Next time, rake the cleats over the Swiss tendons, Rooney, my boy.
And as Matchday 6 of the Champions League separated the wheat from the chaff, the next eight into the Europa League knockouts are:
Valencia
Olympiakos
Porto
Victoria Plzen
Manchester United
Manchester City
Ajax
FC Basel
Trabzonspor
Manchester United failed to beat Basel, so MUFC goes to Europa, while the Swiss progress to the knockouts.
Manchester City defeated Bayern Munich at home, but the team progresses, as it were, to Europa due to Napoli’s victory 2-0 victory over Villareal, which means Napoli goes through.
Lyon, after a fantastic 7-1 match overcame all sorts of goal difference, go through over Ajax on goal difference. Of course, there’s a whiff of controversy about this one, with Ajax accusing Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb of match-fixing. Sour grapes? Who knows. Would’ve been nice to have a bet on that scoreline, though.
Trabzonspor’s goalless draw to Lille means Lille goes though and they go on to Europa.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Mata faced his former club and Chelsea took top spot in the group, consigning Valencia to Europa after a convincing 3-0 victory in which Didier Drogba looked like the monster of old.
Olympiakos defeated a sorry Arsenal 3-1 at home and would have gone through to the knockout stages of the Champions League had Marseille not pulled up an incredible come-from-behind victory in Germany, having been down two goals.
Given Apoel Nicosia’s loss to Shaktar Donesk, Porto would have won their group with a victory over Zenit St. Petersburg, but the goalless draw meant the Russians go through and the Portuguese do not.
Plzen scored in the 89th minute and in stoppage time to draw 2-2 with AC Milan, but given Barcelona’s 4-0 battering of BATE Borisov, they would have gone through to Europa regardless.
The U.S. Under-17 team took on Brazil in Lakewood Ranch, FL, and never looked outclassed in the slightest, defeating Brazil 3-1. Having drawn 2-2 with France midweek and beaten Turkey 2-1 on Friday, they won the Nike International Friendlies trophy with three first-half goals and an impressive second-half defense.
As for witnessing the emergence of the “next Neymar” or “next Clint Dempsey” in the crop of U-17 players, the latter certainly seemed more the case. (“New Pelé” Neymar played in the tournament in 2008.) U.S. attacking midfielder Junior Flores displayed outstanding playmaking abilities and looks a huge prospect for the future. Involved in each of the U.S. goals, he outmaneuvered defenders at will, as Rubio Rubin charged down the right flank, providing excellent service to forwards Corey Baird and Wesley Wade. Meanwhile, right back Shaquell Moore and centerback Tyler Turner looked solid, both in attack and defense. Rubin, Flores and the back four played in every match of the tournament, consistency evidenced in the group’s chemistry and cohesiveness.
Kellen Gulley, former U.S. U-17 standout, sat beside this intrepid reporter in the stands in the second half and said, “The Brazil team two years ago would have killed this [Brazil] team. And last year’s was almost as good.” Gulley, 17, scored the equalizer against Brazil in the 2009 tournament for a 1-1 draw. He currently plays for the Chicago Fire youth team.
Brazil’s number 10 Gabriel repeatedly put in dangerous crosses on which forwards Joanderson and Bruno failed to capitalize. However, captain and center half Eriks definitely seemed one to watch in the coming years. Going against type, though, the side produced more fouls than flair. And when themselves fouled, the theatrics came out, eliciting jeers such as “Get him a binky” and “Get him a pacifier” from the capacity crowd. Right back Abner, in particular, made a meal of every challenge, prompting even Eriks to bark at him to get up and on with it as they chased to close the goal gap in the second half.
Right winger Rubin knocked in a back-to-the-goal strike at just two minutes in, the first shot of the game. Off a free kick from the dynamic Junior Flores that got headed his way, Rubin flick-volleyed the ball over his right shoulder to the surprise of everyone, not least Guilherme, the Brazilian goalie.
