In For The Hat Trick

Apologies about the shortness this time, due to technical difficulties I was unable to view the entirety of the U21 action. INFTH will be back tomorrow with a more complete review of Matchday 6. 


1. Juan Mata- One of the players expected to perform heading into the tournament, Mata really shone for
the Spanish U21s agaisnt the Czech Republic. While Adrian made all the headlines with two goals, Mata was the man who put him in position for those strikes, claiming a brace of assists. Moreover, it was Mata who kept Spain ticking over, the hub of all their creative endeavours, and the man who caused the Czech’s more problems than anyone else. Come the next round, Mata will have to continue in this vain of form, Spain have been dubbed early favorites, and Mata’s play may well decide whether or not they meet expectations, and take home the trophy.


2. Adrian- To be honest, I was not at all impressed by Adrian’s performance against England, but he certainly improved on it with a fine display agasint the Czech Republic. As mentioned above, Mata linked up well with him, teeing up two strikes, which were both take extremely well. Finishing was one of Spain’s problems agianst England in their opener, so the arrival of Adrian as a worthy holder of goalscoring responsibility is something which should encourage Spanish fans.

3. Nicolai Jorgenson- After disappointment in game one, the Danes bounced back well agianst Belaruse, and Jorgenson’s stunning goal was crucial to that success. Whenever a brilliant goal is scored, people take notice whatever the level, and Jorgenson’s stirke was certainly far, far above average. Picking up the ball ten yards into the opponents hafl, Jorgenson glided past two defeners, before smashing a rasping shot into the far corner from twenty five yards; a stupendous goal, and which proved to be the game winner. Unfortunately though, a 3-1 loss to Iceland in the group finale ended the Danish dream, so we will have to wait for the start of the European season before we see Nicolai Jorgenson score again.

4. Admir Mehmedi- I must admit, going into matchday five I didn’t know much about, Admir Mehmedi, but an impressive two goal performance from midfield did much to put him on my radar. A penalty was followed by an opportunistic goal, sealing the win for Switzerland and plaudits for Mehmedi. The Swiss number eleven is definitely one to look out for in later rounds; after their commanding group performance the Swiss are now one of the favorites to topple Spain and claim the U21 Euros. So far this tournament, Switzerland have been one of the largest contributors to INFTH’s U21 stars lists, Mehmedi arrives to complement two of last weekends flagged players; Shaqiri and Emeghara.

It is the ultimate form of footballing betrayal, a way to insure countless boos, threatening letters and foul mouthed attacks on Twitter. Moving across a footballing divide, from one end of a city to the other, is frowned upon unanimously by fans across the globe, it is the ultimate sign of disrespect to former employers, yet it is a move which many are willing to make.

Over the years, high profile players like Luis Figo and Carlos Tevez have crossed this divide, one as metaphorical as the iron curtain, yet as heavily manned as the Berlin Wall. To put it simply, clubs don’t want their players to join rivals, and there are numerous examples of chairmen and coaches going out of their way to prevent such an occurrence. In 2007, Fergie stepped in to prevent Gabriel Heinze moving to Liverpool, but he wasn’t quite as successful two years later, when Carlos Tevez signed for Manchester City.

However, more interesting than the role of players in football’s version of one of the new testament’s most poignant scenes, is the role of the manager, a man who’s betrayal is often more hard felt than that of the playing staff. Just look at Burnley, for whom last season Owen Coyle’s Judas Kiss proved to one of death too.

But should managers not be given certain allowances that aren’t provided to players? In modern football, the managerial game is a hazardous one, a run of four or five disappointing results could end with the sack. Managers are the most harshly treated being in the footballing jungle, they are made to be as accountable as referees, but unlike those officials, face severe punishment for poor decisions. A managers job is always on a knife edge, and staying too long at a club inevitably ends with an ignominious departure. Therefore, managers should be forgiven for their acts of “betrayal” as they are ones of self preservation too.

