Thursday, July 28, 2011

The Youth Files - Italy Part I - The Established Core


The definitive list to the best young talent in the Italian Serie A.



Part I looks at the young players who have established themselves as Serie A regulars.

With the new season just around the corner and a mere six weeks separating us from opening day kickoff, Arjblog highlights the next generation of young players - all 22 and under:

Alexis Sanchez - Udinese / Barcelona - Serie A's most exciting half-winger, the Chilean sensation uses blistering pace, clever runs, excellent close control and powerful shooting to rip opponents apart. At the time of writing, Barcelona are in the process of completing a 26 million pound transfer. Sanchez is the complete package whose 12 goals and 8 assists got his club into Europe's main competition.


Javier Pastore - Palermo - The Jewel in the Sicilian crown, the Argentine attacking midfielder, winger and striker is the bed rock on which the pink shirts' offence is built. Coming into his prime now, at 22, Pastore played 35 games last season, starting 34, with 11 goals, 5 assists and an inimitable, languid, yet elegant style.  One of Serie A's brightest talents.


Alexandre Pato - Milan - Still only 21, Pato's best years are ahead of him and he is already a starting striker at both club and international level. 14 goals in Serie A last season were the latest return in what will eventually be a long and successful career for Milan, one in which he has already hit 50 goals in just over a 100 games, along with six goals in 16 for Brazil.



The Youth Files - Italy Part II - The Potential Core




The definitive list to the best young talent in the Italy.

Part I looked at the young players who have established themselves as Serie A regulars. Part II looks at the best up and coming talent from the rest of Italy.

Ever comprehensive, Arjblog runs the rule over the best of the rest, a listing of the youth talent either on the cusp of breaking through or announcing themselves in Italy, all 22 or under:




Frederik Sorensen - Juventus - The 19 year old Danish U-21 international spent an excellent season filling in for the injuries to Giorgio Chiellini and Nicola Legrotaglia, making 12 starts and playing 17 times in 2010-11. Strong aerial ability and solid tackling as re his strengths. Registered one assist.





Alberto Paloschi - Genoa / Milan - Four years after a spectacular debut for Milan where he netted on debut as a raw 16 year old, Paloschi has grown in stature and experience. After a successful loan spell at Parma where he notched 12 goals in 18 games in Serie B, the 21 year old striker spent another season on loan at Genoa where he scored twice in 12 games for the Serie A side. He continues his education back on loan at Genoa.




Michel Morganella - Palermo / Novara - Made 34 starts without being substituted during a successful promotion for new Serie A side Novara (their second such promotion on the trot. Rugged and tough at the back, his physical side saw him pick up 12 yellow cards, the only thing that prevented him from playing every minute. Another Palermo youth player on loan last season.




Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Europhiles Notebook - What Ails Belgium ?

Just, what is wrong with Belgium ?

Belgium's Lineup During Euro 2012 Qualification
At the time of writing, Belgium sit second in Group A of Euro 2012 Qualifying. In a six nation group where each team plays 10 matches (double round robin games each of the other five teams, home and away), Germany are the distant leaders with 21 points from their seven matches. Belgium are way behind with just 11 from their seven completed games.

Jonathan Legear
With one of their three remaining games at home and matches against minnows Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan still to come, Belgium's progress from the group seems likely, but is still not assured. Although Belgium are in pole position amongst the trio of Austria, Turkey and themselves to reach the playoffs, plenty can still happen to unseat them in the runners-up spot - Germany have sealed the group and cannot be caught.

Steven Defour
With a tendency to drop leads, draw games they should win and an odd mental fragility, Belgium will still be looking nervously over their shoulder.  For one, Turkey sit but a point behind with a game in hand.  Intriguingly, the remaining game after the Eastern European nations is an away tie at Germany on October 6 2011.  Even if Germany were to rest their starters and give their regulars a breather, their strength in depth would still mean Belgium would face a daunting trip against a skilled and motivated lineup of fringe players and reserves. Moreover with Azerbaijan, celebrating its 100th year as a footballing nation and having already beaten Turkey at home, Belgium cannot guarantee three points from their trip to Baku.




