3184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5fsakXeXpRbGmv1C2n6FaoVM3DcaYZUK6ieyInTEgD7uzuY4aXBYCFv7OlKJ9aUXy47OkaGiqeXU_2VX0GfIyuxSCDnUmBA9VnwGu0cmNubg9icU-EI6lhDa_N-lodompg5Z7LVeBdW7/s400/3184.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Before I go on, a
point needs to be made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rangers were not
just ‘relegated’ as every news outlet (that should know better) mentioned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got into financial difficulties, thanks to
David Murray’s deployment of a tax avoidance scheme and HMRC’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thing that tipped Rangers into
administration and then liquidation though was Craig Whyte’s many misdemeanour's.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Readers of Private Eye
will have been well aware of Whyte’s unsuitability long before anyone in the
Scottish football press.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rangers were
liquidated and were forced, quite rightly, to start again at the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I digress</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Watching the game
on Sunday (or at least the 90 minutes), there were two thoughts that came to
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first being that for all the
hype and puffery from all asundry – you could say the Scottish Football
punditeriat were ‘proper moist’ given the lavish praise heaped on the occasion
- the game itself was only reasonable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was very little skill and technique on show, you would be able to
set your watch by the amount of bad or misplaced passes on show.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Something that
completely bypassed the more ‘professional’ football commentator was that far
from being the best teams in Scottish Football, both sides had issues with
their teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rangers issues are borne
from a calculated assessment on how to set up the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their game is based on a high pressing game
designed to push teams into their own box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The drawback to this is that Rangers are very susceptible to the quick
counter attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Rangers are to
successfully challenge for the Scottish Championship next season, then this is
an area that needs to be rectified as a lot more Premier League sides will be
equipped to exploit this weakness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Celtic’s issues
are deeper, perhaps more serious, and relates to the quality and the ability of
their players. Maybe the departure of their manager Deila, will enable Celtic
to start to rebuild again, but that Celtic team needs to have serious time and
money invested in their recruitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Arguably this current Celtic is the worst Celtic team in 20 odd years,
while I am unable to recollect a worse Scottish Championship winning side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This brings me to my second point.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Whether it was
through bad management or an inability to perform under pressure, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aberdeen
have – and lets not beat about the bush here – bottled their championship
challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year was their chance,
their best chance in 25 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And due
to poor defending and a lack of fortitude, they will miss out again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s unlikely that Celtic will be so poor
again next season, while the other half of Scottish Football’s ugly sisters
returns to the top flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would think
that Hearts will be building on their strong foundations too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Of course, the
championship isn’t technically over, but an 8 point gap going into the post
split fixtures is a big hurdle for Aberdeen to overcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would need Celtic to have as big a collapse
as Rangers did 25 years ago, they led by 8 points going into the last quarter
of the season but saw their advantage whittle away over the course of those 9
games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, the league have
scheduled Aberdeen’s post split match with Celtic for the third post split
match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The match that Celtic could win
the championship.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">If you were
expecting a cheerleading ‘thank goodness we’ve got the Old Firm back’ article,
sorry, you’ve come to the wrong place. The same issues with Scottish football
are still there four years on, with no agreement on how to tackle those
issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least we have seen different
teams winning trophies, that at least shows that there is life in Scottish
Football.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If only the media would
refrain from their arslikan act with Scottish Football’s ugly sisters.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-85254719297525783382015-06-05T22:00:00.000+01:002015-06-05T22:00:02.202+01:00History Awaits...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">You may remember
that last year that ITV’s football commentator Clive Tyldsley was counting
chickens at the prospect of Chelsea playing Real Madrid in the European Cup
final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well this year he was at it
again, whetting his appetite over the first ‘El Classico’ European Cup
final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well that worked…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So where is that humble pie for Tyldsley then
ITV Sport?</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrxii0UzRWD0ifzabwdHlhRQUzuv0eIik5a4LyPHtfJIqm-lTYLxw7B-x_LW5YRqkkPi_7F9dga1afyKtlxJAekMBPE3yJQnLQzdb-cBFv1KDzxuelMX8fbCHuzVjkOZM7ztNAtr0ExjW/s1600/Barca+Juve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrxii0UzRWD0ifzabwdHlhRQUzuv0eIik5a4LyPHtfJIqm-lTYLxw7B-x_LW5YRqkkPi_7F9dga1afyKtlxJAekMBPE3yJQnLQzdb-cBFv1KDzxuelMX8fbCHuzVjkOZM7ztNAtr0ExjW/s400/Barca+Juve.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Steve Archibald evades Juventus defenders during Barcelona's <br />quarter-final win over Juventus in March 1986</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Instead of Real
Madrid, we have the dominant team in Italy at the moment, Juventus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the start of the season they lost their
manager Antonio Conte, who quit to become the coach of the Italian national
side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His replacement was Max Allegri,
who was sacked from his job as Milan coach in the aftermath of a defeat to
lowly Sassuolo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite winning the Scudetto
in his first season with Milan, his appointment was a controversial one among
Juventus fans, eager to see their team stay ahead of their chief rivals –
namely Roma and Napoli.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Yet Allegri’s
Juventus surpassed expectations, reaching their first European Cup final since
2003 – when they also deposed the holders Real Madrid in the semi-finals – and
also winning their first Scuddetto & Italian Cup double since the last time
Juventus dominated Italian football.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Way
back in 1994/5.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Juventus will be
missing their defender Giorgio Chiellini through injury, but all their other
key men will be available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andreas Pirlo
played for Milan when they beat Juventus on penalties at Old Trafford 12 years
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul Pogba only came back from
injury during the semi final win over Real while Carlos Tevez will be playing
in his third European Cup final, six years after losing to Barcelona while with
Manchester United.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Artur Vidal has been
in and out of the side (due to injuy) this season but should be fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether they play as a 3-5-2 (which I think
they should) or with 4-4-2 (which has been Allegri’s preferred formation)
remains to be seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is however a
very big obstacle in Juventus path towards emulating Inter Milan’s feat of 5
years ago – the Treble of Scudetto, Italian Cup and European Cup. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjyjgxD9VedGAi4RTHSpl4O7UBDQ83lP0nwmwfpr6wI07YvlZYGiVjkH_3R3yJgXIXl2DoWFMFQj66-aBpOxaJCrHXNu480JMRNaezrORuaQsYKEoUyHvIfvpOXv5vLxp91E0DHn6mBlk/s1600/Barca2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjyjgxD9VedGAi4RTHSpl4O7UBDQ83lP0nwmwfpr6wI07YvlZYGiVjkH_3R3yJgXIXl2DoWFMFQj66-aBpOxaJCrHXNu480JMRNaezrORuaQsYKEoUyHvIfvpOXv5vLxp91E0DHn6mBlk/s320/Barca2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Barcelona are, of
course…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">of course</i>, going for their own treble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Six years after their own La Liga, Coppa Del
Rey and European Cup treble, they’re looking to repeat that feat, becoming the
first team to achieve that feat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many
of the cast list from their last European Cup win four years ago are still at
the Camp Nou.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Messi, Inniesta (both holding the cup, left, after winning in 2009), Busquets,
Pique…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pretty much the spine of the
side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention Xavi Hernandez, who
will be making his last appearance in a Barcelona shirt on Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d suspect that Rakitic will start ahead of
Xavi though.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Most of the
attention will be on Messi & his fellow forwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Neymar & Luiz Suarez compliment the
movement of Messi and fit in with the Tiki-Taki ethos at Barcelona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could be argued that the reason for
Barcelona’s successes this season has been down to the fluidity of Barcelona’s
front line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For that reason, I think
three at the back would be a better bet for Juventus than a back four.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOduupXJjRe6HTv1TJsDlrN5g2c4Yl8k2Bzlwziq9HgyC8ddo8U9x-7IRBwkfcMVZzixGjzqAdwVH0zUhL2Rw1g78q8a-X-UQ11PghV9ERB15lMGxuJ5yrfUza-NoVRvs05VCspMsQchFW/s1600/Juventus1996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOduupXJjRe6HTv1TJsDlrN5g2c4Yl8k2Bzlwziq9HgyC8ddo8U9x-7IRBwkfcMVZzixGjzqAdwVH0zUhL2Rw1g78q8a-X-UQ11PghV9ERB15lMGxuJ5yrfUza-NoVRvs05VCspMsQchFW/s400/Juventus1996.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gianlucca Vialli lifts the European Cup after Juventus last win in 1996</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Barcelona start
as favourites, and lead the head to heads between the two sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Juventus last win was an extra time winner in
the quarter finals 12 years ago that saw them through to face Real Madrid,
while their only other win came in the semi finals of the Cup Winners Cup in
1991, winning 1-0 but going out 3-1 on aggregate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barcelona also ended Juventus defence of the
European Cup in 1986, winning 1-0 at the Camp Nou before getting a 1-1 draw in
Turin (pictured above).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">This will be the
first European Cup Final to be staged at Berlin’s Olympiastadion and will see
both Pirlo & Buffon play there for the first time since they played key
roles in Italy’s World Cup win there in July 2006.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much will depend on Juventus and how they set
up their defence and (more crucially) their midfield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they play 4-4-2, I think this Barcelona
side will win more comfortably than they will if Juventus play 3-5-2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect that Allegri will stick with his
favoured 4-4-2 so we will see Barcelona lift their fourth fifth European Cup,
and Fourth in 9 years.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-69236569991422107042015-04-24T12:00:00.000+01:002015-04-24T21:29:35.585+01:00Can't Defend, Can't Score & Can't Get A Grip In Midfield <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">You know, thank
goodness for all of the politics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it
wasn’t for that, I’d be up the wall with how bad we’ve been…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2XT-qN1jUl2R9O4v3fn-s6cSyH0-qNwwF5SHdGGpYFvg_kNr2wIVHtLVZEqX66-PMHpC0AdtG63pdT3i0R97OlFJ9scYsU5HBcvKA7VfDoVFWO9xLLX-Ad-gepmqEN1oGVk6sH_Jed6n/s1600/JS60774739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2XT-qN1jUl2R9O4v3fn-s6cSyH0-qNwwF5SHdGGpYFvg_kNr2wIVHtLVZEqX66-PMHpC0AdtG63pdT3i0R97OlFJ9scYsU5HBcvKA7VfDoVFWO9xLLX-Ad-gepmqEN1oGVk6sH_Jed6n/s1600/JS60774739.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">St Mirren players troop off after their 5-0 defeat to Motherwell</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The split has
come and there are still issues to be decided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Celtic are comfortably ahead of Aberdeen in the championship race but
still need to cross the finish line while the playoff place needs to be
decided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This leaves us with the team
scheduled to be relegated on Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At home, where they’ve only won once all season, against Kilmarnock.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Any time I’ve
seen St Mirren this season, they reminded me of the reaction to the English cricket team touring Australia in the <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/the-ashes-classic-quotes-2126339.html?action=gallery&ino=5">winter of 1986/87</a> – “<i><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2013/jun/13/20-great-ashes-moments-england-1986">There's only three things wrong with this England team - They can’t bat, can’t bowl and can’t field</a></i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, St Mirren’s version was, can’t defend,
can’t score and no grip in midfield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were already light at the back and in no way, shape or form did Goodwin &
McAusland ever… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ever </i>look like a Premier
League standard defensive partnership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ellis Plummer being a very young player looked out of place from the
start, though to be fair I thought that he did have promise perhaps as a
defensive midfielder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St Mirren’s season
on the pitch was built on the disaster that was the Goodwin/McAusland
partnership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worst defence in the country
by a mile and guaranteed to provide one defensive blunder a game to boot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">We couldn’t score
because, well, we had strikers that simply did not look Premier League
class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again Calum Ball (who seemed
to get more game time than James Marwood) just looked totally unfit and not up
to the pace of Premier League football.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not having Steven Thompson for half/most of the season hasn’t helped but
then again neither has the performances in midfield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That and the fact that our best performer, Kenny McLean, left in Aberdeen’s swagbag at the end of the Winter transfer
window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his place we did get Alan
Gow, a player who knocked us back twice and really shouldn’t have gone for
third time lucky such has been his impact.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">McLean apart, our
Midfield has had no grip whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>John McGinn looks to have gone backwards this season, probably not
helped by not having an experienced older head along side him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only time the midfield has looked solid
has been when Issac Osborne has been fit, and that was only for about 5 games
in November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile both of our
wingers, Gregg Wylde and Adam Drury have looked distinctly uninterested by it
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drury disappeared during the Winter
transfer window while Wylde is still here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The one bright spot has been Steven Mallan, who has put in a couple of
good performances but is too young to put together any consistency.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">If that is a brief
synopsis of what has gone wrong on the sporting paddock, that tells half of the
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of last season the
Board decided not to renew Danny Lennon’s contract, and instead appointed his
assistant Tommy Craig as manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However your opinion of Lennon (mine was that it was possibly time to
get a new manager as his team was looking tired and the life span of managers
is normally 4 years anyway – Gutmans Law so to speak) the appointment of Craig
smacked of being a halfway house in that the board were not sure whether to get
rid of Lennon or to get a new manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead of being the new broom, a fresh pair of eyes on the first team,
we got continuity Lennon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of a
young hungry manager or someone with a bit more experience, we got an old
experienced coach who would have been better off staying as coach.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The BBC’s Tom
English rightly fingers the Board for their decision making, particularly in
the last year, saying they were “<i><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/scotland/32240531">asleep at the wheel</a></i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within English’s piece, there is also an
element that for a club that was given at the end of the last decade a
foundation stone in the shape of the new stadium and coaching facilities, that
this has been squandered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Encapsulated
within this is that fact that among the plethora of attacking players that have
pitched up at Greenhill Road and then disappeared, tail between legs, the last experienced
out and out central defender St Mirren signed was Lee Mair in 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a sport where defence is the cornerstone
of a good team, that statistic says it all about St Mirren’s not very dramatic
fall from the Premier League.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-40770897690621731382014-08-09T05:00:00.000+01:002014-08-09T05:00:00.573+01:00Let The Madness Descend<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Is it just me, or
are the close seasons getting shorter and shorter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, it was only five minutes ago that
Germany brought the World Cup back from Brazil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And here we are, on the start line for another Scottish domestic season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST2_ZEYGQmQrSzWW_z9ID2M8MB1p2_5JyA8n2AGACY5Q5TJncPenCSCKqM_XNrp6eyxN5Y8PiTyhO9PXDwYOZWwut2Sffq5wPD8o4icYe1OrtqSJGT7JljiZwGVF0122HhhHCtW7xKkSM/s1600/Celtic_68252617_8632562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST2_ZEYGQmQrSzWW_z9ID2M8MB1p2_5JyA8n2AGACY5Q5TJncPenCSCKqM_XNrp6eyxN5Y8PiTyhO9PXDwYOZWwut2Sffq5wPD8o4icYe1OrtqSJGT7JljiZwGVF0122HhhHCtW7xKkSM/s1600/Celtic_68252617_8632562.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Except of course
for those teams in the lower leagues who have been competing in the early
rounds of Petro-chemical-or-whatever-it’s-called Cup (At least we knew who
B&Q were when they sponsored the thing).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh and at the time of writing all of our teams will have been, saw and
been conquered in Europe – only for Celtic to receive a pardon in the shape of
Legia Warsaw’s fielding of an ineligible player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still at least the Scotland national team
look in decient shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as well
their opening qualifier for Euro 2016 is that team that brought the World Cup
back from Brazil…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Conventional wisdom
dictates that the Scotland national team will be the only outlet for thrills
and spills in the Scottish game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Conventional wisdom dictates that Celtic will be Scottish champions
before tea and the true race is for second & that "The Championship" is where it's at... baby!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That might be true, but if there’s anything to be learned from Celtic’s
cuffing at the hands of Legia Warsaw then it is that there are clearly teething
troubles surrounding their new manager Ronny Deila and his assistant John
Collins.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Celtic have seen
their side that won a League and Scottish Cup double while reaching the last 16 of the European Cup sold without the
quality maintained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe that’s an
issue with the scouting, but with the departure of Neil Lennon, Celtic may well
be at their weakest since Rangers meltdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I suspect that it won’t be a given that Celtic will finish as far ahead
as they had been. It is conceivable that Celtic will take time to settle into
this campaign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the possible event
that they falter, who would be best placed to capitalise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Second placed
Motherwell have not added to their squad to date, however have not lost any of
their players either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A top six finish
awaits for Motherwell, however there is the suspicion that the two teams that
pundits thought were better than Motherwell will finish ahead of Motherwell
this season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aberdeen will be a year
older and wiser, have kept their players and added David Goodwillie to their
squad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Aberdeen side are favourites
to finish second, but given the correct circumstances could topple Celtic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not that inconceivable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The other side
much fancied last season, Dundee United, have seen Ryan Gauld and Andrew
Robertson sold to Sporting Lisbon and to Hull City respectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funnily enough, United’s season hinges not on
adequately replacing Gauld but Robertson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like Aberdeen, Dundee United will have a years experience under their
belt and will be the better for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Third for Dundee United it is then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Motherwell & Scottish Cup winners St Johnstone will be secure within
the top six, though who joins them will be either Inverness, Ross County or
maybe Dundee. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHVixZnLcUU-Bf1E-S9r3y4aomcCi2th7GtvaIc51kVGwPgXmJ0JpLm4WK4t6Z0_37jYAZz3z-7yoaImx2ZIZkX02PAmgxRLEzxK3TaB63mwUjU1D-XL3XkG-TAj730vrUpViS0E1SAn8/s1600/Celtic-Aberdeen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHVixZnLcUU-Bf1E-S9r3y4aomcCi2th7GtvaIc51kVGwPgXmJ0JpLm4WK4t6Z0_37jYAZz3z-7yoaImx2ZIZkX02PAmgxRLEzxK3TaB63mwUjU1D-XL3XkG-TAj730vrUpViS0E1SAn8/s1600/Celtic-Aberdeen.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Next Season's Title contenders? Aberdeen puting Celtic out of the Scottish Cup in February</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Unlike last
season, there will be competition at the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My own team St Mirren are something of an
unknown quality this season. The release of Danny Lennon and the promotion to
