A Send-Off to 2011-2012

Extra Time

A quick nod of congratulation goes out to all the champions of Europe from this column. 2011-12 provided so much, entertained, thrilled and captured the imagination. Even though Euro 2012 is the flavor of the month and takes top billing, the memories of the recently concluded season are too strong to forget or ignore.

From Germany, where Borussia Dortmund beat the odds, Bayern’s money, an indifferent start and many neutrals’ fears, to retain the league crown, playing with the same verve, passion and drive that characterized their title last season. As mentioned before, manager Jurgen Klopp is building something very special in Westphalia. To Italy, where Juventus celebrated their latest title, unbeaten, under rookie Serie A manager Antonio Conte, but then Serie A promptly got embroiled in another match fixing scandal.  From there to France where Montpellier proved to be the surprise package in Europe and set the cat amongst the pigeons, usurping the traditional heavyweights to win their first ever league title.  And in Spain where Jose Mourinho finally won the Spanish La Liga crown, ousting Barcelona from their perch at the top, completing a journey that looked in doubt after previous maulings. Finally, to England where Manchester City celebrated a long hoped for return to the top with a scarcely believable but cathartic Premiership win, made all the more remarkable by the fact that rivals Manchester United had surged into a seemingly unassailable lead, with just a month to go.

While Porto retained its title, losing only one match in Portugal, their tussle with Benfica made for interesting viewing; while PSV’s fall and Feyenoord’s rise was an interesting sideshow to Ajax’s latest title win in Holland. Belgium too saw a return to the status quo as Anderlecht returned to the summit while Scotland saw a took a major jolt to the system as Celtic got knocked out of the group stage in the Europa League while Rangers entered administration.  Russia’s extended season saw Zenit retain the crown after a hectic season which saw Russia change to a fall-winter cycle like the rest of Europe. The core of that team made up the nucleus of the Russian side at the European Championships. In Turkey, Fenerbahce shrugged off the tar of recent match fixing allegations to give Champions Galatasaray a run for their money but most encouragingly little Trabzonspor from the northern Black Sea coast came third to build on their encouraging performances in recent seasons.

The European competitions proved to be no less entertaining with Bayern Munich and Chelsea tearing up the scripts to deny Real Madrid and Barcelona their place in the Champions’ League final while Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao served up a feast of football enroute to the Europa League final.

After Euro 2012 the focus shifts to the Olympics, where the soccer tournament featuring U23 players, albeit in the shadow of the start of the following club season, will provide some thrilling matches. Brazil, Spain and Mexico are the immediate favourites for the medals but Great Britain, Egypt and Japan will look to run them close.  The make-up of the British squad itself is open to a lot of debate as players from the four soccer teams of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are eligible. Imagine a game in which Aaron Ramsey plays in Jack Wilshere who sets up Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to score. The Olympics soccer tournament should get more air time and media attention however bad scheduling and the lure of the Swimming and Track and Field will always keep cameras and fans away.

At the end of the day the season showed us that while money is still far and away the biggest deciding factor when it comes to club success, the efforts of the eleven players on the pitch can do much to swing the balance back in the favour of the underdog.  Ironically, it took the heroic defensive efforts of one of the world’s richest clubs, Chelsea, to prove this very point as they won the Champions’ League despite being rank outsiders against Barcelona in the semi-finals and underdogs to Bayern Munich in the final.  That a multi-billion dollar club could finish off the pace in the domestic league but nick a title in Europe goes a long way towards restoring the basic desire for parity that most fans have. And the biggest story in that regard was the triumph of little Montpellier, who won the French League. Beating out PSG, Lille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseille. Yes Montpellier.

The Financial Fair Play regulations will make for interesting viewing once they are applied as clearly European football has become unsustainable. As enjoyable as Manchester City’s win was, it was built on money, nothing else. There is no way they could have dreamed of competing without the acquisition of ADUG. And that cheapens the very spectacle.  European football needs a salary cap, a transfer cap, a quota on youth and homegrown players, no luxury taxes and a way to spread both the wealth and the talent on display.  However these remain a pipe dream while Global corporations and businesses own soccer clubs.

