UEFA Champions League Matchday 5 - Spurs and United qualify, Arsenal with work to do

TOTTENHAM Hotspur and Manchester United sealed qualification for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, on matchday five.

CONFIDENCE: Luka Modric celebrates his goal with Bale

AT A vibrant full house at White Hart Lane, Spurs sealed qualification for the last 16, against a Werder Bremen side, that missed ten key players through a catalogue of suspensions and injuries.  In less than five minutes, Younes Kaboul had Tottenham infront, continuing his golden week, after netting the winner in Saturday’s North London derby.  Kaboul volleyed in at the near post after Aaron Lennon had gazumped Marcel Jansen.  On the cusp of half-time, the home side had disappeared out of sight, when Luka Modric doubled their advantage, finishing tidily after Peter Crouch had put Per Mertesacker under intense pressure.  Modric won a second half penalty, after his foot was stood on by Bremen debutant Felix Kroos.  However, Gareth Bale showed he is human after all, as his soft penalty was saved by Tim Wiese.  Crouch wrapped the game, after Lennon once again danced through the hopelessly inadequate Bremen defence.  The final 3-0 scoreline didn’t flatter Tottenham; this was as easy a win that you get in the Champions League and they remain top in group A.

TARGET: Rooney's relief at his winning penalty was clear

MEANWHILE, Manchester United secured their place in the last 16 as group C winners, beating Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox and in the process, parachuting Rangers into the Europa League after Christmas.  Dimitar Berbatov was denied a clear second minute penalty by experience official Massimo Busacca, after being tripped by Steven Davis.  United did get their penalty though, with three minutes to go, after Steven Naismith made a poor challenge, catching Fabio in the chest.  Wayne Rooney, making his first start since all the headlines about his future last month scored the resulting penalty, stealing the win for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.  It could have been more against a spirited Rangers side, had it not been for a good performance from home goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

STUNNER: Matheus added to Arsenal's pain in Portugal

ARSENAL failed to recover from their shocking collapse against Tottenham last weekend, falling to a disappointing 2-0 defeat in the north of Portugal against Sporting Braga.  It leaves their participation in the competition in jeopardy.  Arsenal pressed forward for most of the evening and looked well on top until the last 15 minutes, when it started to go pear-shaped.  Cesc Fabregas limped off with a suspected hamstring injury and is likely to be out now for a fortnight.  A gamble on his fitness simply didn’t work.  Carlos Vela was then booked for diving, even though TV replays clearly showed the Mexican was brought down in the penalty area.  Afterwards, Arsene Wenger called the extra official behind the goal system (bought in this year to the Champions League) ‘useless.’  Emmanuel Eboue was stretchered off and with Wenger having made all three substitutions, Arsenal’s increasing pain continued, now having to play on with ten men.  Both Braga goals came in the last seven minutes, both on the counter attack from the Brazilian striker Matheus, as the Gunners defence was horribly exposed. This was an awkward and awful night for Arsenal.

BATTLE: Sturridge starred in Chelsea's edgy 2-1 win

WITH Chelsea’s place secure already in the knockout stages, Carlo Ancelotti gave youth the chance to shine at Stamford Bridge, but it was the visitors MSK Zilina who went ahead, when Belo drove a shot past Ross Turnbull after a routine build-up.  Chelsea, in dire form themselves on a domestic basis, slowly warmed to their task and drew back on level terms in the second half, when Daniel Sturridge scored from a tight angle.  The Blues had a succession of good opportunities, and should have won by more, but Florent Malouda’s first Champions League goal in two years was enough with ten minutes to go, to seal a 2-1 win against the group F whipping boys.

JOB DONE: Cambiasso secured Inter's nervy passage

ELSEWHERE in Europe and Inter Milan qualified for the knockout stages, as Esteban Cambiasso scored the decisive goal on 55 minutes to beat FC Twente 1-0 in the San Siro.  However, Inter will need to improve if they want to hold onto their trophy.  Valencia also qualified, as they recorded their biggest win in UEFA competition, trouncing hopeless Buraspor 6-1 in the Mestalla.  Roberto Soldado scored two goals, taking his tally to five goals in the group stage.  Fellow Spaniards Barcelona also moved into the last 16, with Pedro scoring twice and Lionel Messi netting for the tenth game running in their 3-0 rout of Panathinaikos in Athens. 