manager of Tommy Craig has seen familiar faces leave (McGowan, McGregor &
Van Zanten) and unknowns come in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
highest profile is probably James Marwood, son of the former Blades midfielder
Brian, from Gateshead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Possibly the key
signings might be the return of Jerome Tesselar from Doctor Who (Tesselar…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tesselector…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>oh do keep up) and Ellis Plummer from Manchester City, who will be
hoping to follow the footsteps of Paul Dummett by coming here on loan and after
a spell make his way into the first team – though clearly not the bit that
stipulates that he receives hate tweets from Uruguay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still think at the moment we’re too light
at the back but need defenders to help us get up the table.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">So who will
finish in the bottom two?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The favourites
to go down will be the two promoted teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think Dundee will survive though it will be interesting to see Paul Hartley
crowbar Paul McGowan and Gary Harkins into the same team – a feat that Danny
Lennon couldn’t achieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hamilton on the
other hand may well struggle, though they have resigned Dougie Imrie who last
looked good the last time he pulled on a red and white hooped jersey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think though that Hamilton will be fighting
it out with Partick come the end of the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Partick’s squad have been depleated, though they have brought in Ryan
Stevenson and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abdul Osman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Partick’s problem though is that they were a
good team going forward but could not score.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the annuls of Scottish Football, there have been quite a few teams
that were relegated because of their inability to put the ball into the back of
the net.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">While the top
flight has all the exposure, the old First Division (now cringingly called the “Championship”)
was always the more interesting league because it was always the most difficult
to get out of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since 1990 only five
sides have been relegated and come straight back up (Falkirk in 1993/4, Dundee
United in 95/6, Hibernian in 98/9, Dunfermline in 1999/2000 and Inverness in
2009/10).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s this feat that both
Hearts and Hibernian have to emulate to return to the top flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Falkirk, Queen of The South and Raith Rovers
will be the big challengers that were contenders in this division last
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The added spice will come from
last season’s League 1 (or, in old money Second Division) champions, Rangers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Many people think
that Rangers will win this championship, having put their money where their
mouths are by bringing back Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except, that’s the problem – Rangers are
sailing close to the wind by making exactly the same mistakes that saw them
liquidated in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile Ranger’s
problems last year were caused by a lack of grip in midfield resulting in the
long ball to Jon Daly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This worked in
the Second Division, but they were found out when the played better teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Albion Rovers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nah, I think Heart’s have turned themselves
around better than Rangers and will take the automatic slot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that I think Rangers will necessarily get
up through the playoffs either. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">For all that
Celtic were the dominant team of Scottish Football, they suffered surprising
reverses that showed how tenuous their grip at the top is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That Kilmarnock, Hearts, St Mirren, Aberdeen
and St Johnstone have won trophies during Celtic’s supposed dominance has shown
that they are not that dominant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a
change in manager, Celtic are maybe more vulnerable than they have been for
some time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that how quickly
their new management team beds down will be key to them retaining the
championship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there are still issues
around the team come, maybe September, then the other teams may smell blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry, I’m just not confident that this
Celtic team will be miles ahead come Christmas, but I think experience will see
them over the finish line this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With that, let the games begin. </span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-63213266566351325132014-07-14T04:00:00.000+01:002014-07-14T04:00:00.918+01:00Now The Bride<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">20th
World Cup Final, Mario Filho “Maracana”– Rio Di Janerio; Germany 1 Argentina 0
(After Extra Time)</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-caLVX8bLCIhe4piN5wCQPKGIw3TpyrRnCwRyMTu7RO6bkZggKTt8OpeRWHg7W-B7ClAwgopc9Slis2UcU5VvP30CFi3txjOjOVzm6ougNExDzhwKNLBm-GUVec2BkySxPiCjqSamF6qo/s1600/Germanys-players-lifts-th-017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-caLVX8bLCIhe4piN5wCQPKGIw3TpyrRnCwRyMTu7RO6bkZggKTt8OpeRWHg7W-B7ClAwgopc9Slis2UcU5VvP30CFi3txjOjOVzm6ougNExDzhwKNLBm-GUVec2BkySxPiCjqSamF6qo/s1600/Germanys-players-lifts-th-017.jpg" height="257" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Four years ago I mused
that the finals of tournaments at times are a microcosm of the tournament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The climax of the 20th World Cup mirrored the
knock out stages – games with chances that were not taken or converted into
goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of not controlling the
game, Argentina had all of the best chances and failed to take any of
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Germany controlled the match, but
could not manage to create a clear-cut chance until Mario Gotze’s chest &
volley across Romero with 7 minutes of extra time remaining.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Germany were not
at their best in the first half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pre-match Sami Khedera was withdrawn with Christoph Kramer taking his
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kramer only lasted 20 minutes as
he suffered a head injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was about
this time that Argentina fluffed their first (best?) chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kroos heading back to his keeper was
interecepted by Higuain in lots of space. Higuian dragged his shot wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did have the ball into the back of the net
9 minutes later, a Lavezzi cross was turned in by Higuain, who was just
offside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Germany’s best chance in
the first half came at the end, with Howedes hitting the bar with a header.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">In the second
half, Argentina made the change straight away, swapping Aguero for Lavezzi. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This meant a change of shape for Argentina
switching to two up front with Messi playing behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This looked to pay dividends straight away
when Higuain just strayed offside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moments later Messi had his best chance of the match – getting behind
the German defence on the left he put the ball past the far post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He should have scored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Higuain also managed to recreate the famous
Schumacher/Batistion incident with Neuer, with the same result!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Higuain was shortly afterwards replaced by
the Inter Milan forward Rodrigo Palacio, while the all time leading goalscorer
in World Cup finals matches Miroslav Klose made way before the end for Mario
Gotze.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjz57Yqu3nmxtmOMFOSTB-pvNqS_hxvx9qBu2oWnCTeL2TZ6jRs2s9c3K72JB3cqAjJkVxuYrub4XVgvGEhSWbHUeLMjy6APJRMjEsl17iFR3nG9URZOP9lmAj2eBcR5V171DAkKsReZe/s1600/Germany-v-Argentina-Gotzegoal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjz57Yqu3nmxtmOMFOSTB-pvNqS_hxvx9qBu2oWnCTeL2TZ6jRs2s9c3K72JB3cqAjJkVxuYrub4XVgvGEhSWbHUeLMjy6APJRMjEsl17iFR3nG9URZOP9lmAj2eBcR5V171DAkKsReZe/s1600/Germany-v-Argentina-Gotzegoal.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Extra Time saw
the game open up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kramer’s replacement
Schurrle hit a shot straight at Romero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Aguero had a run at the German defence, but his cross couldn’t find an
Argentinian recipient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Argentina’s next
great chance came when Hummels misjudged a cross to allow Palacio in one on one
with Neuer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neuer came out narrowed the
angle and Palacio’s attempted chip went wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The second period was scrappy before the breakthrough came with 7
minutes to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Schurrle attacked down
the left and crossed in to the substitute Gotze, he chested the ball down and volleyed
the ball across Romero (above).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The angled
volley was all very reminiscent of Iniesta’s winner from four years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Argentina had a chance right at the end
though, Messi’s free kick sailed high, wide and not very handsome capping a miserable
night for him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Like Spain’s win
four years ago, Germany’s win has created history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their fourth triumph is the first by a European
team on American soil (no European team has triumphed either in North, Central
or South America).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After being the
bridesmaids to Spain’s European Championship win in 2008 (followed by semi
final losses to Spain four years ago and to Italy in the subsequent European
Championships) Germany are back in the winners circle for the first time since
1996 & their first World Cup win in 24 years – ironically enough the length
of time between both Italy and Brazil’s third and fourth World Cup wins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Like Brazil,
Argentina were reliant on one player to generate a moment of magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike Brazil, Argentina were solid
defensively and gave nothing away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet
had Higuain, Messi or Palacio had the composure they obviously have for their
club sides – Argentina could easily have won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like the Barcelona side under Pep Guardiola, Messi is lauded as one of
the best but in truth falls short of true greatness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has had a good World Cup but not the great
tournament needed to cement his place at the top table of great players.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">As for the
victors, Germany won the World Cup in the hardest way possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They came through a tough group playing all
their matches in the sub tropical north with afternoon kick offs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Respite came with their last 16 tie with
Algeria – played in southern Porto Alegre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The cold/flu outbreak possibly played a part in their muted quarter
final win over France, but nothing will surpass that semi final win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the great German sides of the past, you
could set your watches with their arrival in the later stages of a football
tournament – and their arrival would almost always be accompanied with their
form.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">While the big
story at the start of this World Cup was the fall of Spain, the end could be
construed with the rise of New Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except
this side have been knocking at the door for a while now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Germany back in the winners circle, an
exciting Belgium side now with tournament experience and Spain with some
rebuilding to do (but with the bricks already available) both the next European
Championships and the World Cup in four years should be interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the mean time, Germany are the deserved
World Cup winners.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-38390231253509641592014-07-12T20:00:00.000+01:002014-07-13T13:23:09.392+01:00When Old Rivals Meet<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">20th World Cup
Final: Germany V Argentina, Maracana, Rio di Janerio (Sunday, 4pm – 8pm BST)</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBLFOKa_z3gxUXoW9mFESBYaPgwqJpgMipXIo4lZSudOICX_3MmsS3OB3uEf5TETBfovQohBCJJCkyFKDKQJy1M8WPzklGBWkPkRItDGL0-j3Veqg4mEpLOQcDrBR4geL4JDIURvtnFA9/s1600/1990-world-cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBLFOKa_z3gxUXoW9mFESBYaPgwqJpgMipXIo4lZSudOICX_3MmsS3OB3uEf5TETBfovQohBCJJCkyFKDKQJy1M8WPzklGBWkPkRItDGL0-j3Veqg4mEpLOQcDrBR4geL4JDIURvtnFA9/s1600/1990-world-cup.jpg" height="261" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Matthaeus lifts the World Cup (with manager Beckenbauer just to the right), July 8th 1990</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">You know, four
years ago I started previewing the Netherland’s chances of winning the World
Cup by bemoaning Scotland’s luck in <a href="http://fanwithalaptop.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/is-future-here.html">facing them</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well it’s dejavouz all over again because for
the fourth European Championships in a row, Scotland will face one of the World
Cup finalists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were drawn with
Germany for Euro 2004, had both the World Cup finalists for Euro 2008 and last
time out had the defending champions who went on to pick up the World Cup as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well now we’ve got Germany again,
and not just that but we’re their next competitive match, after the small
matter of Sunday’s World Cup final.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The strange thing
though is that this Germany team have not been the force they were in South
Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, they suffered defeats to
Serbia and then to Spain in the semi but they did sweep aside England and (more
pertinently given Sundays opponents) Argentina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe it was manager Löw’s attempt to make Germany less of a
counter-attacking side (their 4-2-1-3 formation only applied when they were on
attack, otherwise it was the conventional 4-2-3-1) swapping that formation for
a 4-3-3 formation.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">A result of that
attempt to be more pro-active has been that re-shaping as well as some ackward
selection decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ozil has not been
nearly as creative as he was under Löw’s new system, while Bayern Munich’s
Goetze has looked at times like a round peg trying to fit into a square
hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least these guy’s are getting
game time though – Lukas Podolski has dropped out of the team altogether.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">In spite of
handing out spankings to Portugal and to Brazil lets not forget that Germany
haven’t convinced at all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ghana
could have (and should have) beaten them in the group stages, while Algeria had
their chances in the last 16 tie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is
ominous for tomorrow is that Germany’s midfield of Schweinsteiger and Khedera
are looking back on form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also looking
to getting into serious form is Toni Kroos, who bagged a brace in Tuesday’s
semi final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This three will provide the
protection for whoever Germany play at the back, with their <a href="http://www.espnfc.co.uk/blog/tactics-and-analysis/67/post/1945075/germanys-and-argentinas-contrasting-styles-of-winning-possession-will-be-key">pressing game</a>, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and also the foundation for Muller, Ozil &
co (whoever gets the nod for tomorrow). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Argentina have no chance, right?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Well not
exactly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the knock out stages,
Messi has sort of gone missing, conventional wisdom dictates that he is due a
game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A performance at the next game
would confirm his status as the best player in the world right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Sabella as coach, Messi would be given
the same sort of platform to perform as Maradona was given in 1986.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Whilst not as
tactically as innovative as that 1986 side – the first to win the World Cup
playing 3-5-2 – Sabella’s side is from the <a href="http://soccer.fusion.net/2014/06/02/el-bilardisto-alejandro-sabellas-timely-revival-of-argentina/">Bilardismo</a> school of Argentinian
football – the polar opposite of Mennoti, Bielsa and Pekerman – in that his
sides have been safety first sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
this respect, the key man for Argentina has not been any of their attacking
options but the re-cycled centre-back Javier Mashcerano, back playing in his preferred
position of midfield anchor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No moment
typified this than when Mascherano’s intervention stopped Robben’s near certain
chance at scoring in added time in Wednesdays semi.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">What this match
looks like coming down to is that idea, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_football/4713643.stm">floated by Jose Mourinio</a>, that it will
be the moments of transition that will decide the match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those moments where one side is dispossessed when
their players are slightly out of position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was these moments that Germany controlled brilliantly on Tuesday and
will need to do so again to beat a much more defensively cohesive Argentina
side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet Germany’s high line also
provides a weakness for Argentina to attack, especially if they play Messi,
Higuain and Lavessi as the attacking three players.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCo2gNpfOx42Dhpw_qHHAfW31lyEIzMqwOB3xYYpB1oqaxBZZQ8ik023J_k6-4xni8Vm9qBgh9Ef4on5kbx6j8oUVqFX7HbnErX8avmniMaxcEeCykYu5HZU69p8eEwcQq0SgUTsNCr6ED/s1600/Buruchaga-gol-86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCo2gNpfOx42Dhpw_qHHAfW31lyEIzMqwOB3xYYpB1oqaxBZZQ8ik023J_k6-4xni8Vm9qBgh9Ef4on5kbx6j8oUVqFX7HbnErX8avmniMaxcEeCykYu5HZU69p8eEwcQq0SgUTsNCr6ED/s1600/Buruchaga-gol-86.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">This will be the
sixth meeting in the World Cup between these sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They first met in the group stages in 1966, a
0-0 draw at Villa Park saw both sides through to the quarter finals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then came the two finals. In the final in
1986, a Brown goal midway through the first half and a Valdano goal 10 minutes
into the second half put Argentina on easy street, Germany struck back with
goals from Rumenigge and Voller to level with 10 minutes to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With three minutes to go a Germany attack
broke down, the ball came to Maradonna who put a through ball to Burrachaga (above) who
slotted past Schumacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final four
years later was different – a tight bad tempered affair that saw the first
sendings off in a World Cup final – Argentina’s Pedro Monzon was sent off in
the 65th minute for fouling Jurgen Klinsmann while Gustavo Dezotti was sent off
in stoppage time for manhandling Jurgen Kohler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sensinni’s foul on Rudi Voller with 6 minutes to go saw West Germany
awarded the penalty that Andreas Brehme converted with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still the worst game of football (alongside
the 9 in a row Old Firm game in 1997) that I’ve ever seen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">16 years passed
before they met again, in the quarter finals of the 2006 tournament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tie in Berlin finished 1-1 – Ayala just
after half time before Klose equalised with 10 minutes to go – with Germany
maintaining their record of not losing on penalties thus ending Argentina’s own
100% record.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their last meeting was four
years ago in the quarters again when Germany romped home 4-0 – their counterattacking
was probably at it’s peak in that match as Muller, Klose (2) and Friedrich
grabbed the goals in Cape Town.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">With the best
team on the planet in transition, there is an unexpected vacancy at the
top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it will be a German side
that has been there or thereabouts in recient years, losing out to Spain in the
Euro’s in 2008 and the World Cup four years ago, or whether Messi will deliver
that performance in the World Cup that’s the only thing missing from his
CV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tomorrow’s final will hopefully not
mirror the 1990 final or the first meeting in 1966.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This tournament deserves a better send off