Monday, July 25, 2011

Brazilian Serie A Week 11

Cruzeiro break the title race open.


Corinthians have finally been halted, losing 1-0, that too at home, to a resurgent Cruzeiro, led by star striker Wallyson.  With his fourth goal in three games, Wallyson ensured Corinthians have been stopped in their tracks, and surrender their unbeaten league record.  After going eight games without scoring he has now notched four times with three game winners.


Although Tite's side still lead the table comfortably, the gap is a more manageable six as opposed to a daunting eight.  And with Sao Paulo contriving to tie fourth from bottom At Go on Saturday, Corinthians could have ended the week just four points ahead of their Sao Paolo rivals. Despite the loss they lead the table with 28 points from 11 games with a healthy difference of  +14.


Nine games were played over last Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.  The remaining catchup game sees Gremio take on Santos this Wednesday to round out Week 11.

Plenty of action, lots of close games, Week 11 was typical Brazilian Serie A fare with a mix of spectacular and ridiculous, sublime and pedestrian.

Copa America Final Review

Calling a major final is a hard task.

Even when one team seems to be far superior to the other, one can never be completely certain of the outcome. Vagaries of human nature, luck, personal, confidence, nerves and complacency, along with the odd case of the underdog playing way out of its skin, preclude an upset.

So when two teams are evenly matched, almost as evenly as the two South American nations competing for the 2011 Copa America, predicting the final result, with any degree of confidence is nigh on impossible.


Uruguay, however delivered a perfect masterclass to put all doubt to bed. Slight favourites going in, they put Paraguay to the sword with a thumping performance that gave new meaning to the word emphatic. With both teams unbeaten and only one regulation in between them in their 10 matches, a cagey defence-fest seemed to be on the cards.

However, once Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan got going, Uruguay moved through the gears to display the potent attacking brilliance that everyone knew was in them.  Suarez got the first after 11 minutes before Forlan netted a brace, one before halftime and one at the death, to seal a complete 3-0 win.






Thursday, July 21, 2011

Brazilian Serie A Week 10

There is daylight.


Corinthians have broken free of the pack and surged further ahead of the competition in Serie A. Although anything can still happen and the league is till less than a third of the way through, Corinthians seem to be running away with the title.


The latest game week saw them play twice and win both games without conceding a goal.

First, in the early midweek game, they silenced Falcao's Internacional to win 1-0 at home. Striker Willian scored his second consecutive game winner (and third such strike of the season) while 'keeper Julio Cesar kept another clean sheet. On Wednesday, the Paulista side travelled to Rio to take on Botafogo. The result was another comfortable 2-0 win, another clean sheet, away three points and more padding at the top of the table. Liedson and Paulinho did the damage this time.


While Corinthians started well, they have kicked it up a notch ever since their 5-0 humiliation of early pace-setters Sao Paulo. Strong in defence, deadly in attack and able to maintain their form both at home and away, they are now the class of the league. One would be hard pressed to bet against them. Only a dip in form coupled with Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, Flamengo and Santos all playing perfectly, can knock them off their current perch.



No one else can catch them.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Copa America Semi-Final Preview - Venezuela - Paraguay

Tuesday: Venezuela v Paraguay

Paraguay

Key Players:


Marcelo Estigarribia (Midfielder) - Midfield dynamo and energiser bunny in the middle. One assist.


Roque Santa Cruz (Forward) - Leader of attacking corps. One goal and one assist.
Lucas Barrios (Forward) - Playmaking member of attacking trident. One goal.
Cristian Riveros (Midfielder) - Creative fulcrum, started every game. One goal.


Consistent Performers: 

Nelson Valdez (Forward) - Attacking threat off the bench, crafty with excellent positioning. One goal.