An easy example of this managerial controversy, is that of Birmingham manager Alex McLeish, who was surprisingly relegated last season. After a tumultuous year at City, he elected to resign about a week ago, and has since taken over the reigns at Aston Villa. Understandably, Blues fans are irked at McLeish’s move to their crosstown rivals, resentful at his betrayal. However, had McLeish remained at Birmingham, his managerial life would have been at risk; any newly relegated manager has his job hanging by a thread. At Aston Villa, McLeish is guaranteed a new start, an opportunity to resurrect a flailing club, and guarantee himself a little more room for error than he would have been allowed at City.

Managers deserve the right to betray their team, after all, over the past few years teams have done nothing but betray managers, rendering any claims of annoyance at their moves highly hypocritical. For every cry of “Et tu Brute” emitted by Chairman, managers need only thrust a copy of “The Damned United” back into their faces.

Men like Coyle and McLeish are entitled to move wherever they please, both know that their clubs are unlikely to stay loyal to them, and both were able to leave their former teams without the slightest feeling of guilt. For most managers in the modern game, it is important to leave clubs swiftly, as well at at their peak. Jose Mourinho is the master of leaving at the right time, he nearly always knows when he has brought a team as far as possible, or when a side has hit the wall and is beginning to move backwards. While Mourinho has never left a team for their local rivals, he nevertheless is a good example to men trying to succeed in the cut throat world of football management. If, as a manager, you are loyal to a club then your chances of success spiral downwards; to succeed in the field of football coaching you must be ruthless to your employers, or they will be ruthless to you.

Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, Sir Alex Ferguson has been at Manchester United’s helm for twenty-five years, but he is an anomaly, an exception to an overarching rule. Football managers should never be criticized for acts of so called betrayal, every time an owner comes out with the dreaded vote of confidence, or a well respected coach receives the sack after four months in charge, the managers are being betrayed themselves.

It was coming, and now it has come. After months of rumors, meetings with Sir Alex, and David Gill hints, Paul Scholes has finally called time on an illustrious career at the top.

As shy as he was brilliant, Paul Scholes lit up the English game for seventeen glorious years. Part of the “class of ’92,” (which also included Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Gary Neville) Scholes broke into the first team in 1994, scoring twice against Port Vale in the League Cup.

Known for his blaster of a shot, terrific vision and unassuming personality, Paul Scholes has come to define Manchester United for the last fifteen years. Noticeable on the pitch due to his ginger hair, Paul Scholes has been a master of the long ball, a consistent player with a rocket of a shot, though not the world’s greatest tackler…

Ask any United fan to list their favorite Paul Scholes moments, and you’d likely be conversing for hours. The blasters against Bradford, Aston Villa and Barcelona were brilliant, the late header against City even better. For years, Paul Scholes has been the only English player of his kind, the only one able to spot an eighty yard pass, the only one always a threat around the edge of the penalty box.

Scholes is one of the only players who has managed to carve out a career on the finest footballing stage, yet managed to avoid the temptations and pitfalls that come with the celebrity lifestyle. While teammates like Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs spent nights frolicking with prostitutes and TV models, Scholes stayed home with the kids, ever the role model, ever the man to look up to.

Perhaps the reason for England’s lack of success over the years has been a dearth of players of the caliber of Paul Scholes. Lampard and Gerrard have both had their moments, but total inflexibility has inhibited their progress, while maestros like Hoddle, and in particular Le Tissier, have lacked the mettle and the desire to make it at the top. 

As indicated in the title, there is only one Paul Scholes, and as long as that statement remains true, English international football will remain very much second best .

Was it really ever in doubt? Even while United pressed and probed, trying to force an opening in the first few minutes, did anyone ever see a United victory as a plausible result? Barca are simply the best, and the proved it again on Saturday night with a performance of sheer sublimity.