than any of the last 6 tournaments have provided.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-42000855913554745882014-07-02T23:15:00.000+01:002014-07-02T23:15:39.901+01:00World Cup 2014: The Quarter Finals<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, 56 games down and 8 to go before we find out who will succed Spain as World Champions. Most comments have been positive towards this World Cup. Personally, i want to see what happens next before passing judgement – USA ‘94 looked exciting before a drap pair of semi finals and a final that was only marginally better than the worst game of football ever that was the conclusion of Italia ‘90.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>France V Germany; Rio Di Janerio: Friday 1pm (5pm BST) </b></i> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiO8Ug0nbi4wffxp8ewmw3dwNMltSbDegZFHq2I0p3Ptf2mq1vLGof9Iwauh4wI_wVBYulvjAnQmma3hffVr_ZZFkCL40zKtWzel3ymBQ-chKSWqxlKEo_eQ_iMgl5wdS9wZvZ4nbj-n-/s1600/France-Germany-82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiO8Ug0nbi4wffxp8ewmw3dwNMltSbDegZFHq2I0p3Ptf2mq1vLGof9Iwauh4wI_wVBYulvjAnQmma3hffVr_ZZFkCL40zKtWzel3ymBQ-chKSWqxlKEo_eQ_iMgl5wdS9wZvZ4nbj-n-/s1600/France-Germany-82.jpg" height="313" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First up is the third meeting between these sides, though their two other meetings were World Cup semi finals and when it was only West Germany. Their first meeting in the World Cup finals was in that semi final in Seville in 1982 – the Schumacher “<i>lunge</i>” at Battiston (right), the West German fightback after France went 3-1 up in extra time - all of which culminated in the first World Cup finals match to be decided by a penalty shoot-out which the Germans, of course won. Four years later and in Guadalajara West Germany won a much more comfortable semi final 2-0 with an early Brehme goal and a late Voller goal. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">France have been a surprise package in this tournament. Shorn of Ribbery through injury and Nasri by choice, Deschamps side have been open and attacking, with Pogba maturing with every performance and Benzema the spearhead of France’s attack. Germany on the other hand have really to still hit the form they showed when they blew away Portugal 4-0 in the first game with their performance in the match against Algeria their worst yet. I think that France will win, but have a sneeking suspicion that the old Germany that people set their watches to with their arrival at the business end of tournaments is back. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>Brazil V Columbia; Fortaleza: Friday 5pm (9pm BST)</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b> </b></i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The winners of that first semi will face the winners here in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday. Brazil have been ropey at best, firmly in the shadow of the glorious Brazil sides from 1970 or 1982. Brazil’s defence and their over reliance on Neymar da Silva Santos Jr has seen them to this stage of the tournament. In their way is a Columbia side that many thought would be good, but not this good. Shorn of their attacking spearhead – Radamel Falcao was injured in January playing for Monaco and just missed out on this tournament – Columbia have adapted admirably – with James Rodriguez arguably the player of the tournament thus far. It should also be noted that Columbia had followed Chile in appointing a former Argentina manager who promotes promising young players – though Pekerman isn’t as tactically innovative as Marcelo Bielsa.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This will be the first meeting between the two teams in the World Cup finals, though their last actual World Cup meeting came during the mammoth qualifying campaign for 2010 – 0-0 in Bogota (in October 2007) and 0-0 in Rio (in October 2008). I think that Brazil will somehow make the semis, logic dictates that Columbia have been the better side in this tournament but something’s telling me Brazil will sneek this somehow. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>Argentina V Belgium; Brasillia: Saturday 1pm (5pm BST)</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b> </b></i> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xAxfDqRP3IOTbRBywc0WQd_YeGUlMVQbU7a14o-AdccRsbPeoUIl6jzNjHjPBCZZn4nUEKJ3c__EAhDl-qYMK-YQKP5g6D9y8bkjhiwZGsOEZXJNGd_uAx3i3hJoAaOur_CyYxd33y4W/s1600/ArgentinaVBelgium86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xAxfDqRP3IOTbRBywc0WQd_YeGUlMVQbU7a14o-AdccRsbPeoUIl6jzNjHjPBCZZn4nUEKJ3c__EAhDl-qYMK-YQKP5g6D9y8bkjhiwZGsOEZXJNGd_uAx3i3hJoAaOur_CyYxd33y4W/s1600/ArgentinaVBelgium86.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Like the first Semi on Friday, the first semi on Saturday features two teams that met in the 80’s but haven’t seen much of each other since. Argentina’s first meeting with Belgium came when they opened the 1982 World Cup at the Nou Camp, and Belgium spoiled the party. Vandenbergh’s goal saw the holders make the worst possible start – an experience they would go through 8 years later. Their next meeting would be sooner than that, as they were the other semi finalists in 1986 (above) – a Maradona brace saw Argentina into a final meeting with West Germany. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Like Brazil, Argentina have been too reliant on on individual – Messi. Yet there should be enough talent to be more than just Messi’s supporting cast – Higuain & Lavezzi in particular haven’t been particularly great. Belgium have been tipped as dark horses – so reaching this stage is sort of par. Yet Belgium, like Argentina, haven’t really clicked. There were stages in the tie with the USA where it looked like Belgium were clicking… I think an experienced Argentina side will sneek through, maybe after extra time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b>Netherlands V Costa Rica; Salvador: Saturday 5pm (9pm BST)</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><b> </b></i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Bidding to face either Argentina or Belgium in Wednesday’s semi final in Sao Paolo will be another pair who have never met in a World Cup finals match. Like Columbia, this will be the furthest Costa Rica have gone in a World Cup – having reached the knock out stages once before in 1990. Thankfully there’s no sign of their tormentor in chief that night – Thomas Skuhravy. Instead there’s Robben, Van Persie and Schneider. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On the face of it, the Netherlands should blow Costa Rica away. They have been in pretty good form this World Cup, only looking like coming unstuck against Mexico in the last round. Yet they did let down their guard against Australia, only winning 3-2 and Costa Rica did beat Uruguay and Italy in their group games. I think the tea-time slot will help the Netherlands but I think this one could well go to extra time again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So far this World Cup has been bubbling along nicely, now we are at the meat and potatoes of this tournament –lets hope we are not disappointed. </span>Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-20007332834410087362014-06-25T00:01:00.000+01:002014-06-25T00:01:00.398+01:00The Story Of Brazil 2014 So Far (Part 2)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Part 2 of our
look at the state of play in the World Cup focuses on Group E to H</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Group E</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">France</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">8</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">2</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">6</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Ecuador</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Switzerland</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">6</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Honduras</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">5</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">0</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Wednesday, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Ecuador V France
(Rio Di Janerio, 17:00 – 21:00 BST)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Honduras V
Switzerland (Manaus, 16:00 – 21:00 BST)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">France can afford
to draw their first ever World Cup meeting with Ecuador to win Group E and
avoid a last 16 clash with Argentina, it’s likely that their goal difference
will be enough to see them through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ecuador need to win to see them through to the Second Round for the
second time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Switzerland also need to
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them qualify – if there’s a four goal swing.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Group F</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">6</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">0</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">0</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Bosnia
Herzigovina</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">0</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Wednesday, 13:00
(17:00 BST)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Nigeria V
Argentina (Porto Alegre)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Iran V Bosnia
(Salvador)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Argentina need a
draw from their fourth World Cup meeting with Nigeria to win Group F and avoid
a possible quarter final with Germany for the third tournament in a row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Argentina have won all their meetings (2-1 in
Foxborough 20 years ago, 1-0 in Ibaraki in 2002 and 1-0 in Johannesburg 4 years
ago).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Iran have an outside chance of
qualifying ahead of Nigeria, a win coupled with defeat for Nigeria<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>depending on a 2 goal swing could put Iran
into the knock out stages for the first time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Group G</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 26.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Germany</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">6</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">2</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">USA</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Ghana</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Portugal</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">2</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">6</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Thursday, 13:00
(17:00 BST)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Germany V USA
(Recife)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Portugal V Ghana
(Brasilia)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Germany & USA
only need a draw in their third World Cup meeting to qualify for the last 16,
with Germany winning the group on goal difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Germany have won the two previous meetings
(2-0 in Paris in 1998 and 1-0 in Ulsan in the Quarter Finals in 2002).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course the fact that the German manager
Joachim Low was Jurgen Klinsmann’s assistant when Germany hosted the World Cup
in 2006 won’t have a bearing whatsoever at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No suree…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is a winner,
Ghana would be best placed to capitalise with a win over Portugal – they would
need a two goal swing to overtake USA but a five goal swing to overtake
Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Portugal would need to win and
hope to overtake the USA with a 5 goal swing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Group H</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 26.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Belgium</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">6</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Algeria</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">5</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Russia</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">2</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">South Korea</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">5</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Thursday, 17:00
(21:00 BST)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">South Korea V
Belgium (Sao Paolo)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Algeria V Russia
(Curtiba)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Belgium can
afford to draw & still win this group, the first time they will have topped
a group since 1982, South Korea can still qualify if they beat Belgium and
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1990 but drew 1-1 in Paris in 1998.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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Russia to make sure of second place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
Russia win coupled with defeat for Algeria would see them through to the last
16 for the first time as Russia.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-24662594936271803362014-06-23T02:00:00.000+01:002014-06-23T02:00:01.007+01:00The Story of Brazil 2014 So far (Part 1)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Mexico</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">0</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Croatia</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">5</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Cameroon</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">0</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">5</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">0</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Monday, 17:00
(21:00 BST):</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Cameroon V Brazil
(Brazilia)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Croatia V Mexico
(Recife)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Brazil need a win
to qualify for the last 16 against a side they last played in the World Cup 20
years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brazil’s 3-0 win in San
Francisco 20 years ago also saw them qualify for the last 16, but with a game
in hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mexico can afford to draw with
Croatia in Recife, Croatia need to beat the team they opened their 2002
campaign against and lost to in Niigata.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mexico have reached the knockout stages in the last two World Cups
(losing both times to Argentina), Croatia have not reached the knock out stages
since they reached the Semi Finals in 1998.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Group B</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 26.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Netherlands</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">8</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">6</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Chile</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">5</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">6</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Australia</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">6</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">0</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Spain</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">7</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">0</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Monday, 13:00
(17:00 BST)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Australia V Spain
(Curtiba)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Netherlands V
Chile (Sao Paolo)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">For the holders,
all there is, is the ignominy of a dead rubber against Australia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rebuilding for Euro 2016 is expected to
begin here with Xavi Hernandez expected to be left out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead the Netherlands & Chile will
fight it out to see who avoids playing Brazil in the last 16.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will be the first time these sides have
met in the World Cup.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Group C</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 26.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Columbia</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">5</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">6</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Ivory Coast</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Japan</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">2</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Greece</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">0</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Tuesday</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Greece V Ivory
Coast (Fortaleza, 17:00 – 21:00 BST)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Japan V Columbia
(Cuiaba, 16:00 – 21:00 BST)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Columbia need a
point from their last match to guarantee top spot in this group having already
qualified for the last 16 for the first time since 1990.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Japan need to win and hope for a slender Greece
win to qualify.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greece need to win and
hope that Japan lose for them to qualify, while Ivory Coast could qualify with
a draw if Japan only win 1-0.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ironically, Columbia could well be in line to play either Uruguay or
Italy in Rio on Saturday because…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Group D</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Costa Rica</span></div>
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<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">1</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">6</span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Italy</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">2</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">2</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">3</span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6.0cm;" valign="top" width="227">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">England</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 70.85pt;" valign="top" width="94">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">2</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 78.9pt;" valign="top" width="105">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">4</span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 91.2pt;" valign="top" width="122">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">0</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Tuesday, 13:00
(17:00 BST)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Italy V Uruguay
(Natal)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Costa Rica V
England (Belo Horizonte)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Costa Rica need a
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will be an England side that have been eliminated earlier than any other
British team since 1954.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>England will be
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into the knock out phase included a 1-0 win against Scotland in Genoa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Costa Rica game though is a side issue
though to the main event in this group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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competition play each other, with the winner qualifying to play in likelihood
Columbia. Italy won the last time they met Uruguay, a 2-0 win in the last 16 in
1990 with the two sides drawing in the first meeting in Puebla in 1970.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-79194338625473904332014-06-20T01:00:00.000+01:002014-06-20T01:00:00.064+01:00On The Brink<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> FIFA
World Cup, 1st Round, Group D: Sao Paulo; Uruguay 2, England 1</span></b>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">As you will have
seen above, the bi-annual post mortem of why England just are not good enough
to win the World Cup/European Championships has just begun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While England have gone in with a good but inexperienced attacking line
up, they have been fatally undermined by their bad defending.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZKsnk5OB6CiHM_y4JEgYxdAAH6bfJnpyNrBpBWNKXbVAq4Hep-JNgVT1g-V1rNcAOHm7Woq_GTehbtPV2DJddNrvl025UUprhU1SDiBWjKYl8VXMX6ccWHNUjT715mrEl3HQKaDO8DNF/s1600/suarez1stgoal-getty_2948601b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZKsnk5OB6CiHM_y4JEgYxdAAH6bfJnpyNrBpBWNKXbVAq4Hep-JNgVT1g-V1rNcAOHm7Woq_GTehbtPV2DJddNrvl025UUprhU1SDiBWjKYl8VXMX6ccWHNUjT715mrEl3HQKaDO8DNF/s1600/suarez1stgoal-getty_2948601b.jpg" height="247" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">It happened again
tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For most of the first half,
they were comfortable without really dominating the match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key moment came with six minutes to go
until half time (right).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Uruguay attack worked
its way down to England’s right and the PSG forward Edison Cavani crossed in to
a free Luiz Suarez – free and completely unmarked – to head past Hart and into
the bottom corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point it
looked crucial because England’s (marginal) dominance was not being converted
into pressure or chances.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">If Uruguay could
be almost forgiven for parking the bus in the second half, you’d be much
mistaken as Uruguay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suarez nearly
scored from a corner, while Cavani slid a ball wide of Hart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then England stepped up and exherted some
pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t look like England
were going to manoeuvre themselves into getting a goal until with 15 minutes to
go England equalised. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">An England attack
down the right saw Johnson cross and Rooney, unmarked, scored his first goal in
a World Cup finals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All England had to
do was to hold on for a point and go for a big win against Costa Rica.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except Luiz Suarez failed to read the script.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">A goal kick was
flicked on by Gerrard, challenging Cavani for the ball and the ball fell behind
the hapless Jagielka into the gambling Suarez who from a tight angle smashed
the ball into the net.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He might have
been only 75-80% fit but Suarez game intelligence has bagged him two goals in
this game, as he managed to escape his marker (Cahill) both times. The second goal in particular was a poachers goal.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">So what has gone
wrong for England…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>this time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A ramrod refusal to learn lessons does not
help, though this time I’m not sure how much blame you can give to Hodgeson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe England’s poor defence is down to his
coaching though if you think about it the English Premier League is rather thin
on the ground with world class defenders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Indeed it’s rather lacking in world class English footballers full
stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with the announcement of the
fixture list for next seasons English Premier League yesterday, it’s still very
clear that the England national team is still a poor second to the EPL in terms
of exposure and importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact
that the European Championships and the World Cup are shown, not on Pay TV
channels like BSkyB (or BT Sport), but on the terrestrial channels is possibly something
of a conflict of interest for the Murdoch papers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The original rationale
of the English Premier League was to improve the England national team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, what we now realise was that this
was rubbish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least the top Scottish
teams when they set up the SPL in 1998 were openly greedy for the television
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The English teams were after the
television money and the English FA were also happy to go along as long as it politically
harmed the English Football League.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
every tournament that goes by, the England national team more and more
resembles the British public’s view on British Tennis players of 20 years ago –
something must be done to bring through British Tennis Players even though we
are only interested in British Tennis players for two weeks in June &
July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The English public are only really
interested in the health of their national team at the finals of every International
competition.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">While it’s true
that England recently won their first youth tournament (the European Under 19’s
championships) – those players have a long way to go until they break
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of Scotland’s successes at
youth level, a couple of players (Brian O’Neil & Paul Dickov) came through
from the team that reached the World Cup final at under 16 level in 1989, while
8 years ago the Scotland side that lost in the final of the European under 19’s
championships has seen Lee Wallace, Robert Snodgrass, Graeme Dorrans &
Stephen Fletcher reach the full Scotland national team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lets not forget that while England now have
their training facility at St Georges Park, their coaching development is still
light years behind even the SFA’s coaching courses at Largs that have seen many
Scottish managers graduate, as well as Bobby Robson’s former translator – you might