Here at Soccer 360 we wish you the best for the Summer !

2011-12 Euro Pass

Final Snippets from Around Europe

France:

Champions:  Montpellier

Champions League:  PSG, Lille

Europa League:  Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille

Montpellier emerged as the surprise of the 2011-12 season in Europe, winning their first ever French Ligue 1 crown with equal parts verve and swagger. Their triumph is a resounding vindication of owner Louis Nicollin’s policy of youth recruitment and coach Rene Girard’s system of fast, possession based, penetrative football. While Qatari money, Carlo Ancelotti and a host of cultured transfers weren't enough to give PSG a title they seemed destined for, the flair and belief flowing through Montpellier was more than enough to tip the scales in the latter's favour.

Olivier Giroud showed the world his talents, both as playmaker and finisher, as he led La Paillade to their first ever league title. Lille, who finished third, have in recent years been the stable from which most young talent has been recruited by clubs abroad. However, after the purple and white's star turn, many an overseas manager and scout will be scouring their roster. The French League's reputation and performance has dwindled in recent years with both the performance and profile of Ligue 1 teams being called into question, however with a breadth of competition and parity not seen in any of the other top leagues, it remains fascinating viewing.

PSG's season can be considered a largely catastrophic failure as their inability to win a title that was theirs for the taking, and that they were in pole position to win, slipped through their fingers during a fatal run in. While individual players like Kevin Gameiro, Javier Pastore and Nene sparkled, PSG rarely took off and dominated opponents like Barcelona, Real Madrid or even Manchester City did this season. And while it is hardly fair to compare the Parisian giants to any of the aforementioned trio, PSG's financial clout is in the same league. Moreover their strength in both players and resources, compared to the rest of the French top division is even more dominant. PSG should have walked the title this year and will be expected to do so the following year.

PSG's chairman, however will consider this a job well done as he openly talked of regular champions' league participation as the club's goal for the near future. With the talent on tap, PSG should return to the winner’s circle next season as they will be the only team in France that can strengthen on all fronts.

Leading Scorers:  Olivier Giroud, Montpellier and Nene, PSG, 21 goals

Holland:

Champions:  Ajax

Champions’ League:  Feyenoord

Europa League: PSV, AZ, Heerenveen, Twente, Vitesse

Ajax continued their renewal with their second League crown on the trot. After a slow start the Amsterdam club picked up steam when it mattered and eventually coasted to their 31^st domestic crown. With a young team that many felt would struggle to retain their title from last season, the capital club showed they had the staying power and experience to last the distance. Frank De Boer has done wonders with a mashup of a squad that is big on heart if low on quality.

However, the story of the season has to be Feyenoord’s propulsion to second place, a complete turnaround from last season when they flirted with relegation. The Rotterdam club had been in the doldrums for several years and looked likely to fall out of the Eredivisie altogether in 2010-11 as heavy defeats to rivals (10-0 to PSV), coaching changes, a player revolt and heavy debt threatened to derail the club. However, after some crucial player sales, promoting talent from the youth academy and shrewd loan signings, Feyenoord began the season in recovery mode under the steady hand of Dutch footballing legend Ronald Koeman. The injection of youth paid off and Feyenoord improved on its horrific 10^th place finish in 2011 with a solid second this time. Moreover the Dutch Footballing Authority, KNVB, declared the club to no longer be in the financial danger zone on account of its shrinking debt. If it does make it into the group stage proper next year, the windfalls can have encouraging financial implications for the club.

For PSV and Twente the season was very much one of regression and stagnation. PSV had the most talented squad with plenty of championship winning experience but came unstuck at crucial moments. While 3^rd is nothing to scoff at, PSV should be doing much better. Twente, winners of the title in 2010, steadily dropped down the table and replaced sacked Co Adriaanse with Championship winning manager Steve McLaren; but he was unable to stem the rot as they finished sixth. Both Twente and PSV led the table at one point in time and could have held on to win the league. Around them AZ and Heerenveen in fourth and fifth, respectively, will look back on a positive and encouraging season. Both clubs will hope to strengthen their financial situation if nothing else, with a solid run in the 2013 Europa League.