Their passing was mesmerizing; Iniesta to Xavi to Messi back to Iniesta… Every shot was on target and every clearance solid. Constantly changing the tempo, Barca caused the United midfield all sorts of problems, Ferguson’s men just couldn’t cope with the fabulous combination of Xavi and Iniesta.

Their first goal was perhaps avoidable from United’s point of view, but in all honesty, even if Pedro had fluffed his lines from eight yards out, a goal would eventually have arrived. Many watchers on accused United of lacking a “Plan B” or failing to have an answer to Barcelona’s wondrous tiki-taka. However, those who look to United for the reason behind Barca’s success miss the point. Barcelona are a team of such quality, and such togetherness that I doubt a World XI, the best not playing for Barca, would even come close to victory.

United’s goal, a powerful finish from Wayne Rooney was a blip on the radar, a footnote to what was a stunning page of football history, all written by FC Barcelona. Even after Rooney’s goal, Barcelona maintained composure. Continuing to play their game, they fought on; refusing to let United have even the faintest sniff of the ball. Lionel Messi, the greatest player on the planet, wove his dribbling patterns around the pitch, and though he was stopped on occasion by the likes of Vidic and Park, it was only ever a matter of time before he struck.

For those waiting for confirmation of Messi’s brilliance, one game which stated his case to be placed alongside Pele, Maradona and Cruyff, they have finally found it. Breathtaking in the dribble and clever in his passing, Messi combined subtlety with brutality, a blaster of a goal to go with his agglomeration of nutmegs. Post match, Pep Guardiola described Messi as “probably the best ever” and I think now, few would argue with that.

From back to front, top to bottom, Barcelona oozed brilliance. Valdes, always comfortable on the ball, made several last ditch clearances to deny Chicharito, who could have been replaced with an actual pea. I doubt anyone would have noticed the difference. Eric Abidal, just two months after having a cancerous tumor removed from his liver was immense, as he silenced the considerable threat of Valencia. Upfront, the three pronged attack of Villa, Messi and Pedro continued to operate effectively, all three were on the score sheet.

On the sideline, a proud but beleaguered looking Pep Guardiola looks to have aged much since his last meeting with Sir Alex, the strains of managment have clearly effected him greatly. However, in a post match interview Guardiola stated in no uncertain terms that he plans to fulfill his contract, guaranteeing Barca at least another year of domination.

As the United players trooped off the pitch, watching sorrowfully as their Catalan rivals danced around the center circle, they must have wondered what they had to do to beat them; what feat of alchemy it would take to find the winning formula. Barcelona are not unbeatable, they are a brilliant team but not invincible. Real Madrid defended stoutly in the Copa Del Rey final, and won. Hercules were opportunistic against a poor Barca side, and won. But United, for all their planning, all their talk of maturity and development were still lacking something. The mediocrity of competition in the Premier League this year threw a veil over United’s glaring deficiencies, they are a team which must rebuild or risk being left in the others’ dust.

So while Barcelona celebrate another season of brilliance, United once must again ponder how best to combat that seemingly invincible force. Perhaps United fans, as well as Sir Alex Ferguson, should take solace in the fact that they are not the only ones who will be left praying for solutions to the plethora of problems posed by Messi and company. In Madrid, Jose Mourinho has already started his preparations for 2012 with three signings in no time at all. But, as all who plot against Barca will soon realize, their battle is eternally futile. Barca are just too good.

Why Bob Bradley will have so much trouble choosing which strikers he plans to bring to the Concacaf Gold Cup…

The Candidates-


Juan Agudelo- Teenage dynamo Agudelo is the name on everybody’s lips at the moment. Despite not locking down a starting spot with the Red Bulls, Agudelo has scored two terrfic goals this season, and produced a series of highly encouraging performances. Remarkably, Juan Agudelo has scored just as many National Team goals, he has netted two in three games for the Stars and Stripes. Certainly, Agudelo’s youthful enthusiasm would be useful, but Bradley is unlikely to elect to start the eighteen year old in some of the competition’s more important games.