have heard of Jose Mourinio…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Once again
England have been shown to be not good enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For as long as an unreformed English Premier League continues to spend
money on ready made foreign players to the detriment of English players, then the
development of young English players will continue to be hindered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chairman of the English FA’s target of
winning this trophy in 2022 looks more pie in the sky than ever.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-79997828575836443752014-06-15T06:00:00.000+01:002014-06-15T06:00:01.048+01:00A Little Too Green Behind The Ears<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">FIFA
World Cup, 1st Round, Group D: Manus; England 1, Italy 2</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZolURjN30_9NkgjPj4WBaAxmqvRHIkrsS-8u5kIRaKXLnTSlH2Bx2151pjrU2whCrlQ8mtdAng_ng2ShyC1gcL2WW17-5NGlpDbWEbiuB20kQRZG3p6onvQq4ScRTd9PXGpMNKdsFoiL/s1600/balotelli2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZolURjN30_9NkgjPj4WBaAxmqvRHIkrsS-8u5kIRaKXLnTSlH2Bx2151pjrU2whCrlQ8mtdAng_ng2ShyC1gcL2WW17-5NGlpDbWEbiuB20kQRZG3p6onvQq4ScRTd9PXGpMNKdsFoiL/s1600/balotelli2.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Most of the
English based media had been calling for England to turn it’s back on the “<i>Golden
Generation</i>”…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>er…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>generation and promote the young players
coming through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The downside to that was
that when you come up against a side with the experience of Italy, that
experience can bring the game down to small margins.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Take for example
Leighton Baines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He might have been a
better performer at Premier League level over the past coupe of years than
Ashley Cole, but at times tonight his inexperience at the highest level
showed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course this argument doesn’t
excuse the rank rotten performance of Rooney, but still England put in a decent
performance that was streets ahead of their performances four years ago.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Picking the
correct formation helped, one of life’s great mysteries four years ago was how
Capello went with 4-4-2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only having two
in the middle of the park, it could be argued, contributed to England only
picking up 2 points from their first two games in 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having been here before (with Switzerland in
1994), Hodgson knew that 4-4-2 just wouldn’t be helpful.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The game itself
was a surprisingly open affair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The suspicion
was that, with Uruguay’s surprise 3-1 loss to Costa Rica earlier on, both sides
would play for the draw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Far from it as
both sides went to try and get an advantage in this group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>England’s best player was Liverpool’s
Sterling, playing behind Sturrage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
left a calling card as early as the 4th minute as he beat two players before
shooting just wide.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">In the first
half, it looked like England had the better chances, though Italy dominated possession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Italy did make the breakthrough with 10
minutes to go before half time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A corner
was pulled back to the edge of the box to Veratti, who cut back further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pirlo let the ball pass him, through his
legs, where it found Marchisio in acres of space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had time to set himself up and then
drilled in from about 25 yards.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">England did not
have to wait very long to draw back on to level terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Italy attack broke down, and England went on
the counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sterling’s pass found
Rooney who ran down the Italy right before crossing to Sturrage who scored with
a half volley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a deserved goal
for England, though it was the only point in the whole match where the Italy
defence was out of position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
England attacked throughout the second half, they found Italy resolute.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The same could
not be said of England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Playing out from
the back, the ball came out to Candreva, who easily beat Baines and sent in a
cross for Balotelli (above) to head in at the back post to make it 2-1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cahill & Johnson were pulled out of
position by the Italians & that gave Balotelli time to get himself into
position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>England then pushed forward
for another leveller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a claim
for a penalty on the hour when Gerrard was balked by Palletta, while Gerard had
a free kick go just over the bar late on.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">While England can
be pleased, for the most part, about the performance and the decision making of
their manager though not the result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Italy have given themselves a great chance of getting out of this group
with this win, their first finals win since winning the World Cup in 2006.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prehaps it should not be surprising that
their defence looks like the most organised of the tournament so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the aspects of this tournament so far
has been the high amount of goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
climate plays a part, but also there are question marks about the defensive
sides of most of the main contenders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
their defence is a consistent as it was tonight, Italy might well be a serious
player in the knock out stages.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">For all the good
points to come out of this match, England still lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Uruguay also losing, their match on
Thursday has become an awful lot bigger and will now be seen as a World Cup
eliminator with the loser effectively out of the competition. If England lose
on Thursday, no one is going to remember anything about positives from this
match.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-33012168499044584022014-06-11T21:00:00.000+01:002014-06-11T21:26:30.005+01:00The 20th World Cup Finals<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Four Years ago,
most of the commentariat were tipping Spain or Brazil for World Cup glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this tournament, most of the commentariat
are going down the same route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
Brazil hosting their first World Cup in 64 years, they will be among the
favourites, but are they <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the</b>
favourite?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMiYRGQzI5QZtiJseGjXVBQoEpWatOzzaOtZTQJCXQ3a8R88rirLZBcDuNGa01q-bnSR9LRmuz8xe5NB7WFo12GM0tHW2mJnDAf2Uhbbxus0Sm9eUpU6R93QbEysjOs9l522Uw3_An3TC/s1600/Spain-Worldcup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMiYRGQzI5QZtiJseGjXVBQoEpWatOzzaOtZTQJCXQ3a8R88rirLZBcDuNGa01q-bnSR9LRmuz8xe5NB7WFo12GM0tHW2mJnDAf2Uhbbxus0Sm9eUpU6R93QbEysjOs9l522Uw3_An3TC/s1600/Spain-Worldcup.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Spain, World Champions 2010</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Brazil are
already aware of the pitfalls of hosting the tournament having fallen at the
final hurdle in 1950.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To try and ensure
that this time they emerge victorious on home ground, they have appointed Luiz
Felipe Scholari as manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His previous
term in charge saw him rescue a disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign by
scraping into the 2002 World Cup and then went on to win the tournament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course it helped that Scholari managed to
successfully shoehorn Ronaldo & Rivaldo into his side and find space for
Ronaldhinio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time there’s only
really Neymar & Oscar that you could describe as being in that class.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Brazil do have a
solid looking midfield, but it looks like an awful lot of the creative workload
will fall at the feet of those players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Neither Jo or Fred really fit the bill as Brazil standard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again, Serghino in 1982 never really
looked like a Brazil forward either. Past the first Round, Brazil has an
awfully difficult Second Round tie ahead of them (in either Spain, Netherlands
or Chile) and possibly Germany in the Semi’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They might find that the World Cup is a level further than the
Confederations Cup.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Spain were many
people’s tips four years ago, their victory wasn’t as much of a surprise as the
at times sterile play from Spain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
bid to become the first team to successfully defend this tournament will rest
on how much they learned from the Confederations Cup from last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brazil beat them in the final when it looked
like Spain had run out of steam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of
the first changes Spain will have to make will be to their pressing game – the
brand of boa-constrictor-tiki-taka though will be an asset to them as they
grind teams down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The World Champions
remain a tough team to beat & with David Villa back (after missing Euro
2012) and the addition of Diego Costa, Spain may well reach the semi finals at
least.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Four years ago, I
thought that in spite of their barking coach, Argentina had the spine of a good
team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time though the midfield
doesn’t quite look so balanced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True,
they do have Messi, they do have Higuain, they do have Di Maria and they might
not give a game to Lavezzi but they only have Mascherano as what you would
describe as a defensive midfielder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
opening tie (against Bosnia) will go a long way to telling us how far Argentina
can go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least they are not seeded to
face Germany in the quarter finals this time, unlike the last two World Cups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are looking for omens though, they are
seeded to play Belgium – the side they opened their defence of the World Cup
against in 1982 (where they lost in Barcelona) and also the team they beat in
the semi finals when they won four years later in Mexico. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Surprisingly not
mentioned at all are Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always
there or thereabouts, they will continue the attacking brand of football that
they have been playing under Low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe
why they have not been as near the top of the candidates list is that their
defence has been leaky of late, their defensive midfielders (Khedera &
Schweinsteiger) have spent large parts of the season injured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh and the draw has not been kind to
Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First up for them will be
Portugal (who may or may not be fielding Ronaldo), then Ghana and lastly Low’s
old boss - Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those three games kick off in the early afternoon and take place in the
north of Brazil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Respite for Germany
will not come unless they finish top of their group – their second round tie is
a late Afternoon kick off in southerly Porto Alegre.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">When talking
about Germany, the subject of their favourite bunnies comes up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conventional wisdom dictates that our nearest
& dearest England has very little chance of getting out of their
group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First up they have the finalists
in the last European Championships (Italy), then the current South American
champions (Uruguay).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Respite might come
in the shape of Costa Rica, then again as any Scotland fan will tell you they
do have a habit of springing a nasty surprise (as they did 24 years ago – today
no less).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are soft at the back, in
Hart they do have a keeper that has not been at the peak of his powers this
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, there is a
crop of exciting attacking midfielders that have forced their way into the
England squad while Gerard is now playing where he should have been for the
past 5 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they somehow get out of
their group, Ivory Coast might be a problem but a Falcao-less Columbia, Greece
and Japan are beatable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Quarter
Finals will be a different ball game though with either Brazil/Netherlands on
the one hand and Spain on the other.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">So much for the
leading players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the dark horses,
Belgium is most peoples tip to be the not so surprise… er… surprise
package.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Scottish and Welsh fans
have seen them close up during qualifying so will have seen them close up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think they are maybe too inexperienced to
win the thing and will face either Germany/Portugal/USA or Ghana in the last
16. I think that the Ivory Coast have their best chance to do something in this
tournament, having been drawn in brutal groups in 2006 & 2010 while I also
think that Bosnia will also get out of their group and get to at least the
quarters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">I think Spain
& Argentina will get to the last four.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Brazil I think will either edge past the Netherlands in the second round
or comfortably beat Chile so we’ll see them there too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for the last place, I’ve a sneaking
suspicion that Germany might fall short at the quarter finals stage having been
bundled out by Bosnia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Germany being
knocked out by eastern European opposition in the quarters has happened
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whoever wins will play and lose
to Brazil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other semi will see Spain
play Argentina, and I think Argentina will win, and go on to beat Brazil in the
final.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Already off pitch
controversy is threatening to overshadow the main event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than ever FIFA needs a good World Cup to
replace headlines about corruption, the controversial awarding of the hosts for
the 2022 event and the protests surrounding the hosting of this event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With afternoon kickoffs in sapping
conditions, I hope I’m wrong but I’m not sure we are going to get that.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-19557930356930653712014-06-08T18:00:00.000+01:002014-06-08T18:00:00.532+01:00World Cup 2014: The Key Games (Part 1)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Thursday sees the
start of the 20th World Cup Finals, held for the first time in 64 years in
Brazil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fan With A Laptop takes a look
at the key matches in the first two rounds of the group stages.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Brazil
V Croatia; Sao Paulo, 12 June 17:00 (21:00 BST)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The hosts kick
off their bid for a sixth World crown against Croatia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their previous attempt to win on home soil
was thwarted by Uruguay in the final group game (there was no final in 1950).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their way is the side that finished second
in our qualifying group – and faded badly before the end of the qualifying
campaign – before beating Iceland in the playoffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their last meeting was Brazil’s opening match
in defence of this tournament in 2006, a Kaka goal settled matters in Berlin. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Spain
V Netherlands; Salvador, 13 June 16:00 (20:00 BST)</span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4NI7wa4trqeRuXLHTb93iAMcmOHRd0d3J3CCIcBN25DGGLLRLpm2M466eB_4aCiouGQ_w4xSIWx8lAXf6jUYAh_Lh21f8VX_wdymIfxVoj70kKE7MCl-yl2hpHKLrSgNTLDha-1hsXM4/s1600/Inniesta_world_cup_final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4NI7wa4trqeRuXLHTb93iAMcmOHRd0d3J3CCIcBN25DGGLLRLpm2M466eB_4aCiouGQ_w4xSIWx8lAXf6jUYAh_Lh21f8VX_wdymIfxVoj70kKE7MCl-yl2hpHKLrSgNTLDha-1hsXM4/s1600/Inniesta_world_cup_final.jpg" height="241" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Iniesta about to score the winner against the Netherlands four years ago</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"><a href="http://fanwithalaptop.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/is-that-what-you-do-in-face-of-skill.html">Four years ago</a>
these two sides slugged it out in the final itself (left).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first time in World Cup history, both
of the finalists have been drawn together in the opening round of the following
World Cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither side will want to
concede ground given that the runners up in this group will be seeded to play
Brazil in the second round.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">England
V Italy; Manus, 14 June 18:00 (23:00 BST)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Our nearest and
dearest kick off their campaign against the side that knocked them out of the
European Championships two years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>England are traditional slow starters (they’ve won their opening game
twice since 1990<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- Beating Tunisia in ’98
and Paraguay in 2006) while Italy are…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>well slow starters too (they’ve won their opening game three times since
1990 – beating Austria in ’90, Ecuador in 2002 and Ghana in 2006).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both sides will want to avoid defeat given
that they will still have to face the current South American champions Uruguay.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Argentina
V Bosnia-Hertizovina; Rio di Janerio, 15 June 19:00 (23:00 BST)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">First sight of
the Argentinians, Higuain, Messi, Di maria et all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Brazil, Argentina are up against another
former part of Yugoslavia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike
Croatia, Bosnia are making their Finals debut and may well wind up being one of
the surprise packages of this tournament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As well as Manchester City’s Dzeko, their key player may well end up
being Roma’s Pjanic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Argenine legend
Maradona witnessed Pjanic’s talents first hand when he scored in Roma’s league
defeat of Napoli in October last year. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Germany
V Portugal; Salvador, 16 June 13:00 (17:00 BST)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Two years ago,
Germany looked likely winners of the European Championships when they
unexpectedly lost to Italy in the semi-finals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those championships were Joachim Low’s first setback as Germany
manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The target for Germany will be
the semi-finals at least, which given the bad draw handed to Germany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First up for Germany will be the team they
beat to third place on home soil in 2006.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since then, Germany have knocked Portugal out of Euro 2008 and drew in
their opening game of the last European Championships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, Cristiano Ronaldo looks like he might miss this match, which would be a blow to Portugal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Belgium
V Algeria; Belo Horizonte, 17 June 13:00 (17:00 BST)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The team that
finished top of Scotland’s group and many people’s choice as dark horses for
this tournament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The current crop of
Belgian footballers (Hazzard, de Bruyne, Mirallas & Lukaku to name but
four) hints at a second golden age for Belgian football.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given that the first golden age reached the
final of the European Championships and the semi finals of the World Cup within
6 years of each other, a tournament win would see this team usurp that
generation, even if it’s been 12 years since their last tournament appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Belgium’s opponents will be the side
currently ranked as the best team in Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Four years ago, they were a tight disciplined defensive unit that nearly
beat England.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The suspicion is that they
are set up in the same manner this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A test for the attacking prowess of Belgium.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Spain
V Chile; Rio di Janerio, 18 June 16:00 (20:00 BST)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Spain’s second
match comes against another side they faced four years ago on their way to
World Cup glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spain’s 2-1 victory
helped them to recover from the shock defeat to Switzerland and top the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, Chile were a promising but young side
under the tutelage of Marcello Bielsa, with four years experience under their
belts they could be due a run at a major tournament.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Uruguay
V England: Sao Paulo, 19 June 16:00 (20:00 BST)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">England’s second
match in their own “group of mutually assured destruction” is against the
current Copa America holders Uruguay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes there’s Luiz Suarez (if he’s fit) but there’s also PSG forward
Edinson Cavani while at the back both Godin & Gimenez have had outstanding
seasons for Atletico Madrid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Switzerland
V France: Salvador, 20 June 16:00 (20:00 BST)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">In sharp contrast
to Spain, four years ago France spontaneously combusted big style as the
players rebelled against their coach Domenech.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Taking France into this tournament is their World Cup winning skipper
from 1998 Diddier Deschamps, France having to qualify through the playoffs
after finishing behind Spain in the qualifyers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whether they combust this tournament remains to be seen – though Deschamps
has left out the Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This match represent’s France’s toughest tasks
in their attempt to qualify and avoid a second round tie with Argentina.
