Premier League: United Flatten Chelsea and Qualify for the Champions League!

Manchester United played host to London side Chelsea FC in the penultimate match of the Premier League season earlier today at Old Trafford. United and manager Erik ten Hag knew they needed just one point from this match in order to finish in the top-4 and qualify for the Champions League next season. Contrarily, Chelsea and interim manager Frank Lampard came into the match with very little to play for. It has been an absolutely dismal season by their illustrious standards, as they find themselves in the bottom of half of the table and floundering in 12th place. Lampard fielded an exceptionally young side for this match, probably in an attempt to get some of the younger players experienced going into next year. Given that United have been nearly unbeatable at the Theatre of Dreams this season, most expected the Red Devils to get the result needed and seal the last available CL spot.

The first half was an odd one, but nevertheless overall positive for United. They got the first goal just 6 minutes in, thanks to a well-placed header from midfielder Casemiro. United won a free kick on the left wing, which was played into the box by fellow midfielder Christian Eriksen. No one was near Casemiro when he got his head to it, and after a quick VAR check for offside the goal was permitted to stand. Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga had no chance. It wasn’t a technically complicated goal, just poor marking by the Chelsea defense and a good quality ball over the top by Eriksen. Casemiro has now scored in consecutive matches, while also rediscovering some of his magnificent form in his role as a defensive midfielder from earlier in the season.

Chelsea dominated the next 30-35 minutes after that though. They created a litany of chances, but I have to sit back and laugh at their comically poor finishing during this period of the match. Several players missed gilt-edged chances, including winger Mykhailo Mudryk and striker Kai Havertz. Chelsea were doing extremely well to get the ball forward and at getting it into dangerous areas, but they really should have finished some of their chances. They were doing everything right in terms of opening up the United defense, but they couldn’t hit the back of the net to save their lives! This period of play was a microcosm of Chelsea’s awful season: good play in the build-up and chance creation, but atrocious finishing. There was another concern for United when winger Antony dos Santos went down injured after a fairly innocuous-looking challenge, and he was stretchered off and replaced by striker Marcus Rashford. Well wishes to Antony on a speedy recovery.

The Blues’ misery was further compounded however deep in first half stoppage time. Casemiro brought the ball forward and played a sensational no-look, chipped pass out to his right and into the feet of winger Jadon Sancho. Sancho was in a bit of space and looked like he might shoot, but he wisely played it across to the unmarked striker Anthony Martial who tapped in for 2-0 with Kepa stranded. An excellent passing move that was truly against the run of play! Well done to Casemiro and Martial, but special credit to Sancho for making the right decision. He has consistently had struggles with making the right decision at the right time this season, as he usually dawdles on the ball and the chance goes begging. This time though he got it exactly right! 2-0 United at half time, with Chelsea likely demoralized given their opportunities to score.

The second half was much more dominant from United. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes went close first, striking the angle of the crossbar/post after center back Victor Lindelof did well to win the ball high up the pitch. Chelsea were not strong on the ball, but they did well to keep United from scoring again for about 30 minutes or so. However, United did get the decisive 3rd goal on 73 minutes from the penalty spot. Bruno was dancing on the left side of the penalty box, and he beat Chelsea right back Wesley Fofana with a nutmeg. Fofana then stuck a leg out though and tripped Bruno, and of course Bruno went down as if he’d been shot. Referee Stuart Atwell pointed to the spot, and there wasn’t much complaining from the Chelsea players. Bruno stepped up and sent Kepa the wrong way with a low finish to his right. 3-0, and United were now confidently on their way to the top-4!

They weren’t finished however! Just 5 minutes later, Fofana played a ball across his own box that was wayward, and it allowed Bruno to pounce on the ball. He crossed it back towards Rashford in the center of the area, and his touch took it past the last Chelsea defender. Kepa did well to stick out his left leg and save the initial shot, but the rebound fell straight to Rashford. He took it around Kepa with ease and had a tap-in from about a yard out. 4-0! Utter domination in the second half and a thorough beat down of a (usually) competitive rival. A special shoutout to Rashford on scoring his 30th goal in all competitions this season! He is the first United player with a 30 goal season since Robin Van Persie exactly ten years ago.

Chelsea got a consolation goal on 89 minutes from forward João Félix after a fine run and finish which ruined keeper David De Gea’s clean sheet, but it was nothing more than a consolation. This was United’s day through and through. Realistically they could have have had 5 or 6 goals today. Substitute winger Alejandro Garnacho struck the crossbar late on, and substitute midfielder Scott McTominay had a close-range effort saved by Kepa in stoppage time. Atwell blew his whistle shortly after that and United were through to the Champions League next season!

United also moved into 3rd place for the time being, two points ahead of 4th placed Newcastle. There is still one match to play for all teams on Sunday, but the heavy lifting has now been done. 5th-placed Liverpool can no longer mathematically catch them, and the Scousers can look forward to spending their Thursday nights playing in the Europa League next season. It would be nice if United beat Fulham in their remaining match next Sunday to lock up 3rd place, but 3rd vs. 4th matters little in this context. Top-4 was the goal for ETH and the lads at the beginning of the season, and they’ve locked it up with a match to spare. The club can look forward to the revenue generated from these European matches, along with being more easily able to attract top-level talent in the summer. Given how this season started for United with consecutive losses, to be where we are is nothing short of a magnificent achievement for this manager and group of players.