In the 12th minute, Brazilian midfielder Matheus Queiroz attacked a poor clearance and blazed in a power strike into the upper right corner to level the proceedings. On a night when the U.S. served up the majority of the ball control and goal-scoring flair, the strike had Samba written all over it.
U.S. captain Turner picked up the ball and created space after a scramble from Flores’ delivery into in the six-yard box in the 31st minute, striking to make it 2-1. The celebration between players and fans actually resulted in a section of ad placards and pitch barriers getting knocked over. The goal was Tyler’s second of the tournament (third, if you count the own goal in the France match-up).
As half-time approached, Flores weaved through midfield and centered for Wesley Wade, who beat his defender and sent the ball past Guilherme into the far corner, doubling the lead and Wade’s tournament goal tally, making it 3-1 at the break.
Brazil pressed for a second goal in the second half, to no avail. Despite firing off many shots, most attempts proved easy saves for Paul Christensen, the U.S. ‘keeper. On the other end, Flores nearly scored in the 75th minute, only to hit the outside netting.
In the earlier match of the day, France drew 3-3 with Turkey to take third.
Betting sites had tipped Tottenham to take home the silverware, but the odds are now against them even exiting the group stages.
With two weeks until the final matches of the Europa League group stages, 14 clubs have clinched spots in the knockout rounds of the cup with a game to spare. With the eight teams that finish third in their UEFA Champions League groups transferring over to Europe’s second-tier competition, that leaves 10 spots.
Anderlecht, who alone won all 5 of the first 5 group matches, FC Twente and Sporting Lisbon had already qualified even before Thursday’s matches kicked off, as had PSV Eindhoven and Legia Warsaw before Wednesday’s matches.
Meanwhile, former frontrunner Tottenham’s loss to 10-man PAOK Thessaloniki at White Hart Lane puts makes them unlikely to join the last 32. As punishment, perhaps Jermaine Defoe should write “Panthessaloníkios Athlitikós Ómilos Konstantinoupolitón” 100 times on the blackboard.
First 14:
Anderlecht (Belgium)
FC Twente (Netherlands)
Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)
Atlético Madrid (Spain)
Braga (Portugal)
Hannover 96 (Germany)
FC Metalist Kharkiv (Ukraine)
PAOK Thessaloniki (Greece)
Standard Liège (Belgium)
Stoke (England)
Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia)
Legia Warsaw (Poland)
Schalke 04 (Germany)
PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
At the beginning of November, Tottenham had been tipped to take home the silverware, but their loss to PAOK on Wednesday made it such that while it’s still mathematically possible if they go on a goal spree against Shamrock Rovers and Rubin Kazan loses, it’s unlikely. For one, Redknapp may not even truly wish to progress. One school of thought says exiting the competition would help them finish in the top 3 or 4 in the Premier League, not playing weekend matches on the heels of Thursday nights in Europe and avoiding overall fixture congestion with all the two-leg showdowns to come.
Currently, odds are on Atlético Madrid to hoist the trophy on May 9 in Bucharest. Other frontrunners include Schalke 04, PSV Eindhoven, Paris Saint-Germain and Athletic Bilbao, despite the latter two having not yet qualified.
Arsenal’s 1-0 home loss to Manchester City in the Carling Cup match yesterday showed, once again, the power of the petropounds. One goal from over £150 million in transfer fees is a pretty weak return, but a win is a win and even if City are on the ropes in Europe, they’ve booked their spot in the semifinals of the league cup.
Costel Pantilimon (Loan)
Kolo Touré (£16 million)
Nedum Onuoha (Academy)
Pablo Zabaleta (£6.5 million)
Aleksandar Kolarov (£16 million)
Stefan Savic (£6 million)
Owen Hargreaves (Free)
Nigel De Jong (£16 million)
Samir Nasri (£24 million)
Adam Johnson (£7 million)
Edin Dzeko (£27 million)
sub: Sergio Aguero (£35 million)
Transfer fees depend on many factors and are a dubious way to judge a squad, but compare the total of City’s transfer fees for this roster, roughly £153.5 million, with that of the side Arsenal fielded (roughly £33 million). Aguero alone cost more than the entire Arsenal starting XI.