Chances of going: 8.5/10

Jozy Altidore- Altidore has split opinion immensely in US Soccer circles, the American has proved himself on the National Team level in the past, but has struggled for goals and consistency more recently. Altidore possesses raw power, as well as Gold Cup experience, but his recent form has put a starting spot in serious doubt. However, Bob Bradley is generally believed to be a big fan of Jozy’s, so I reckon that Altidore will get the nod, despite lacking the technical ability of Agudelo, and the form of players like Herculez Gomez.

Chances of going: 9.9/10

Charlie Davies- Davies’ chances looked significantly brighter before the injury he sustained against Colorado. The DC united man has been in red hot goalscoring form this year, though it is still unclear whether he has retained the burning speed which so defined his game pre injury. Davies is widely considered as an outsider to go to the Gold Cup, the striker is still short of games since his return from the car crash, and a flurry of early goals in MLS may not have been enough to convince Bob Bradley of his worth. Personally, I see Davies as a better man to bring than the out of sorts Altidore, he offers the X Factor in attack, as well as a decent amount of National Team experience. The sooner Davies is reintroduced into the National Team fold the better, CD9 still has a great chance of starring for the United States in years to come.

Chances of going: 2/10

Chris Wondolowski- A star for the San Jose Earthquakes, last year’s top scorer in MLS deserves a shot at National Team play. Wondolowski possesses an impressive skill set, as well as the eye for goal which served him so well last season. This year, Wondo has five goals in ten appearances for the Quakes, a far superior record to that of Agudelo, and one almost as good as Charlie Davies’. However, Wondolowski is virtually untested at the international level, his one cap coming in a friendly against Chile last year.

Chances of going: 3/10

Herculez Gomez- The Mexican League’s top scorer in 2010, Gomez carved himself into the minds of US fans last summer, as he played for the United States in South Africa, having scored two goals in pre-tournament warm up games. Gomez has been less prolific for his club this year, but he still remains a decent option for Bob Bradley, experienced at the national level and more than capable of playing against Mexican opposition…

Chances of going: 7/10

Teal Bunbury- In my opinion, Bunbury is the most exciting young forward in American soccer, not Agudelo. Unlike his international colleague, Bunbury starts for his MLS club, and boasts a full season of experience at club level. Early season, Bunbury scored two goals against Vancouver that were just dripping with class, and I’d love to see him reproduce that at the Gold Cup. Unfortunately, Sporting KC’s tough schedule has inhibited his progress this term, but I still think Bunbury represents a good option for Bradley.

Chances of going: 5/10

Edson Buddle- A very outside pick, Edson Buddle has acquitted himself fairly well playing in Bundesliga 2 for FC Inglostadt. With three goals in fourteen appearances, Buddle has helped the team climb out of the relegation zone, but his scoring total still remains quite meager. However, Buddle does boast a handful of caps, highlighted by his participation in the 2010 World Cup and his two goals against Australia in a pre-tournament warm up game. Buddle is a proven MLS goalscorer, so he would represent a safer pick than either Agudelo or Bunbury.

Chances of going: 1/10

Who I would bring: Bunbury, Wondo, Gomez

Who Bradley will bring: Altidore, Agudelo, Gomez

It is difficult to remember a player who has been worse afflicted by the terrors of injury than now former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

Once dubbed the finest defensive midfield player in the World, Owen Hargreaves was a key figure in the Manchester United first team, instrumental to United’s double success of 2008. Versatile, Hargreaves was able to play all along the right side, as well as in the holding midfield position he frequented most.

Arguably, Hargreaves had been England’s best performing player in the 2006 World Cup. He was the most lively member of an anemic England midfield, and was the only man to convert from the spot in the Three Lions’ shoot out loss at the hands of Portugal.

However, under that terrific exterior, Hargreaves has an underlying weakness, the Canadian born Englishman has been dogged by injuries, ones which have limited his progress after a terrific debut season at United.