United’s final match of the season is not until June 3rd when they play in the FA Cup Final against Manchester City at Wembley. Due to the importance of the fixture, it will be interesting to see how ETH manages the last Prem game on Sunday. Fulham have naught to play for similar to United, so will he rest all of his usual starters? Will he keep them out there to continue momentum? Either way, the match against City will be extraordinarily difficult. United and Inter Milan are the only two clubs standing between them and the Treble.

I will do a match report for Fulham and the FA Cup Final, and I think I will do another post about the prospective sale of the club early on in the close season. This season is already much, much better than the last one though. Thank you, Mr. Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff!

Glory Glory Man United! Glazers Out!

World Cup Roundup – Portugal Escape Ghana and a Goal of the Tournament Candidate

Qatar is still terrible. FIFA is still corrupt. This tournament should not be held there.

Uruguay vs. South Korea

This match ended 0-0, which is a good result for South Korea but disappointing for Uruguay. They have too much attacking talent to be scoring zero goals against a side like South Korea. All credit to the Koreans though for defending well the whole 90 minutes. Lots of attacking intent on display from both sides, but neither side could make a breakthrough.

Switzerland vs. Cameroon

Many people including myself had this pegged as a draw, but credit to the Swiss for grinding out a 1-0 win. Striker Breel Embolo got the one and only goal in this match just after half time, and it was via some very neat build-up play by the Swiss. Embolo slid home a cross from the right virtually unmarked though, and that cannot happen at a World Cup. Cameroon’s defense was nowhere to be seen. Even though it was a momentary lapse of concentration, even just a momentary lapse can cost you the game. It will be very difficult for Cameroon to get out of this group now.

Portugal vs. Ghana

This was probably the most entertaining match of the day, as it was a 5-goal thriller that ended with Portugal winning 3-2. The first half was a snoozer aside from a disallowed goal by striker Cristiano Ronaldo. Things really kicked off in the second half. Ronaldo, freshly released from Manchester United, became the first man to score at five different World Cups when he pushed Portugal ahead from the penalty spot on 66 minutes. The foul on him that led to the goal was dubious at best, but Ronaldo converted when called upon. Ghana found an equalizer on 73 minutes via Andre Ayew, but Portugal were back in front just 5 minutes later thanks to wunderkind Joao Felix. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes found his run with a lovely weighted pass down the right channel, and Felix hit the ball first time past the Ghanaian keeper.

Portugal got a third via another exciting young talent in winger Rafael Leao, who played in his first ever World Cup match today. Ghana gave the ball away in midfield and Portugal sprang into instant attack, with Bruno bringing the ball forward in space. He found Leao off to his left, who opened his hips and re-directed the ball into the far corner with one touch. A very quick and well-executed goal.

Portugal thought they were home and dry being up 3-1 on 80 minutes, but Ghana showed some backbone and got their second goal via winger Osman Bukari on 89 minutes. A long ball was played down the left wing and run onto by a Ghanaian winger, and after shaking off his marker the ball was crossed into the center. Bukari was mysteriously mostly unmarked, and he made no mistake with his header past keeper Diogo Costa.

Portugal almost conceded a third extremely late on. Costa had the ball in his hands in his own penalty area and put it down to kick it out, but failed to see Ghanaian striker Iñaki Williams standing behind him just inside the goal. Williams sprinted out and took the ball from Costa legally, but he slipped at the vital moment and could not get a shot away before the ball was cleared by the Portuguese defense. Costa very nearly cost his team the game with his lack of awareness, and Williams will be ruing that missed opportunity for years to come.

Portugal are good in attack but their defense is suspect, and it’s the same for Ghana. It will be interesting to see how these teams do against the potent attack of the two other teams in the group.

Brazil vs. Serbia

This was the last match of the day, and while the action was somewhat tepid for awhile things eventually got going for the Brazilians, who won 2-0.

Serbia defended really well in the first half and while it was clear that Brazil looked to be the more dangerous team, they couldn’t find a way through. Star forward Neymar was being fouled and harassed every time he was on the ball, and the Brazilians looked very disjointed in attack overall. It just wasn’t quite coming off for them, and the longer it stayed at 0-0 the more it felt like Serbia might get a result from the match.

But striker Richarlison was on-hand to make sure that didn’t happen on 62 minutes, when he scored from close range off a rebounded save. Winger Vinicius Jr. powered a shot towards goal from the left hand side of the box, which keeper Vanja Milinković-Savić could only parry. Richarlison reacted quickest to the rebound and prodded it home for 1-0, sparking wild celebrations in the crowd and on the bench. It’s always a heart-stopping moment when the ball is loose off a rebound, and unluckily for the Serbs it fell almost straight to the opposition.