OFF: Xabi Alonso gets his marching orders in Amsterdam

IN GROUP B, Schalke’s excellent home record has seen them through, after an easy 3-0 win against Lyon.  Jefferson Farfan scored the first goal and Klaas Jan-Huntelaar added two more to his tally, as the Germans forgot about their dismal domestic form.  Lyon still advanced into the next stage, after Benfica put in a horrid display in Israel, saw them lose 3-0 to Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Hapoel’s first ever win in the Champions League.  Finally, Real Madrid face disciplinary action from UEFA, after picking up controversial late red cards in Amsterdam.  Their 4-0 win over Ajax, ending Ajax’s hopes of progression from group G was overshadowed by time wasting tactics from Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos.  Both Spanish internationals were sent off, and although Jose Mourinho has dismissed the conspiracy theories, the fact that both Alonso and Ramos didn’t seem to care about their dismissals and faced possible suspensions in the knockout stages certainly hints that these cards were staged.

Well done to Tottenham and Manchester United, joining Chelsea in progression.  Come on Arsenal, you are letting the English force down!

World Cup Memories - Part 2

The countdown is getting ever closer to that first kick-off between the hosts and Mexico, which will open up the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.  For the first time, Africa will stage the world’s biggest show and over four weeks and sixty-four matches, we really will find out who is the best in the world. 

It also gives me the opportunity to lookback at some classic FIFA World Cup moments from down the years, a mixture of romance, drama, controversy, disgusting foul play, heartbreak and joy.  Every picture, every match tells its different type of story.  In this five-part series, I will be looking back at my top 50 FIFA World Cup memories, starting, ranging from 1958 to the most recent tournament in Germany four years ago.  Coming up is Part two, and in the no particular order.  Here are the next ten memories:

The Battle of ‘Santiago’ – 1962

On June 2^nd 1962, World Cup hosts Chile and Europeans Italy took part in the most violent and bruising match in FIFA World Cup history.  Chile won the game 2-0, but that was only half of the story, in a ridiculous match, full of shocking fouls and arrogant punch-ups that made it turn into a rugby brawl at Twickenham, not a football contest.  The catalyst for the trouble was the crude comments that two Italian journalists made about Santiago, the capital of the South American country.  They had to flee for safety when spotted in the country, and the game was soon no longer about football.  Within of 12 minutes, Giorgio Ferrini was sent off and had to be dragged off by the police, as the temperamental Italian refused to leave the pitch.  Later on, Mario David was punched by Chile’s Leonel Sanchez, but this incident was missed by referee Ken Aston.  Seconds later, David retaliated by kicking Sanchez in the head!  Quite rightly, he was dismissed.  Sanchez’s hard man attitude continued when he produced a boxing punch on Humberto Maschio, smashing up his nose and the police had to come on three more times, as the two teams lost total control of their discipline, spitting and scuffling with one another on frequent occasions.  This was the darkest moment in FIFA World Cup history, agreed with by the BBC’s David Coleman.  “This is the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football, possibly in the history of the game.    

French Fairytale Comes True – 1998

The 1998 FIFA World Cup final in France will be remembered for the saga of whether Brazil’s Ronaldo would play or not.  The world’s best footballer at the time was in the side, out of it, then in again, having suffered a series of epileptic fits in the build-up to the big kick-off in Paris.  Brazil’s preparation was thrown in chaos and they were no match for the hosts, despite Marcel Desailly’s red card in the second half.  Two goals from the mercurial Zinedine Zidane and a late effort from the consistent Emmanuel Petit saw France complete the fairytale on home soil.  For Brazil, it was a devastating way to lose their grip on the trophy and for Ronaldo, a damaged mark on what had so far been a blossoming career.

Gordon Banks Stunner Save – 1970

This was Brazil v England, the showdown between the best sides in the world.  In the heat of Mexico, this was always going to be a spectacle no-one could forget and the most iconic moment, was Gordon Banks fantastic save to somehow deny Pele a certain goal.  Pele met Gerson’s cross in the first half, with a powerful header that looked certain to burst the net.  Yet, Banks athleticism shone through in this epic counter.  He was beaten later by Jarzinho, as Brazil won the group match 1-0, in a game where sportsmanship was the true winner.

