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Champions League Qualifying Scenarios
The final matchday of the 2013-2014 Champions League brings with it the complications of the qualifying scenarios as teams fight out for the final spots available. The most interesting test case is in the group of death with Arsenal, Napoli and Dortmund. The Gunners have a slight edge, but it won’t be surprising to see all three teams finishing with the same amount of points, making it about a mini-league table of head to heads and goal differences.
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2014 World Cup – Being in The Group of Death Means Not Winning
Being drawn into the group of death in the World Cup means the chances of going very far in the tournament are awful, non existing even. Uruguay, England and Italy weren’t great favorites going into Brazil 2014, but after the draw they’ve receiving, pitted against each other, their chances of doing something memorable in the tournament, which means at least a semifinal, took another huge hit.
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Liverpool FC – A Chance to See How Important Steven Gerrard Really Is
Throughout the last couple of seasons I’ve heard grumblings from some Liverpool fans about the importance of Steven Gerrard, suggesting that it may be time for him to step aside and start some matches off the bench instead of being a midfield rock in the lineup. Well, with his hamstring injury keeping him out for at least a month, we’re going to find out very soon.
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Martin Atkinson Helps Swansea & Chico Flores Cheat
Flowers? Hallmark thank you card? Money? Swansea need to be very thankful that Martin Atkinson was the referee in their 1-1 draw against Hull City, saving them from a loss by allowing Chico Flores to score with his hand, and not seeing another handball, this time by Dwight Tiendalli, stopping an Alex Bruce header which should have given the Tigers a penalty kick.
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Champions League – Week 6 Predictions (Groups A – D)
It’s decision time in the Champions League group stage, although most already have at least on qualifying team. Most of the interest will go to Group B, where Juventus will play against Galatasaray, in a match that sends the winner to join Real Madrid in the knockout stage, having to play against FC Copenhagen in Denmark.
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Tears of Joy From Clarence Seedorf (Botafogo); Tears of Sadness From Fred (Fluminense)
The final day of the league is always an emotional one – teams get relegated, others win titles, or find themselves playing in the Copa Libertadores. The final matchday of the 2013 Brasileiro was no different – Fluminense, the defending champions, won but couldn’t save themselves from relegation while Fred, the team’s injured star, watching and crying in the stands. Far away from there in Rio de Janeiro, Clarence Seedorf scored the final goal in a Botafogo win, putting them in the Libertadores next season, and bursting into tears himself; tears of joy.
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Mehdi Carcela Punches Bjorn Ruytinx in The Face For Breaking His Ankle
The Belgian Pro League match between OHL and Standard Liege didn’t bring any goals, but instead saw two red cards, one to each side, with the one given to Mehdi Carcela for punching Bjorn Ruytinx in the face being the most memorable.
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Vasco da Gama Go Down in a Blaze of Violence Against Atlético Paranaense
If there was something else the organizing committee for Brazil 2014 didn’t need was some fan violence in the Brasileiro, as the match between Vasco and Atletico Paranaense, held in Joinville, Santa Catarina, had to be stopped during the first half as firms from both teams clashed in the stands, resulting in a massive brawl leaving two fans critically wounded.
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The Usual World Cup Draw Conspiracy Theory
There isn’t a single World Cup without someone trying to find how FIFA rigged the draw to favor the hosts, Brazil this time, or another popular nation, with Argentina, receiving a rather weak opening group to go through early on.
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On Everton Saving The Title Race by Not Losing to Arsenal
Plenty of Premier League teams will be sending early Christmas gifts to Gerard Deulofeu for his fantastic goal that stopped Arsenal from opening a seven point lead over Liverpool and Chelsea, while Manchester City, also messing up this weekend, will be feeling quite grateful themselves. No one is going to be happier than Everton though.