Paulo Da Silva (Defender) and Dario Veron (Defender) - Solid and dependable steadying influence at the back. Ever presents.



Copa America Group Stage Wrap

10 Points to Ponder from the Group Stage




- 4-3-3 does not work at international level.
With both lineups designed to maximize their attacking stars and bring their awe-inspiring offensive artillery to bear, Brazil and Argentina each needed a couple of games to get going. It wasn't a lack of inertia, lethargy or their players needing time to gel. Their formations just did not work. With only three midfielders, both teams needed an extra body in midfield while one of their three forwards were constantly isolated.

With Brazil, Pato and Neymar do not drop back or play as deep as say David Villa, Pedro or Messi do at Barcelona, they are out and out forwards.  Robinho is the only one who drifts back, and that too only sporadically.  And given that Ganso was the only pass master Brazil could muster, the other two midfielders were a destroyer and a water carrier respectively.  With a fourth midfielder, the Selecao could have spread the game to the flanks or simply had more options to pass the ball around to before unleashing one of their strikers.  Options include playing only one of Lucas or Ramires, or adding Dani Alves to the right flank so he can bomb forward or cut in.  Or simply adding Jadson and Lucas Moura to the lineup to give the midfield are more all round field. Or ... (Ed's note - he could go on).

With Argentina the theory is similar but harder to justify.  They have more and better midfielders and even with the need to start both Ever Banega and Javier Mascherano, there was plenty of reason to include both Esteban Cambiasso and Angel Di Maria. Even with both a destroyer (Masch) and a water carrier (Banega) in the lineup, they could have deployed one of Ezequiel Lavezzi or Pastore slightly out wide or even played Fernando Gago as a sheet anchor in place of Mascherano, given that Gago can actually pass the ball. Perhaps even ... (Ed's note - seriously, we get the point).

However Batista wanted to accommodate as many of his star strikers are he could, so he opted for Lionel Messi, Lavezzi and Carlos Tevez, giving his team a front heavy look with a soft middle.

So, Brazil fielded three in the middle on account of a lightweight midfield corps, Argentina did so to give star their attacking trident as much game time as possible.

Both teams constantly found themselves a man short in the middle and a man spare up front.




Europhiles Notebook - Italy's Qualifying Campaign Snapshot

Forwards Italia!


A smooth qualifying campaign is not something Squadra Azzurri is known to do.  In fact, comfortable progression to a major tournament is rarely the Italian way. Past campaigns have all had the familiar mix of slow starts, creative atrophy and lethargic finishing coupled with player and managerial discontent in the shadow of press dissatisfaction. How fitting then, that after Italy’s worst ever showing at a World Cup, a complete overhaul ensued (another rarity on the peninsula) and one of the smoothest ever runs through a qualifying campaign has followed. Euro 2012 is still some distance away but Polkraine is in sight. Only a catastrophic meltdown over the remaining four games will see Italy miss out on automatic qualification from Group C.


Admittedly, the quality of the opposition has been somewhat lacking and while no one will be commending Italy for beating Faroe Islands 5-0, Italy have scored 11 goals from their five completed games and only conceded one. Contrast with previous shaky starts, where losses to Wales and France, draws at home to Lithuania and Yugoslavia as well as unconvincing wins over Georgia, Bulgaria and Cyprus have prompted both derision and disbelief.



Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Copa America Semi-Final Preview - Peru - Uruguay

Two games this week to decide the 2011 Copa America Final on Sunday.

Tuesday: Peru v Uruguay

Uruguay

Key Players:

Diego Forlan (Forward) - Attacking talisman and fountainhead of their (limited) creativity.
Luis Suarez (Forward) - Explosive and creative either on wing or through the middle.
Diego Lugano (Defender) - Captain and rock like presence at the back.
Alvaro Pereira (Defender) -Wingback who bombs forwards. Leading scorer with two goals.


