Czech Republic 1-3 Portugal

Two games and two wins for Portugal and they are within a smidgen of moving on to the knock out stage. The Czechs put in a far better performance than the opening game and can go into the final match with some confidence.

The early goal from Deco came after some great interplay just on the edge of the Czech penalty box. Portugal was offered too much time and far too much space. Ronaldo and Nuno Gomes are involved before Deco nips into score. The early counter was the making of the match as the Czechs clawed their way back into the game.

Former Ranger Libor Sionko was the liveliest player for the Czechs on Saturday and he up for this game as well. The equalizer came from a well-placed Plasil corner kick and Sionko stooped low to beat Petit to the ball and direct a header past Ricardo. Cross balls would continue to cause Portugal problems throughout the match and it is something that other countries will have been sure to notice.

The game flowed back and forward to half time and into the second half although Portugal was much more adept at creating chances. Deco in particular was a constant threat. The eventual winner came from a lightning quick attack. The ball found in Deco just inside the penalty box and his cutback found Ronaldo arriving at the edge of penalty after the Czech’s had failed to pick up his run. The shot was beat Cech and again the Czechs were forced to try and find a way back into the game.

Free kicks and corner kicks offered the best chance of success and although the centre of the Portuguese looked uncomfortable every time a cross was delivered the next goal came at the other end. With only seconds left another quick free kick caught the Czech defence square and high. Rolando ran on unmolested and after drawing Cech out of the goal he rolled a pass to Quaresma. The substitute rolled the ball into the empty net.

No doubt Ronaldo will garner the headlines but Deco was the stick that stirred the Portuguese cocktail.

Turkey 2-1 Switzerland

It has been a long time since I can remember a game played at a major championship in such bad conditions. With surface water visible over much of the park each pass came with the possibility of dying in one of the many puddles or aquaplaning and leaving players to stretch in desperation.

The West Germany vs. Poland semi final at the World Cup of 1974 suffered as a spectacle when a torrential downpour hit but in this case you could argue that the weather conditions actually made the match.

Every dribble, every tackle, every pass came with the opportunity for a turnover or for defensive disaster from situations that would normally generate predictable outcomes. The Swiss were quicker to adapt as they chose to harry and press the Turks at every opportunity.

Derdiyok’s pace up front caused the Turkish defence all sorts of trouble and it was the youngest player of the tournament who set up the first goal. Served up on a plate is not an uncommon expression but this one was served up in a puddle as Derdiyok crossed to the unmarked Yakin at the far post.

The ball died in the water as Yakin waited to tap it in and he had to quickly readjust in order to get to the ball before the Turkish defenders who were desperately trying to plow through the waves (exaggeration).

Shortly after Yakin had what is probably the miss of the tournament as he missed a wide open net after again being fed at the back post.

Half time brought an end to the rainstorm and an opportunity for the groudstaff to deal with some of the standing water. As conditions improved so did Turkey’s performance. The equalizer came from a magnificent cross from Nihat powered home by Semih although a top class goalkeeper might have been expected to deal with the effort.

Switzerland looked the more likely to score the winner although Turkey remained a realistic threat on the break. And so it was with seconds left that Turkey broke away and scored the winner.

Turkey now face Czech with each country tied on points, goal differential and goals scored. A draw would set up penalty kicks to decide who moves as runners-up to Portugal. Portugal is now guaranteed to finish top of the group and can now rest players for the final game against Switzerland.

Comment of the Day

"The fundamental value at the heart of football is solidarity, together with collective intelligence, creativity, critical thinking, courage and fair play. These are qualities which have nothing to do with Switzerland and the Swiss." - Jean Ziegler.

 A lively blog again this week as far as comments and opinions are concerened.

Henry14-1. Who do you think will win the title given that both teams are in Europe and FA Cup & also looking at the runs left for them?
2. l personally fancy Sheffield to stay up because of their matches at home left who do you think will drop?
3. How do you assess Klose this season?
4. It pains me to say this but l really see that Spurs have made big strides in the last two years do you know when they can ever win the title?
5. Lastly l disagree with what you said on the show that Benitez's rotation is paying dividends, l think it is because they were knocked out of domestic cups, so they were no replays because Arsenal played 7 domestic cup games after Liverpool, Man Utd. had 5 and Chelsea had 6 so l think that’s the main reason up to now. 
6 Do you think Fergie regret letting Larsson go?

