Goal Line Technology

Yesterday we were treated to two cracking Round of 16 games. Germany destroyed a poor English side 4-1 and Argentina won 3-1 against a very good Mexico side to set up a mouth watering quarter final clash. The level of football aside the games were marred by two horrendous refereeing errors.

In the Germany game Lampard scored a clear goal off the upright and in that both the referee and linesman failed to see that would have tied the game. Goals make a difference in games although I still think Germany would have eventually won considering the level of play on show. The linesman was actually correctly positioned online with the German defense but he failed to see it, mind you it only takes one second to miss it hitting the ground. The main referee had a very good game overall but missed it as well, both of them should have seen it. Hats of to Neuer though for picking up the ball and proceeding with play as if nothing happened. If only Mohamday could have done the same vs Brazil in the Confederations Cup instead of play acting!

In the Argentina game Tevez scored a clear offside after a Messi pass that put Argentina 1-0 ahead with Mexico having it all to do. I have no excuse for this linesman and he is solely to blame for the error. There was commotion after the goal and conversations between the linesman and the fourth official but the goal stood.

Cries of Goal line technology echoed after the games and the need to use instant replays for incidents like this and so on. FIFA will probably not pay much attention to these out cries and I kind of agree with them. Am I mad? maybe, but lets explore this a bit further.

Using technology and replays for all aspects of the game is inapplicable in my opinion. Imagine having to stop play and contest offsides and fouls not to mention throw ins, corner, handballs and goals. This would ruin the game completely. Yes some would argue that it could be regulated with a limited number of complaints and time outs but this would just turn football into basketball or American football. Stopping the game disrupts the rhythm of play and we have seen coaches using substitutions and players faking injury when their team is on the back foot to waste time and disrupt the other teams play. Imagine playing Algeria and not only are their players faking injury, their coach is calling time outs and seeing replays on the monitors. This wont be the same game we have all come to love. Technology everywhere is out of the question in my opinion. Why not just goal line technology then?

It makes perfect sense to apply that and make it part of the game, so why is FIFA refusing to do that? There is no reason for the football governing body not to want to make matches more fair. They do make a fair argument though. One of the greatest pleasures of football was the ability of all countries and leagues regardless of their level or wealth to practice the game in the same way. How expensive would goal line technology be? How can you force it on all countries? Games would be played differently in richer countries and would cause a void in a sport that unites the globe. Making some countries apply it and others not would not be fair would it? Imagine Egypt playing against Zimbabwe in Cairo having implemented goal line technology and Zimbabwe score a goal missed by the referee but thanks to goal line technology is allowed, fair enough you say...maybe. In the second leg we go to Harary were there is no goal line technology and Egypt have a clear goal disallowed because the referee didn't see it, would it be fair then? People might argue that that's football and it could have been a penalty and referees make mistakes anyways. That is correct, but isn't this the case anyways now? Why are refereeing mistakes acceptable in some circumstances and not others. An incorrect corner could result in a goal, same impact, no?

The fact of the matter is refereeing mistakes are part of the beautiful game. How many hours have we spent debating offsides, goals and penalties among one another? We enjoy doing it too. It's harsh when it happens to our teams and even worse in a World Cup (I feel in a whole club football season decisions for and against teams even themselves out) but it is part of the game.

FIFA have not stood idol. The UEFA experiment in applying a fourth and fifth on field referees in the EUROPA Cup has proved fruitful. Maybe employing these two referees for the sole purpose of the goal line would be a good idea and would minimize such situations. Make no mistake though, they are only human and errors will continue to occur. Frankly I would rather live with those mistakes than have football turn into American football. As for England, 1966 anyone?

I am enjoying the World Cup!!!

It's been rubbing me the wrong way that everyone is complaining about the level of football this World Cup. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but for gods sake, everyone and anyone is saying that. People who have never seen a full game are complaining, girls are complaining and yes Egyptians are complaining.

Why the hell are we unappreciative of the the level of play in the tournament? We have the pleasure of watching one of the worst leagues in the world day in and day out. Yup you guessed it, the appalling Egyptian Premier League. It is a league with empty stadiums, poor pitches, idiotic commentators (the legendary Bakr excluded), prehistoric cameras, bad players, clueless referees and elementary tactical displays. So please give the top stars of the world a break god damn it.