Lukasz Fabianski (£2 million)
Sebastien Squillaci (£4 million)
Johan Djourou (Academy)
Laurent Koscielny (£10 million)
Ignasi Miquel (£1.1 million)
Yossi Benayoun (Loan)
Francis Coquelin (£0.9 million)
Emmanuel Frimpong (Academy)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (£12 million)
Park Ju-Young (£3 million)
Marouane Chamakh (Free)
A battle of reserve sides, yes. But Manchester City’s second team could mow down almost any Premier League opposition, acknowledging of course that at first contact Hargreaves might shatter into a few million pieces. On the plus side for both teams, Arsenal held its own and Hargreaves still walks the Earth unshattered.
But Manchester City couldn’t possibly be expected to score with the paltry attack they fielded in the starting XI, so of course they brought on superstriker Sergio Aguero as a first half substitute, a decision that eventually paid off in the 84th minute of the match.
The Arsenal back four consisted of all center halves. Squillaci played the best game I can recall (not just good for him but actually good), Koscielny put in another good shift, Miquel performed well at left back. At right back, Djourou wasn’t half bad. Considering he’s not a natural right back and he lacks the pace and stamina of someone like Sagna, he did a commendable job of neutralizing Dzeko, Nasri & Co.
Frimpong and Coquelin shut the City midfield down effectively, to the visible frustration of Nasri, frustration that led to a reported bust-up in the tunnel after the final whistle blew. Oxlade-Chamberlain played a great match, nearly scoring on a 20-yard, left-footed strike to the upper right corner of goal. A first touch strike, no less.
No one has kept a clean sheet against City this season, domestically. And Arsenal proved no exception. Down the field on a breakaway counterattack, the passes from Dzeko to Johnson and Johnson to Aguero were fantastic and Fabianski was blameless for the goal. Aguero was never going to miss, and Fabianski never had a chance.
So, Arsenal exits the Carling Cup, but lessons were learned and/or cemented. Oxlade-Chamberlain looks ready to develop into a truly excellent player, given the right guidance. Same with Frimpong and Coquelin, who are becoming formidable in midfield, both separately and in a defensive partnership. And once again, Chamakh has shown that he is not is the answer in the strike department. Perhaps Park can yet play some role in the mix, but in the interests of all parties, Chamakh should head back to Ligue 1. One of the strikers from the reserves like Benik Afobe should get a chance before the Moroccan. Is Wenger playing him in the hopes that he’ll finally score a few, not necessarily for the here and now (though it’s what we desperately need) but rather to raise his January sell-on value?
Random aside: Why can’t commentators put it together that Miquel is not the man’s first name? He’s not the waiter from Fawlty Towers, and it’s not pronounced, “mee-GELL.” Yes? We good now? We get it. He’s Spanish. But note the Q, dumbasses.
A variety of matches worth watching this weekend: a couple from England, a couple from Spain, intriguing matches in Munich and in Naples, a Uruguayan super derby, and the MLS championship game.
(As usual, all times ET and all TV listings for the United States.)
Saturday, Nov 19
England, Manchester City-Newcastle (10amET, Fox Soccer): The match of the weekend in England. Will the new Mancunian juggernaut keep rolling? City is at the top of the table, with 10 wins and 1 draw. More remarkable: 39 goals for vs. 10 goals against. But the Toon are the only other unbeaten team, 3rd in the table (7 wins and 4 draws for 25 points, 1 behind that other Manchester club, 6 behind Man City). Will Newcastle’s French revolution keep the Tooners run going? Or will the Newcastle bubble burst?
Match of the weekend?