Coached by double European Cup winner Otmar Hitzfield, Switzerland boast the Juventus
defender Lichtsteiner as well as the Bayern winger Shaquiri and the Napoli
midfielder Inler. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnINCra9tgcZv6HWFG9bKnMBicEHMzbjqafiSCJ3I40ajZ69d-2AXmrNiSXbnsIjsa97aPKvOrsOMAvKx9BoUrH6Fi_90-7TnNDUD07M-0eRJvs7GpFwcOpTGnnfqxTvsr4AENfh6zT_X/s1600/Ozil-germany_vs_ghana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnINCra9tgcZv6HWFG9bKnMBicEHMzbjqafiSCJ3I40ajZ69d-2AXmrNiSXbnsIjsa97aPKvOrsOMAvKx9BoUrH6Fi_90-7TnNDUD07M-0eRJvs7GpFwcOpTGnnfqxTvsr4AENfh6zT_X/s1600/Ozil-germany_vs_ghana.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Germany
V Ghana: Fortaleza, 21 June 16:00 (20:00 BST)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Four years ago,
Germany’s second match ended in defeat at the hands of Serbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For them to qualify they had to beat Ghana in
their last match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a tight match, a
single Ozil goal on the hour (right) was enough to seal Germany’s qualification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, Germany’s second match will be
against the Ghanaians, who once again found themselves last African team
standing four years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arguably rather
than equal Cameroon’s achievement of reaching the World Cup quarter finals,
they should have become the first African team to reach the semi final stages –
Luiz Suarez handball permitting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Belgium
V Russia: Rio di Janerio, 22 June 13:00 (17:00 BST)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Belgium’s second
tie will be against the Russians who have not made the progress that they
should have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since reaching the semi
finals of Euro 2008, Russia failed to reach the last World Cup, beaten by
Slovenia on away goals in the playoffs while two years ago they were knocked
out of the European Championships in the group stages by Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no Arshavin or Pavlyuchenko for
Russia, but their most impressive performer from two years ago, Alan Dzagoev is
still there for a side building towards hosting this tournament in four years
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-41722608549410315132014-05-25T08:00:00.000+01:002014-05-25T08:00:00.728+01:00La Decima<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">59th European Cup
Final, Estadio da Luz – Lisbon; Atletico Madrid 1 Real Madrid 4 (After Extra
Time)</span></b><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWUyiTF5jENARYVx3-0GwNVyGp_fX8LW1UGYA2hicaLP6Z6IDFt17mDukgRBETmHX5GCDJYvCoKHElHkr1t50HdkVtR3UZoab-0BAJg4akFIvKhkqvHnj1m-WFJ277ue-6eDIJjrF6zMo/s1600/Castilas-Europeancup2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWUyiTF5jENARYVx3-0GwNVyGp_fX8LW1UGYA2hicaLP6Z6IDFt17mDukgRBETmHX5GCDJYvCoKHElHkr1t50HdkVtR3UZoab-0BAJg4akFIvKhkqvHnj1m-WFJ277ue-6eDIJjrF6zMo/s1600/Castilas-Europeancup2014.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">They do say that
history repeats itself, once as tragedy and then as farce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>History certainly repeated itself tonight as
Atletico fans turned the clock right back to 1974.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now as then they were leading going into the
final moments of the tie only for their opponents to equalize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The difference from then is that Atletico’s
collapse happened in the space of ten extra time minutes rather than in a replay.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Up until Sergio
Ramos late late equaliser in normal time, Atletico had superbly marshalled Real’s
attacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Real did pierce Atletico’s
defence, they were wasteful. Gareth Bale was the most wasteful, spurning three
chances in normal time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bale wasn’t the
only culprit, Benzema and Ronaldo struggled to get into the game during normal
time but had limited success even when Atletico dropped out of the game in the
last ten minutes.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Atletico had the
best of a tight first half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They started
with Diego Costa, but that backfired as he had to be taken off after 9
minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This meant that Atletico had to
change shape to 4-4-1-1 as Adrian Lopez came on. Atletico’s pressing pushed
Ronaldo & Bale further up the pitch as both struggled to get into the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bale’s first fluffed chance, and the first
chance of the match, came just after the half hour when he latched on to a
missed pass from Tiago, jinked into the box and screwed his shot wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2R7cQXh6lzOCtVuC6_55Ah0KGuGWYGW0vvd9XS92tmO7Yb7xjJQPsqYndjSBnEISKj7VxOx4JfrqZchNaDRodYtePlZyy9N1RWvciTIJ94hJ4o5V2qvNfcIDrBpeM9yqjbj28pvjXO6ke/s1600/Atleti_goal_ECF14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2R7cQXh6lzOCtVuC6_55Ah0KGuGWYGW0vvd9XS92tmO7Yb7xjJQPsqYndjSBnEISKj7VxOx4JfrqZchNaDRodYtePlZyy9N1RWvciTIJ94hJ4o5V2qvNfcIDrBpeM9yqjbj28pvjXO6ke/s1600/Atleti_goal_ECF14.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Just after that
Atletico scored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An Atletico corner was
cleared by Real, and then hooked back in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Diego Godin’s looped header flew over Castillas and into the net – it was
well over the line before Castilas clawed the ball out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At half time, you would have thought that
Atletico would have simply shut up shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not a bit of it as they started the second half brightly – possibly this
was down to a change in formation to 4-2-3-1.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The start of the
turnaround for real came with the double substitution of Contraeo and Khedira
for Marcello and Isco.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real’s fresh legs
in midfield allied to the tiring legs of Koke, Gabi and Raul Garcia tipped the balance
of the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From here on in Atletico
were pressed further and further back, and more and more chances came Real’s
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Ramos cross failed to connect
with Ronaldo, Isco dragged a shot wide before Bale’s second miss – a Ronaldo
lay off was shot wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His third miss
came moments later when he fluffed his shot wide when maybe he should have squared
the ball.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The last 10
minutes saw Real lay siege to Atletico’s goal in a desperate search for a leveller,
with Atletico equally desperate to keep Real out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With two minutes of the additional 5 minutes
stoppage time remaining, Real got the breakthrough when a corner was met by
Ramos (below), who headed the ball into the bottom corner of Atletico’s corner and just
beyond keeper Courtois.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">If Atletico were
just clinging on for most of extra time, Real’s second goal – 10 minutes from
the end of extra time – had the effect of draining any residual energy from
Atletico’s legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angel Di Maria – who was
with Ramos the only Real player to perform in the match – went on a run down
the Real left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He cut inside two
defenders and tried to slide the ball past Courtois.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The keeper made the save, but the ball looped
up and was headed in to an empty net by Gareth Bale.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3YWyjE0ljtRSwEEDUwACIa1Up5O2ON02stMESXwXALzWENMTmrKl_RqlUvYxOiPxTDLmoksL8cVFuRmdJfMFKfgA-9k-xf3QjERijQy4RI6tnCg3IR3YA0-0YjdHTA68OirQ-FbJhaas/s1600/_75086295_75086294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3YWyjE0ljtRSwEEDUwACIa1Up5O2ON02stMESXwXALzWENMTmrKl_RqlUvYxOiPxTDLmoksL8cVFuRmdJfMFKfgA-9k-xf3QjERijQy4RI6tnCg3IR3YA0-0YjdHTA68OirQ-FbJhaas/s1600/_75086295_75086294.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">As Atletico tried
to go forward for an equaliser, threy left space for Real to counter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Number three came when Marcello drove forward and shot low and hard and
could only be parried into goal by the keeper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The fourth came when Gabi tripped Ronaldo, who dusted himself down and
took the resulting penalty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
scoreline was as much of a reflection on the game as Ronaldo’s reaction to
scoring the fourth in an already decided match.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">For Atletico,
maybe this is the beginning of the end of this cycle for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will lose Costa during the summer,
whether Courtois returns to Chelsea remains to be seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether they recover quickly will depend on
whether they can keep their manager Simeone and as many of the other players as
they can.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">For Real the
victory means that they have now claimed the fabled “La Decima” – the tenth
triumph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a strange triumph for
them though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were clearly second
best for much of the match, and only got going when changes were made to
midfield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also difficult to place
exactly where and how good this side is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They have been good enough to be semi-finalists for the past four years,
but not been good enough to get further until this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">With Barcelona
not at the peak they were four years ago, and Bayern Munich still adjusting to
life under Guardiola, Real’s chance has come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whether they can take advantage and re-enforce their new found place at
the top of European Football remains to be seen. This victory does feel more
like their victories in 2000 & 2002 (where they were among the best sides a
Europe without there being a dominant team) than their 1998 victory (where they
found themselves in the final despite not being one of the fancied teams and up
against the team to beat at that time, Juventus).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thought that Bayern would replace
Barcelona as Europe’s dominant team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead it’s Real’s consistency over the past 4 years that has paid
dividends.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-26799716790288961232014-05-23T18:00:00.000+01:002014-05-23T18:00:00.597+01:00Europe's Premier Derby<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Firstly, can I
say how glad I am that Chelsea lost in the semi final of the European Cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not because I’m not a huge fan of Chelsea’s
“park the bus” tactics, their supremely arrogant manager or<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>JT (because I’m not anyway).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, you can thank Clive Tyldsley’s counting
of chickens act during Real Madrid’s win in Munich, where he was already
looking forward to Mourinio facing up against his Real successor and Chelsea
predecessor Ancelotti a full 24 hours before Chelsea’s second leg against Atletico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do hope that ITV’s coverage of the
European Cup Final on Saturday is prefaced with some humble pie scoffing, because Tyldsley was doing plenty of licking of lips that night…</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGb0kDHQvRwE-reRnf-fPudot0pbcBVqGU5Mlm7VJ2b9Tx5TUJwba6mYIMepC3D6k0pRO1klcggi8ljdcnNBwIYNlWdF8eA8dKyXDMCTmW49ELM58jSSYlCEmMv-4xzLERyC6R9VRINU3z/s1600/Zidane-Real-Madrid-Champions-League-_2947377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGb0kDHQvRwE-reRnf-fPudot0pbcBVqGU5Mlm7VJ2b9Tx5TUJwba6mYIMepC3D6k0pRO1klcggi8ljdcnNBwIYNlWdF8eA8dKyXDMCTmW49ELM58jSSYlCEmMv-4xzLERyC6R9VRINU3z/s1600/Zidane-Real-Madrid-Champions-League-_2947377.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Casillas with goalscorers Zidane & Raul at Hampden in 2002</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Instead of
Chelsea we have Atletico Madrid taking on their Madrid rivals Real on
Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did a <a href="http://fanwithalaptop.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/salt-sauce-final.html">blogpost</a> in the run up
to the Scottish Cup final between Hib’s and Hearts where I started by saying
that most of the worlds derby’s have one high profile meeting, well I can’t
think of anything that could trump a derby in the European Cup Final, even if
there has only been 5 all Madrid Spanish Cup final’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only that, this will be the first time
that the European Cup final has been contested by two teams from the same city.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">In a normal
world, Atletico Madrid would be favourites, given that they have just won their
10th La Liga Championship – done the hard way with a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did finish 3 points ahead of Real in the
table, winning at home and drawing at the Bernabeu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only blot would be their 5-0 aggregate
defeat to Real in the semi-finals of the Spanish Cup, but then that was revenge
for Atletico’s win against Real in last season’s final.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">For Atleti, much
will rest on whether Diego Costa and Turan make it to the final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both limped out of Atletico’s league decider
at Barcelona early on and have been in a race for fitness since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those two playes though are not the only key
players in Athletico’s squad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Koke was a
key player in the quarter final win over Barcelona, while Courtois has been
excellent for them in goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Surprisingly, they still have in reserve the experienced figure of David
Villa – a key player for Barca during the high water mark of the Guardiola
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-WR8mg_CpN-sfqlOBSz_cH899aKKXAG1zODd_9YMv5xvZVYzm38yoI8A1SKjtVaTboAXuQFuKebik7TjpxzYlO5LfDsib6NPhEPcJmoHuMtsP50K6qkx6Qcm1ULxt0wLvW83MhGo_Map/s1600/Falcao-AtleticoMadrid-UEFACUP-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-WR8mg_CpN-sfqlOBSz_cH899aKKXAG1zODd_9YMv5xvZVYzm38yoI8A1SKjtVaTboAXuQFuKebik7TjpxzYlO5LfDsib6NPhEPcJmoHuMtsP50K6qkx6Qcm1ULxt0wLvW83MhGo_Map/s1600/Falcao-AtleticoMadrid-UEFACUP-2012.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Falcao with the UEFA Cup after their 3-0 win over Bilbao in Bucharest</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">With all the
success for Atletico, you wonder how long Diego Simeone will be staying in
Madrid before bigger teams come a calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Simeone does have an affinity with the club, having been a key player
when they completed the Spanish League & cup double in 1995/96 – before
being sold to Inter Milan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly
for someone who played under Marcello Bielsa in the 2002 World Cup, Simeone’s outlook
(if his quote about “<i>socialist football</i>” is anything to go by) is influenced by
another former Argentina coach – Cesar Menotti - and his talk of "<i>Left wing football</i>".</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Atletico’s
biggest incentive to win on Saturday will be the thought that their first
European Cup win would deny Real the fabled “<b>La Decima</b>” – the Tenth
triumph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real’s holy grail since the
final whistle blew on a rainy night on the south side of Glasgow 12 years
ago (above).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then the Galactico’s project
blew up, Real have regrouped and subsequently launched Galactico’s 2. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They smashed their own transfer record with
the capture of Kaka, then days later obliterated it with the capture of long
time target Christiano Ronaldo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flavour
of the month attacking players have followed, but the next big capture was… er…
long time target Gareth Bale.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Bale, French
forward Benzema and Ronaldo make up Real’s formidable front line, with Di Maria
and another ex EPL player Luca Modric providing the creative promptings from
midfield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missing from the match,
through suspension, will be another ex EPL player – the former Liverpool
midfielder Xavi Alonso.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isco will be
favourite to deputise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where Real look
weakest will be at the back with the eternally suspect Pepe partnering walking
red card Sergio Ramos. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">A lot of the
focus though will be on Real Madrid’s attempt to win their tenth European
Cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their last victory came in 2002
with a 2-1 win over Leverkusen at Hampden – a match made famous for Zidane’s
glorious volley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up to then Madrid had
won three times in five seasons (a 1-0 win over Juventus in 1998 was followed 2
years later with a 3-0 win over Valencia).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before then you had to go back to 1966 for their last victory, a 2-1 win
over Partizan Belgrade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their sixth win
(they won 5 in a row from 1956-1960) saw them given the old European Cup to
keep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The debut for the big cup with the
big ears came the first time this match came to Lisbon.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT83diY375MRYM9PCRXwaUTGR6WluCZ1mqzD5Cjv8rcPPo2bMpVEZFPBKzNE-kXfdOIEGA3IM7VJUybIbAi7klId99RIb6GZ36lcXsTjvQJ-RjgxEE-DU_arLT8VwYgUU1SnFs1x-svY0w/s1600/gerd-mueller-atletico-514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT83diY375MRYM9PCRXwaUTGR6WluCZ1mqzD5Cjv8rcPPo2bMpVEZFPBKzNE-kXfdOIEGA3IM7VJUybIbAi7klId99RIb6GZ36lcXsTjvQJ-RjgxEE-DU_arLT8VwYgUU1SnFs1x-svY0w/s1600/gerd-mueller-atletico-514.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Atletico have
been here before though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>40 years ago
they reached the final in Brussels when a last minute goal by Swartzenbeck
cancelled out Aragones opener.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
old days, the match went to a replay, so 48 hours later Bayern Munich swept
aside Atletico Madrid 4-0 (left) to take their maiden European Cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also forgotten that Atletico are aiming
to emulate Juventus, Barcelona, Ajax, Bayern Munich & Chelsea in winning
all of the European trophies. Atletico won the second European Cup Winners Cup
but had to wait until 2009 before they could win the UEFA Cup, a trophy they
regained in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember as well that
Real, for all of their nine triumphs, have lost at this stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They lost to Benfica in 1962, and to Inter
two years later and most recently lost to Liverpool in 1981.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">This will be the
first European Cup final to be held at the Estadio da Luz – even though the
pre-renovation stadium hosted the Cup Winners Cup final in 1992.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Celtic won in 1967, the final was hosted
at Estadio Nacional .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that
unless Atletico have seriously ran out of steam, I think they can do it and
win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take them to win 2-1 after extra
time.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-51338495519867166272014-05-17T21:30:00.000+01:002014-05-17T21:30:00.793+01:00Substance Beats Hype Once Again<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">129th Scottish
Cup Final, Celtic Park: St Johnstone 2, Dundee United 0</span></b>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYwy_f1SxFuxEKmLsNc_x8meTG0KKhyphenhyphenIan7dRkVfcvq5mP7KDQevbnNJWW_XBjZU0dwpNTEx7nc3EWUm-WzaavPi0RF21MQZE-2trTM21Q6HnK3ZwrqxmswwZ3KTNEsbEQQMBmN173TGj/s1600/St-Johnstone-celebrate-wi-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYwy_f1SxFuxEKmLsNc_x8meTG0KKhyphenhyphenIan7dRkVfcvq5mP7KDQevbnNJWW_XBjZU0dwpNTEx7nc3EWUm-WzaavPi0RF21MQZE-2trTM21Q6HnK3ZwrqxmswwZ3KTNEsbEQQMBmN173TGj/s1600/St-Johnstone-celebrate-wi-011.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Going into this