Richarlison was just getting warmed up though. He got Brazil’s second through a spectacular effort on 73 minutes that sealed the points. He received a cross from the left hand side along the ground, and used his left foot to hit the ball into the air. He turned on a dime with his right leg rising into the air, and he hit the ball on a very sweet volley low and away from Vanja. It was a beautiful display of athleticism from Richarlison and it’s probably the goal of the tournament so far.

Serbia did not really create many chances in response, and by the end it was Brazil more likely to get a 3rd goal than for Serbia to get their first. It was frustrating for Brazil for about an hour, but if Richarlison is going to play like this for the rest of the tournament, Brazil have to be among the favorites to win the tournament. Their team is incredibly deep and also hungry. Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times, but paradoxically have not won it for 20 years. This team has the depth and talent to end that dry spell.

United Crash Out of Champions League

Manchester United played host to Spanish side Atletico Madrid earlier today at Old Trafford, in the 2nd leg of their Round of 16 tie in the Champions League. United were in with a decent shout to win this tie thanks to Anthony Elanga’s late equalizer in Spain three weeks ago in the first leg, but it truly was finely poised. Atletico are an experienced side in the CL, and their tactics are a reflection of their colorful manager, Diego Simeone. In previous seasons, United would have had a larger advantage coming into this tie. The previously-observed away goals rule would have given United the edge thanks to their goal in Spain, and they could have played for a 0-0 draw with Atletico forced to attack. This season however, UEFA (in its infinite wisdom) has done away with the away goals rule. Their goal seems to be to force more extra time and possibly penalty scenarios, probably because it will allow UEFA to squeeze even more ad money out of their cash cow.

Anyway, the match started brightly for United. They looked to be full of energy and confidence on the ball, and Atletico seemed to be a little unsure of themselves. The first half hour for United was by far their best spell of the game. Brazilian midfielder Fred was playing extremely well, causing all kinds of problems for Atletico with all his flicks and tricks in advanced positions. United were denied one of their best chances all match when Elanga attempted to tap-in a fast cross from point blank range, only to be unluckily denied by the face of Atletico keeper Jan Oblak. Nine times out of ten, Elanga scores on this chance. Oblak’s head was just in the right place at the right time, and his face kept the ball out. Ouch for Oblak, but they were lucky to not be behind early on.

Atletico grew into the match after the half hour mark though, and they started seeing a lot more of the ball. A warning shot was fired at United when Atletico had the ball in the net via forward Joao Felix, but it was correctly called back for offside. United’s back four were torn apart fairly easily though, and there was much more tension around the ground all of a sudden. Atletico did find the all-important first goal on 41 minutes, when a cross over the top from striker Antoine Griezmann found left back Renan Lodi unmarked at the back post. He had a free header, and he buried it past United keeper David De Gea. Atletico players all ran around to celebrate, but the United players were arguing with Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic that the goal should be ruled out for fouls in the buildup. The replays did appear to show fouls on both Elanga and Fred in the build-up to their goal, but curiously the goal was allowed to stand. United’s back four were ripped apart too easily though, with center back Harry Maguire at the center of the action for the wrong reasons yet again. Atletico went into the halftime break with a lead, and you could tell the United players were feeling deflated.

The second half did not bring much improvement for United. Atletico are a side that are well-drilled defensively, and soaking up pressure while clearing crosses is their favorite thing to do. Atletico are also well-versed in the art of shithousery, and it was on full display today. They start time wasting during free kicks, throw ins, and corners. They pretend to be injured for longer than is necessary. They start talking shit and messing with the heads of the opposition. All of these tactics might come across as gamesmanship or outright cheating, but it’s an art form perfected by Simeone when he was a player (ask David Beckham) and he has instilled it into his players.

Shithousery tactics are incredibly effective when the referee allows a team to get away with all of that, as Vincic did today. My regular readers know that I am not normally one to blame the referee in a losing effort. At the professional level, a team can always overcome poor officiating in most situations by simply playing better than they had been playing. But today this referee was absolutely horrific. Atrocious, terrible, and downright bad. His decision making and frankly up odd behavior got worse as the match went on. Blatant foul after blatant foul wasn’t called, and it allowed Atletico to do what they do best – frustrate and annoy the opposition into submission. When a foul was called, he failed to administer yellow cards when needed. There was even a moment where he appeared to be simply watching the match instead of officiating it – when the ball went out of play behind United’s goal and he didn’t call it. He also oddly booked United’s technical director Darren Fletcher shortly after missing the ball going out of play, and sprinted 40 yards across the field to deliver the booking to the United coach. Why? Unclear.

Perhaps most frustrating however was when United had the ball in a good attacking area, only for Vincic to stop play due to an ankle injury on an Atletico player. He is not required to stop play at all there, and most referees will let play go on in that scenario. More egregiously, United right back Diogo Dalot went down after a clear blow to the head from an Atletico player, and Vincic failed to 1) call a foul and 2) stop the match for treatment. Dalot was on the ground, holding his head. The ref is required by player safety rules to stop play for head injuries, and it was obvious Dalot had suffered one. What on earth was this referee doing officiating in the knockout rounds of the CL? The occasion looked way too big for him and his odd calls/behavior are indicative of that.