My theory is that Egyptians have become insanely jealous for failing to qualify to the world cup for the gazzillionTH time. Live with it people and instead of portraying your anger towards teams that have actually made it, I suggest sending thank you letters to captain Shehata for ruining the world cup for all you haters instead of blaming the Algerian fans and the Sudanese government!

I, on the other hand will continue to enjoy the world cup because frankly it's a lot of fun and who doesn't enjoy an underdog victory. Some people fail to recognize that a great defensive game with a solid counter attack is just as enjoyable as all out attack. The Swiss display against Spain was a joy to behold in my opinion. Didn't people congratulate Mourinho on playing an uglier game against Barca? I agree that there could be some more goals but lets just remember that this is not the Spanish league, where a team can concede close to 100 goals and still remain in top flight football:P

To be fair to there has been a few boring games, France/Uruguay comes to mind. However we have seen some crackers especially in the second round of games. Argentina/Nigeria, Korea/Greece, Argentina/Korea, Greece/Nigeria, Germany/Australia, Germany/Serbia, Denmark/Cameroon, Brazil/NKorea, Brazil/Ivory Coast, Spain/Switzerland, Uruguay/South Africa, Italy/New Zealand to name a few.

There has also been a lot of talk about the world cup ball, Jabulani. Although I'm not really sure why there has to be changes to the ball every cup, a new design would suffice, I do not think it has such an effect. The Bundelsiga and MLS have been using it and Egypt won the CAN 2010 in Angola with the same ball, and we did not hear any complaints then, why now? Even if the ball has been causing problems, which one of us doesn't enjoy the occasional goal keeper cock up? Green or Hadary anyone?

One last thing, to all those haters out there. If your team isn't winning it doesn't mean that the world cup is poor. It just means that your team sucks!!!!

P.S: Wimbledon is about to start, go watch it and stop wining

Best of Europe

Well the the World Cup is about to start and before we all get carried away with the biggest sporting event on the planet I thought I would conclude the European Season. Football in Europe this year was amazing with Inter snatching a historic treble, as a result I thought I'd compile some sort of awards for the best we've seen this European season.

Best Teams:

1- Inter Milan: The obvious choice this season. They have played efficient football and managed a brilliant treble. Winning the Serie A, Coppa Italia and the Champions League. Although they have been a dominant force in Italy for the last 5 years or so, they struggled a bit this season and managed to close on the final day. Their main focus was the Champions League which had eluded them close to half a century. They managed a convincing win against Bayern in the final and were the best team in tournament beating Chelsea, Barca and Bayern to claim it!

2- Bayern Munchen: Missed out on a historic treble this season when they lost the champions league final. Bayern Managed to turn their season around after a slow start, more precisely after thrashing a sorry Juventus side in Turin to qualify to the knock out stage of the Champions League when they seemed dead and buried. They clinched a local double and are by far the best team in Germany and one of the best in Europe at the moment.

3- Fulham: Yes Fulham, the small London club captured the hearts of neutrals all over the world with their impressive run in the Europa Cup. Virtually an unknown quantity in European football, their most delusional fan could not have predicted they make it to the final. They beat cup holders Shakhtar, heavy weights Juventus in an unforgeable encounter and Bundesliga holders Wolfsburg. Their league standing suffered as a result of their impressive run but they still managed to hold on to their Premier League status. Sadly the fairly tail could not be completed as they lost the Europa Cup final 1-2 to Atletico Madrid after extra time.

Player of The Season:

You are probably thinking, Messi, Rooney or Ronaldo....although there is no question about their talents, they are not my picks.

1- Diego Milito: The Argentine striker has finally received his overdue credit. He has been one of Europe's most prolific strikers for sometime now, ever since arriving at Zaragoza from Racing Club. His first chance at a top team, the world has taken notice at last. He was instrumental in Jose Morinho's side. He scored 30 goals in all competitions and was always ever present in the big occasions. With a great eye for goal and a magnificent finish he has scored in every important game this season. The winner on the final day of Serie A against Siena, The winner in the Coppa Italia final against Roma and his brilliant brace against Bayern in the Champions League final. A truly magical season for him and hopefully more to come in the world cup.

2- Arjen Robben: The Dutch winger was deemed surplus to requirements at the Bernabeau having had a reputation of being injury prone and lacking natural fitness. I think Real Madrid should be banging their heads now. Robben reached his true potential this season and has become the world class player he was always meant to be. Bayern helped him stay fit and he repaid them and all football fans the world over with some cracking goals. The goals against Man United and Fiorentina were phenomenal. He helped Bayern to a local double and just missed on the Champions League. Watch out for Holland at the World Cup.