Tendonitis in both knees, and recurring minor injuries have conspired to stop Hargreaves from participating in the first team, the Englishman has had to watch on from the sidelines as his teammates have made history over the last three season.

When United needed him most, in the Champions League final of 2009, Hargreaves was still on the treatment table, undoubtedly, his energy in midfield would have assisted in keeping out the likes of Xavi and Iniesta. Time and time again, critics of United have insisted that they miss a strong presence in central midfield, a void that was left gaping open by  Hargreaves’ consistent problems.

The Hargreaves tragedy is one that has not just effected United though, England have sorely missed him too. Capello’s men were ripped apart by the verve of players like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil in South Africa, could Hargreaves have not posed a more substantial challenge to them than the mediocre Gareth Barry?

Hargreaves had the potential to be a shining light on both the club and international stage, after all, even despite those injuries he still boasts a remarkable collection of medals, including two Champions League triumphs, and league titles in both England and Germany. Hargreaves is a member of a select club of English players to have won Champions League titles with non-English teams, as well as a select club of English players to have improved their reputation after playing in a World Cup.

May 22, 2011 will forever remain a sad day in the career of Owen Hargreaves. After years of struggles, the midfielder has been released by Manchester United, with a message of hope, for the resurrection of the man’s career.

At age thirty, there is still gas left in Hargreaves’ tank, if only he can overcome his injury problems, he could still yet prove to be a crucial player for a whole variety of teams in Europe. Hargreaves is the best English holding midfield player of his generation, and he won’t let a few injuries get in the way, as he looks to go out on a high.

Stephen Bywater- Okay, so Bywater  never committed a crime of any really serious note, but he was questioned by police following the insertion of “erotic artwork” in his backyard. The Derby County goalkeeper’s actions infuriated neighbors, who had encountered problems in the sale of their house due to the disgusting artwork visible over the garden fence. Eventually, Bywater was ordered by police to cover the “masterpiece”, and the keeper later issued a public apology to any fans who had been offended.

Ashley Cole- If El-Hadj Diouf wasn’t such a nut job, Ashley Cole would surely claim the crown of most controversial footballer of the generation. A renowned adulterer, Cole has had several scrapes with the constabulary over the years, swearing in front of a police officer in 2009, before being convicted of speeding. However, Cole’s nadir came earlier this year when he was questioned by police after seriously injuring a Chelsea intern with an air rifle. Though Cole did make a formal apology, his reputation had been sullied beyond repair.

Jonathan Woodgate- The word injury has been synonymous with Woodgate over the last few years, but interestingly, the Englishman isn’t just a sufferer. In 2001 he was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm, and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service. That conviction led to Woodgate’s suspension from the England squad travelling to Asia for the 2002 World Cup, and since then the Englishman has been unable to assert himself on the international stage.


John Terry- Dubbed “Captain Controversy,” John Terry has had his fair share of personal issues. Soon after the 9/11 attacks Terry was fined two weeks wages for drunkenly mocking Americans at Heathrow Airport, and the English international was arrested at a London nightclub in 2002 following a scuffle involving a doorman. Though Terry was eventually cleared of assault, the controversy was anything but over for Chelsea’s number 25. Terry was stripped of the England captaincy in the midst of allegations of an affair with the ex-wife of teammate Wayne Bridge, and later he was caught charging money for tours of Chelsea’s Cobham training ground. Stunningly, “JT” has managed to maintain the Chelsea captaincy through all of that, perhaps an insight into the culture of the Blues’ dressing room.

Tony Adams- A heavy drinker, Tony Adams was once sentenced to four months in prison following a series of drink driving incidents, the most notable of which being when he crashed into the wall of his own house, and was later proved to have been twenty-seven times over the legal drink-drive limit. In 1996, Adams admitted to his alcoholism and began the difficult recovery process, attending piano lessons as part of his transition. Since his recovery, Adams has become a figure head for addiction support groups, as well as a fairly unsuccessful manager.