Germany, Bayern Munich-Borussia Dortmund (12:30pmET, ESPN Deportes & ESPN3.com): The Bavarian giants–favorites to win the Bundesliga yet again–against the team that won it last year. Take a look at the video highlights of last year’s match on the cultfootball tumblr.
Italy, Napoli-Lazio (2:45pmET, ESPN3.com): Napoli is the Serie A neutral observer’s team of the moment–open attacking football, featuring skilled and exciting players like Cavani and Lavezzi up front, with Hamsik and Inler behind them in midfield. But they’re only 8th in the Serie A table (on 14pts), while Lazio has quietly climbed even with Udinese at 21 points at the top of the table! German striker Miroslav Klose had struggled for Bayern Munich the past couple seasons, but has been prolific and pivotal for Lazio this year.
Spain, Valencia-Real Madrid (4pmET, ESPN Deportes & ESPN3.com): Madrid has been overpowering, but this is a tricky fixture. Barcelona struggled to salvage a draw at the Mestalla a couple months ago. Don’t be surprised if this one comes down to the wire as well. You’re probably more familiar with the Madrid squad, so here are a couple Valenica players to watch: wingback Jordi Alba, midfielder Ever Banega, forwards Robert Soldado and Aritz Aduriz (with diminutive Argentine striker Pablo Piatti often coming as a super sub). But imagine for a minute if they’d been able to hang on the players they sold over the past couple summers: David Villa, David Silva, Juan Mata, Raúl Albíol.
Saturday, Nov 20
England, Chelsea-Liverpool (11amET, Fox Soccer): Two of the biggest clubs, though both have been inconsistent this season. #4 and #6 in the table, respectively.
Spain, Sevilla-Bilbao (12pmET, ESPN Deportes & ESPN3.com): We are fascinated by Atletic Bilbao and Marcelo Bielsa after previewing and watching them host Barcelona couple weeks ago. Sevilla is not uninteresting either.
MLS Cup, Los Angeles-Houston (9pmET; ESPN, Galavision, and ESPN3.com): The one MLS match we’ll watch this season. Maybe.
Monday, Nov 21
England, Spurs-Aston Villa 3pm (ESPN Deportes & ESPN3.com): Spurs are up to 5th in the table (with a game in hand, due to the cancellation of that season opener due to the riots in London that week), while Villa are 8th.
Out of wide array of matches being played and televised today (a bunch of international friendlies, a few South American World Cup qualifying matches, and the final four qualifying playoff matches for Euro 2012), the one to watch is a friendly in Hamburg:
Germany-Netherlands (2:30pmET, ESPN Classic, ESPN3.com): It’s not really a friendly between these two national sides. True, this match is worth watching based just on the fact that these two are among the top handful of national sides around right now, and will be the top challengers to unseat Spain as European champions next summer. But in addition to current form, there’s the history to consider.
It’s a history that on the pitch goes back to the famous 1974 match in Munich, which resulted in (then West) Germany’s first second World Cup title, via a loss that still looms large in the Dutch national memory.
The Oranje got some revenge in 14 years later, beating Germany in the Euro 1988 semifinal, in a match which like today’s took place in Hamburg, on their way to their only major title. Those two matches got caught up, especially in the Dutch psyche, with a previous, darker history–that of Nazi Germany’s occupation of Holland during World War II.
Two chapters to read for much much more on the Holland-Germany rivalry, and in particular on the legendary 1974 and 1988 matches and their complicated historical context: Chapter 2 of Dutchman Simon Kuper’s Football Against the Enemy, titled “Football Is War”; and Chapter 13 of David Winner’s brilliant Brilliant Orange book, titled “football is not war.” (At least read them before next summer. If things go according to form, it’s entirely possible these two could meet in yet another Euro semifinal, or perhaps even in the final.)