Center back Raphael Varane had United’s best chance of the half, when his header from an Alex Telles free kick was saved by Oblak. Varane got good contact with the ball and the shot was on target, but Oblak got a strong left hand up and palmed it away. Rangnick tried bringing on the likes of Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Nemanja Matic, and Juan Mata to try and find an equalizer, but no one was really able to contribute. Rashford in particular was once again poor. It gives me no pleasure to slag off England players like Rashford and Maguire, but a spade must be called a spade. Rashford lost possession numerous times, and his crosses into the box were easily blocked by his marker on most occasions. I don’t know what’s wrong with the both of them, to be honest. They were both great last season, had a good Euros tournament and a good start to this season, but somewhere along the way they both seem to have lost confidence in their game. Confidence is so important at this level. The opposition can smell self-doubt from a mile away. You have to believe in yourself, or no one else will. It should be noted that star forward Cristiano Ronaldo was largely missing from the proceedings today as well. I don’t recall a single instance where he was on the ball in a forward/attacking position.

Anyway, United are out of the CL cuz of a lack of creativity, Atletico shithousery, and an absolutely shambolic display of refereeing. United were knocked out of the League Cup early, they are out of the FA Cup, they have no chance of winning the Premier League (and face a stern challenge to finish top-4), and now the CL is gone. It’s going to be another trophy-less season in the red half of Manchester, and that is a dour thought indeed. The players we have don’t try consistently, the manager’s tactics are coming into question along with his lack of adaptability, and we seem to be in need of yet another clearing out/rebuild. Whoever United bring in as permanent manager, he will have a mountain of work to do.

United Hold Atletico in the Champions League

Manchester United traveled to the Spanish capital earlier this week for the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie with Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano. This was a very intriguing matchup for a number of reasons, as Atletico boast a strong amount of talent and are managed by the defensive mastermind Diego Simeone. They are notoriously difficult to break down due to their tactical discipline, and they are very good at frustrating opponents thanks to their proficiency in the art of shithousery. United did come in off a win versus rivals Leeds United, but it was unclear which United would be showing up. Consistency has been a problem for this club all season from game to game, frequently from half to half.

It was the bad United that showed up in the first half, as it was only 9 minutes in before they conceded a goal. United only partially cleared a corner from Atletico, with the ball being recovered by left back Renan Lodi on the wing. He played a delicious cross back into the box, with attacking midfielder and wunderkind Joao Felix diving forward to get his head on the ball. It was truly a world class header, going in off the side of the left hand post with keeper David De Gea having no chance at saving it. It could have easily bounced off the other side of the post, but all credit to Felix for the precise finish. Center back Harry Maguire was partially at fault for the goal, as he let Felix get in front of him far too easily. Lodi should have also been closed down more out on the wing.

United had to hold on for a bit at that point, as Atletico were trying to get another one for most of the rest of the first half. They were decisive and precise with their passing while in possession, and when out of it they were very quick to win the ball back. United manager Ralf Rangnick was experimenting with a back-3 of sorts with Victor Lindelof playing at the left center back position, and it must be said that it did not really work. Lindelof is a natural center back and it appeared he did not look comfortable or confident on the left.

Atletico should have had a second goal around the 40 minute mark, and had their effort gone in it really would have set United back. Atletico right back Sime Vrsaljko headed a high crossed ball off Lindelof and onto the crossbar, after which the ball bounced harmlessly out of play. Like the first goal, it’s proof that football at this level is a game of inches. United were unlucky with the goal, but lucky with this one. That does not excuse the very poor defending that led to both chances, but sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. United were fortunate to get to half time at 1-0 and it was clear by the animated body language of Simeone that he was upset his team was not ahead by more.

The second half was largely lackluster until the final 10 minutes or so. Both sides had been sluggish in possession, and United’s defense stiffened quite a bit. Lots of random fouls too that really slowed the flow of the match. Neither side really created much in attack, so Rangnick decided to make three of his changes at once as United were the ones who needed a goal. He brought on fullbacks Alex Telles and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, along with striker Anthony Elanga. Elanga came on for striker Marcus Rashford, who had another disappointing performance. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. His decision making has been incredibly poor for most of the season and he looks a shadow of the player he was all last year. Needs to be dropped to get his head right. I love Rashford and all I want is to see him scoring goals again. All criticism of him needs to be framed in the context of wanting to see him succeed.

It was Elanga though who stole the headlines on 80 minutes, coming to the rescue and getting an equalizer. United put together their slickest move of the entire match, with quick but precise touches from Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Fred in the buildup. The ball was sharply played to Bruno Fernandes near midfield, already on a run forward with Elanga ahead of him just off to his right. Bruno found the space for a very tight pass, and the Atletico defender could not time his tackle correctly to clear the ball. Elanga took a few touches before readjusting his hips and sliding the ball past Atletico keeper Jan Oblak for 1-1. A great passing move from United and a slightly-scuffed but effective finish, and it is one he will remember as it was his first Champions League goal. Not bad for a 19 year-old. Oblak’s positioning was very poor and he made the finish easier for Elanga, but take nothing away from the teenager. It would be very easy to miss a big chance like that, but all credit to the young Swede for putting it away.