Leading Scorer: Bas Dost, Heerenveen, 32 goals

Portugal:

Champions:  Porto

Champions League:  Benfica, Braga

Europa League:  Academica, Sporting, Maritimo

Porto continued its utter domination of the local top flight with another near flawless season that saw them collect the championship with 75 points from 30 games. They only lost once, at Gil Vicente, for their only defeat in the league in two seasons. They may have floundered in Europe, and were expected to struggle after the loss of managerial prodigy Andres Villas-Boas and several key players, but their domestic form is still as good as ever, more than a healthy springboard for their continental pursuits. Porto’s transfer policy allows them to hand pick players who suit their style of play, a robust direct style that relies on pacy wingers and strength in and around the box.

Benfica tried their best to run the Blue and White juggernaut close but other than a brief six week period in the middle part of the season when they were at the summit, were unable to turn the screw. They scored a healthy amount of goals (66 to Porto’s 69) but had a more porous defence than their rivals and eventually that proved to be the difference. Still, they have little reason to be unhappy as they return to the Champions’ League and can count on a solid roster that is only a player or two away from winning again.

Braga continued its impressive recent seasons with another third place finish and will head into the playoff round for the Champions’ League next season while Sporting paid for its deep run in the Europa League with a drop to fourth. Maritimo were most impressive of the smaller teams with an encouraging fifth place, a spot they maintained throughout the campaign.

Leading Scorer:  Oscar Cardozo, Benfica and Lima, Braga, 20 goals

Scotland:

Champions:  Celtic

Champions League:  Motherwell

Europa League:  Dundee United, Hearts, St. Johnstone

Celtic may have won the Premiership at a canter, after a sluggish start that saw them fall 10 points behind rivals Rangers, early on, however their European form showed that this was a third rate division in a country that is becoming footballing backwater. Celtic crashed out of the Europa League at the group stage and questions must be asked of the management at one of Europe’s oldest institutions. Across the city, things were even worse as Scotland’s other giant, Rangers, entered administration and were ineligible to enter European competition next season, as a result of remaining in such a state at season’s end. Rangers’ season started well, with a strong run in the league but their lead was slowly chipped away, as they floundered both on and off the pitch. If a club the size of Rangers is in financial meltdown, what hope for the rest of the division? However, this has come as a shock to the system and all clubs will take note.

But perhaps in the demise, albeit temporary, of one of Scottish football’s heavyweights, lies the roots of its rejuvenation. Motherwell, who had an excellent campaign to finish third, will enter the Champions’ League qualifying rounds and could do with the injection of money from a round or two of progression, perhaps even to the group stage. Behind them the trio of Europa League bound clubs will all benefit from the influx of much needed monies from European competition and the trickle of this money will be felt up and down the division. Hearts surprised everyone with a Scottish Cup win and will be buoyed by their success against the big two.

Scotland’s only hope is for the parity to return to the league so that the talent and money is better distributed across more of the clubs. And at this rate, things can only get better.

Leading Scorer:  Gary Hooper, Celtic, 24 goals

Thoughts on the 2011-2012 Europa League

Atletico beat Athletic

Like last year, the 2011-12 Europa League had an emphatic Iberian flavour to it. For the second time in three years, Atletico Madrid won the trophy beating an iconic and youthful Athletic Bilbao, 3-0. Last year’s top marksman Radamel Falcao collected his second Europa League in successive years, along with the top scorer’s award, as he followed up his title with Porto in 2011, with the Rojiblancos this season; scoring 12 times in the process. Madrid have always fancied knockout tourneys and after a slow start, built up enough steam to once again seal the silverware. Their win over Bilbao in the final was played out at the National Arena in Bucharest, Romania, on May 9, 2012. The winner earned the right to play Chelsea for the 2012 UEFA Super Cup.

Madrid seems to have found some harmony with a solid fifth place finish in La Liga to follow up their latest triumph in Europe. Their win and encouraging season overall is a symbol of their shrewd team building policy. Madrid have been built in three layers. Their effervescent youth of Adrian Lopez (third highest scorer in the competition with eight goals), Thibault Courtouis, in goal, and Fran Merida. The established core of top quality talent in their mid to late twenties in Falcao, Arda Turan, Diego, Gabi and Juan Fran. The veterans to hold everything together, in Paulo Assuncao and Antonio Lopez. The blend was successful despite the diversity of the nationalities on display. One can expect more things from this talented team as new manager Diego Simeone turned around the fortunes for a misfiring outfit after being handed the reins in December. Under previous incumbent Gregorio Manzano, Atletico were slumping in La Liga and looked distant in the Europa League. Madrid went 14 years without a trophy after their double in 1996. Now they’ve won Europe’s second most prestigious contest, twice in three years.

Their opponents in the final are no slouches themselves, as Athletic Bilbao were the star turns of this year’s tournament and indeed, many neutrals’ favourites for the final itself. Before any discussion begins on Bilbao, one must first pay homage to the unique culture that exists at the Basque club. The club has a policy where all players must be of Basque descent. Not just Spanish, Basque. Now, while the policy has been relaxed of late to allow players who are not of full Basque heritage or born in other countries, it is still a remarkable rule. And one that resonates in an era where club sides have no compunction in playing a starting XI made up wholly of foreign players. It would be noteworthy if the roster was restricted to Spanish players only, but the further imposition of them being Basque is downright astounding, and respectable.

Bilbao have never been relegated from the Spanish top flight. They were a mainstay of the League Championship in the 1980s and in recent years have consistently finished in the upper echelons of the table. Overall, they are Spain’s fourth most successful club. Their fast passing, yet robust style has tripped up many a continental giant. This year, they comfortably saw off the challenge of Manchester United, with a 5-3 aggregate victory that resembled a whipping at times. Beating a heavyweight is one thing, but outclassing a team that has made the final of the Champions’ League three times in the past five years is epochal. Their youth have been earmarked by many of Europe’s top clubs and under the eccentric, but brilliant genius of Marcelo Bielsa, Bilbao look to regain their Champions’ League status while re-establishing themselves as one of the Europe’s elite.

And the journey to that destination starts with the Europa League. With a long journey into the final stages of a knockout Cup under their belts, this team can only go from strength to strength. However many of Europe’s elite are already casting covetous eyes towards their roster with Oscar Marcos, Fernando Llorente and Ander Herrera attracting a lot of attention. Time will tell whether this was the peak of a team that falls away or just an anecdote of a golden generation.

The tournament started in July and August with three rounds of qualifying before settling into its now traditional opening stage of 12 four team groups. Early notables to fall by the wayside were Fulham, the London club who made the 2010 final, 2011 Carling Cup winners Birmingham City, Scottish giants Celtic, Ukrainian top dogs Dynamo Kiev and most surprisingly, Tottenham Hotspur, who were for a while, outside bets to win the 2012 Premiership altogether. Belgian clubs Standard Liege and Club Brugge were particularly impressive, topping their respective groups, losing only once between them. Other group winners included PSV Eindhoven, Schalke and the two finalists themselves. Also going through were first time participants Stoke City and Italian heavyweights Lazio, second in their respective groups.

The main criticism of the tournament is the fact that it absorbs the rejects from the Champions’ League into its first knockout stage. The eight 3^rd place group finishers join the tournament in February and often threaten to steal the thunder and media attention from the original participants. However, this is a double edged sword as the inclusion of high profile teams lends crucial glamour to the tournament. Notably, this season’s relegation of both Manchester United and Manchester City meant a tenth of the world’s population suddenly tuned into the matches on Thursdays. You just can’t beat that kind of attention.

However, after seeing off Ajax and Last season’s winner Porto, respectively, both English giants came unstuck in the round of 16, as Sporting CP and Bilbao produced ties of remarkable football. Thereafter, it was complete domination from the Iberian clubs as Sporting setup a tie against Bilbao, while Madrid renewed their rivalry with the favourites for the tournament, fellow La Liga side Valencia. A thrilling pair of ties saw 14 goals between them as Bilbao edged their Portuguese opponents 4-3 on aggregate while Madrid thrashed Valencia 5-2. Once again Falcao and Adrian were peaking at the right time while Fernando Llorente kept sparkling for Bilbao. In the event, one of the season’s most highly sought after finals played out to the sway of the Madrileno tree as Atletico regained the trophy.

Euro 2012 Matchdays IX -X

Saturday June 16:

Czech Republic 2 - 1 Poland

Michal Kadlec and Tomas Peckhart put the Czech's in the knockout stages while Robert Lewandowski pulls one back for the co-hosts.

Greece 0 - 2 Russia

Alan Dzagoev and Alexander Kerzhakov put Greece to the sword.

Sunday June 17:

Portugal 0 - 2 Holland

Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben

Denmark 0 - 2 Germany

Mario Gomez and Mesut Oezil

Euro 2012 Matchdays V-VII

Tuesday June 12:


Greece 1 - 1 Czech Republic


Theofanis Gekas and Milan Kadlec cancel each other out.


Russia 2 - 0 Poland


Alan Dzagoev and Roman Shirokov help beat the Poles.


Wednesday June 13:


Denmark 1 - 2 Portugal


Nicklas Bendtner will open the scoring but Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho reply.


Holland 2 - 2 Germany


Robin Van Persie and Klaas Jan Huntelaar trade goals with Mario Gomez and Thomas Muller.


Thursday June 14:


Italy 1 - 1 Croatia


Antonio Di Natale and Mario Madzukic share the spoils.


Spain 3 - 0 Ireland


Francesc Fabregas, Fernando Llorente and David Silva tear the Irish apart.

Euro 2012 Matchday IV Predictions

Monday June 11:


France 2 - 1 England


Goals from Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema either side of an equaliser from Jermain Defoe will see the French collect three points.


Ukraine 0  - 1 Sweden


Zlatan Ibrahimovic will score the winner to give the co-hosts a losing start.

Euro 2012 Matchdays I - III Predictions

Without much further ado, here are my picks for each game.

Friday June 8:

Poland 1 - 1 Greece

An early strike from Robert Lewandowski will be cancelled out by a late header from Dimitris Salpingidis.

Russia 2 - 1 Czech Republic

Goals from Alan Dzagoev and Roman Pavlyuchenko will see off a spirited Czech side for whom Milan Kadlec should net a late consolation.

Saturday June 9:

Holland 2 - 0 Denmark

The Dutch should rip the Danes to shreds with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Robin Van Persie sparkling with a goal each.

Germany 2 - 0 Portugal

The favourites are peaking nicely and will beat an out of sorts Portugal with strikes from Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Sunday June 10:

Spain 1 - 1 Italy

David Silva scores but a tired Spain cannot keep Italy at bay who share the spoils through Ricardo Montolivo.

Ireland 1 - 2 Croatia

After Croatia go 2-0 up through Nikica Jelavic and Eduardo, Shane Long will nick one back from a corner.

Euro 2012 Kick Off Post

Euro 2012 Kicks Off Tomorrow !

Check back here all tournament for my thoughts on the games, players and tournament.

After World Cup 2006 and World Cup 2010, this will be the third tournament that this site covers.

I predict a final four where Holland beats Spain and Germany beats France. Thereafter I pick the Germans to edge the Dutch to win their first tournament since Euro '96.

Holland's Robin Van Persie will lead all scorers with 5 goals while Thomas Muller will win the Golden Ball for best player.

It starts tomorrow.