Remarkably the entire Euro 1988 semifinal Hamburg match is on YouTube, in 10 parts. Though the last segment ends with the final whistle, and so doesn’t include Ronald Koeman infamously wiping his backside with German midfielder Olaf Thon’s jersey in front of the visiting Dutch fans after swapping shirts. The description of the YouTube videos does include this quote attributed to Koeman: “1988 didn’t erase 1974 from our memories. The bitterness is still there. Before the match Rinus Michels, who also coached the 1974 squad, told us about that lost final, in order to motivate us. I regret what I did after the match. It was an impulsive reaction, the kind of stupid reaction that follows you for the rest of your life. But for me that case is closed. As I never met Thon again after that, I never had the occasion to apologize.” Apparently, upon returning to Amsterdam as Euro champions after defeating the Soviet Union in the final and following a water-born parade thru the canals of the city, Michels said to the massive crowd gathered in Dam Square: “We won the tournament, but we all know that the semi-final was the real final.”
If instead of the Germany-Holland “friendly” you’d rather watch some matches that ostensibly “matter”, the four Euro playoff 2nd leg matches are all on ESPN3.com:
Jack Wilshere’s successful loan spell at Bolton proved the final piece of his development. More please…
Even before the quarterfinal draw for the Carling Cup paired Arsenal with Manchester City (a.k.a., the Death Squad), many speculated that the reserve teamers logging time on the big stage would soon cede their places to first team players in a push for the silverware. The best then would seek loan opportunies at smaller clubs in the Premier League, in lower leagues or, less ideally, on the continent.
Arsenal has not yet faced the Death Squad in the league, but if they can annihilate the team that annihilated us 8-2, it’s hard to be too confident of much more of a Carling Cup run for any Arsenal player. Manchester City could rest Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and David Silva and continue to perma-rest Tevez and STILL expect to win at the Emirates, no matter which team Arsenal fields.
The youth players need playing time, and Arsenal can’t necessarily afford to have them ramp up to Premier League speed on its watch. The team concedes enough goals from errors as it is. The lesson of Jack Wilshere is the model. His successful loan spell at Bolton provided the final piece of his development, playing week in, week out. Academy players graduate to the reserves and while reserve fixtures are vital to their development and match fitness, eventually they have to show what they can do when the stakes are higher and the opposition fiercer. At a certain point they have to play and prove they have what it takes. Only at such point can Wenger decide if they’re ready to graduate to the first team.
Ignasi Miquel and Nico Yennaris lead the list. The team’s official site still lists them as reserve teamers, although both seem closer to the first team than the frozen-out veteran Sebastian Squillaci. Miquel and Yennaris both started the Carling Cup victory over Bolton and played very well. Both are expected to seek loan deals in search of match play, although Wenger may decide to keep them in the squad to blood them himself, depending on the injury situation. Bolton substitutes Oguzhan Ozyakup and Daniel Boateng will likely also seek temporary pastures new, as will Chuks Aneke and Sanchez Watt, who sat on the bench at Bolton. No word yet on expected destinations.
But what of the current loanees? The hodge podge of players Wenger couldn’t offload during the summer (Bendtner, Vela, Denilson), secure work visas for (Joel Campbell, Pedro Botelho, Wellington, Samuel Galindo), and near first-teamers (Henri Lansbury, Kyle Bartley, James Shea) have been proving their mettle on the field, domestically and abroad. Some have impressed and some have not. The Offload Three, in particular, have done little of note. In fact, Denilson and Vela have failed to score a goal between them. No shocker, there.
But without further ado:
Nicklas Bendtner, The Greatest Player of All Time, has scored two goals in seven for the Black Cats. Against Manchester United, he failed to connect with a late Sebastian Larsson cross that could have equalized the match instead of losing 1-0. Bendtner needs to have a stellar season at Sunderland, as he’s burned the bridges home with anti-Arsenal sentiments in the press, fueled as ever by his overactive ego. One hopes he does do well, if only to cash in on him at the first opportunity. He’s better than Marouane Chamakh, but you don’t get a medal for standards that low. Sunderland currently finds itself 15th in Premier League.