Both clubs went close again in the final minutes, with substitute Jesse Lingard forcing a clumsy save from Oblak and Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann hitting the crossbar just after that. No more goals were scored though, and United came away feeling very positive on the result, even though they did not win.

Given how this match went, this is a 1-1 I do not mind in any way. Not all draws are created equal, it seems. In the Premier League against crap opposition it’s terrible, but away in the Champions League after being dominated for a good portion of the match is not too bad. Atletico were all over us for 45 minutes, but failed to convert many good chances. They did not kill us off, and we made them pay for it. Although the away goals rules has (curiously) been abolished this season by the powers that be at UEFA, a 1-1 aggregate score line returning home to Old Trafford for the second leg in 3 weeks time is not the worst situation in the world. It looks like Atletico have trouble creating chances of their own at times, and tend to overly rely on their defense to get them through matches. There was a big chunk of time in the second half where they did not really create much at all. Had they finished just one more of their chances, they would be firmly in the drivers seat for the next round.

Credit to Rangnick for the subs both on offense and defense, and one more shoutout to Elanga for the equalizer. A tough game, but a more than fair result. This one really could go either way in the second leg. If it finishes 1-1 or at any other tying score it would just go to extra time and then penalties if need be. Hopefully none of that is necessary though and United can pull off a minor upset in this tie!

The Red Devils next entertain Watford in the Prem at Old Trafford. Glory glory Man United!

Champions League Draw + Match Postponement

The draw for the Round of 16 in this year’s Champions League tournament took place on Monday, in which Manchester United were drawn against Spanish side Atletico Madrid. I’ll go into the matchup more in a second, but a quick summary would be that Atletico are a very good side defensively and they have the superstars in attack to beat anyone. They routinely beat teams with bigger budgets and they have a manager in Diego Simeone who has won La Liga multiple times.

The headline from the draw though was that it actually had to be done twice by UEFA after it was discovered that there was an error in the computer software that put the teams into the various pots needed for the draw. Originally Liverpool were given Atletico, but they can’t play them in the Round of 16 given that they played in the same group during qualification. So the entirety of the draw was done again, and this time United were given the difficult prospect of dealing with the scrappy Madrid-based club.

Many people (myself included) from all over Europe have suspected for many years that the draw for the Round of 16 is somehow rigged or otherwise unfair, and this “error” with the computer software only adds fuel to the fires of conspiracy theory. United fans were particularly aggrieved to draw Atletico, when we were theoretically supposed to be given an easier draw due to winning our group. Chelsea however did not win their group but were drawn against French side Lille, one of the weaker teams left in the tournament. Manchester City did indeed win their group, but still were given another weaker side in Sporting Lisbon. I am happy that United avoided Paris St. Germain for once, but Atletico presents fierce opposition. It just seems that United are routinely getting screwed by the draw, while our domestic rivals get easier competition regardless of where they finish in their groups.

Whatever is going on with UEFA, it smells fishy. This is an organization that doesn’t have a clean history of promoting fair play either, so the calls for the draw process to be re-evaluated are only going to get louder. United do have a solid chance to beat Atletico of course, and they do have the advantage of having the 2nd leg of the tie played at Old Trafford. But, it will be difficult to stop or slow down the likes of Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, and Joao Felix. All three of those players are world-class on their day, but as mentioned Atletico are a club that pride themselves on rock-solid defending. Simeone has turned their stadium into a fortress, and despite some stuttering form in La Liga they are still 4th in the table. This is an intriguing and tricky fixture that will give United manager Ralf Rangnick plenty to think about.

United will play Atletico at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Wednesday February 23, 2022 with the return fixture in Manchester on March 15, 2022.

***

In more immediate news, United’s match away to Brentford FC that was supposed to be played today has been postponed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 among the United players and training staff. It is unclear who has the virus, how many cases there are, or even how severe each case is. The match has not been re-scheduled as of the writing of this post, but it will be eventually. This is one of those times when the real world crosses over with football, and it must be addressed even though this is primarily a football blog.

First, nothing but well-wishes and a speedy recovery to those afflicted and I hope no one suffers any long term effects. Second, I am sick of this virus and the whole bloody pandemic. Sick of it. It’s affected everything in our lives, not just the cancellation of football matches. And of course, I am not against the postponement or even cancellation of a match if it cannot be played safely. Football is a game after all, and matters of life and death should never be prioritized below a game that we play and watch for fun. However, I am sick of the fact that the pandemic appears to be unending. If you can get vaccinated, do it. Wear a mask. Stay socially distant from other people. We all need to do everything we can do to end this pandemic, but too many people are thinking of themselves first. The “me first” attitude is rampant in America, but its clearly a problem worldwide as well.