Consistent Performers: 

Egidio Arevalo (Midfielder), Maxi Pereira (Defender) - hardworking water carrier and covering tackle factory respectively.

Notable absentees:

Diego Perez - Midfield lynchpin and central destroyer, scorer of leveller versus Argentina in quarterfinal, before getting sent off for a second yellow card.


Goalkeeper Verdict:

Fernando Muslera - consistent, somewhat unconvincing but steady. Good at shootouts.

Manager:

Oscar Tabarez - Negative, morbid but wily.

---

Peru


Key Players:

Juan Vargas (Defender/Midfielder) - Captain, who likes to push forward, strong with ball at feet, physical.
Santiago Acasiete (Defender) - Sheet anchor in defense who holds everything together.
Paolo Guerrero (Forward) - Sparkling attacking presence, pacy passer and furious finisher. Two goals so far.


Consistent Performers: 

Renzo Revoredo (Midfielder) - Midfield general, hardworking and everywhere.
Walter Vilchez (Defender) - Left-back who plays deeper, on pitch for every minute so far.
Adan Balbin (Defender/Midfielder) - Defensive dogsbody and tackle factory who runs a lot.



Notable absentees:

None.

Goalkeeper Verdict:

Raul Fernandez - Bad at crosses, great at getting legs in the way of the ball if caught flat footed.

Manager:

Sergio Markarian: Either brilliant or lunatic. Completely neurotic.



Pick - Uruguay



Monday, July 18, 2011

Copa America Final Four

Upsets Galore

It's not always in the sports world, that a major tournament sees upsets all across the board.


Before the tournament only the bravest of punters would have predicted that both Argentina and Brazil would be absent from the final four. And after the group stage, it would have taken a still braver bet to put money on Colombia (winners of Group A) and Chile (winners of Group C) joining the above pair on the sidelines. In fact Colombia and Chile did in fact dominate their matches against Peru and Venezuela respectively, however their less fancied opponents went through instead.

So, four quarterfinals and four upsets.

Peru 2 - 0 Colombia
Uruguay 1 - 1 Argentina (Uruguay win on penalties)
Paraguay 0 - 0 Brazil (Paraguay win on penalties)
Venezuela 2 - 1 Chile


To be fair to Uruguay, one of the outside bets for the tournament at the start, their presence in the last four is far from shocking. However, their tournament till their quarter-final against the hosts was far from impressive. Despite having a star studded attacking lineup and an excellent blend of experience and expertise, across both midfield and defence, Uruguay had struggled in the group stage, finishing second behind Chile with two draws and a win over an experimental Mexico side. Subsequently, they stepped up and stopped Argentina in their tracks. Halting the hosts and the Lionel Messi led attacking juggernaut was always going to be a hard ask, but Argentina were unable to make Uruguay pay for playing with 10 men for most of the game and they shuffled out of the tournament on penalties. Although this was the closest of the four ties on paper, it was an upset nonetheless - Argentina are always a force at home.


This was after Colombia threw everything bar the kitchen sink at Peru and still went out 2-0. Colombia were the form team in a lacklustre tournament, with a draw against Argentina the only time they had been stopped. Extremely comfortable in their wins over Bolivia and Costa Rica, they had held the upper hand versus Argentina in their group game as well.  With their Porto pairing of Freddy Guarin and Radamel Falcao reviving their excellent form from their domestic season and their defence coming together in some style, Colombia suddenly looked like possible Copa winners. Peru on the other hand had limped into the final eight.  As the second ranked of the three third placed teams, they were the lowest seeds in the draw. Utterly dominated throughout, Peru somehow escaped humiliation to emerge unscathed after regular time. And as often happens, they scored two counter-attacking goals, helped by a goalie error from Colombia's Luis Martinez. Football is a funny game sometimes and Peru are through to a last four match against Uruguay.