Eric Cantona- By far the most famous footballing assaulter, Cantona is more than worthy of a place on the All Felon XI. Away at Crystal Palace in 1995, Cantona was sent off before leaping into the stands to kung fu kick a Palace supporter, who had supposedly been goading the Frenchman. During the subsequent press conference, Cantona released one of the most cryptic statements in football history: “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.” Suspended for eight months, Cantona’s Manchester United future was plunged into mystery, though the Frenchman managed to achieve a remarkable renaissance, helping United to league success in 1996 and 1997.

Mickey Thomas- Convicted of involvement in a money laundering scheme, Mickey Thomas was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, a period summed up terrifically by the Guardian: “Getting 18 months in jail over a counterfeit currency scam wasn’t the lowest point of Mickey Thomas’s long and controversy laden career. That came when he discovered his cell-mate had killed two people-then cut off their heads.”

Joey Barton- Modern football’s favorite thug, Barton is a silky, subtle passer on the pitch, a mindless hooligan off it. Twice Barton has been convicted of assault, and twice he has served hefty prison terms. Barton not only has a history of attacking the average pedestrian but also his very own teammates. The English international sent City club mate Ousmane Dabo to hospital after a training ground bust up, an incident which led to the end of Barton’s City career, and the termination of any positive notions about the Englishman’s sanity.

Steven Gerrard- Gerrard’s moment of controversy arrived in December 2008, when the Liverpool captain was taken into custody after a fracas at a night club, which left a disc jockey sporting several serious wounds. Though Gerrard was eventually cleared of all charges, the general consensus still remains that the Englishman was guilty of some level of bodily assault, and unfortunately for Gerrard, his fairly clean reputation was tarnished badly.

Carlos Tevez- One of the finest footballers in the world, Tevez has not only caused legal problems for himself, but also for the clubs that have owned him. In 2007, West Ham were taken to court after breaking transfer rules in the process of signing Tevez, a breach which led to two long, tedious years of negotiations and settlements between West Ham and Sheffield United. However, Tevez warrants a place on the All Felon XI not just because of the controversial transactions which have circled around him, but also because of his driving indiscretions. In 2009, Tevez’s car was impounded after it was found that he had been driving without a British license, an offense compounded by his illegally tinted windows.


Nile Ranger- The youngest offender on the All Felon XI, Nile Ranger has already twice courted controversy. Ranger’s early days at Southampton were brought to an unceremonious conclusion when he was sentenced to eleven weeks in a Young Offender’s Institute, following the part he played in an armed street robbery. To make matters worse, just recently Ranger was pictured posing with a gun, supposedly showing off his “gangster routes.” Needless to say, current club Newcastle United were less than impressed.

Who would you put in your “All Felon XI”?

Who should be elected as the captain of mine?

In a game featuring two teams whom we are so used to seeing bring the finest steak to the footballing potluck, the two Spanish giants brought only dirty napkins and cheap cutlery for the first seventy-five minutes of an embarrassingly ill tempered affair.

For every moment of genius, there are always several of mortification, and every follower of football deserves to be as mortified about the behavior of Pedro and Busquets, as they are proud of Messi’s second goal. Pedro’s theatric fall and clutching of his face, a theatric attempt at conning referee Wolfgang Stark into sending off Alvaro Arbeloa, would have been the premier cheat of the game, had Sergio Busquets not eclipsed him moments later with an equally grotesque attempt at reducing Real’s numbers. In the midst of this whirl of Classicos, Jose Mourinho had vented his fury at the refereeing decisions that have gone against his side, and openly expressed his desire to see Barcelona play with only ten men on the field. Well, both Busquet’s and Pedro’s actions fully warrant punishment of the utmost severity, though Fifa rules dictate that they should only receive a booking.