3- Didier Drogba: Struggled last season with injuries under Scolari but has returned to his form this season under Carlo Ancelotti. For me he is the best striker in the world. His combination of brute strength and sublime technical ability is unmatched. He won the Premier League's Top Scorer with 29 goals, edging out Wayne Rooney. He flourished in the new Chelsea system and played well with Anelka, although some people doubted they can play together for some reason? He helped Chelsea to their first ever league and cup double in England. Now if only Ericsson can get the best out of him for Cote D'Ivoire.

Honorable Mention: Wesley Sneijder had an excellent season too and was key in the Treble winning Inter side. Wenger said it best that next season he should go outside Real Madrid and see which players they decide to let go so he can buy them!

Manager of the Season:

There were so many candidates to choose from, so I'm just going to mention them all!

1- Jose Mourinho: Without a doubt, the special one was indeed the best manager in the world this season, leading Inter to an unmatched treble. He destroyed a great Chelsea team at Stamford Bridge and contained a breath taking Barca side at the Nou Camp with 10 men. His post match antics are a bit annoying to the neutral and his opponents a like, he is however, a brilliant tactician that gets the best out of his players. Although he has failed to win the hearts of the Italian Media and the public, his interviews for me were always a joy, just ask the English. Possibly the only man with enough character to deal with Perez and get Madrid back to their winning ways.

- Carlo Ancelotti: Tipped to fail because of his laid back personality, proved how good of a coach he is, given enough resources and support. Leading Chelsea to their first ever double. His team scored an all time record of 103 goals. Apparently pulled off the "very difficult" Anelka/Drogba combo with great ease:P. Berlusconi can you hear me?

- Harry Redknapp: Tottenham and not Man City finished 4th in the Premiere League and reached the Champions League. He was always looked at as a great wheeler and dealer in the transfer market, nothing more. He has proved to be a very good coach especially when it seemed impossible he could make it to 4th spot while having, Arsenal, Chelsea, United and City to play in the final 4 games. Spurs only lost to United and look forward to an exciting season.

- Roy Hodgson: Fulham played a European Cup final, need I say more?

- Louis Van Gaal: Won the Bundesliga and German Cup and lost the Champions League final against a great Inter side.

- Luigi Del Neri: Sampdoria are in the Champions League next season thanks to this man. He has turned them into a force to be reckoned with in Italy. He beat Milan and Roma in the closing stages of Serie A to end their title hopes. He will be coaching Juventus next season.

Honorable Mention: Claudio Ranieri restored Roma to it's winning ways.

Flops of the Season:

1- Real Madrid: A very easy choice given that they spent the budget of a small country on players and finished the season with...yup you guessed it, NOTHING!

2- Juventus: They finished seventh this season and will play in the Europa Cup qualifications believe it or not. Destroyed by Bayern in Turin, out classed by Fulham at Craven Cottage. They just seemed like a team with out purpose. It shows you how much the meddling of owners affects a club. How the mighty have fallen.

3- Liverpool: Tipped to go one better than last season and finally win the Premier League. They finished 7th and will play again in the Europa Cup next season. Poor decisions in the transfer market, injuries to key players and Rafa Benitez contributed to their downfall.

BRING ON THE WORLD CUP!

Nike: Write the Future

This is like one of the Best Football ads ever

Enjoy

Sorry Carlo

I cannot say I was not happy to see Ancelotti leave AC Milan at the end of last season. He had been at the San Siro for 8 years. He has won many trophies with Milan. 2 Champions League wins, 1 Coppa Italia, Italian Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, but with 1 Scudetto win in 8 nine years it was surely time to change.

I had grown tired of his unchanging ways and how it seemed he let his squad turn stagnant. Milan have become very predictable and frankly boring under Carlo. He seemed to be relying too much on Kaka'. Don't get me wrong with a player like Kaka' you would be foolish not have him as the centre of your team but at times during the last couple of years it seemed that we won only if Kaka was playing well! He also had a knack for acquiring over aged players. Favalli, Oddo to name a few. Since Kaka joined Milan, they have failed to acquire a single world class player. Gourcuff the obvious exception but they chased him out of San Siro. I blamed Ancelotti for everything. Things weren't always that way between me and Carlo though. He had the vision to change Pirlo from an attacking midfielder outcast at Inter to the world class player he is today. He also transformed the career of Seedorf who is now forever a legend in the Milan ranks. He made Kaka'. He played him straight from Brazil into the Milan first team. In my eyes he had left the team in shambles. I was wrong.