Brazil had stuttered before running up the score against Ecuador, going through as group winners but never quite looking in good nick. Their midfield was undermanned and uncreative, their attack misfiring and their team, on the whole, underwhelming. Having snatched a late 2-2 draw with Paraguay in their previous group stage encounter, Brazil were unable to break the same opponents down in their quarterfinal matchup.  Despite a couple of late red cards, the game finished 0-0 even after extra time. As the Selecao missed four consecutive penalties to go out of the tournament, one hardly shed a tear. However such a lack of proficiency at spot kicks is never seen at international level. Paraguay knew they had pulled a rabbit out of the hat but holding Brazil not once, but twice and eliminating them from the tournament altogether. Remember, for all their attacking verve and skill, Paraguay had drawn all three of their group stage games. They have not managed to win a match in regulation or extra time. Yet, here they are in the semi-finals.


With both the heavy favourites out and the Copa organizers' dream final of Argentina versus Brazil in tatters, one looked to Chile to reach the final and keep up the tradition of stylish passing and fluent possession.  In their path stood a Venezuela team that had improved much to keep both Brazil and Paraguay at bay in the group stage but contained few weapons or matchwinners.  In Juan Arango they had their one world class talent, but surely the Chilean team, stacked with top class talent led by Alexis Sanchez and Mauricio Isla would sweep past them. A curious thing happened, Chile dominated, absolutely destroying Venezuela, especially in the second half. Yet, the Venezuelans took the lead twice through set piece goals, well worked but hardly emphatic. The Chilean goalkeeper dropped a clanger, Chile hit the post three times and before you knew it the last remaining class act was departing Copa America. slipping back across the Andes mountains to Santiago. Venezuela had been dogged, steady and rode their luck. A semi-final against Paraguay awaits.

So,

Uruguay are now the favourites outright with Peru standing in their way to a final. On the other side Paraguay are facing Venezuela for a spot in the title match. While a Uru-Para final seems likely, we can hardly rule out more upsets.



The semi finals kick off tomorrow with Peru playing Uruguay and then Venezuela taking on Paraguay on Wednesday.



The 2011 Copa America final is on Sunday 24th July.



Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The Youth Files - Germany Part III - Prevalence



Read Parts I and II here:

On the eve of the new Bundesliga season, we must pay tribute to the focus on youth that is inherent throughout the league. Several teams have rebuilt and retooled around youngsters, none more spectacularly than current Champions Borussia Dortmund.


No less than seven members of the current squad are 22 and under in Mario Gotze, Kevin Grosskreutz, Robert Lewandowski, Shinji Kagawa, Sven Bender, Matt Hummels and Neven Subotic. Add to that Marcel Schmelzer who is 23, and recently departed Nurin Sahin, also 22. In 2010-11, eight of the above players notched 30 appearances or more each. Only a season ending injury to Shinji Kagawa, in December, prevented him from reaching that tally as well. Between them they tallied 40 goals and 27 assists.


Jurgen Klopp charges were refreshing in more ways than one and their title was built on their youth corps.

--

Looking around the league, in addition the players mentioned in the established and potential lists, a whole host of 22 years olds are central to their teams plans - and on current form look set to dominate for the better part of the current decade - with names like the following already household:


Marco Reus - M/F - Borussia Moenchengladbach - 18 goals in 65 appearances since 2009


Omer Toprak - D - Bayer Leverkusen / SC Freiburg - Four goals in 67 appearances since 2007.  Transferred to Bayer this summer from the latter.

Lars Stindl - M - Hannover 96 - 14 goals in 87 appearances for Hannover and Karlsruher.


Manuel Schmiedebach - M - Hannover 96 - 30 appearances since 2009.

Adam Matuszczyk - M - Cologne - Four goals in 30 appearances last season. 11 caps and one goal for Poland.


Kevin Pezzoni - M/D - Cologne - Two goals and 78 appearances since 2008. Spent five years at Blackburn Rovers's Youth Academy.