Of course though, the miniature drama directed and performed by the Barcelona midfield was only a subplot to an extremely intense and interesting game of football, going on across the Bernabeau turf. Tactically, not much was different from the first two encounters, Madrid operated with Pepe in midfield and a false nine up top, and were forced to make only one major personnel change, Sergio Ramos deputizing at center back for the unavailable Ricardo Carvahlo. For Barcelona, all was the same as usual formation wise, but crucially, Seydou Keita was forced to come in for the injured Andres Iniesta.

In a week that has been marked by the celebration of William Shakespeare’s birthday, I suppose it was fitting that Madrid and Barca players chose to show their appreciation for the field of drama, in such an exciting and passionate way. Starting in the first seconds, every challenge was milked, every decision questioned, and every blowing of the whistle sparked a major flare up. Disgusting and embarrassing to watch, two of the greatest teams on the planet ruined what should have been a magical occasion with their antics, further fueled by the constant spats between Mourinho and Guardiola, ones which originated in the press room earlier this week.

The first half ended, uneventful, no chances, but plenty of complaining. The first part of the second period was, if possible, even worse, the tension added to by Sergio Pinto’s sending off during the half time interval. We had to wait, fifteen minutes into the second half, for the games defining moment to arrive, as Pepe, lunging fairly for the ball, shaved Alves with his studs, a slight bit of contact, which caused Alves to call for a stretcher. There really should be no place in football for the likes of Alves, a man who should live in shame for the rest of the season after his own contribution to the memory the Bard of Avon.

Unsurprisingly, Pepe’s dismissal sparked an uncouth reaction from Mr. Mourinho who was sent to the stands after a wink filled tirade towards the fourth official. Up a man and in control, it quickly became clear that Barca were ready to press forward for a winner, and one arrived with just nine minutes to go.

On as a second half substitute for the ineffective Pedro, Ibrahim Affelay burst past Marcelo before whipping in a near post cross that was jabbed home by the onrushing Messi. That goal was the Argentine’s fifty-first of what has been yet another remarkable season for him.

1-0 down, and still with several minutes left to play, it quickly became clear that the remainder of the game would be an exercise in damage limitation for the hosts. Instead of pressing forward for a leveler, the Merengues continued to sit deep, inviting pressure, a strategy eventually resulted in Barca’s second goal.

Messi proved with his first strike of the match that he is more than capable of scoring goals on the scrappy side, but his second was much more like what we have been accustomed to seeing from the World’s greatest footballer. Bursting past three players with consummate ease, Messi found himself one on one with Casillas, a situation he adjusted to with aplomb, clipping a lovely right footed finish into the net for two-nil.

A hush fell around the Bernabeau, as Messi wheeled away in celebration, mobbed by teammates, who must surely now believe that they are heading for Wembley. Mourinho sat passively, in his positon in the stands, observing his side’s collapse, but all the while still jotting notes on his ever present pad.

The story of this match, will undoubtedly be of an Argentine’s brilliance, but that moment of sheer genius masked what had been a negative, unsportsmanlike encounter. Year’s before the development of football as a professional sport, Shakespeare referred to the World as a stage, if only Spain’s elite hadn’t taken him quite so literally.

Chim chiminy chim chiminy, chim chim cheroo, Bentley from fifty and Lennon from two!


In the wake of a Wednesday occupied by two of Europe’s most exciting derby matches, it seems appropriate to reopen the discussion about the World’s greatest rivalry.

Many will argue that passion fueled matches like Olympiakos vs Panathanaikos, Fenerbache vs Gaalataasaray and Boca vs River deserve mention in this discussion but I disagree. How many of you even know the scores of the last two fixtures involving one or both of those teams? Exactly, outside of the countries that house them, the participants in the above matches are not followed with any great detail, the reason being that the quality of football in Greece, Turkey and Argentina pales in comparison with that in places like Spain, Germany, England and Italy.