final, the pre-publicity was centred on Dundee United’s battery of exciting young
players being pitted against St Johnstone’s young player of the year Stevie
May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead it was St Johnstone’s underrated
players who prevailed, with May playing a key role without being the star
performer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Undoubtedly Dundee Utd were
below par, but take nothing away St Johnstone got their tactics spot on.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">St Johnstone were
the better side of the first half hour of the game, though it took them 10
minutes to get a shot on goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May
attempted to riffle in a shot from outside the box and then Dunne had a shot
tipped over by Cierzniack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moments later
Cierzniak kept out a snatched effort from Wright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironic for what was to follow, Cierzniak
looked more settled than St Johnstone’s Mannus who dropped a cross from Dow
early on and also looked nervy at a kick out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">After half an
hour Utd suddenly came into the match, Gunning had a header from a corner, but
couldn’t put it on target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They then put
together their best move of the match to put Robertson in down the left, his
cross was nearly flicked in by Gow only to see it come off the inside of the
post and just miss the goalkeeper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>United were in the match and ratcheted the pressure to get the opening
goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead St Johnstone opened the
scoring just before half time (below).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
Wothespoon corner just before half time was headed in by the defender Steven
Anderson, with the Utd goalkeeper Cierzniak missing the cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a bad error from the United
goalkeeper.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Dundee Utd
started the second half intent on looking for a leveller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their pressure brought a free kick outside
the box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ciftci’s free kick looked like a
goal…until it hit the underside of the bar and was taken by Mannus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point it looked like this was going
to be St Johnstone’s day, even more so when moments later May looked to have
scored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A cross into the box was bundled
into the goal by May, only to be chopped off when the 5th official spotted that
May had put the ball into the goal with his hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The game then
opened up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wotherspoon had a run at Utd’s
defence, but shot straight at Cierzniak. Sub Graham scuffed a shot at St
Johnstone’s goal while Ciftci had a run & shot from just outside the box
that was just wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With seven minutes
left, St Johnstone got their second goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May ran at the Utd defence and attempted to bass the ball to MacLean,
his pass deflected off a defender and fell into the box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Cierzniak and MacLean went for the ball
and MacLean got there first, hooking the ball into the net from a horizontal
position at the second time of asking. Game over as ten minutes later St
Johnstone were able to begin to celebrate winning their first major piece of
silverware.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">It has to pointed
out that St Johnstone were excellent today, their tactics were spot on and, as
Tom English pointed out on Sportsound, Tommy Wright seems to have worked out
how to beat this Dundee United team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes
Stevie May wasn’t as prominent as we thought but we didn’t have a stinker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember as well it was his pass that led to
the second goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly St Johnstone
were much more solid at the back than Utd, a hallmark of Wright’s early time at
Perth when they went on the run in Europe at the start of the season.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_21iIQg3zaj-hMtyVMKLgHJo8qPky9L030ORPm88Sq3cQ5KgixZAs6-eUa2ZJMFL2jt5MtHl07vY9WEqPKiT4HRYGB7sMPx8wbjM6QOTep4fD9Hz11jf_OuFxYn0dojO7YN9xBZgLoE1t/s1600/_anderson-1-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_21iIQg3zaj-hMtyVMKLgHJo8qPky9L030ORPm88Sq3cQ5KgixZAs6-eUa2ZJMFL2jt5MtHl07vY9WEqPKiT4HRYGB7sMPx8wbjM6QOTep4fD9Hz11jf_OuFxYn0dojO7YN9xBZgLoE1t/s1600/_anderson-1-0.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">St Johnstone
deserved the win. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will take up a
lot of time with the analysts will be Dundee United’s performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, they just didn’t play to their
potential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather like the highly
praised Aberdeen side in the League Cup final this season, Dundee Utd did not
perform on the big stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The big
diference being that St Johnston played much better in their final than
Inverness earlier in their final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
not to say that Dundee Utd’s players froze, more that they played below
par.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Passes went astray and chances were
defended by St Johnstone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also hit
the post twice. I’ve said this before but for all the praise heaped on to
Dundee United, they are still very much a work in progress.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">For St Johnstone,
this final shows that while there are improvements still to be made it will be
more important to keep hold of their players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Advances towards May have already been rebuffed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There may be more before the start of next
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime, this final put’s
to bed the lie that Scottish Football is boring and needs a ready made Glasgow
based challenger to Celtic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth is
that Scottish Football finally looks in a slightly promising state thanks to
emerging sides at Dundee United, Aberdeen and St Johnstone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could be that if these teams continue to
develop, Scottish Football could be back at the stage where these teams were
challenging Celtic for honours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
would be much better state of affairs than the Old Firm driven transfer arms
race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the mean time, this is St
Johnstone’s day and they should enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After all they have waited 130 years for a day like this.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-55682666672495561692014-05-16T13:00:00.000+01:002014-05-16T21:46:52.946+01:00The Green Shoot's Final<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">There is a
minority view that Scottish Football needs a revitalised Rangers to get back
into the top flight of Scottish Football.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rationale is that Celtic’s relentless marches to the championship
have made Scottish Football boring. The problem with that argument is that
Celtic are nowhere near as dominant as Rangers themselves were in the mid 90’s,
if they were we wouldn’t be looking at, and be excited at, the prospect of
another non old firm final this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the fourth since Rangers self combusted in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And all four have had what American screenwriters
like to call narrative</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI4RFtE1M_f1oZHJ9AFBoKRmICe8Tmx2jG1MrmyweHgTuwbxgv8Iu9ma8LPj9Cc8q2JENgGXpgeAppki_ij4pesdalTygYR45rD6vxubv35hfSiLPPMZNgmX-1OipFTIWzHpUkWvubEA3/s1600/Brewster-Golac-Petric-Scottishcup94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI4RFtE1M_f1oZHJ9AFBoKRmICe8Tmx2jG1MrmyweHgTuwbxgv8Iu9ma8LPj9Cc8q2JENgGXpgeAppki_ij4pesdalTygYR45rD6vxubv35hfSiLPPMZNgmX-1OipFTIWzHpUkWvubEA3/s1600/Brewster-Golac-Petric-Scottishcup94.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dundee United's Manager Ivan Golac celebrates with Brewster & Petric in 1994</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Both of the cup
finals this year have featured top six sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With Aberdeen beating Inverness in the drab League Cup final earlier on this
season, Saturday’s 129th Scottish Cup final sees Dundee United attempt to win
their third Scottish Cup in 20 years against a St Johnstone team in their first
Scottish Cup final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Prior to their
win against Aberdeen in the semi final, St Johnstone had reached 8 semi finals
without any success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The closest they had
come to the final was taking Rangers to a replay in 1989 (a game overshadowed
by events in Sheffield) and taking Rangers to penalties in 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St Johnstone’s key player is Stevie May,
Scotland’s young player of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May
has scored 20 this season, including a brace in the 2-1 win over Aberdeen in
the final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that semi, he was
partnered with Steven McLean who helped with a lot of the link up play from
midfield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The former Hib’s midfielder
David Wotherspoon is expected to provide creativity from the middle of the park
while at the back Dave MacKay will marshal the defence.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">From the point of
view of the other saints, there are three former Buddies in St Johnstone’s
squad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one most likely to play will
be Nigel Hasslebank, nephew of the former Leeds & Chelsea forward Jerrel “Jimmy”
Floyd Hasslebank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would actually be
surprised if he doesn’t make it to the bench at least, his pace could be
crucial in the later stages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for the
others, Paddy Cregg did come on at the end of the semi final and Chris Iwelumo
is on the fringes of the team.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Dundee United
are, well, seasoned pros at this game now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They lost six finals (1974, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991) before beating
Rangers 1-0 twenty years ago (As it happens the anniversary of that win is next
Wednesday).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then they lost to
Celtic (1-0 in 2005) in Martin O’Neil’s last match as Celtic manager before winning
it again <a href="http://fanwithalaptop.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/gulf-in-class.html">four years ago</a> against Ross County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>United start as slight favourites for this match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do have an exciting crop of young
players in their squad, with commentators purring over the potential of Ryan
Gauld and Stuart Armstrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dundee
United’s main threat will come from Nadir Ciftci, but it is astonishing to
think that MacKay-Steven (Arguably United’s best player last season) is still
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The experience in midfield will
come from the former Hib’s player John Rankin.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGuqjto4U1bMm-qItJQ0BuXPuQDSRycReeTZ3A3XkBSedBDnMlS96t0PgKIRwr-TNlG5wpJHdZNFrqBvN9yteeKV_AvvrbbfQAl-TeXTTSpVuJUvw4IJwFFNwvzImCwwB8g2urflnnugo/s1600/May1stSemi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGuqjto4U1bMm-qItJQ0BuXPuQDSRycReeTZ3A3XkBSedBDnMlS96t0PgKIRwr-TNlG5wpJHdZNFrqBvN9yteeKV_AvvrbbfQAl-TeXTTSpVuJUvw4IJwFFNwvzImCwwB8g2urflnnugo/s1600/May1stSemi.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">St Johnstone's Steve May equalises in the semi final win against Aberdeen</span></span></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The other facet
of this game not discussed is that both sides are managed by men in their first
season at their clubs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St Johnstone’s
Tommy Wright was assistant to Steve Lomas last season before declining Lomas
offer to join him at Milwall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dundee
United’s Jackie MacNamarra had been carving a reputation for himself at Partick
before Dundee United decided to part with their previous cup final winning
manager Stuart Houston after initially deciding not to renew his contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironically enough Derek McInnes had also been
touted for the Dundee Utd post before MacNamarra was appointed and McInnes took
up the vacant Aberdeen job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both McInnes
and MacNamarras sides have shown flashes of good football but have also shown
that those sides are still, for all the plaudits, very much works in progress.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Dundee United
start as favourites for this final, rightly so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are the better side going forward and have more options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do wonder if their inexperience will play a
part as it did with Aberdeen in the League Cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If Dundee United do let their inexperience get in the way, then St
Johnstone have shown themselves more than capable of taking advantage &
they do have the best Scottish based marksman in their team in May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His shirt saying “May 17” could be all too
prophetic come Saturday teatime. Their marksman’s name is on the date, I also think
their name is also on the trophy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think St Johnstone will win 2-1.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-32338950630777037112014-05-14T12:00:00.000+01:002014-05-14T12:00:02.443+01:00Stick or Twist?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Various Kremlinologists
will have seen the signals a long while ago, a section of the Buddies have been
after it for a while, so why has St Mirren’s decision not to offer Danny Lennon
a new contract seem like some sort of anti-climax?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6mkwkFJjbiU5V_yoI4NGGmqGfThrZ3MihrI5a2vczjrUbs6KUbxTOY8bINcrN1mhSS7Jk7n32wteaT5WRw1fEAAQMO1azuhtk2DVLCoKEKx4zihYzTOleqK3mLFaoW-rzZ2E3YK-uGN9/s1600/lennon&craig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6mkwkFJjbiU5V_yoI4NGGmqGfThrZ3MihrI5a2vczjrUbs6KUbxTOY8bINcrN1mhSS7Jk7n32wteaT5WRw1fEAAQMO1azuhtk2DVLCoKEKx4zihYzTOleqK3mLFaoW-rzZ2E3YK-uGN9/s1600/lennon&craig.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Danny Lennon talks to his assistant, and successor as St Mirren manager, Tommy Craig</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The first point
to be made is that there is a case for the removal of Lennon as St Mirren
manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The team at his disposal have not covered
themselves in glory this season, despite the results picking up at the end of
the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best part of the season
for St Mirren was the period from the end of September (when we should have
beaten Aberdeen, but settled for a draw) to the Scottish Cup replay with Queen
of The South when 4 of our wins 10 came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of that 8 game period we picked up 15 points out of 24 and only lost to
Dundee United (4-0, when they were beginning to fly too…).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the season though has been a
struggle, where we have tried to compensate for being thin at the back. Those
area’s have been <a href="http://fanwithalaptop.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/danny-lennons-st-mirren-where-has-it.html">problem areas for some time</a>, even going back to when we signed
Hasslebank, Thompson & co we needed strengthening at the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead this season we released one of our
defenders, Lee Mair, to Partick Thistle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">That spurt though
was down to Lennon changing tactics, playing a tight 4-4-1-1 with tucked in
midfielders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, we’ve looked
too much like we’ve been on the back foot – which doesn’t suit us, and
sacrificed our expansive players, which when we’ve gone for it we’ve looked
rather impressive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">That’s the thing
though, where there is a case for removing Lennon there was also a case for
keeping him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St Mirren’s <a href="http://fanwithalaptop.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/breaking-hearts.html">first silverware since 1987</a>, this season our highest finish since that period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we’ve played well, we’ve looked
threatening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just that we haven’t
played well enough in enough games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">I can understand
if the St Mirren board were split about whether to offer a new contract or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure myself what I would have done
but would have marginally come down to nor renewing solely on Lennon’s recruitment
policy & his reticence to deal with his defence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That indecisiveness has carried forward to
the appointment of Lennon’s successor as the highly experienced Tommy Craig.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">He has been a
fixture on the British coaching scene for several decades, but as far as I can
remember I think this is his first opportunity as a manager in his own
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His most famous moment though was
when he was the first team coach to Billy McNeil’s Manager at Celtic during
their centenary season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A season that
memorably saw them win a league and cup double.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My reservations are totally down to the fact that we are appointing from
within and appointing Lennon’s Assistant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If change was needed, surely a fresh new coaching team was required
rather than just sacrificing the head honcho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If Lennon was such a failure, why isn’t Craig seen as one?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">I do wonder if
the St Mirren board fell into the trap of believing that “something must be
done” without knowing exactly what needed to be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that they did the right thing, but
didn’t handle things in the best manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Appointing Craig is also a bit of a departure for St Mirren as most of
our appointments from Jimmy Bone onwards have been bright young turks. I do
remain convinced that this particular change is a change that will work.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-49488768916391230502014-04-23T12:00:00.000+01:002014-04-23T20:47:08.701+01:00The Poison Chalice...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">That phrase
normally means that the position is generally thought to be an impossible job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A job guaranteed to end in failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thirty years ago, the managers position at
Manchester United was thought to be the biggest poison chalice in the country,
when David Sexton was sacked they couldn’t get their first choice (Laurie
McMenemy) but wound up with West Brom's Ron Atkinson instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the light of the sacking of David Moyes,
it may well be again.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nPc7eOTPWYUt_ufPpPuFICK239FMIxl6i5Q4BKXm9DY1YpUVC5TzzJgFaWe4w9sPeGXTZazvSUMMap7ImBXcGoD-CLmrCWvPmxMs7zkLQzTgbtfs1uBCFFz0b4PQc7U7_0oOD9pnwHsl/s1600/Moyes-Manutd-Everton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nPc7eOTPWYUt_ufPpPuFICK239FMIxl6i5Q4BKXm9DY1YpUVC5TzzJgFaWe4w9sPeGXTZazvSUMMap7ImBXcGoD-CLmrCWvPmxMs7zkLQzTgbtfs1uBCFFz0b4PQc7U7_0oOD9pnwHsl/s1600/Moyes-Manutd-Everton.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The Moyes era is