Lukas Schmitz - D - Werder Bremen / Schalke - Two goals and 52 appearances for Schalke since 2009 for whom he became the main left back last season. Transferred to Werder Bremen in the summer of 2011.


Timo Gebhart - M - Stuttgart - 64 appearances for the club since 2009 have brought four goals.


Philipp Bargfrede - M - Werder Bremen - 49 appearances since 2008 for the club he came through the youth ranks for.  Four caps for Germany's U-21 squad as well.




The Bundesliga's youth have truly taken over.



The Youth Files - Germany Part II - The Potential Core

Continuing our coverage of the best youth talent in Germany's Bundesliga, we go over the next wave, the best of the rest, potential stars of tomorrow.

While Part I covered the best of the emergent youth in Germany, here, in Part II we look at the up and coming talent in the Bundesliga, all 21 and under.

Germany's Potential XIII:

Mehmet Ekici - Nurnberg / Werder Bremen -  After an excellent season on loan at Nurnberg, where the club finished a heady sixth in the league, the latest young Turko-German sensation earned a transfer to Werder Bremen. After 32 starts and three goals, the midfielder was a standout in the Nurnberg midfield while getting called up to the Turkish national team.


Jan Moravek - Schalke / Kaiserslautern - An excellent season on loan from Schalke at Kaiserslautern saw the attacking midfielder notch up 29 appearances and five goals. Earned a call up to the Czech national side for whom he played twice.  At 21 the attacking midfielder should see plenty of time in the German leagues for seasons ahead.


Boris Vukcevic - Hoffenheim - One of a set of five young exciting players that Hoffenheim have decided to retool around, the Croatian born German midfielder played 26 games, over 1500 minutes and scored a couple of goals. With Ryan Babel offering a threat down the wing, Vukcevic will continue to have an outlet for all his passing in the season to come.




Monday, July 11, 2011

The Youth Files - Germany Part I - The Established Core

This week we look at Germany where the youth revolution is very much underway.

Part I looks over the established young players, very much central to their teams and completely at home in the league.  These are Bundesliga's established youth core, all 22 and under.

Part II will, once again, cover the potential up and coming players.

Bundesliga's Established XI:

Thomas Muller - Bayern Munich - The jewel in the crown. Muller is arguably the best German player of his generation, equally potent and deadly from either attacking midfield or as a second, deeper striker.  One of the revelations of the 2010 World Cup where he impressed for third placed Germany, Muller has continued to single-handedly lead Bayern's charge at home.  12 goals, 12 assist, 34 games for the 21 year old.


Joel Matip - Schalke - Already experienced with a deep run the Champions' League, the teenager from Cameroon has established himself as an integral part of the retooling Schalke will be doing around its youth core. Still only 19, he played 26 games for the Ruhr club in midfield including starts in Europe and the Cameroonian team. A cousin of Joseph Desire-Job, he played at the 2010 World Cup.



Simon Kjaer - Wolfsburg - Highly rated at Palermo, during which time he was scouted by all the giants of European football, Kjaer moved to the Bundesliga and has not looked back, firmly emerging as one of the best defenders in the league. Tall, strong and with a commanding presence in the air, Kjaer is a natural successor to Bundesliga greats like Jurgen Kohler. Played 32 times last season for the 2010 Champions.





Brazilian Serie A Week 9

Corinthians maintain pace.


The leaders from Sao Paolo ensured they held on to the league lead with a 1-0 away win over bottom feeders At Go. Meanwhile Atletico Mineiro and Sao Paulo reversed their recent losing trends and reversed their slides. Coach Tite has now won five games in a row and triumphed in eight of their nine games.


In the Rio derby that was the pick of the round, Flamengo beat Fluminense 1-0 to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and remain in the title race, hot on Corinthians' heels.


Elsewhere Palmeiras hosted a weakened Santos and easily beat them 3-0 to stay in the top four while Santos dropped closer to the relegation mire.


Plenty of action, lot of twists and turns in the Brazilian Serie A, where football never sleeps.