After seeing Milan this season and how Galliani and Berlusconi are running the club. Most noticeably their transfer policy and how they gave nothing to Leonardo to work with. I started feeling sympathy fro Ancelotti. How in gods name was he able to work with the two of them for so long? It is obvious to me now that there was no money to spend and Carlo had to make due with what was available. It seems to me now that he was actually more of a genius than I had thought. He deserved much more credit than I ever gave him. He was an underachiever in my book for years, but it turns out he is actually a great over achiever. With no money to spend it seemed he was very shrude in acquiring the out of contract and older players. He knew they could give him something for the short term. He kept star players happy for a very long time although it seemed they had a lot to feel disgruntled about. He was able to deal with Berlusconi for 8 years which is a trophy in itself. He was not without fault though. He alienated Gourcuff, one of the most talented young players in a generation. He gave too much control to Galliani in acquiring players, most noticeably Ronaldinho who it seemed Carlo was not convinced with. Regardless of everything I think I owe him an apology, not that he will ever read this:). Carlo's experience in Milan became an invaluable tool at Chelsea.

Ancelotti's appointment as Chelsea manager was met with some skepticism. After all a lot of people saw what I was previously talking about. The fair conclusion was made that being a Champions League ace, he was hired to bring European glory to the blues. He didn't. I recall the amount of abuse that was thrown Carlo's way once beaten by Mourniho's Inter at Stamford Bridge and again after losing at home to City. Ancelotti is a clam and collected man with an abundance of experience when dealing with star studded squads (Milan had a star studded squad once upon a time) and interfering presidents. In a turbulent season filled with ups and downs Carlo Ancelotti proved an invaluable asset. He was able to keep his squad together and lift them up time and time again even when players had more problems off the pitch than on it. He reinvigorated Malouda and turned him into the world beater he originally was tipped to be. Even when missing key players his tactical ability and depth in squad made him cruise by. Make no mistake Chelsea were the best team in the league this season. They did not win the Premier League because other teams were less consistent and going through a rough patch, mainly Manchester United. The Barclay's Premier League has become tougher than ever. As a result the so called big four don't get to enjoy the jolly rides they were accustomed to, just ask Liverpool. Carlo's Chelsea over came this in style. They destroyed their counterparts in the top four club beating Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool home and away. Chelsea won the league by playing record breaking attacking football. 103 goals in 1 season is a marvelous achievement. They put 7 past opposition three times and 8 on the final day of the season to clinch the title. Carlo Ancelotti has proved to be the man for the long haul, unaffected by setbacks through out the season and focused on the end game. Next Saturday Chelsea play Portsmouth in the FA Cup final, were Carlo Ancelotti has a chance to earn them an unprecedented double. Although a Pompey victory would be stuff of legend, I do feel Chelsea will win this. The days of the special one are now but a distant memory.

Spurs to the Champions League

Tottenham managed to secure their Champions League birth after securing a 1-0 victory over Man City at Eastlands. Too much money can't buy you everything after all.

Check out Redknapp getting soaked by his players

Congrats to Spurs, being an Arsenal fan makes a bit more difficult, but hell I'm not from England so it's easier:)

UEFA Champions League: The Semis

This week we were treated to two very highly tactical games of football. Both ties are far from over and I will be excited to see the conclusion come next week.