already being painted as the reign of someone out of their depth, who didn’t
have a clue what they were doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More
than a cursory look at events will see that Moyes failures can be traced to the
failure to prepare properly during last summers transfer window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ferguson’s side from last season while good
enough to win the English Championship was still in need of surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have been arguably missing a dominant
midfielder since Keane, while they haven’t replaced Paul Scholes either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s before we get to the poor form shown by
Vidic & Ferdinand this season, while the replacements for those two (Jones, Evans & Smalling) haven’t exactly set the heather on fire.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">That’s not to say
that Moyes hasn’t made mistakes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
biggest was getting rid of Ferguson’s backroom staff – keeping Meulenstein
& Phelan would have made the transition period easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet there is a logic to Moyes actions here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does the new man want so many of his predecessor’s
men still around, especially with the old man “upstairs”?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The Radio 5 Live football commentator
Mike Ingham did make the point in asking what Moyes task was?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it a long term rebuilding job (one which
Moyes has been good at while at Everton) and if so why has he been sawn
off?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their Chief Executive Ed Woodward
did make the point that Moyes got the job because they were looking for someone
for the long term and not “<i>a gun for hire</i>”, so what has changed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it was the old perennial of “<i>losing the
dressing room</i>”, again it comes back to the less than smooth transition period,
which resulted in no momentum from the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unsurprisingly, Roy Keane pulled no punches in fingering the players,
Moyes coaching staff and the directors in not supporting Moyes.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">So who next for
the poison chalice then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bookies
favourite is the current Netherlands manager Louis Van Gaal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has the experience, reshaping Ajax to the
extent that they won the UEFA Cup (in 1992) and the European Cup (in 1995),
reshaping the Barcelona team, laying the foundations that eventually led to Guardiola’s
double European Cup winning sides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Van
Gaal also laid the foundations for Guardiola at Bayern Munich, leading them to
the European Cup final in 2010 before making way for Jupp Heynkes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has the qualifications, but he is a “gun
for hire”.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Others in the race
include the Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp, the current Real Madrid
manager Carlo Ancelotti and his opponent across Madrid Diego Simeone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note that none of the names mentioned would
be long term appointments or are any of the up and coming managers of the
British game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has the perceived failure
of Moyes meant that Manchester United have changed their policy and are now
appointing “guns for hire”?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">When Manchester
United decided to sack Ron Atkinson in November 1986, they had a plan who they
wanted as his replacement as they had already sounded out the Aberdeen Manager
Alex Ferguson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today it is not apparent
that there is a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They may have
sounded out people as far back as last month, but there does not look as if
there is a clear succession plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had Ferguson
been sacked in 1990, the seeds had already been sown for Manchester United’s
future success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moyes sacking deprives
him of the opportunity to even plant the seeds.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-72588074869898405102014-04-18T10:30:00.000+01:002014-04-18T11:53:46.961+01:00After The Split<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">In the
reorganisation of Scottish Football, one thing that stayed with the 12 team top
league was the split.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This season with
the championship race over and Hearts confirmed as the team dropping into the
ridiculously named “Championship”, there seems to be nothing left to play for
until the Scottish Cup Final in mid May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Far from it.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQgrYZbt8W5OUkB7Jys7dZqqnenSs-UxOR6dUwYqgLB1ibyxOE8xBH2e-xrnm1dTIPS2QXudfBiBYHToiZOCxvLj9iAH3Df7vsXLWgAMKwLRpuKs1jt_mYsYEPukasAWn8gSkVys2KEP2/s1600/McGowan-Hanlon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQgrYZbt8W5OUkB7Jys7dZqqnenSs-UxOR6dUwYqgLB1ibyxOE8xBH2e-xrnm1dTIPS2QXudfBiBYHToiZOCxvLj9iAH3Df7vsXLWgAMKwLRpuKs1jt_mYsYEPukasAWn8gSkVys2KEP2/s1600/McGowan-Hanlon.jpg" height="283" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">McGowan & Hanlon tussle during Hibs 0-0 draw at Greenhill Road on November 23rd</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">With Celtic’s lap
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essentially playing for places while Aberdeen and Motherwell are fighting for
European places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aberdeen are in pole
position to take the runners up spot ahead on Motherwell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While both sides meet on the last day of the
season – in what television hopes will be a shoot out for second place – the
nature of the top six means that every fixture will be hard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Most attention
though will be on the fight to avoid the play-off place in the bottom six.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>St Mirren’s unlikely (at half time at least –
has any Saints fan seen a worse defensive display since the Coughlan era?) win
against Motherwell shot them into the pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Partick Thistle now sit in the play-off place, but are only a point
behind St Mirren and Ross County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
Seventh Place Hibernian are not safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are four points ahead of Partick Thistle but are the anti-form
team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hibernian’s last win came at home
to Ross County on 15 February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that
point Hib’s were 7th on 31 points, a point behind St Johnstone in sixth and 7
behind fifth Inverness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then they
have only picked up three points and fallen 14 points behind St Johnstone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Looking at form,
St Mirren’s game with Hibernian this weekend could well go a long way to determining
who goes down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The less than mighty Bud’s
have only picked up 7 points in the last 10 games, Hibs have only picked up 6
out of 30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A St Mirren win would put
them level on points and put even more pressure on Hibernian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However if Hibernian win, it could just be
the turning point for Butcher and Hibs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
this weekend the pressure on Hibernian does not stop, next for them will be
Hearts next Sunday, they will be hoping to take Hibs with them into the
“Championship” – with St Mirren away to Partick next Friday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Form also
dictates that Kilmarnock are probably best placed to stay out of trouble, and
may well be out of the reckoning quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also think Ross County might have enough to get themselves clear as
well, but it would not surprise me to see Partick, St Mirren and Hibernian
still in danger come the final day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">My prediction at
the <a href="http://fanwithalaptop.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/staggering-into-view.html">start of the season</a> was that Hib’s would occupy the playoff place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I didn’t foresee was that Hibs would be
seventh going into the post split fixtures, with a chance of occupying that 11th
position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For people who say that the
top flight of Scottish Football is missing Rangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The green shoots at the New Firm, the race to
avoid the playoff place, the League Cup and the upcoming Scottish Cup Final is
proof that there is more to Scottish Football than the one-upmanship of the
forces of evil and darkness from Glasgow.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-46595320843107565812014-04-12T09:00:00.000+01:002014-04-12T09:00:00.897+01:00The One About Semi Final Weekend<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">In all the years
that there has been the split in the top flight of Scottish Football, with the
Scottish Cup Semi finals in between the split, there has not been such an
intriguing set on semi final fixtures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
weekend’s semi finals between Dundee United and Rangers, followed by Aberdeen
against St Johnstone are the most interesting in years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arguably the last time the semi finals threw
up such an interesting set of fixtures was in pre SPL times when Celtic played
Rangers at neutral Parkhead and Falkirk played stuttering Hearts at Ibrox in
1998.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLVG40tWtEBmKOtPoXGPFLdLrGca774NVI-NAECZmkHbllCqjMv0aF0ZUiZCfKAAGY8l43rjXeRaYZMBmoXJPD92hz5gUCiHIAN-dszybGzAFrHF0Dinox5VXkOKbHUZveInMYJPNUU3G/s1600/Scottishcup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLVG40tWtEBmKOtPoXGPFLdLrGca774NVI-NAECZmkHbllCqjMv0aF0ZUiZCfKAAGY8l43rjXeRaYZMBmoXJPD92hz5gUCiHIAN-dszybGzAFrHF0Dinox5VXkOKbHUZveInMYJPNUU3G/s1600/Scottishcup.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Saturday sees
Dundee United take on Rangers at neutral Ibrox.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The announcement of the venues in advance has caused controversy – with
Hampden out of use due to the upcoming Commonwealth Games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This controversy intensified when Rangers
beat Albion Rovers after a replay to reach their semi final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their opponents, Dundee United, have
protested at the semi final being played at Ibrox to no avail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">I did think that
Dundee Utd’s protests would backfire, that this would undermine their mentality
and somehow enhance the intimatory factor Rangers fans will try to generate
with reduced fans at their own stadium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Except that if last weekend’s Ramsdens Cup final is anything to go by,
Rangers reduced circumstances is matched by the comparatively poor play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since being forced to start at the bottom
ring of the ladder, they have only won two cup ties against higher league
opposition (a 2-0 win against Motherwell in last years League Cup & a 2-0
win against Falkirk in the third Round of this competition last December),
while during that cup final they looked poor and rudderless against a side not
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Towards the end
of last year, Dundee United looked like the best side in the country not
playing in Green and White hoops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
run came to an end on Boxing day with a mauling at the hands of St Mirren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then, they’ve offered glimpses of that
form – namely the 5-0 pre League Cup final shellacking of Inverness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They maybe looked like going into this tie in
a nervous manner – they lost 2-0 against the champions last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they are nervous about Saturday, they
shouldn’t be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rangers were awful last
week and have not looked that great all season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dundee United should extend their winning streak against Rangers, going
back quarter of a century.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Sunday’s quarter
final is a repeat of the League Cup semi final when Aberdeen blew away St
Johnsone 4-0 at Tynecastle in January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Revenge
for St Johnstone would be sweet and historic as they are aiming for their first
Scottish Cup final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is their ninth
appearance in the semi final stages, losing most recently in 2011 against
Motherwell at Hampden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aberdeen on the
other hand have won this trophy seven times, one behind Hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their most recent win though was in 1990,
beating Celtic on penalties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since their
last final in 2000, Aberdeen have had their own issues with semi finals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They lost heavily to Celtic in 2011, but
unexpectedly lost to Hibs in 2012 and more famously to Queen of The South in
2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone’s jinx is going to be
broken.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">If we go with the
favourites, the Scottish Cup final on 17th May will be between Aberdeen &
Dundee United.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rather think that this
weekend won’t be that straightforward.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-58281014498871591372014-03-29T10:30:00.000+00:002014-03-29T10:30:00.427+00:00The 2013/14 Vintage<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">When a great
sporting occasion has finished, or we have seen one of sports big prizes picked
up, if the coverage is presented by John Inverdale, he invariably asks a
question that normally tries to put this great triumph in context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Celtic claimed their 45th Scottish
Championship this week, the question that no one is asking is “In the pantheon
of great Scottish sides, where does this Celtic side sit?”</span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">In the con’s
side, of course you have to look at the lack of competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no strong Rangers side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed Rangers seem to have spent the past
two years making the mistakes that they originally made on the road to
ruin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s laughable for McCoist to say
that he is looking at a couple of players when they don’t have any money.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The other point
in favour of this Celtic side not being a great side is their poor results in
Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did get to the group stages
of the European Cup, but lost badly to a Barcelona side not quite as good as
their vintage of a couple of years ago and also contrived to loose to the worst
AC Milan side in a generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except at
least they reached the group stages.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">This last point
can be re-butted straight away by a cursory look at Rangers record in Europe
when they dominated Scottish Football.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They had a couple of good runs in Europe, in 1987/8 when they were
knocked out by Steua Bucharest in the quarter finals and their famous run of
1992/3.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">This Celtic side
on paper is not as good as the side from last season, they lost Hooper and
Wanyama during the summer Transfer window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet, in the league anyway, their focus has been impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have only dropped 9 points all season,
and with 7 games left sit with 84 points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ah, but what about the opposition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Yes Motherwell
are still up there, Stuart McCall’s side have been consistently been up there
since Rangers demise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also the
green shoots of good sides emerging at Aberdeen and Dundee United.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should be noted that while they have
garnered good reviews in the Press corps and the broadcast media, both sides
are still very much a work in process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">For all that
Dundee United were irresistible in the autumn, since their 4-1 hammering at
Greenhill Road, they have been hit and miss since then and are showing all the
signs of being nervous about their Scottish Cup semi final against Second
Division Rangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For all that Aberdeen
have been in good form, they were poor both times against St Mirren, and
struggled to beat a poor Inverness in the recent League Cup final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both sides, though inconsistent, are still
clearly work’s in progress. Rather like this current Celtic side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">So to return to
the question at the start, where do this Celtic side sit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a funny sort of way, can understand Lennon’s
satisfaction at this championship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last
season, Celtic lost at home to Kilmarnock & St Johnstone, this season’s
only loss was at Pittodrie to a side likely to finish second to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly in the league, you would have to go
back to the 1920’s to find championships wrapped up in jig time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An initial reaction would be to put them on a
par with some of Ranger’s mid 90’s win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For a deeper, historical perspective though, we will have to wait for
that.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-2561958159988133712014-03-15T10:00:00.000+00:002014-03-15T10:00:01.291+00:00Flag Day For The North<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD0pzvzKfnlqkofl_7cBLbBAm48WdDm1ECQ2ru7d8UgbLLDg2FSPr53S8wnuscFwTZuFIaWmJC5LGFC-mbbJ-yb0qefO9EGDk1x0XJ3JWrTe5GBXsuDche15xs9qQy9ABnddzX4fZqxPT/s1600/AberdeenLeagueCup1995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXD0pzvzKfnlqkofl_7cBLbBAm48WdDm1ECQ2ru7d8UgbLLDg2FSPr53S8wnuscFwTZuFIaWmJC5LGFC-mbbJ-yb0qefO9EGDk1x0XJ3JWrTe5GBXsuDche15xs9qQy9ABnddzX4fZqxPT/s1600/AberdeenLeagueCup1995.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Stewart McKimmie (with Duncan Shearer) lifts the League Cup in 1995</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Sunday sees the
67th Scottish League Cup Final, which for the second season in a row does not
feature any of the Old Firm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed the
only Old Firm representation comes with Celtic hosting this final due to the
work being done to Hampden in the run up to this summer’s Commonwealth Games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike last year, the two finalists are
firmly in the top half of the table as the much admired but still work in
progress Aberdeen side come up against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Like St Mirren
last year, Caley Thistle are chasing their first win in this competition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike St Mirren, this will be their first
national final, having reached four semi final’s previously (three Scottish Cup
semis and in this competition last year) they gained revenge of sorts over
Hearts for their defeat on penalties last year by winning on penalties this
year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The strange thing
about Caley Thistle getting to this final is that this is a side about to go
into transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their manager at the
start of the season Terry Butcher left them in November, having decided he had
taken them as far as he could, and took on the Hibernian job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His successor was the former Falkirk,