Schumacher’s Moment of Madness – 1982

The 1982 World Cup semi-final between France and West Germany was another picturesque memory, but this, for all the wrong reasons.  With the game tied at 1-1, through strikes from Pierre Littbarski and Michel Platini, French substitute Patrick Battiston charged clear in Seville, only to be taken clean out by the mad goalkeeper Harald Schumacher.  Schumacher had missed the ball in the 1-on-1 confrontation and smashed straight into Battiston, knocking him unconscious in the process. The game was stopped for seven minutes and amazingly, the Dutch referee only gave Germany a goal-kick.  Schumacher then saved two spot-kicks in the first ever penalty-shoot out in World Cup history, as West Germany advanced to the final, following a 3-3 draw.  However, the game will always be totally thought of for Schumacher’s moment of madness.   

Beckham’s Redemption – 2002

He had been vilified and crucified by the English press four years earlier, for that kick-out on Diego Simone in St. Etienne.  Four years on and David Beckham’s moment of redemption came in the closing stages of the first half in Sapporo.  Michael Owen, Argentina’s previous tormentor won a penalty, and Beckham kept his cool to smash the ball past Cavallero and give England their first win since 1966 over Argentina.  The emotion in his celebration said it all, as it laid to rest the ghosts of Mexico 86 and France 98 for the Three Lions army. 

North Korea Stun Italy – 1966

Ayresome Park may not be around anymore, but the former home of Middlesbrough FC played host to one of those best moments in football, when the underdog bites the favourite.  The unfancied North Korea stunned Italy, beating them 1-0 and consequently, qualifying for the quarter-finals at the Italians expense.  It was and still is one of the greatest upsets in the game’s history.  Ironically, North Korea is back at the World Cup in 2010, could they do the same to Brazil or Portugal in the group stages.

The Reggae Boys Party In France- 1998

Jamaica’s colourful atmosphere and presence was one of the distinct highlights of the 1998 World Cup finals.  Players such as Derby’s Deon Burton and Wimbledon’s Robbie Earle had the distinct privilege of playing top-quality opposition at football’s greatest showpiece.  Win, lose or draw, the Reggae Boys were determined to have an exceptional party and they didn’t disgrace themselves either.  They pushed Croatia all the way in their first Group H game, losing bravely 3-1.  Although Argentina dismantled the Jamaicans 5-0 in the next match, Theodore Witmore’s brace was enough to beat fellow debutants Japan and mean, they wouldn’t earn the wooden spoon.  The end-of-journey party was going to be a wild occasion. 

The Own Goal That Caused Death -1994

Distinct tragedy dogged the 1994 finals, when the Colombian defender Andres Escobar scored an unfortunate own goal against the USA in the South American’s second game of the tournament.  Having been up amongst the bookies favourites, a 3-1 loss in their opener to Romania wasn’t in the game plan and this cruel moment from Escobar set the pathway for the Americans to advance to the knock-out stage.  The goal put Colombia out of the tournament and a few days later, Escobar was shot dead by crazed gunman outside a petrol station in Medellin.  Sometimes, there is more to football than just a game….

Cambiasso’s Class -2006

Quite simply, one of the best ever team goals scored in the competition’s history.  Argentina’s second match of the 2006 World Cup saw them produce a stunning 24-pass move, which led to an unstoppable finish from Esteban Cambiasso against hopeless Europeans Serbia & Montenegro.  Argentina played some sumptuous football, on their way to a highly impressive 6-0 success.  I don’t need to explain anymore to this match, just watch this, this is special!

Denmark Meet Their Match, 1986

Denmark had been one of the stars of the early stages in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.  They cruised through Group E with a 100 per cent record, including a 6-1 battering of Uruguay (see video for stunning Michael Laudrup individual moment) and an impressive 2-0 success over the bookies favourites, West Germany.  They were expected to overturn an ageing Spanish side in the last sixteen, and when Jesper Olsen converted an early penalty, were well on the way.  However, a spectacular collapse followed, as Real Madrid’s Butragueno bagged four goals and the dark horses met their match.  A 5-1 loss was the final outcome, as one of the dark horses made their exit in one of the most undignified manners ever seen.

PART 3 next week

For PART 1, visit http://happydude88.blogspot.com/2010/04/world-cup-memories-part-1.html