Further, the late announcements postponing these matches are causing financial strain on the fans. People book train tickets and hotels for long trips (such as the one from Manchester to Brentford in west London) and oftentimes these tickets and reservations are non-refundable. Fans need to be given as much notice as possible for when a match is going to be postponed so they have the best chance at getting their hard-earned money returned to them. If football really is nothing without the fans, the Premier League needs to ensure that fans are taken care of. The fact that there does not seem to be a hard rule about what circumstances require a postponement is part of the problem.

United are scheduled to take on Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford next Saturday, but it remains unclear if the match will go ahead as planned.

Euro 2020(1) Round of 16, Day 2 – We Finally Have an Upset!

The next two knockout matches happened today in the Round of 16 at Euro 2020(1). Netherlands took on Czech Republic in Budapest, Hungary and there was a highly enticing matchup between Belgium and Portugal in Sevilla, Spain.

Netherlands vs. Czech Republic

The Dutch came into this match as group winners and appeared to be in great scoring form. They tallied 8 goals in the group stage and won all 3 matches despite some worries in defense. They were favored over the Czechs probably due to the amount of talent they have in attack, including players like Memphis Depay, Georgino Wijnaldum, and Denzel Dumfries. They have pace and quickness that I thought would very much trouble the Czech back line.

The Czechs came in having placed 3rd in Group D, and despite that finish they have showed flashes of footballing competence, primarily from striker Patrik Schick. He has the goal of the tournament already with his 50 yard chip vs. Scotland, and the Czechs may have surprised a few with their team displays thus far. Much like Austria yesterday, what they lack in superstar talent they make up for in team unity, discipline, and tactical nous.

Despite a lively start from the Dutch and the Czechs growing into the game a little later, the first half ended scoreless. Each side had crafted the occasional half-chance here and there, but the ball was frequently changing possession in midfield while both sides attempted to stamp some degree of authority on the game. You felt that the second half would be much more intense as the two sides tried to find a winner.

And the second half was really where this game changed. About 10 minutes after the restart, Dutch defender Matthijs De Ligt was adjudged to have handled the ball just outside his own penalty area. The ref issued a yellow card at first, but after a VAR check the foul was upgraded to a red card. There was no penalty due to the handball being outside the penalty box, but the Dutch did suffer the consequence of having to play the last 35 minutes or so with only 10 men. The red card was certainly controversial, but it did appear that Shick would have had a clear goal scoring opportunity if not for the handball. Further, while it’s not 100% clear if De Ligt intentionally handled the ball, he has to be aware as a professional footballer that using your hand for any reason is always a bad idea and should be avoided at all costs. It was an awkward situation for De Ligt to deal with, but had he simply fallen on the ball there’s a good chance he would have won possession or at least a foul for his team. Instead though, he was off and the Dutch had to sacrifice an attacking player to shore up the defense. To add insult to injury, De Ligt is arguably the best defensive player in the Netherlands squad. Losing him was very much a double-whammy.

The red card really emboldened the Czechs and they became the more dominant side fairly quickly. There are talented players in this side, and they showed that by scoring the opener that really put the Dutch on the back foot. A cross from the right corner was over hit, but retrieved by Czech defender Tomas Kalas and played back into the box. The ball went over one Czech head but fellow defender Tomas Holes (pronounced HO-lesh) was at the back post to nod the Czechs in front. It was a very impressive header and a good cross back in, but again there were questions as to what the Dutch defense was doing. Holes was basically unmarked and was able to use his position to generate power on his header. Ecstasy for the Czechs, misery for the Dutch.

The Dutch then pushed for an equalizer due to not having any other choice, but that is always risky when you are a man down. They had plenty of possession in the closing minutes but the Czech defense shut them down time and time again. The Czechs then broke quickly and Schick got his 4th goal of the tournament after a fairly simple cross in to his feet from the left side. He hit the ball in stride and glided it past Dutch keeper Maarten Stekelenburg at his near post. Even though there was about 10 minutes left still, you felt that the Dutch were done. They couldn’t break down the Czech defense or put them consistently under pressure, and all credit to the Czechs for taking advantage of having an extra man.

This is by far the biggest upset of the tournament so far, and it’s what the tournament was crying out for. De Ligt blamed himself entirely for the loss, but he’s being a tad harsh on himself. Yes the red card changed everything, but the Dutch response to it was also lacking. The Dutch were being looked at by some as a contender to win the whole thing after their performance in the group stage, but today they were undone by a well-organized and disciplined team. Such is the beauty and agony of football – sometimes the team with the best players loses and that is precisely what happened today. Schick is now joint top-scorer at this tournament and who is to say that the Czechs can’t continue winning? This victory will galvanize them and do wonders for their self-confidence and belief. Well done to them!

The Czechs will travel to Azerbaijan for a quarterfinal matchup with Denmark.

Belgium vs. Portugal

This matchup is one of those that makes football fans salivate. Both teams are loaded with superstars, and both teams are probably among the favorites to win the tournament. Portugal are reigning European champions and boast the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Ruben Dias among their ranks. There are some question marks about Portugal’s tactical set up on occasion, but again they have more than enough talent to go win this thing.