Out-of-favor Denilson the outcast has zero goals in 10 appearances for Sao Paulo. Sounds pretty much right. Arsenal will continue to have trouble unloading him at this rate. Sao Paulo is in 8th in the Brazilian Serie A, with 5 games remaining.
Former golden boy Carlos Vela has scored no goals for Real Sociedad in his 7 appearances. As with Denilson, not much changed there. The scoreless striker will continue to be difficult to offload. And Real Sociedad desperately needs the goals. Rayo Vallecano just thrashed them 4-0 to send them tumbling to last in La Liga. Unsurprisingly, Mexico chose not to call Vela up for the upcoming match against Serbia due to his abysmal form. Arsenal supporters had high hopes for Vela, as with Denilson. Now they just want to see them off the club roster.
Henri Lansbury has one goal in five appearances for West Ham United. He missed out on the 2-0 defeat of Hull, but the Hammers currently occupy 2nd in the Championship. With possible promotion to the Premier League, though it’s far too soon to make any predictions, Lansbury may be learning to enjoy the taste of success and will probably be ready for the first team.
Central defender and former reserve team captain Kyle Bartley returned from a lengthy injury to log his second appearance for Rangers, who top the Scottish Premier League. Rangers employed the center back in midfield in the 3-1 defeat Dundee at Ibrox. If Bartley gets more playing time, he could also make a strong case for the first team.
The Costa Rican teen Joel Campbell has scored two in nine for FC Lorient in Ligue 1. Arsene’s go-to French loan club is in 7th place. Impressively, Campbell has been shortlisted in Tuttosport’s annual “Golden Boy” award (think poor man’s Youth Player of the Year). However, he competes with Arsenal’s own Jack Wilshere, who took second last year, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, not to mention ultra-heavyweights Eden Hazard, Mario Gotze, Xherdan Shaqiri, Thiago, and Phil Jones. Once he plays more matches with the national team, he’ll be eligible for a work visa. Fortunately, he’s been called up for the upcoming matches against Panama (Nov. 11) and Spain (Nov. 15), so he’s on the right track.
The Bolivian Samuel Galindo has no goals in four matches with Gimnastic De Tarragona. Even after a 5-0 home victory over CD Sabadell, the team languishes in 21st in the Spanish Segunda Division, but the victory did see them claw its way from the bottom of the table.
Wellington picked the right or the wrong year to get loaned out to Levante. The Cinderella story topped La Liga and now sits 4th. However, the Brazilian hasn’t seen a second of playing time, hardly ideal for a loan spell.
James Shea has made three appearances in goal for Dagenham and Redbridge, who sit at a pitiful 22nd in League Two.
Currently injured, Pedro Botelho has scored one in eight appearances for Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. The team occupies eighth in the table.
In related news, Manuel Almunia returned from his emergency month-long loan spell at West Ham, where he reportedly played well. With Robert Green healthy again, he has returned to London to hope against hope he can get back into at least a backup goalkeeper role. And most of the Arsenal fan base will hope those wishes do not come true.
When he's not breaking ribs at AC Milan, Oguchi Onyewu travels back in time to break Bruce Lee's ribs in Game of Death.
Seemingly celebrating the first anniversary of his altercation with Sporting Lisbon defender and U.S. international Oguchi Onyewu at the AC MIlan training grounds, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has released an autobiography that briefly details the fight (among other, far less interesting self-aggrandizement).
Entitled I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic (clever), the AC Milan striker and Swedish international says Onyewu broke his rib, an injury never made public. “Close to killing each other,” the two players required an alleged gaggle of players and staff members to break up the fight that transpired during a scrimmage.
Hmmm, wonder why Onyewu was no longer welcome at the San Siro.
Ibrahimovic boasts a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Onyewu looks like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Bruce Lee’s final movie Game of Death. In an MMA cage fight I know who I’d choose. (Hint: lanky bearded guy who breaks ribs and stomps on Swedes with Eastern-European names.)