Hibernian and Hartlepool manager John Hughes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Butcher’s footballing philosophy was to get the ball forward as quickly
as possible, different from Hughes who believes in a passing game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key to Hughes success though will be the
ability of his sides to score – the hallmark of all of his sides has been that they
have been attractive but have been a little punchless in front of goal, exhibit
one in this argument being the <a href="http://fanwithalaptop.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/rangers-1-falkirk-0.html">2009 Scottish Cup Final</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Nine points and
two places above Inverness are their opponents Aberdeen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently, conventional wisdom among the
Scottish Footballing commentariat dictates, the best side in the country not
called Celtic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is their 13th final
in this competition, but their first since the 2-0 defeat to the Dalgliesh led
Celtic in 2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed it will be their
first final since that season’s Scottish Cup when they went down to Rangers 4-0
(beating Inverness in the 4th Round).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You need to go back to 1995 for their last victory in this competition
when they beat Dundee 2-0 (above) to go with their victories in 1955/6, 1976/7,
1985/6 (Alex Ferguson’s only win in this tournament) and 1989/90.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">While in recent
weeks Inverness have been playing a 4-4-2, Aberdeen have options up front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ve been playing 4-4-2 since they signed
Adam Rooney, but are capiable of playing 4-3-3 with Pawlett & McGinn pushed
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, while it is tempting to
think of Aberdeen of a team of young turks, there is experience there with
former Inverness player Barry Robson and former Dundee United midfielder Willo
Flood, both of whom also played for Celtic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aD109ijnH99_H_Vshs3QLX9BpcXJzXelBBX2CZ9Xxri07Hc9sOv7xsOB-7wnK1xN0xTLohqn8QuqGSvXPWdw-2VlWi3DEaJvRVE5nCgPwI4nmUuV9ug4qaPxkg3u9D8s9sFX4604lTwW/s1600/Aberdeen0Inverness1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aD109ijnH99_H_Vshs3QLX9BpcXJzXelBBX2CZ9Xxri07Hc9sOv7xsOB-7wnK1xN0xTLohqn8QuqGSvXPWdw-2VlWi3DEaJvRVE5nCgPwI4nmUuV9ug4qaPxkg3u9D8s9sFX4604lTwW/s1600/Aberdeen0Inverness1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">As mentioned
earlier, Inverness have tended to play captain up Ritchie Foran alongside top
scorer Billy MacKay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their biggest
problem may well be their defence, which at times during last weeks Scottish
Cup mauling at the hands of Dundee United looked all at sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have also shipped five recently to
Celtic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How they cope with the loss,
through suspension, of Warren may be key.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is especially the case given the form Aberdeen have been in during
this competition, putting five past Falkirk in the autumn and Four past St
Johnstone in the semi final six weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Worryingly for Inverness, Aberdeen have shown flashes of being able to
live with Celtic, dumping them out of the Scottish Cup at Parkhead and then
becoming the first team to defeat them this season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">If Aberdeen look
like runaway favourites, they shouldn’t be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They’ve not been that great when I’ve seen them against St Mirren this
season, escaping with a 1-1 draw in September but winning 1-0 in a pretty awful
match. If Inverness need inspiration, they can look at their 1-0 win at
Pittodrie in January (above) – the last meeting between the two sides. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aberdeen are rightly favourites, but I don’t
think they will turn up and blow Inverness away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think if Aberdeen can get going though,
they will win by 2-0.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-58656712778101932212014-02-23T21:00:00.000+00:002014-02-23T21:00:00.135+00:00The Road To Paris Starts Here...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">You know, on the
one hand while the extension of the European Championships means that it is now
slightly easier to qualify, this also means that the qualification tournament
does not look like an easy sell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are no Group’s of Death which makes Eurpoe’s big teams breath a sigh of relief
at their tricky at best draws.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iQy8sMVQ6fxBWdtM9EUcotm-fwX7LaPlKaIBk2MGVGovu6ZMGwZsNQ5bkvo0H2nX-fphnGO3NEIVEPNPTrRMeI3tQQfOvf3Wq8e9_eVkJYkYlwL0fYLqRQb_CqTFVfSTOqhyipsQB5bx/s1600/bobis_pressley_ap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iQy8sMVQ6fxBWdtM9EUcotm-fwX7LaPlKaIBk2MGVGovu6ZMGwZsNQ5bkvo0H2nX-fphnGO3NEIVEPNPTrRMeI3tQQfOvf3Wq8e9_eVkJYkYlwL0fYLqRQb_CqTFVfSTOqhyipsQB5bx/s1600/bobis_pressley_ap.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Pressley & Bobic tussle in the Germany V Scotland Euro 2004 qualifier</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Not being one of
Europe’s big teams, the fate handed out to Scotland could have pitched us into
several nightmare scenarios.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of
that has happened, but the draw is an interesting one none the less as we have
found ourselves in Group D alongside Germany, Republic of Ireland, Poland,
Georgia and Gibraltar.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">In this new
format for qualification, the fixtures will not be subject to negotiations
anymore, they will be calculated by computer with dates and times allocated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So a few short hours after the draw, it was
announced that Scotland’s opening tie would be in Germany on 7 September.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The German’s
record in this competition does not need repeating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scotland did give a decent account of
themselves though during qualifying for Euro 2004, drawing 1-1 at Hampden
before losing 2-1 in Dortmund. Prior to that Scotland’s last competitive
meeting came in the finals of the 1992 tournament, Germany winning 2-0 in
Norkopping, while one of the iconic images of Gordon Strachan’s playing career
came when he scored against West Germany in the 1986 World Cup.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Following the
Germany game is a double header in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The only Saturday tie of the campaign at home will be against
Georgia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the near miss of qualifying
for Euro 2008, it was the away tie with Georgia (rather than the games against
Italy, France and Ukraine) that eventually saw us miss out - that 2-0 loss saw
us needing to beat Italy at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Georgia were also a handful in the Hampden tie with us needing a last
minute winner from Craig Beattie (to win that game 2-1, below). That game is followed up with an away trip to
Poland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While our nearest and dearest
seem to be always drawn with Poland, we have not played them in a competitive
tie since qualifying for the 1966 World Cup, when Poland became the first
overseas team to win a World Cup qualifying tie at Hampden.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Finishing off
2014’s fixtures will be a wee Friday night date on November 14 with the
Republic of Ireland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both sides have
only met competitively during qualifying for the European Championships of
1988, a 0-0 draw in Dublin was followed up with a 1-0 win for Ireland at
Hampden, Jack Charlton’s first competitive win as Ireland manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is added spice to these ties with the
recent appointment of Strachan’s predecessor at Celtic, Martin O’Neil as
Ireland’s manager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His assistant will be
one time Strachan signing for Celtic, one Roy Keane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finishing off the first half of the campaign
will be a Sunday afternoon meeting with Gibraltar next March.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the return fixtures, the key matches will
be the ties in Ireland (13 June), Georgia (4 September) and the two home ties
against Germany (7 September) and Poland (8 October). </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4VoXGqbi-W48zmaMruKytLLe2jDJgzRxX5AxAGSLpbOpYpMoNu0sPFX0lj1J_DHB5sFLfAP11XoUdJ7IVNxy5mAApLnftFjNQlQibNv3QGvUHLAlg2MwWNHRLOOFjDE1hUEf2sadLjWb/s1600/craig-beattie-scoring-for-scotland-against-georgia-in-2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4VoXGqbi-W48zmaMruKytLLe2jDJgzRxX5AxAGSLpbOpYpMoNu0sPFX0lj1J_DHB5sFLfAP11XoUdJ7IVNxy5mAApLnftFjNQlQibNv3QGvUHLAlg2MwWNHRLOOFjDE1hUEf2sadLjWb/s1600/craig-beattie-scoring-for-scotland-against-georgia-in-2007.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">If Scotland’s
group is interesting, the other British teams have less interesting draw’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wales have been drawn for the second
tournament in a row with Belgium but will also face Bosnia, Israel, Cyprus and
Andorra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our nearest and dearest England
has once again been given a group where qualification appears to be
straightforward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twenty years on from
taking Switzerland to the World Cup and European Championships, Roy Hodgson’s
England will face Switzerland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other
sides England will face during their qualifying round will be Slovenia,
Estonia, Lithuania and San Marino.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Northern Ireland have been drawn with the last winners of the European
Championships not called Spain, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Finland & the
Faroe Islands.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Of the other
groups, Spain begin their quest for a hat trick of European Championships with
a home tie against Macedonia, with their group also comprising Ukraine,
Slovakia, Belarus & Luxembourg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
runners up two years ago Italy travel to Norway first, with Croatia, Bulgaria,
Azerbaijan & Malta completing that group, while semi finalists Portugal
find themselves in the five man group which will see the odd team out playing
France in friendlies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Portugal start
with a home tie against Albania, with Denmark, Serbia and Armenia making up the
group.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Scotland’s group
is an interesting group though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
neither the group of death for 2008 or the on the surface relatively easy group
of four years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can finish third
in this group, however at a push, I think there is the possibility that we can
finish behind Germany in second and in the second automatic slot.</span></div>
Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4720855524609150397.post-6514999121397020602013-12-14T09:00:00.000+00:002013-12-14T11:09:29.389+00:00If It's December, It Must Be SPOTY Time...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WRKEedp4_bL8c6NfWlpimieWPQ7L6wOHZbdDGwzDcqXUwEVRd623TggrV3FoqPtVUiQODYZhS6R_t-cZFoWSBnX5iQusTN-Jj_lyZ38r-kb8p6k8fgvWBSaECGKL0OqRVUKlE7g7DFQu/s1600/SPOTY-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WRKEedp4_bL8c6NfWlpimieWPQ7L6wOHZbdDGwzDcqXUwEVRd623TggrV3FoqPtVUiQODYZhS6R_t-cZFoWSBnX5iQusTN-Jj_lyZ38r-kb8p6k8fgvWBSaECGKL0OqRVUKlE7g7DFQu/s1600/SPOTY-2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>2012 Sport's Personality of the Year, Bradley Wiggins, with runner up Jessica Ennis</i></span></span></td></tr>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Sunday see’s the
BBC’s annual “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">oh aren’t we great at
covering sport</i>” puff piece now known as Sport’s Personality of The Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With sport’s rights now being divvied up
between BSkyB and BT Sport for utterly exorbitant sum’s, Sports Review of the
Year seems both like a bygone take of a modern era and out of place with it’s
anglocentric triumphalism.</span>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">I mentioned a
couple of years ago the issue’s surrounding the voting procedures, with august
sporting publications Zoo & Nut’s being given a vote, while only one of
Scotland’s national newspapers had a vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While the BBC have changed those rules, it’s interesting to note that
the representatives from the print world are still based in London rather than divvied
between London, Cardiff, Belfast & Glasgow/Edinburgh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s probably not going to be noticed much
this year, given the identity of the huge favourite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not to say this won’t be an issue in
the future.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">For all the years
that I’ve been doing this blog, Sport’s Personality has never really had an
outstanding favourite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going back, the
last dead cert to win would have been Andrew Flintoff in 2005 (even though that
Ashes series was more of a team collective than Botham’s Ashes of 1981, it’s
just that Flintoff was involved in most of the key moments).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year though, there’s only really going
to be one winner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet since July, Andy
Murray hasn’t really been at the top of his game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His defence of his US Open championships fell
at the quarter final stages at the hands of Stanislas Wawrinka before
succumbing to a back injury, as Rafa Nadal staged a remarkable comeback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XYahLIcuBhxhCYtF6k03zJQzMkn4I1_go5IWZX8O1G57RthNEpeYLuuysEfmNy4zfesYpOJbtSA9GWyzXETTz3GgK17F7UQoBkJSv5uonmBx7T4I01w7WRyiLL4on6XXdqhL-JOiFYQz/s1600/andy-murray-2013-wimbledon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XYahLIcuBhxhCYtF6k03zJQzMkn4I1_go5IWZX8O1G57RthNEpeYLuuysEfmNy4zfesYpOJbtSA9GWyzXETTz3GgK17F7UQoBkJSv5uonmBx7T4I01w7WRyiLL4on6XXdqhL-JOiFYQz/s1600/andy-murray-2013-wimbledon.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">That moment...</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">At the start of
the year though, Djokavic and Murray were the new Nadal and Federer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Djokavic gained revenge over Murray for his
US Open defeat by winning his third straight Australian Open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Murray, revitalised after missing Roland
Garros sailed through in the grass in South London.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, he made heavy weather of a quarter
final against Verdasco, going two sets down before winning the next three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also made heavy weather of the semi final
against Janowicz, losing the first set before coming through in four sets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However Djokavic had come through a titanic
match against Del Potro that broke the record for the longest Wimbledon semi
final (Becker V Lendl’s four hour and 1 minute epic in 1989 was the previous
longest semi, Djokovic won in 4 Hours and 44 minutes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Djokovic was still slight favourite to regain
the title he won in 2011.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Remarkiably
though Murray won, essentially by out Djokovicing Djokavic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His win (above) ended 36 years wait for a British
single’s win, 77 since a Brit won the men’s singles championship and 113 years
since a Scot won the men’s singles championship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we might as well wrap up the trophy now
and post it off to Miami, right?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Well…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with this being a public vote, we can’t
really be certain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember there are
years where the winner is greeted with a collective “What?!?”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AP McCoy’s win in 2010 can best be described
as Left field, while, Ryan Giggs, Zara Phillips and Steve Davis are other, er,
strange winners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mansell won it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">again</i> in 1992 when he eventually won the
F1 drivers championship, when one of our Olympic champions (Christie, Gunnell
or Jackson) would have been more apt (Come to think of it, Robin Cousins beat
both Alan Wells and Daley Thompson in 1980…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WTF???</i>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While David Beckham’s Sport’s Personality win
came off the back of a man of the match performance in a key World Cup <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">qualifier</i> against Greece. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So who represent’s Murray’s biggest obstacle
to becoming, in the year of the referendum, the first Scot to win since Chris
Hoy all of five years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is the
stop Muzza candidate?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">The favourite for
that position is probably Mo Farrah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nominated last year for his 5,000m and 10,000 double at the Olympics,
this year he repeated that feat in the World Championships in Moscow (retaining
the 5,000 crown that he had won in Daegu two years ago).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do wonder sometimes what Farah has to do
to win this award.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prehaps knobble
Murray and British Cycling.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMf0JCIlHEDYWI39VogVuz2hqjdymErs0f3RTB8m_1EIX9hOT6gEUKVQfY1ruwZdrOM_Zo2N7JcB8h4nj8YFJLs-QngMaUyTCIpp7xFWmn0HIA46hKqbcMszIaEZTIHPxwBx2aRxPsX-7H/s1600/SKY-Tourdefrance2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMf0JCIlHEDYWI39VogVuz2hqjdymErs0f3RTB8m_1EIX9hOT6gEUKVQfY1ruwZdrOM_Zo2N7JcB8h4nj8YFJLs-QngMaUyTCIpp7xFWmn0HIA46hKqbcMszIaEZTIHPxwBx2aRxPsX-7H/s1600/SKY-Tourdefrance2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">With Cycling at
an all time high in the British sporting consciousness, it seems strange to
think that Chris Froome (right, in yellow - obviously) might not be following Wiggins and Cavendish in winning
this award.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 100th jaunt around
France known as the Tour De France was a tougher edition than last year, with a
climb up Ventoux as well as a double jaunt up Alpe d’huez.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Froome, given the leadership of team Sky
after Wiggins injury during the Giro d’Italia, destroyed his rivals in the
mountains, taking yellow at Ax 3 Domaines and winning an iconic stage win at
Mont Ventoux.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even almost crashing into
his biggest rival, the returning Alberto Contador, on the descent into Gap
could not halt his march to the Yellow Jersey.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Those three are
the favourites to finish in the top three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of the others, Maybe Justin Rose who became the first Englishman to win
the US Open since Jacklyn in 1971 in June, or Leigh Halfpenny – who starred as
Wales retained their 6 Nations championships and also played a part in the
Lions series win in Australia – their first series win since beating South
Africa in 1997 – could break into the top three.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Froom, Farah or
Rose will finish in the top three behind Murray come Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is a shock, I think that it will be
Farah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be a shock though, I can’t
conceive that the first British winner of the Mens singles title at Wimbledon
in 77 years won’t be crowned Sports Personality of The Year come Sunday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Now, Auntie,
about that idea for Sports Villain of the year…</span></div>
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Allanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13574173214924437278noreply@blogger.com0