Belgium have traditionally been underperformers at major tournaments, and while their window to win a first major international trophy with this current “Golden Generation” is slowly closing, it’s still cracked open a bit. They will be relying on all-world talents like Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Eden Hazard to go and get them some goals. De Bruyne in particular is, for me, the best attacking midfielder in the world right now.

The first 30 minutes or so were pretty tentative, perhaps even spilling over into the category of testy. Neither side’s attack really got going at first, and the match had the feel of a heavyweight title bout where neither fighter wants to make a mistake early on. Both defenses were highly organized and defending well. Many attacks from both sides simply just petered out when it came time for the final pass or final move to create a chance. Ronaldo did well to test Belgian keeper Thibaut Courtois with a dipping free kick from about 25 yards on the right side and striker Diogo Jota should have done better from close range shortly after that.

Belgium however opened the scoring about 3 minutes before half time when the ball fell to Thorgan Hazard (Eden’s younger brother) on the edge of the penalty area about 20 yards from goal. He took a touch to get the ball onto his right foot, and then lashed an almighty shot towards Rui Patricio in the Portuguese goal. The strike swerved in the air and wrong-footed Patricio, and he could not recover to get over to the ball until it was already in the back of his net. Not many expected Thorgan to get a goal, but with that strike he showed that it’s not just his older brother that can score goals in that family. At halftime, it was 1-0 and Belgium were buoyant.

The Portuguese knew they would need a swift response having gone down just before the half. Bruno and wunderkind Joao Felix were brought on by Portugal for more power in attack, and indeed they began to see more of the ball in the Belgian half of the pitch. Belgium held strong though and Portuguese attacks repeatedly came to nothing. The tension grew throughout the match as well, with players pushing and shoving each other after fouls. Somewhat frustratingly for neutral viewers, the Portuguese were hitting the deck every time the Belgians challenged for the ball in an effort to win free kicks. To be fair, some of the challenges were heavy and worthy of fouls, but no one wants to watch the players on their team fall over anytime the opposition is near them. It is part of the game, but its cynical and negative.

The best chances for Portugal came with about 10 minutes left when a cross came in from a corner that was headed at the goal from point blank range by Dias. Unfortunately for him, the header was straight at Courtois and he parried it with his fists. He got a ton of power on the header, and if he managed to hit it anywhere else but straight forward it would have been an equalizer. Portugal left back Raphael Guerreiro was then unlucky to hit the base of the post with a shot from distance. They pumped cross after cross into the box, but they were all met by a Belgian head. They tried to play through the middle on the ground, but again Belgium always managed to get someone in the way.

All credit to the Belgian back line, in particular the center backs Thomas Vermaelen and Toby Alderweireld. They are getting long in the tooth but their experience cannot be discounted, as evidenced by their positioning and tackling today. Those two dealt with everything that came at them and did so fairly convincingly as well. Everyone knew Belgium could score, but the age of Vermaelen and Alderweireld led many to speculate that they couldn’t keep pace defensively. Having a confident center back pairing is always good, but especially so in tournament play. Indeed, defensive prowess is primarily how Portugal won Euro 2016.

But the defending champions are out now! Time to get some new blood in there if you ask me. Belgium have never won a major trophy as a team before, and they showed today they can beat another heavyweight if need be.

Belgium will take on Italy in yet another mouth-watering fixture next Friday in Munich.

Tomorrow

Croatia vs. Spain (9 am PDT)

France vs. Switzerland (Noon PDT)

Champions League Recap So Far + Barcelona Preview

If there has been a theme to the opening two matches of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, it is the theme of late drama. Both the Atalanta/Paris St. Germain match and the Red Bull Leipzig/Atletico Madrid match had goals after the 87th minute that changed the result. Both were great games for the neutral!

Paris St. Germain 2-1 Atalanta

Atalanta came into the match as underdogs to PSG, but as a result there was little to no pressure on them in this match and ALL of the pressure was on PSG. PSG are owned by the royal family of Qatar, and they have spent quite a lot of money on the squad in order to ensure European glory. PSG usually win the French league handily, but had not progressed so the semifinals of the CL since the 1990s. Manager Thomas Tuchel knew his job was potentially on the line if PSG did not advance.

Brazilian superstar forward Neymar had the first chance of the match and really should have scored on his breakaway run at the Atalanta defense. Neymar was in absolutely scintillating form throughout, but had a lot of problems finding the back of the net. It was Atalanta that broke the deadlock about half an hour in when Croatian midfielder Mario Palasic struck a curling effort into the top corner of Keylor Navas’s net. It was a surprise to be sure, given that PSG had squandered some good chances. Atalanta showed that while they may not have the all-world talent of PSG, they are solid tactically and know how to execute their game plan.

They held on despite wave after wave of PSG attacks, and my one criticism of Atalanta in the second half is that they did not attempt to play their passing game as much as they did in the first half. That was ultimately to their detriment. Once PSG brought on yet another superstar in French forward Kylian Mbappé the game seemed to change. Atalanta’s fatigue started to show and unfortunately conceded an equalizer via Brazilian midfielder Marquinhos. The massive relief of tension emanating from the PSG bench was palpable. They knew they had likely forced extra time, at the least.

PSG weren’t done though, and the Italian side’s hearts were broken in two when French winger Eric Choupa-Mouting tapped in from Mbappé’s cross. It was a very well-worked around the Atalanta penalty area and they couldn’t keep the ball out. The Parisian club was in ecstasy as the final whistle blew, especially their talismanic forward Neymar. PSG paid a world-record £200 million for Neymar and were expecting him to deliver today, and he really did. 16 dribbles completed for him was a CL record.

Red Bull Leipzig 2-1 Atletico Madrid

This match earlier today was somewhat more tepid in parts but still carried plenty of drama. Upstart German side Red Bull Leipzig took on CL veterans Atletico Madrid, and I expected a more defensive affair than the PSG match. Atletico manager Diego Simeone plays a very defensive style of football, and while it’s not the most fun to watch it has proven to be very effective in European tournaments. Meanwhile, Leipzig were trying to become the first non-Bayern and non-Dortmund German club to make the semifinals of the CL in a decade.

The first 45 minutes ended 0-0 with both sides having some good chances, but there was a slight edge to Atletico in my opinion. They had slightly more attacking intent when on the ball, with Leipzig stifled by the defense. Not a classic 45 minutes by any stretch.

The second half was a lot better though in terms of entertainment, with Spanish defender Dani Olmo giving the game a much needed shot of life when he headed Leipzig in front. This seemed to shake Atletico a little bit and Simeone was required to bring on Portuguese wunderkind Joao Felix for some more attacking intent. That move paid off when Felix was fouled in the box and won his side a penalty. Felix stepped up and calmly slotted home the penalty, leveling the match at 1-1.

The match wore on without much creativity from either side, until the ball broke for Leipzig in midfield and they got the ball moved up the pitch quickly. A cross from the left side found American midfielder Tyler Adams in open space on the edge of the box, and he unleashed a shot the deflected off an Atletico defender and into the back of the net with Polish keeper Jan Oblak wrong-footed. That goal in the 88th minute gave Leipzig a strong chance of advancing, and after quite a lot of stoppage time that involved a sideline scuffle among the opposing players, the whistle finally went and Leipzig pulled off the upset.

Well done to Adams especially, who probably scored the biggest goal an American has ever scored in the CL. Right place, right time, and a little bit of luck.

Leipzig will play PSG in the semifinals of the CL.

Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich (Preview)

Seasoned readers of this blog know that I like to bring in guest writers from time to time. Here is another great contribution from our resident Barcelona expert: Jose!

“Quick recap after a very dominating game against Napoli from my lord and savior, Leo Messi. Barcelona were able to dominate against the heavily Italian style defense of Napoli. Although that is in the past now, I saw one glimmer of hope: the rotation of subs to start 11 players. My hope is the Barcelona coach finally is getting into groove with the Catalan football style. Now to the future fixture of the dominant Germans, Bayern Munich, how do we defeat them? The simple answer is I HAVE NO IDEA. Munich is stacked with players and with Lewandowski on a very hot season it’s almost impossible to breakdown. The only hope I have is for an early mistake by Munich’s defense and the front 3 of Suarez, Messi and Griezmann capitalize and hopefully have the Bayern defense push up higher which would lead to more counter attacks. Barcelona CAN NOT make any mistakes against the German league-winning side. Bayern is known as the power house of champions league this year and quiet honestly could be champions with the form that they are playing. An interesting fact you note is that Barcelona are a much better team when they are the David to Bayern’s Goliath. Overall I believe that eveyone will need to press and defend together but most importantly to keep a cool head throughout the game. With that being said this would be my starting 11 which I believe would dominate and pressure Bayern’s midfield in a 4-2-3-1:

Ter Stergen

Jordi-Lenglet-Pique-Semedo

De Jong-Vidal-Ansu F.

Messi-Griz-Suarez

Although this is more defensive lineup I believe with our best 4 strikers in form right now attacking early we will have a much better chance at attacking the Bayern Munich young defense. But I most likely see a classic 4-3-3:

Ter Stergen

Jordi-Lenglet-Pique-Semedo

Rakitic-De Jong-Vidal

Griz-Suarez-Messi

This is our classic 4-3-3 I believe that this game will be a mostly possession game and the game will end in a 2-1 or 3-2 match. The game will come down to who can capitalize on more mistakes earlier in the game rather later.

And on a final note “Que donde esta 07 07 donde estasss” Madrid fans you can thank Varane for starting your summer a little early this year!”

Jose’s analysis is spot-on. Bayern are probably favorites but you would be very unwise to count out Leo Messi. Barca vs. Bayern is the tie of the quarterfinals, and if you want to watch an exhibition of great football then I suggest throwing the game on at noon PT / 3 ET America time.