Last night, Premier League fans had the pleasure of witnessing one of the finest derby matches in the history of English football, a sumptuous 3-3 draw between North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. The match had everything, great saves, penalties, goals and even a come back. Both teams approached the fixture with attacking intentions, reflective of the ideals of their respective managers, and after fifteen minutes the score was already 2-1.

Perhaps even more remarkable than the game itself is that a match of the quality witnessed on Wednesday night is no rarity when it come to North London derbies. Earlier this season, Tottenham won a thrilling match 3-2 at the Emirates, coming from 2-0 down to snatch a precious win. Last year, Spurs all but ended Arsenal’s title hopes with a fantastic 2-1 win at the Lane, marked by a screamer from Danny Rose. However, the best derby in recent memory was played out in the Fall of 2008, when a David Bentley stunner and an Aaron Lennon tap in helped Tottenham and new boss Harry Redknapp to a 4-4 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

So, is the rivalry between Tottenham and Arsenal the greatest in World football? There is no doubt that the fixture which routinely shows off the World’s greatest personnel is the Madrid-Barcelona match, but as proved on Saturday, that match can often disappoint. It has been more than 20 years since a stoppage time goal settled a Madrid-Barca game, whereas Tottenham-Arsenal clashes seem to produce late drama on each and every occasion.

In Italy there are also a series of quite competitive derby matches, most notably the Milan derby, but Sampdoria and Genoa matches are often fiery. In Rome, the Roma-Lazio match has been one tarnished with violence over the years, but it still remains one of the finest occasions in Italian football.

Within England itself there are a host of other derby fixtures that challenge North London’s claim to the title, the passion of Liverpool-Everton, and the now more crucial than ever battles between City and United help to provide story lines in the English Premier League season. Some of the smaller teams in England also boast incredible derbies, Newcastle-Sunderland is always nasty and there is certainly no love lost between either Birmingham and Aston Villa or Millwall and West Ham.

Across the border, Scotland sports one of the game’s oldest and most famous matches, the Old Firm Derby, contested several times a year between Celtic and Rangers. Unlike the North London derby, that match contains a host of social and religious connotations, ones that only serve to make the rivalry more fierce.

However, in one way or another Spurs-Arsenal trumps the lot. While lacking the high profile names of Madrid-Barca, Spurs-Arsenal remains a much more local affair, a true derby, not just a rivalry between cities. While the occasional classic is produced in Italian derbies, the lack of high attendances and bubbling atmosphere takes away from the edge produced on derby day, and fan violence unfortunately continues to mar such occasions as well.

In the past, Liverpool-Everton was always an important match, but nowadays it remains crucial merely in the context of Europa League qualification. While goals are always promised when Tottenham and Arsenal kick off, the same cannot be said for United and City. Especially since the arrival of Roberto Mancini, the goals have really dried up, seriously inhibiting the quality of the spectacle.

Ask any Scot, and they’d think you were barmy to claim that Spurs-Arsenal trumped the Old Firm, but in all honesty the quality of play in Scotland is at the level of the English Championship, so it’s difficult to get too excited about the Tartans’ figure head match.

Spurs vs Arsenal is the only match in European and World football which has consistently produced exciting games, made all the more intriguing by the presence of high quality footballers. It pits together two local teams that absolutely loath each other, in a fixture that boasts a rich past, and an even greater present.

INFTH is proud to announce that we’ll be starting a Major League Soccer fantasy league for all of our loyal readers to participate in. Monthly leaders will be announced via the blog, and the winner will be honored in a similar fashion.

To Join- Go to the MLS fantasy section of espnsoccernet.com and create your team.

               Note: You will have to create an ESPN account to access the game.

Next, click “Join or Create group”

Then set the filter to “private groups” and search for “In For The Hat Trick”

The site will ask you for an entrance code, here it is: inforthehattrick

If you need help in picking your team, check out these resources:


2010 MLS stats

ESPN soccernet’s MLS page


The official MLS site


The MLS fantasy guru’s guide


REMEMBER: Read carefully the rules of the fantasy game, and enjoy!