Bobby–1. I picked Chelsea at the start of the season and I am not jumping ship even though United have the lead and an easier stretch-run.
2. With Rob Hulse out Sheffield United will struggle to score goals and that is their biggest challenge going into the last 6 games.
3. I haven’t seen enough of Klose this season to really comment. He seems to be off his usual goal scoring pace although he is still Bremen’s top scorer.
4. They will some day but I can’t see it in the near future.
5. Fair point but if Liverpool had won the cup games Benitez would have still rotated his squad.
6. Not after today’s display!

LosAngelesChelseaFan - Chelsea are certainly capable of dumping Valencia on Tuesday, since I suspect that stamina rather than skill will dominate the outcome of all competitions. We shall see.
What’s your considered opinion of all this?
What do think is more important for all these teams right now,
(a) heart and will to win?
(b) stamina?
(c) quality and skill?
(d) most recent result?
... and which one has it?

Bobby – All of the above plus momentum and some well-timed slices of luck ?

Flashman - Toronto FC looked competitive in their MLS debut at Chivas. Obviously, any MLS squad has flaws, but TFC didn't look like an expansion team to me. Greg Sutton looks solid in net and they generated some excellent scoring opportunities early on. Still some work to do in defense.
Do you see this team rewarding the Hogtown Massive - sold out at 20,000 for every game this year - by diving in and snagging a big name player? If so, at what position?
Also, as the streets of London's toney Islington district yet again run brown with fear, do you think Arsenal can hang on to a UEFA Cup qualifying position as they free fall this spring down the Prem standings? Who do you see them losing due to their inability to compete financially with bigger clubs in Yorkshi - er, umm, Europe?

Bobby – I would be surprised if Toronto go the “big name” player route this year. I think Mo Johnston has already said that he is not interested and with a sell out almost guaranteed there isn’t a financial incentive to make a move like that. I think they would be better off spreading the wealth around a bit in an attempt to improve the overall quality of the team. I think Sutton is a keeper – in more ways than the positional sense – but I didn’t see anything else that gave me much encouragement. But, there again it is early days, so maybe a fairer assessment can be made after 10 games. The games against Bolton and Spurs will be important over the next two weeks but I think Arsenal will hold on to 4th place.

jeffers77 - Any thoughts on Tottenham and Sevilla? I think Tottenham has a good chance on Thursday, that penalty against Robinson was ridiculous; a 1-1 score would have been a fair result. Do you feel they have a chance at WHL and if they do go on, what do you think their chances are of winning the whole thing?

Bobby – The penalty was an atrocious decision. If Spurs are to go through then I think scoring first is almost mandatory. Perhaps the bigger question is can the Spurs back four keep Sevilla from scoring. 

Henry14 - l wanted to know the requirements of entering the Intertoto cup and if the Gunners qualify.

Bobby – Here is a link to who is eligible. This link gives the reason for the competition – I think it might surprise you.

Ringo - Can someone explain how Portsmouth can beat Man U and then lose to Watford? Unless the Asian betting syndicates were involved!

Bobby – The only logical conclusion is that if Watford were in Serie A then they would be a serious challenge to Inter this season!

Henry14 - Who is a better winger Quaresma or Ribery or rather player because l thought Quaresma had the edge.

Bobby – I woud take Ribery. He seems a bit more robust to me.

Realmadridcffan - 1. Out of all the soccer magazines that are published, which is your favourite and your least favourite? 2. How would you rate the performances of DC United and the Houston Dynamo in the recent CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final? What do you think it will take for an MLS side to actually win the CONCACAF Champions Cup? 3. Besides the Houston Dynamo and DC United, who do you see as a dark horse(s) for the MLS Championship this year?

Bobby – 1. Favourite(s) – When Saturday Comes, