On some days it is best to just hold up your hand and say I was wrong. And today is that day for me. Readers, please don't be offended but for me this was a bigger upset than Rubin beating Barcelona. The Russian team had shown that they were a wild card - an unpredictable team. Milan on the other hand seemed like a retirement home that should be knocked out in the group stage but had been aided by a Marseille team which at times can outdo anyone in poverty of performance.
Did I underestimate Milan? Perhaps a little but not that much. Did I overestimate Real Madrid? Grossly.
What really did happen yesterday? Even now the mind keeps trying to make sense of it all. Here is a brief summary of what these eyes saw.
The match starts. Madrid strolls around the pitch passing with comfort. Milan seem like they are not even capable of attacking but Seedorf, the lone crusader does not agree. Dida may have stepped on the pitch after a long time but he's certainly not forgotten his ritual of buttering his fingers well. So we have one goal. Oh we also have a penalty which the referee rules out and he would be lucky to find one other person in the entire world who agrees with him. Yet apart from those two incidents, this seems like the dullest possible match. The two biggest giants of European football could not have come up with something more mundane than this. I am not one of those who enjoy a match only when there is a lot of goal mouth action. However this match really offers nothing to see - not one great dribble, not one truly amazing pass, just no inventiveness. Madrid seem like they can rout Milan 3-0 or more any time they want to but the trouble is they just don't want to. Why spend energy when all the football pundits in the world have said that Milan is virtually incapable of scoring a goal - might as well save something for the upcoming much tougher La Liga match! We will defend 1-0. Oh but we forgot to study our own defense, forget studying the opponents! The second half starts and after some time Borriello comes on. I can't help saying to myself - this is just what this match needed - a Borriello to bore us even more. And then when I am almost half sleepy - what just happened! Oh, Milan scored a goal with a chance that goes in with 1% probability. And what does it do - well makes the aging warhorses of Milan believe that the supernatural is with them. And then we see a team of players who have forgotten how old they are - some running around like spring chickens. Seedorf and now Pirlo show so much enthusiasm that even the partying Ronaldinho cannot resist showing off one or two of his trademark runs from his Barcelona days. And then what. Both sides are attacking. Madrid have San Iker while Milan have Butter Dida. So why give it a thought what will happen. Unfortunately Milan also have Alessandro Nesta - too bad Madrid didn't spend their millions in trying to buy someone like him. Oh yes they bought Albiol but in recent days it seems not just us but Albiol himself is confused about who he is and what he is doing on the pitch. Well, what happens then. What hot head Pepe, confused Albiol, never was Marcelo and the chosen one S.Ramos are doing needs to be worded appropriately - this ain't defending my sons! In fact even San Iker has lost his patience - I can't keep saving you game after game especially after what I get in return is angry arguing from Guti. I am human even though I may seem saintly to you - it's my right to make a few blunders as well. So virtually every attack Milan makes seems to be capable of becoming a goal. And what about the other end - surely Butterman would spill at least one more. No but Butterman is now feeling blessed with the presence of the class act Nesta by his side and is actually making a few good saves. Well after this it's no use saying what the final result will be. But the match needs more drama to compensate for the drudgery of the first sixty minutes. So the referee decides to rule out a goal - a decision that he may have trouble explaining even to himself later.
That's the match but what did this self-styled analyst learn. Well firstly that the game remains superior to us all. You can arrive at the same logical conclusion in hundred different ways but fate may have something totally different in store. It was, is and always will be more powerful than you. And finally that's what makes the game - why would we watch it if everything could be predicted on paper.
What remains. Two things - need to pay homage to some true masters and need to understand just why I was so badly deceived by the second generation of galacticos. Honors come first.
If Paolo Maldini is considered at times the greatest defender ever, then surely the world will some day find an appropriate label for Alessandro Nesta as well. It's great to be as skilled as a Messi, C.Ronaldo or a Ronaldinho but is it less worthy to truly understand just what the game of football is all about? Nesta's understanding is second to none - a player as great as any other but will never be hyped up since he is a defender and not an attacker. Of course he could have made a better midfielder than some others playing the game today but that's a different story. What did he have to help him - Butterman Dida, too old and outdated Oddo, just not the legs Zambrotta, the promising but not yet finished article Thiago Silva and virtually just one half decent defensive midfielder. In fact when I saw the line up, I thought Milan had played into Madrid's hands - two slow creative midfielders and one aging half way defensive midfielder to protect an aging defense - it's like committing suicide. Well it was just one of the many mistakes I made last night. Amidst all this Nesta stood out and not just in the game. After one particularly heated argument which surprised me since Nesta of all players lost his head, Nesta got booked by the referee but what does he do next? On his own he goes up to Raul and gives him a hug. It's all very well to be the best player ever to have played the game like Diego Maradona but you have also ensured that you become an equally pathetic human being. It's rare to find those like Nesta who just exude class in all aspects of life.
And then I must talk about Andrea Pirlo. Suffice it to say one of my favorite players of this decade - I almost worship him. What he did in WC 2006 remains committed to my football memory. And now that he cannot perform day in day out like he used to, the master is always capable of coming up with moments of pure magic even when you least expect it.
When Milan won against Marseille the whole world talked about Inzaghi. Last night the whole world talked about Pato. Putting the ball in the back of the net is a great art but must everything else be neglected? The architect in both the matches was the same - Clarence Seedorf. This man was vilified last season by his own supporters who thought that only the coach's favoritism put him in the starting eleven. People thought Ancelotti was crazy to want to try to purchase him for Chelsea. Seedorf simply is one of those people for whom the quote was invented - form is temporary but class is permanent.
So can this aging Milan team still play? Yes they can provided you let them. And Madrid last night thought no harm in doing so.
What about Madrid then? What went wrong for the most expensive team in recent history? Well this may sound harsh but every single flaw that I have seen in Madrid teams since 2004-05 was on display yesterday. Let's elaborate the major ones.
Marcelo can never be taught to defend - perhaps he became a defender just because he was not good enough to be a winger or something like that. S.Ramos will forever remain the promise. Surely if people still consider him world class, they must explain how a top class player can be allowed to make so many mistakes! I worry for the Spanish national team - this guy is capable of single handedly costing them a game especially against shrewd teams like Brazil and England. In recent memory no player has deceived me more than Albiol. I thought successor to Puyol, better than Pique, etc. etc. and now what is he - yet to justify that he even deserves to play for a top club. Last season it was so fashionable to point out Cannavaro's mistakes - that's because he did five things right and got two wrong. Well this season nobody is interested in pointing out mistakes because they are everywhere and next to nothing is right with this defense. Perhaps defending goes out of fashion as soon as Florentino Perez comes in. Now Perez will never understand football half as well as he understands business. So he just does not bother to educate himself on what defense can bring to a game leading all the defenders in the team to feel that the only way to get salary raises would be to create and score goals.
There is something called solidity and compactness of a team. Perhaps Pellegrini forgot to educate his players about that because they seriously had no idea how to help each other when the tough times came towards the end. If they could not dominate against a team with so little pace, why can't the likes of Lyon have a field day against them? What can be said when even a Xabi Alonso was more disciplined at Liverpool!
I hate to say this but how much of a player is the Kaka of today compared to the Kaka of 2007. Last season and more at Milan were forgettable. At Madrid he performed only in meaningless friendlies. His staunch supporters would say that he's been very consistent for Brazil. That's not untrue but to be honest with you, it is a bit hyped as well. How many magical moments has he shown? He actually won the best player award at Confederations Cup 2009 but it made very little sense. Even a couple of players from USA had deserved it more but Sepp Blatter's Fifa is nothing if not star struck.
I have saved the best for last - complacency of the highest order not seen since the pre-Capello era. Fabio Capello had made a Herculean effort and banished this disease for good. Schuster didn't let it creep in either. J.Ramos also kept it away for sure. So how could Pellegrini who made a name by taking a very unassuming team to levels they had not seen before have brought something like this. Once again Mr. Perez will have to take the honors. Madrid strolling around like it is a practice game thinking that the actual match already won. A little more verve and commitment and Milan were there for the taking but why spend that much energy?
For once let me tip my hat to the English pundits who said at the start of the season that with this defense, they won't take Real Madrid seriously in UCL. Given what was on display yesterday and the fact that the current team in spite of all its galacticos is clearly inferior to J.Ramos's team, Madrid would do well to reach the quarter finals for the first time in six years even if C.Ronaldo can overcome all the curses of injuries and witchcraft and they sure will celebrate this if they manage it. It seems that the greatest team in European football history has forgotten how to play in UCL and need to be taught all over again.
So what am I left with? Real will never learn to defend. Inter will always struggle to attack. So is it back to the usual suspects for the umpteenth time? Oh how nice it would be to see a repeat of 2003-04 - Lyon and Sevilla rip apart all the illustrious big names. I know it's wishful thinking and is not going to happen. So once again I will get a final featuring Chelsea against ManUtd who incidentally are the tow best placed and performing big teams so far - might as well give up watching UCL. And what about our beloved Barcelona - well we better be careful or a repeat of 2006-07 with both the Spanish giants knocked out in the second round could very well be on the cards.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Reflections : Ballon D'or Nominations
Usually when looking at a list like this, one is tempted to be a cynic and try to find as many faults as possible. In this article that is not intended.
Still the one glaring flaw that stands out ( see the tendency to start the discussion with a flaw is so powerful ) is the undervaluation of defensive players - only 5 chosen in a list of 30. Since between the goal keeper, central defenders, left back, right back and defensive midfielder, they occupy at least 6 and often 7 of the 11 positions on the pitch, they surely deserved a higher number of nominations.
Barring that one glaring flaw, the list is made quite well. Yes there are a few significant omissions but it's a list of only 30 - not even 50 players.
There could be some protests against some players who have been selected even though their clubs performed badly last season and they themselves weren't exemplary either. However what works in favor of these players is that most of them have started the current season off very well and count among the biggest football stars today. Selections such as those of Iker Casillas, Cesc Fabregas, Kaka, Fernando Torres and Karim Benzema could be mentioned here. The first three however also have great international form to justify their selection.
Goal.com deserve some credit. Out of the top 21 players that they announced in their top 50 list for the 2008-09 season, 18 have been chosen in the Ballon D'or list. And the 3 which have been left out are perhaps the three most glaring omissions in this list namely Daniel Alves, Xabi Alonso and Gonzalo Higuain.
Daniel Alves not being chosen is debatable but there is something it indicates since Maicon is the only right back chosen. It's often argued who is better among the two compatriots who play at the same position on the pitch but based on recent performances and current form, it seems that Maicon holds a slight edge.
Xabi Alonso not being chosen is perhaps even harder to take. It seems that just like defensive players, even deep lying creative players have been by and large ignored.
As for Gonzalo Higuain, the omission could be defended by saying that there are already too many strikers in the list. Yet it can be argued with good reason that Higuain deserved the spot ahead of someone like Karim Benzema.
All said and done, in the views of this writer, the most indigestible omission is that of Alonso.
Having said that this writer must also not fail to mention that single selection which pleased him the most. The man who is rarely if ever praised by his club, his coach, even his team mates and was even totally ignored by Goal.com has surprisingly not been ignored by France Football. Yes, I mean none other than Yaya Toure who is the only defensive midfielder chosen. His selection over his competitors such as Javier Mascherano, Lassana Diarra and Felipe Melo seems to suggest that he was the best defensive midfielder of the 2008-09 season and for once showers on him some very well deserved accolades.
Let's end the discussion by making predictions for the eventual winner(s). As almost every football fan knows, Lionel Messi not winning the award would be nothing short of a minor miracle. As for the other top three finishers, Xavi is virtually guaranteed to be there. The third player to win the honor is more difficult to predict. It seems a straight toss up between two very strong candidates. Will it be Cristiano Ronaldo - the only player other than Lionel Messi to command that kind of star power in the world today? Or will it be Andres Iniesta - the anti-galactico whose contribution in Barcelona's treble win of last year is no less than that of Messi or Xavi?
Still the one glaring flaw that stands out ( see the tendency to start the discussion with a flaw is so powerful ) is the undervaluation of defensive players - only 5 chosen in a list of 30. Since between the goal keeper, central defenders, left back, right back and defensive midfielder, they occupy at least 6 and often 7 of the 11 positions on the pitch, they surely deserved a higher number of nominations.
Barring that one glaring flaw, the list is made quite well. Yes there are a few significant omissions but it's a list of only 30 - not even 50 players.
There could be some protests against some players who have been selected even though their clubs performed badly last season and they themselves weren't exemplary either. However what works in favor of these players is that most of them have started the current season off very well and count among the biggest football stars today. Selections such as those of Iker Casillas, Cesc Fabregas, Kaka, Fernando Torres and Karim Benzema could be mentioned here. The first three however also have great international form to justify their selection.
Goal.com deserve some credit. Out of the top 21 players that they announced in their top 50 list for the 2008-09 season, 18 have been chosen in the Ballon D'or list. And the 3 which have been left out are perhaps the three most glaring omissions in this list namely Daniel Alves, Xabi Alonso and Gonzalo Higuain.
Daniel Alves not being chosen is debatable but there is something it indicates since Maicon is the only right back chosen. It's often argued who is better among the two compatriots who play at the same position on the pitch but based on recent performances and current form, it seems that Maicon holds a slight edge.
Xabi Alonso not being chosen is perhaps even harder to take. It seems that just like defensive players, even deep lying creative players have been by and large ignored.
As for Gonzalo Higuain, the omission could be defended by saying that there are already too many strikers in the list. Yet it can be argued with good reason that Higuain deserved the spot ahead of someone like Karim Benzema.
All said and done, in the views of this writer, the most indigestible omission is that of Alonso.
Having said that this writer must also not fail to mention that single selection which pleased him the most. The man who is rarely if ever praised by his club, his coach, even his team mates and was even totally ignored by Goal.com has surprisingly not been ignored by France Football. Yes, I mean none other than Yaya Toure who is the only defensive midfielder chosen. His selection over his competitors such as Javier Mascherano, Lassana Diarra and Felipe Melo seems to suggest that he was the best defensive midfielder of the 2008-09 season and for once showers on him some very well deserved accolades.
Let's end the discussion by making predictions for the eventual winner(s). As almost every football fan knows, Lionel Messi not winning the award would be nothing short of a minor miracle. As for the other top three finishers, Xavi is virtually guaranteed to be there. The third player to win the honor is more difficult to predict. It seems a straight toss up between two very strong candidates. Will it be Cristiano Ronaldo - the only player other than Lionel Messi to command that kind of star power in the world today? Or will it be Andres Iniesta - the anti-galactico whose contribution in Barcelona's treble win of last year is no less than that of Messi or Xavi?
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Reflections : WC 2010 - Before Last Round
Now that only the last round of matches are left, here is where all the teams stand at present.
We take a look at each qualification group zone by zone.
Africa :-
Group A :-
Camerooon play away at Morocco on 14th November and only need to match the result of Gabon playing away at Togo to reach the world cup.
Group B :-
Tunisia play away at Mozambique and only need to match the result of Nigeria playing against Kenya away in order to qualify.
Group C :-
The crunch tie still remains but it's completely in Algeria's hands now to throw it away. Egypt at home need to beat Algeria by three goals at least in order to qualify. Otherwise Algeria will qualify as group winners except if they lose by two goals which will open up different mathematical possibilities between the two of them.
Group D :-
It's done and dusted as Ghana have already qualified.
Group E :-
It's done and dusted as Ivory Coast have already qualified.
Asia / Oceania
The advantage is with the all whites as the first leg in Bahrain finished 0-0. However this tie is still very close to call.
Europe :-
Group 1 :-
Sweden can consider themselves a little unlucky since before conceding the goal, they had been the better team on the pitch. Their game was being run almost entirely through Ibrahimovic who with his touches and some excellent passes created a few scoring chances which either his team mates missed or somehow did not result in goals such as Henrik Larsson being marginally offside. However after the result, Denmark have already qualified as group winners and Portugal when playing against Malta at home on 14th October only need to match the result of Sweden playing against Albania at home and they will make the playoffs.
Group 2 :-
Switzerland only need a draw against Israel at home to qualify as group winners. Greece need to win at home against lowly Luxembourg to make the playoffs although a draw may also suffice.
Group 3 :-
Contrary to all expectations Slovakia blew an excellent chance by losing to Slovenia at home. They are still sure to make the playoffs but in order to qualify directly, they must aim to win away at Poland since Slovenia will be expected to beat lowly San Marino away from home. If Slovakia only get a draw, it would come down to goal difference. As for the Czechs, this match has almost put paid to their hopes since they must now hope for San Marino to get something out of their game against Slovenia.
Group 4 :-
Like Sweden, Russia can consider themselves unlucky - perhaps even more than Sweden. They were the better side on the field against Germany but could not prevent Germany scoring from one great move. Also their misfiring strikers such as Pavlyuchenko who was clearly lacking sharpness didn't help matters at all. However Arshavin demonstrated once again that he probably deserves to be named with the world's best - showing good skill, at times using pace to incite attacks and giving great passes to team mates all the time. Still Russia have made the playoffs where they will be formidable but it's Germany who have qualified as group winners.
Group 5 :-
The European champions Spain have already qualified without dropping a point. Also Bosnia Herzegovina have sealed a playoff spot.
Group 6 :-
Well, the so far unbeaten England got beaten by Ukraine. Still looking at the match it would be unfair to say that the English did not put their heart in the match. England of course had already qualified as group winners. As things stand, Ukraine when playing Andorra away only need to match the result of Croatia playing away at Kazakhsthan and they will be through to the playoffs.
Group 7 :-
Serbia have qualified directly as group winners. France have made the playoffs.
Group 8 :-
The world champions Italy have qualified as group winners. Perhaps they were a bit lucky against Ireland, but due to the points difference between them, even a victory was perhaps not enough for Ireland to qualify directly. They have now ensured the playoffs.
Group 9 :-
It's already done and dusted. Netherlands have qualified without dropping a point. Norway have come second but their points tally is so low that they are almost certain to miss the playoffs.
North America :-
Finally the two conventional giants of USA and Mexico are through. Also the other two places will go to Costa Rica and Honduras. It only remains to be seen which of these sides can qualify directly. Costa Rica play USA away and need to match the result of Honduras playing away at a much weaker El Salvador in order to claim the last automatic spot. However there are still twists and turns here since no one can say what will happen between USA and Costa Rica.
South America :-
It would be an understatement to say that it was a night of immense drama. Argentina are now in a much better position and had lady luck smiling on them in more ways than one. The same can be said of Uruguay while Ecuador can consider themselves to be a little unlucky. However Venezuela have been almost eliminated and Colombia have been completely eliminated while Chile have taken the third automatic qualifying spot. It's hard to cite any reasons to suggest that any of these three nations did not deserve their eventual fate. As things stand, all three of the remaining teams hold at least a part of their destiny in their own hands. Let's discuss each one separately.
1. If Argentina win away at Uruguay they bag the fourth qualifying spot. A draw gives them the same outcome barring only absurd mathematical possibilities. Even a loss sees them bag the playoff spot unless Ecuador win away at Chile.
2. If Uruguay win at home against Argentina it's they who claim the fourth qualifying spot. A draw gives them the playoff spot. A loss also gives them the playoff spot unless Ecuador win away at Chile. A draw for Ecuador will also play into Uruguay's hands barring absurd mathematical possibilities.
3. Ecuador can realistically hope for a playoff spot only and the only likely way to get it is to win away at Chile.
We take a look at each qualification group zone by zone.
Africa :-
Group A :-
Camerooon play away at Morocco on 14th November and only need to match the result of Gabon playing away at Togo to reach the world cup.
Group B :-
Tunisia play away at Mozambique and only need to match the result of Nigeria playing against Kenya away in order to qualify.
Group C :-
The crunch tie still remains but it's completely in Algeria's hands now to throw it away. Egypt at home need to beat Algeria by three goals at least in order to qualify. Otherwise Algeria will qualify as group winners except if they lose by two goals which will open up different mathematical possibilities between the two of them.
Group D :-
It's done and dusted as Ghana have already qualified.
Group E :-
It's done and dusted as Ivory Coast have already qualified.
Asia / Oceania
The advantage is with the all whites as the first leg in Bahrain finished 0-0. However this tie is still very close to call.
Europe :-
Group 1 :-
Sweden can consider themselves a little unlucky since before conceding the goal, they had been the better team on the pitch. Their game was being run almost entirely through Ibrahimovic who with his touches and some excellent passes created a few scoring chances which either his team mates missed or somehow did not result in goals such as Henrik Larsson being marginally offside. However after the result, Denmark have already qualified as group winners and Portugal when playing against Malta at home on 14th October only need to match the result of Sweden playing against Albania at home and they will make the playoffs.
Group 2 :-
Switzerland only need a draw against Israel at home to qualify as group winners. Greece need to win at home against lowly Luxembourg to make the playoffs although a draw may also suffice.
Group 3 :-
Contrary to all expectations Slovakia blew an excellent chance by losing to Slovenia at home. They are still sure to make the playoffs but in order to qualify directly, they must aim to win away at Poland since Slovenia will be expected to beat lowly San Marino away from home. If Slovakia only get a draw, it would come down to goal difference. As for the Czechs, this match has almost put paid to their hopes since they must now hope for San Marino to get something out of their game against Slovenia.
Group 4 :-
Like Sweden, Russia can consider themselves unlucky - perhaps even more than Sweden. They were the better side on the field against Germany but could not prevent Germany scoring from one great move. Also their misfiring strikers such as Pavlyuchenko who was clearly lacking sharpness didn't help matters at all. However Arshavin demonstrated once again that he probably deserves to be named with the world's best - showing good skill, at times using pace to incite attacks and giving great passes to team mates all the time. Still Russia have made the playoffs where they will be formidable but it's Germany who have qualified as group winners.
Group 5 :-
The European champions Spain have already qualified without dropping a point. Also Bosnia Herzegovina have sealed a playoff spot.
Group 6 :-
Well, the so far unbeaten England got beaten by Ukraine. Still looking at the match it would be unfair to say that the English did not put their heart in the match. England of course had already qualified as group winners. As things stand, Ukraine when playing Andorra away only need to match the result of Croatia playing away at Kazakhsthan and they will be through to the playoffs.
Group 7 :-
Serbia have qualified directly as group winners. France have made the playoffs.
Group 8 :-
The world champions Italy have qualified as group winners. Perhaps they were a bit lucky against Ireland, but due to the points difference between them, even a victory was perhaps not enough for Ireland to qualify directly. They have now ensured the playoffs.
Group 9 :-
It's already done and dusted. Netherlands have qualified without dropping a point. Norway have come second but their points tally is so low that they are almost certain to miss the playoffs.
North America :-
Finally the two conventional giants of USA and Mexico are through. Also the other two places will go to Costa Rica and Honduras. It only remains to be seen which of these sides can qualify directly. Costa Rica play USA away and need to match the result of Honduras playing away at a much weaker El Salvador in order to claim the last automatic spot. However there are still twists and turns here since no one can say what will happen between USA and Costa Rica.
South America :-
It would be an understatement to say that it was a night of immense drama. Argentina are now in a much better position and had lady luck smiling on them in more ways than one. The same can be said of Uruguay while Ecuador can consider themselves to be a little unlucky. However Venezuela have been almost eliminated and Colombia have been completely eliminated while Chile have taken the third automatic qualifying spot. It's hard to cite any reasons to suggest that any of these three nations did not deserve their eventual fate. As things stand, all three of the remaining teams hold at least a part of their destiny in their own hands. Let's discuss each one separately.
1. If Argentina win away at Uruguay they bag the fourth qualifying spot. A draw gives them the same outcome barring only absurd mathematical possibilities. Even a loss sees them bag the playoff spot unless Ecuador win away at Chile.
2. If Uruguay win at home against Argentina it's they who claim the fourth qualifying spot. A draw gives them the playoff spot. A loss also gives them the playoff spot unless Ecuador win away at Chile. A draw for Ecuador will also play into Uruguay's hands barring absurd mathematical possibilities.
3. Ecuador can realistically hope for a playoff spot only and the only likely way to get it is to win away at Chile.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Reflections : WC 2010 - Before Second Last Round Of Qualifiers
This Saturday cannot come fast enough. The excitement has almost become unbearable. The fate of so many national teams will be decided or almost decided and there are some big names in there.
So let us take a look at where the teams who have not qualified yet but have a realistic chance of doing so stand at present. What exactly do they need to do in order to secure qualification? Is their fate in their own hands or they must pray for other results to go in their favor?
Here's a look at each qualification group zone by zone.
Africa :-
Group A :-
Camerooon are playing Togo at home and it's hard to see anything other than a home victory especially seeing the resurgence Cameroon has shown since the appointment of Paul Le Guen. Gabon who were in pole position not so long ago seem to have given up the ghost. Still they are at home and a victory against Morocco can help them keep in sight of Cameroon till the very last round of matches on 14th November.
Group B :-
Tunisia and Nigeria are both expected to win their home matches leaving Tunisia in pole position to qualify.
Group C :-
Algeria are playing Rwanda at home while Egypt is away at Zambia. Algeria only need to better Egypt's result and they will qualify. Otherwise this goes to the final round but Algeria still remain in pole position.
Group D :-
It's done and dusted as Ghana have already qualified.
Group E :-
Ivory Coast need only one point to qualify and surely no one would bet against them at this stage.
Asia / Oceania
An evenly matched two legged playoff between Bahrain and New Zealand. The Asians are perhaps just slightly stronger on paper but the Kiwis are very determined.
Europe :-
Group 1 :-
The crunch fixture is Sweden away at Denmark. If Denmark win they qualify as group winners. Even a draw may not be enough for Sweden's cause and a defeat will play completely into the hands of Portugal. This one's bound to be a cracker between the Scandinavian neighbors and tempers could easily flare up. Portugal on the other hand face a now out of steam Hungary at home, a match they should win even if C.Ronaldo does not play and with their last match at home to Malta, they look like making the playoffs unless Sweden and Zlatan Ibrahimovic can pull off something extra-special.
Group 2 :-
Switzerland will qualify if they win against Luxembourg and the match between Greece and Latvia ends in a draw. Even otherwise they will still be in a pole position but the winner of this match could run them close.
Group 3 :-
Slovakia are so near to fulfilling a national dream but have to be careful because opponents like Slovenia and Poland cannot be taken lightly. The Czechs can aim for the playoffs by beating Poland at home and trying to come out the winner in a four way tussle with Poland, Slovenia and Northern Ireland.
Group 4 :-
Now we come to one of the matches of the day. Would you fancy Germany in spite of their obvious pedigree to get a win or even a draw away to Russia who are ever improving and have the one and only Guus Hiddink in charge? This is the match that almost surely decides who qualifies directly and who makes the playoffs.
Group 5 :-
The European champions Spain have already qualified without dropping a point. All Bosnia-Herzegovina need to do is beat Estonia away and they will make the playoffs at the expense of Turkey. Edin Zdeko, Zvzezdan Misimovic, Daniel Pjanic, if ever your nation needed you most, it's now!
Group 6 :-
A Fabio Capello inspired England has already qualified without dropping a point. Will they be tempted to play it slightly soft in favor of Ukraine so as to give them the better of the team that was responsible for England not making Euro 2008 - Slaven Bilic's Croatia? With the last matches for both looking very easy, an England victory or a draw would put Croatia into the qualifiers but an England defeat would send Ukraine through instead. Hold your breath for this one!
Group 7 :-
Serbia remain in pole position to qualify directly. Although their last match is a relatively simple one against Lithuania, it's better for the nerves to beat Romania at home and qualify before that. France have two simple fixtures and are sure to make the playoffs at least.
Group 8 :-
Even if world champions Italy were to lose to fellow Italian Giovanni Trappatoni's Republic Of Ireland, they would still qualify directly by winning their last match which is an easy home fixture against Cyprus. Ireland could make the playoffs even if they lose this game but it would do their cause no harm to pick up as many points as possible from this fixture.
Group 9 :-
It's already done and dusted. Netherlands have qualified without dropping a point. Norway have come second but their points tally is so low that they are almost certain to miss the playoffs.
North America :-
Costa Rica must win against the already eliminated Trinidad and Tobago at home since not doing so would present a big advantage to their rivals. Mexico in their current form since the appointment of Javier Aguirre are almost certain to beat El Salvador at home. The crunch clash is USA away at Honduras. If Mexico win their match and this fixture results in anything other than a victory for Honduras, Mexico will be through. At the same time if USA win this fixture then USA will be through.
South America :-
And finally we come to where the eyes of the entire world will be - what will happen to footballing super power Argentina. Will Maradona's inexplicable tactics cause the impossible with them not qualifying? Will the world's best player incumbent Lionel Messi finally come up with a masterclass for his country as he keeps doing time and again for his club Barcelona? Argentina just have to win at home against Peru. Or else the situation will become virtually impossible. It will also help them if Chile beats Colombia away, Ecuador and Uruguay draw their game and Venezuela lose at home to the already qualified Paraguay. With as many as six teams still in the running for the two remaining automatic qualifying spots as well as the lone playoff spot, this group is so difficult to analyze completely due to the myriad number of permutations and combinations possible. Once the Saturday results are in our hands, we will know exactly what needs to happen on Wednesday for each team to qualify or make the playoff. However some may not be in the running after this Saturday itself. It just cannot get more heated up than this.
So let us take a look at where the teams who have not qualified yet but have a realistic chance of doing so stand at present. What exactly do they need to do in order to secure qualification? Is their fate in their own hands or they must pray for other results to go in their favor?
Here's a look at each qualification group zone by zone.
Africa :-
Group A :-
Camerooon are playing Togo at home and it's hard to see anything other than a home victory especially seeing the resurgence Cameroon has shown since the appointment of Paul Le Guen. Gabon who were in pole position not so long ago seem to have given up the ghost. Still they are at home and a victory against Morocco can help them keep in sight of Cameroon till the very last round of matches on 14th November.
Group B :-
Tunisia and Nigeria are both expected to win their home matches leaving Tunisia in pole position to qualify.
Group C :-
Algeria are playing Rwanda at home while Egypt is away at Zambia. Algeria only need to better Egypt's result and they will qualify. Otherwise this goes to the final round but Algeria still remain in pole position.
Group D :-
It's done and dusted as Ghana have already qualified.
Group E :-
Ivory Coast need only one point to qualify and surely no one would bet against them at this stage.
Asia / Oceania
An evenly matched two legged playoff between Bahrain and New Zealand. The Asians are perhaps just slightly stronger on paper but the Kiwis are very determined.
Europe :-
Group 1 :-
The crunch fixture is Sweden away at Denmark. If Denmark win they qualify as group winners. Even a draw may not be enough for Sweden's cause and a defeat will play completely into the hands of Portugal. This one's bound to be a cracker between the Scandinavian neighbors and tempers could easily flare up. Portugal on the other hand face a now out of steam Hungary at home, a match they should win even if C.Ronaldo does not play and with their last match at home to Malta, they look like making the playoffs unless Sweden and Zlatan Ibrahimovic can pull off something extra-special.
Group 2 :-
Switzerland will qualify if they win against Luxembourg and the match between Greece and Latvia ends in a draw. Even otherwise they will still be in a pole position but the winner of this match could run them close.
Group 3 :-
Slovakia are so near to fulfilling a national dream but have to be careful because opponents like Slovenia and Poland cannot be taken lightly. The Czechs can aim for the playoffs by beating Poland at home and trying to come out the winner in a four way tussle with Poland, Slovenia and Northern Ireland.
Group 4 :-
Now we come to one of the matches of the day. Would you fancy Germany in spite of their obvious pedigree to get a win or even a draw away to Russia who are ever improving and have the one and only Guus Hiddink in charge? This is the match that almost surely decides who qualifies directly and who makes the playoffs.
Group 5 :-
The European champions Spain have already qualified without dropping a point. All Bosnia-Herzegovina need to do is beat Estonia away and they will make the playoffs at the expense of Turkey. Edin Zdeko, Zvzezdan Misimovic, Daniel Pjanic, if ever your nation needed you most, it's now!
Group 6 :-
A Fabio Capello inspired England has already qualified without dropping a point. Will they be tempted to play it slightly soft in favor of Ukraine so as to give them the better of the team that was responsible for England not making Euro 2008 - Slaven Bilic's Croatia? With the last matches for both looking very easy, an England victory or a draw would put Croatia into the qualifiers but an England defeat would send Ukraine through instead. Hold your breath for this one!
Group 7 :-
Serbia remain in pole position to qualify directly. Although their last match is a relatively simple one against Lithuania, it's better for the nerves to beat Romania at home and qualify before that. France have two simple fixtures and are sure to make the playoffs at least.
Group 8 :-
Even if world champions Italy were to lose to fellow Italian Giovanni Trappatoni's Republic Of Ireland, they would still qualify directly by winning their last match which is an easy home fixture against Cyprus. Ireland could make the playoffs even if they lose this game but it would do their cause no harm to pick up as many points as possible from this fixture.
Group 9 :-
It's already done and dusted. Netherlands have qualified without dropping a point. Norway have come second but their points tally is so low that they are almost certain to miss the playoffs.
North America :-
Costa Rica must win against the already eliminated Trinidad and Tobago at home since not doing so would present a big advantage to their rivals. Mexico in their current form since the appointment of Javier Aguirre are almost certain to beat El Salvador at home. The crunch clash is USA away at Honduras. If Mexico win their match and this fixture results in anything other than a victory for Honduras, Mexico will be through. At the same time if USA win this fixture then USA will be through.
South America :-
And finally we come to where the eyes of the entire world will be - what will happen to footballing super power Argentina. Will Maradona's inexplicable tactics cause the impossible with them not qualifying? Will the world's best player incumbent Lionel Messi finally come up with a masterclass for his country as he keeps doing time and again for his club Barcelona? Argentina just have to win at home against Peru. Or else the situation will become virtually impossible. It will also help them if Chile beats Colombia away, Ecuador and Uruguay draw their game and Venezuela lose at home to the already qualified Paraguay. With as many as six teams still in the running for the two remaining automatic qualifying spots as well as the lone playoff spot, this group is so difficult to analyze completely due to the myriad number of permutations and combinations possible. Once the Saturday results are in our hands, we will know exactly what needs to happen on Wednesday for each team to qualify or make the playoff. However some may not be in the running after this Saturday itself. It just cannot get more heated up than this.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Reflections : Best Teams And Worst Performances
It seems strange to understand why four of the biggest teams in the world, all of whom are not just in the UCL but are also among the favorites to win it as well as favorites for winning their country's league, managed to come up with their worst performance of this season so far just before the two week long international break. Fatigue may have been the issue. Perhaps a few players had half a mind on the vital internationals coming up. Also most of these teams did have some key players missing. The case for each of these teams is described below.
1. Barcelona - Yes Barca still won their match but it was not a good performance by any standards. The control in midfield was missing. Almeria were allowed to enter Barca's box far too often and create attacks of their own. Even in such situations the defense was guilty of overplaying and cheeky passing within the box. Against a strong team such mistakes could be easily punished. In fact even the attack missed some clear cut chances. In a way perhaps nothing went all that well except the final result. However Barca can take heart from the fact that they did not lose anything and can regroup and come up with a much better performance which they will certainly need in their next match at the Mestalla. However the shrewd tactical play of man marking several Barca players employed by Almeria did not go waste. It has probably made other teams realize that beating Barca could be much easier than what they had previously thought.
2. Manchester United - Yes they did lose to Burnley earlier in the league and they only drew this one. However that was an away match in which they still created most of the chances. Here on their own home ground they were made to look foolish against a team which virtually no one gave a chance against ManUtd so much so that most neutrals probably did not bother to watch the game. Yet it was only a lucky own goal which ultimately saved ManUtd from an embarrassing defeat.
3. Real Madrid - Finally the galacticos were brought down to earth. With Lassana Diarra missing, the control in midfield was just not there. In fact they were completely outplayed by an excellent Sevilla midfield. To that let's add the fact that they were missing their biggest match winner in C. Ronaldo, who could win a match for them with just his goal scoring abilities even when they had been second best right through. Some pundits around the world believe that Real's defense is still not up to standard and they were completely vindicated yesterday. Marcelo was so completely dominated by Jesus Navas that we may be forced to wonder whether at all he should have ever become a footballer. In fact it was the one and only San Iker who pulled off more than a couple of blinders to keep the scoreline respectable for Los Merengues.
4. Juventus - Yet none of the insipid displays described above can compare with the one we are about to discuss. Real Madrid in spite of being badly outplayed still scored a goal and created a few more chances. Juventus on the other hand were so humiliatingly suppressed that it's worth a rethink whether at all they deserve to be called Inter's main challengers for the Scudetto. Yes it was an away match but also against a team which had made a bad beginning and should have been lacking in confidence. It can be said that Inter even if playing at their worst would probably not have been so terribly humiliated. Even after leading 2-0 half way into the match, it's Palermo who looked more likely to score another. In Juventus' match against Roma earlier in Serie A, Roma had not played badly but Juve had played as if they were in a different class raising hopes not just among their fans but also among neutrals who want to see a change in the Italian and world order. Yesterday's match has done enough to submerge all those hopes. Juve must come up with something special to make people believe that they can still be a great team. Yesterday's performance only gives hope to Bordeaux and Bayern Munich that it shouldn't be all that difficult to qualify at the expense of Juve from their UCL group.
1. Barcelona - Yes Barca still won their match but it was not a good performance by any standards. The control in midfield was missing. Almeria were allowed to enter Barca's box far too often and create attacks of their own. Even in such situations the defense was guilty of overplaying and cheeky passing within the box. Against a strong team such mistakes could be easily punished. In fact even the attack missed some clear cut chances. In a way perhaps nothing went all that well except the final result. However Barca can take heart from the fact that they did not lose anything and can regroup and come up with a much better performance which they will certainly need in their next match at the Mestalla. However the shrewd tactical play of man marking several Barca players employed by Almeria did not go waste. It has probably made other teams realize that beating Barca could be much easier than what they had previously thought.
2. Manchester United - Yes they did lose to Burnley earlier in the league and they only drew this one. However that was an away match in which they still created most of the chances. Here on their own home ground they were made to look foolish against a team which virtually no one gave a chance against ManUtd so much so that most neutrals probably did not bother to watch the game. Yet it was only a lucky own goal which ultimately saved ManUtd from an embarrassing defeat.
3. Real Madrid - Finally the galacticos were brought down to earth. With Lassana Diarra missing, the control in midfield was just not there. In fact they were completely outplayed by an excellent Sevilla midfield. To that let's add the fact that they were missing their biggest match winner in C. Ronaldo, who could win a match for them with just his goal scoring abilities even when they had been second best right through. Some pundits around the world believe that Real's defense is still not up to standard and they were completely vindicated yesterday. Marcelo was so completely dominated by Jesus Navas that we may be forced to wonder whether at all he should have ever become a footballer. In fact it was the one and only San Iker who pulled off more than a couple of blinders to keep the scoreline respectable for Los Merengues.
4. Juventus - Yet none of the insipid displays described above can compare with the one we are about to discuss. Real Madrid in spite of being badly outplayed still scored a goal and created a few more chances. Juventus on the other hand were so humiliatingly suppressed that it's worth a rethink whether at all they deserve to be called Inter's main challengers for the Scudetto. Yes it was an away match but also against a team which had made a bad beginning and should have been lacking in confidence. It can be said that Inter even if playing at their worst would probably not have been so terribly humiliated. Even after leading 2-0 half way into the match, it's Palermo who looked more likely to score another. In Juventus' match against Roma earlier in Serie A, Roma had not played badly but Juve had played as if they were in a different class raising hopes not just among their fans but also among neutrals who want to see a change in the Italian and world order. Yesterday's match has done enough to submerge all those hopes. Juve must come up with something special to make people believe that they can still be a great team. Yesterday's performance only gives hope to Bordeaux and Bayern Munich that it shouldn't be all that difficult to qualify at the expense of Juve from their UCL group.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Reflections : UCL Match Day 2
Since match day 2 is now complete, let us take a look at several of the teams in the competition including every one of those who are seen as favorites to win it as well as some others which we may like to discuss. The comments here have a little to do with the performances of the teams on match day 1 and 2 but more to do with how we see their overall prospects in the competition. Some of the views expressed are those of this writer while others are opinion gathered by him from reading postings and comments of both pundits and fans world wide.
1. Bayern Munich - With Ribery and Robben on the flanks, this is a team that excites the neutral. To that add the excellent form of Thomas Muller and the unquestionably talented Schweinsteiger and Lahm. Going forward one would rate them high. Unfortunately there are two major problems. Defensively this team convinces no one especially after the sale of Lucio in the summer. And add to that the fact that Robben is unfit more often than fit, it takes away a lot from the overall potential of this team. One can't help but wonder how good a player Robben would be ( right up there with the very best in this writer's opinion ) if he were not so injury prone.
2. Bordeaux - It was a big surprise that Bordeaux managed to pull off a draw against Juventus in an away match. In fact they could have won the match and only Buffon's heroics prevented them from doing so. However in match day 2 they also made their inexperience and lack of confidence at this level quite apparent. So as of now Bordeaux can be rated as a team that will make life difficult for others but is bound to fall short. The big positive that comes out of it is the continuously growing profile of coach Laurent Blanc who is easily one of the most promising young managers today and is almost sure to move to a big club sooner rather than later.
3. Juventus - There's something about UCL and Juventus - they just don't go together. For the club of the size and stature of Juventus, it's impossible to believe that they have won only two European cups. Even in the days of Michel Platini when Juve were unquestionably the number one club in the world, their domestic success was always much more than their European achievements. Yes, they can say that they have been unlucky too often since they have been close so many times but then if they slip so often at the final stage, surely most of the blame is theirs to take. Even in the days of a peerless tactician in the form of Marcello Lippi, Juve reached the final of the UCL four times but won only once. As for the current team, you cannot say for sure that they will reach the knock outs since Group A looks like becoming a very tight battle between three teams. Even if they do reach the knock out rounds, it seems they still lack something to get the better of a top class Spanish or English side.
4. Manchester United - Not many people including this writer rated them as the big favorite to win UCL this season but it's clear that they will be there or thereabouts. Yes, they have lost some key players but the most important point is that after years of trial and error, they have finally discovered just what it takes to succeed on the grandest stage of all.
5. Wolfsburg - An exciting team that's been fortunate to get a group from which they should be able to reach the knock out stages. After that how far they go is hard to say. They could be out of their depth against really strong opposition but are surely capable of a surprise or two.
6. Real Madrid - Possibly the one team that most divides opinion at the moment. Some even see them as the number one favorite for the title. On the other hand some don't even think they will make the semi finals. Their team play is developing and has not yet reached it's zenith. However they are winning so many games mainly on the virtues of outstanding individuals like Kaka and the on fire C.Ronaldo. With Benzema starting to settle in and Alonso continuing from where he left off last season, not many see any reason to question the offensive capabilities of this team. It's the defense which most see as their Achilees heel which could see them get knocked out when push comes to shove.
7. A C Milan - At this point in time in the football world the one thing that you don't want to be is a Milan fan. A club which could have justifiably been called the world's best not too long ago and a team which could easily call themselves the number one team of UCL are in such shambles that it's difficult to see them win even a half way decent match or sometimes even score a goal. Will they reach the knock outs? They don't deserve to but may just make it. A double pummeling from Real Madrid in the next two matches is almost inevitable. If they reach the knock outs, they should be easy pickings for any of the favorites even if they make some decent buys in the winter. Winning the UCL in 2007 with an aging team was a huge achievement but that does not mean that you can play forever with the same players. Add to that the fact that with Rijkaard and Van Basten available, they decided to hire a man who himself says that he is not cut out to be a coach. In the views of this writer, the job of a manager at a top football club is one of the biggest dream jobs in the world and should certainly not go to someone who is not 100% made for it. Whether it was the fact that Berlusconi wanted a puppet or whether Leonardo was the cheapest coach available is anyone's guess.
8. Marseille - If this writer were to choose his biggest disappointment so far, he would surprise everyone by choosing Marseille. They missed a big trick on match day 1 because Milan were there for the taking. All in all one has to question how good a manager Didier Deschamps is. This is the same man who took unfancied Monaco to the UCL final in 2004 but looking at his recent performances not just in UCL but in Ligue 1, Bordeaux's Laurent Blanc may be called a better manager.
9. Chelsea - A lot of people's big favorite to win the competition. They have come close so far and should be able to take the final step now. This author understands that the team has many quality individuals throughout and is strong in almost every position but feels that they lack that extra bit of creative spark and are an aging team. Yes they now have the man who took an aging ( or should we say aged ) team to glory not so long ago but then there is also the jinx. Ancelotti has already won two UCLs. No manager other than Bob Paisley has won the European Cup three times. Even the legendary Sir Alex has so far failed to do that. Suffice it to say that were Ancelotti to do this, he would be acknowledged as one of the greatest football coaches in history but there's many a slip between the cup and the lip.
10. Porto - If there is one team on earth that can survive and do well even after selling off almost all their key performers, then it's Porto who have just developed such a model which is bound to be the envy of the entire world. They just know how to bring in the right replacements for the right price and become competitive once again before the world even has a chance to blink. So as of now they are almost sure to reach the knock outs and be more than a match for anyone who crosses their path after that.
11. Atletico Madrid - If Milan fans need empathy, they need look no further than Atletico fans. It's just so hard to believe that the team that performed beyond themselves at the end of last season to clinch the 4th spot in La Liga now lie in the relegation zone even when all their key players have been retained and the manager is the same. Why this has happened is beyond the scope of this article but at the moment this is a club that is going nowhere.
12. Lyon - There are enough signs to suggest that the old Lyon is back. A great team to watch in full flow and more than a match for absolutely anyone. Perhaps still not strong enough to win the competition but will carry with them the hopes and wishes of most neutrals around the world.
13. Fiorentina - It wouldn't be wrong to say that the far too many times wounded Italian pride has been at least temporarily somewhat restored by the heroics of Fiorentina against Liverpool. Still reaching the next stage is a big battle which they should at least now be able to face with confidence.
14. Liverpool - In some people's eyes, this is the second most consistent team of UCL in recent times after Milan. However this time is it entirely unthinkable that they fail to reach the knock outs? It's too early to write them off but a free flowing Lyon and a confident Fiorentina will make life difficult. If they do make it as expected, they are bound to be competitive. However with the sale of Alonso it's quite clear that the team lacks something vital and is possibly no one's favorite to win the competition at this moment.
15. Barcelona - Without the slightest shred of doubt, the big favorites and the team to beat in the eyes of most pundits and fans. Some in this world are so much in awe of them that they consider them a perfect team with no weaknesses. The more observant however can see a few causes for concern. The wafer thin nature of the squad cannot be ignored as the top players have virtually no replacements who can be expected to play at even 50% of their level in the really big matches. The defense is not all that convincing and to that add the fact that the solidity seems to be missing from Yaya Toure's game unlike last season. And last but not the least, how can we not discuss Ibrahimovic! No player in the world today divides opinion as much as Ibra does not only among fans but even pundits. Some rate him right up there with the very best while some don't consider him world class and usually call him a big match flop. You can say that Ibra will score the difficult goals in the easy matches but will he score the easy goals in the difficult matches? No matter how technically good you are it's unforgivable for a world class player to miss three clear cut scoring chances in a UCL knock out match as Ibra did last season when playing for Inter against ManUtd. Eto'o while not that gifted had the knack of finishing opportunities in a match where chances have been few and far between. This remains Ibra's make or break year and nothing will count more than his performances in the UCL knock out stages.
16. Inter Milan - It wouldn't be wrong to say that at the beginning of this season, there was a false and almost forced sense of optimism at Inter. Yes a world class performer like Eto'o had been bought but that wouldn't do anything to hide the lack of creativity in the team. What's worse is that this involved the sale of Ibrahimovic who could be dubbed the one way ticket which ensured victories for Inter when the rest of the team had done nothing to deserve one. All the focus is on head coach Mourinho - one of the world's best coaches who sometimes gives one the feeling that he is even more hyped than he is good. He can now not have any reason to complain in all fairness even if that's what he prefers to do most of the time. He asked for a defender ( Lucio ), a midfielder ( Motta ), a trequartista ( Sneijder ) and a striker ( Milito ) and got all. Last season Mourinho insisted his squad was not good enough to compete with the very best. This season he was allowed to improve the squad just as he wanted. The fans shouted for Cassano but Mourinho went for Sneijder. The latter is a very competent player but isn't a classic trequartista who can run with the ball at his feet and continuously make his presence felt in the opponent's box. At the moment Inter seem to lack the flair needed and all eyes are on Mourinho to somehow deliver since not doing so must be seen as his personal failure.
17. Sevilla - Just like Lyon this is a team to watch out for. Without possessing any world class star other than perhaps Luis Fabiano, the squad can boast of a high standard of competence in every position on the pitch - something that few big clubs can boast of. All in all one cannot help but admire the way this club is run since with their budget, it's not possible to do better than this.
18. Arsenal - A team whose play continuously mesmerizes the world and can lay claim to being the second most attractive team in the world after Barcelona. Still not many believe that they are capable of going all the way. The reasons are the same that have been stated over and over again - lack of battlers and leaders with the right amount of mental toughness to really ensure a win in the tightest of matches. Yes, they are always said to be very young but surely now that quite a few years have passed, the kids must have grown up. And there's no point using injuries for an excuse. All the teams in the world have to cope with this reality of football and some have definitely managed to do so. If you suffer more than others, then it's time to take a look at your medical facilities etc. and wonder why you suffer more injuries than others.
1. Bayern Munich - With Ribery and Robben on the flanks, this is a team that excites the neutral. To that add the excellent form of Thomas Muller and the unquestionably talented Schweinsteiger and Lahm. Going forward one would rate them high. Unfortunately there are two major problems. Defensively this team convinces no one especially after the sale of Lucio in the summer. And add to that the fact that Robben is unfit more often than fit, it takes away a lot from the overall potential of this team. One can't help but wonder how good a player Robben would be ( right up there with the very best in this writer's opinion ) if he were not so injury prone.
2. Bordeaux - It was a big surprise that Bordeaux managed to pull off a draw against Juventus in an away match. In fact they could have won the match and only Buffon's heroics prevented them from doing so. However in match day 2 they also made their inexperience and lack of confidence at this level quite apparent. So as of now Bordeaux can be rated as a team that will make life difficult for others but is bound to fall short. The big positive that comes out of it is the continuously growing profile of coach Laurent Blanc who is easily one of the most promising young managers today and is almost sure to move to a big club sooner rather than later.
3. Juventus - There's something about UCL and Juventus - they just don't go together. For the club of the size and stature of Juventus, it's impossible to believe that they have won only two European cups. Even in the days of Michel Platini when Juve were unquestionably the number one club in the world, their domestic success was always much more than their European achievements. Yes, they can say that they have been unlucky too often since they have been close so many times but then if they slip so often at the final stage, surely most of the blame is theirs to take. Even in the days of a peerless tactician in the form of Marcello Lippi, Juve reached the final of the UCL four times but won only once. As for the current team, you cannot say for sure that they will reach the knock outs since Group A looks like becoming a very tight battle between three teams. Even if they do reach the knock out rounds, it seems they still lack something to get the better of a top class Spanish or English side.
4. Manchester United - Not many people including this writer rated them as the big favorite to win UCL this season but it's clear that they will be there or thereabouts. Yes, they have lost some key players but the most important point is that after years of trial and error, they have finally discovered just what it takes to succeed on the grandest stage of all.
5. Wolfsburg - An exciting team that's been fortunate to get a group from which they should be able to reach the knock out stages. After that how far they go is hard to say. They could be out of their depth against really strong opposition but are surely capable of a surprise or two.
6. Real Madrid - Possibly the one team that most divides opinion at the moment. Some even see them as the number one favorite for the title. On the other hand some don't even think they will make the semi finals. Their team play is developing and has not yet reached it's zenith. However they are winning so many games mainly on the virtues of outstanding individuals like Kaka and the on fire C.Ronaldo. With Benzema starting to settle in and Alonso continuing from where he left off last season, not many see any reason to question the offensive capabilities of this team. It's the defense which most see as their Achilees heel which could see them get knocked out when push comes to shove.
7. A C Milan - At this point in time in the football world the one thing that you don't want to be is a Milan fan. A club which could have justifiably been called the world's best not too long ago and a team which could easily call themselves the number one team of UCL are in such shambles that it's difficult to see them win even a half way decent match or sometimes even score a goal. Will they reach the knock outs? They don't deserve to but may just make it. A double pummeling from Real Madrid in the next two matches is almost inevitable. If they reach the knock outs, they should be easy pickings for any of the favorites even if they make some decent buys in the winter. Winning the UCL in 2007 with an aging team was a huge achievement but that does not mean that you can play forever with the same players. Add to that the fact that with Rijkaard and Van Basten available, they decided to hire a man who himself says that he is not cut out to be a coach. In the views of this writer, the job of a manager at a top football club is one of the biggest dream jobs in the world and should certainly not go to someone who is not 100% made for it. Whether it was the fact that Berlusconi wanted a puppet or whether Leonardo was the cheapest coach available is anyone's guess.
8. Marseille - If this writer were to choose his biggest disappointment so far, he would surprise everyone by choosing Marseille. They missed a big trick on match day 1 because Milan were there for the taking. All in all one has to question how good a manager Didier Deschamps is. This is the same man who took unfancied Monaco to the UCL final in 2004 but looking at his recent performances not just in UCL but in Ligue 1, Bordeaux's Laurent Blanc may be called a better manager.
9. Chelsea - A lot of people's big favorite to win the competition. They have come close so far and should be able to take the final step now. This author understands that the team has many quality individuals throughout and is strong in almost every position but feels that they lack that extra bit of creative spark and are an aging team. Yes they now have the man who took an aging ( or should we say aged ) team to glory not so long ago but then there is also the jinx. Ancelotti has already won two UCLs. No manager other than Bob Paisley has won the European Cup three times. Even the legendary Sir Alex has so far failed to do that. Suffice it to say that were Ancelotti to do this, he would be acknowledged as one of the greatest football coaches in history but there's many a slip between the cup and the lip.
10. Porto - If there is one team on earth that can survive and do well even after selling off almost all their key performers, then it's Porto who have just developed such a model which is bound to be the envy of the entire world. They just know how to bring in the right replacements for the right price and become competitive once again before the world even has a chance to blink. So as of now they are almost sure to reach the knock outs and be more than a match for anyone who crosses their path after that.
11. Atletico Madrid - If Milan fans need empathy, they need look no further than Atletico fans. It's just so hard to believe that the team that performed beyond themselves at the end of last season to clinch the 4th spot in La Liga now lie in the relegation zone even when all their key players have been retained and the manager is the same. Why this has happened is beyond the scope of this article but at the moment this is a club that is going nowhere.
12. Lyon - There are enough signs to suggest that the old Lyon is back. A great team to watch in full flow and more than a match for absolutely anyone. Perhaps still not strong enough to win the competition but will carry with them the hopes and wishes of most neutrals around the world.
13. Fiorentina - It wouldn't be wrong to say that the far too many times wounded Italian pride has been at least temporarily somewhat restored by the heroics of Fiorentina against Liverpool. Still reaching the next stage is a big battle which they should at least now be able to face with confidence.
14. Liverpool - In some people's eyes, this is the second most consistent team of UCL in recent times after Milan. However this time is it entirely unthinkable that they fail to reach the knock outs? It's too early to write them off but a free flowing Lyon and a confident Fiorentina will make life difficult. If they do make it as expected, they are bound to be competitive. However with the sale of Alonso it's quite clear that the team lacks something vital and is possibly no one's favorite to win the competition at this moment.
15. Barcelona - Without the slightest shred of doubt, the big favorites and the team to beat in the eyes of most pundits and fans. Some in this world are so much in awe of them that they consider them a perfect team with no weaknesses. The more observant however can see a few causes for concern. The wafer thin nature of the squad cannot be ignored as the top players have virtually no replacements who can be expected to play at even 50% of their level in the really big matches. The defense is not all that convincing and to that add the fact that the solidity seems to be missing from Yaya Toure's game unlike last season. And last but not the least, how can we not discuss Ibrahimovic! No player in the world today divides opinion as much as Ibra does not only among fans but even pundits. Some rate him right up there with the very best while some don't consider him world class and usually call him a big match flop. You can say that Ibra will score the difficult goals in the easy matches but will he score the easy goals in the difficult matches? No matter how technically good you are it's unforgivable for a world class player to miss three clear cut scoring chances in a UCL knock out match as Ibra did last season when playing for Inter against ManUtd. Eto'o while not that gifted had the knack of finishing opportunities in a match where chances have been few and far between. This remains Ibra's make or break year and nothing will count more than his performances in the UCL knock out stages.
16. Inter Milan - It wouldn't be wrong to say that at the beginning of this season, there was a false and almost forced sense of optimism at Inter. Yes a world class performer like Eto'o had been bought but that wouldn't do anything to hide the lack of creativity in the team. What's worse is that this involved the sale of Ibrahimovic who could be dubbed the one way ticket which ensured victories for Inter when the rest of the team had done nothing to deserve one. All the focus is on head coach Mourinho - one of the world's best coaches who sometimes gives one the feeling that he is even more hyped than he is good. He can now not have any reason to complain in all fairness even if that's what he prefers to do most of the time. He asked for a defender ( Lucio ), a midfielder ( Motta ), a trequartista ( Sneijder ) and a striker ( Milito ) and got all. Last season Mourinho insisted his squad was not good enough to compete with the very best. This season he was allowed to improve the squad just as he wanted. The fans shouted for Cassano but Mourinho went for Sneijder. The latter is a very competent player but isn't a classic trequartista who can run with the ball at his feet and continuously make his presence felt in the opponent's box. At the moment Inter seem to lack the flair needed and all eyes are on Mourinho to somehow deliver since not doing so must be seen as his personal failure.
17. Sevilla - Just like Lyon this is a team to watch out for. Without possessing any world class star other than perhaps Luis Fabiano, the squad can boast of a high standard of competence in every position on the pitch - something that few big clubs can boast of. All in all one cannot help but admire the way this club is run since with their budget, it's not possible to do better than this.
18. Arsenal - A team whose play continuously mesmerizes the world and can lay claim to being the second most attractive team in the world after Barcelona. Still not many believe that they are capable of going all the way. The reasons are the same that have been stated over and over again - lack of battlers and leaders with the right amount of mental toughness to really ensure a win in the tightest of matches. Yes, they are always said to be very young but surely now that quite a few years have passed, the kids must have grown up. And there's no point using injuries for an excuse. All the teams in the world have to cope with this reality of football and some have definitely managed to do so. If you suffer more than others, then it's time to take a look at your medical facilities etc. and wonder why you suffer more injuries than others.
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