On Tuesday Inter took on Barcelona at the San Siro and two master tacticians in Mourinho and Guardiola took center stage. There is no doubt the the reigning European champions are favorites in all their games. Their philosophy of playing highly entertaining football has reached its peek under Guardiola last season with an unprecedented treble (actually six cups if you count the European Super-cup, Spanish Super-cup and the Club World Cup). Mourinho had other plans. No one would blame you in thinking that it's just another Barca route after Pedro scored the first goal. However you will have been gravely mistaken. Pedro, one of the break out stars this season, scored the opener in the first half after some great work by Maxwell on the left side. Pedro mind you had never scored a senior goal prior to this season. He has now scored in every competition he has played in and I think he is all but sure to be in Del Bosque's squad in the World Cup. Inter responded superbly and Diego Milito was always threatening with his great control and pace (not to mention his finishing ability). He missed a couple of chances but then provided the assist for Wesley Sneijder to even the game up. The second half was a much more tactical affair. Mourinho managed to close up space and pressure Barcelona all through the pitch. Messi was made to go deep to get the ball and found many bodies in front of him. He had no room to manoeuvre. Mourinho used the attributes of his team well. They are very much a physical team as they are technical and the likes of Zanetti, Maicon, Cambaisso, Motta and Stankovic bossed the Midfield and out powered Sergio, Xavi, Pedro and Messi. Inter scored the second goal from a Maicon tap in and Mourinho closed up the game after replacing Pandev with the excellent Stankovic who will be missed in the second leg. The third goal came via Milito after an excellent counter attack. Miltio could have been marginally offside but he deserved the goal. He was fantastic and like I've said before I rate him very highly. To me he is now one of the best strikers in the world and It would be a real shame not to see him in South Africa. He is better than all the big name forwards in the Argentina squad and yes he is better than his direct competitor Higauin. Barca had a clear penalty denied towards the end when Sneijder hacked down Dani Alves in the box, but like Mourinho had said it seems Barcelona have a short memory. In last year's semi final against Chelsea they escaped three clear cut penalties, one of which was a blatant handball by Pique. Mourinho learned his lesson after facing Barca twice in the group stage. He has managed to dismantle both Chelsea and Barcelona, but this tie is far from over. At the Nou Camp the Bluegrana are a different team. The size of the pitch will make it difficult to contain the likes of Messi but as always Jose will have a plan. Inter have a two goal advantage but I won't count Guardiolas men out just yet. Their home record has been unbelievable and they seem to score at will at the Nou Camp. I know I should not be supporting Inter as a Milan fan but they have grown on me in the Champions League and tactical master piece after another, how can I not enjoy their play? One last thing I have to say is that in my humble opinion Alves is one of the most overrated players in the world at the moment. He is a wing back that can't tackle or cross the ball. Maicon is twice the player he is or he ever will be.

The other semifinal between Bayern and Lyon might not have attracted much hype as both teams are not as flashy as Inter and Barcelona. The casual follower would not have cared to watch or even enjoyed the game had he did. The game however was won and controlled by the tactical master that is Louis Van Gaal. Lyon, make no mistake are not a weak team. They beat Liverpool at Anfield, Knocked out Real Madrid and won a close tie over Bordeuax who destroyed both Bayern and Juve earlier in the competition. Lyon had only conceded 6 goals in the competition so far. Bayern made them look like an average team. Right from the off Bayern controlled the game missing a number of chances but as the first half progressed Lyon started getting into the game. Towards the end of the half Ribery, who was having a good game thus far got rightly red carded for an over the top challenge on Lisandro. Robben was nowhere to be seen. Sissokho had the better of him. Bayern where down to ten men at half time and it didn't look good. The second half Van Gaal introduced Tymoschuck for Olic. Pundits and fans a like thougth Van Gaal was looking for a draw and not to concede an away goal. Well it did not look that way come the second half with Bayern dominating possession against 11 man Lyon. It seemed Lyon were the ones who had ten men. They did after a while, when Toulalan was sent off for 2 bookable offences. 10 against 10 Lyon had no chance. Claude Puel tried to shut things off by introducing Makoun but it had no effect. Robben now was running ragged, thanks to his ability but in no small part to Phillip Lahm. Germany's number one right back (miles better than Alves as well) continued to bomb forward at every opportunity down the right flank giving Robben more freedom to cut inside and use him as a decoy. The goal came just like that with Robben given time and space to unleash a left footed strike that took a slight deflection off Muller into the back of the net. Bayern could have won by a bigger margin if Muller and then Gomez had taken their chances. I got the feeling that Olic would have finished off one or two of those. Robben seemed to have another goal in him but Van Gaal took him off much to his contempt. I think the man was protecting him after putting in much effort and knowing his injury record he might have been right to do so. Bayern losing him and Ribery in France would have been a huge blow. This tie is not over yet but I think Bayern have a huge edge by not conceding an away goal. They also have a very good record away from home and Lyon will find it difficult to stop them from scoring. Anyone taking bets on Robben scoring in France?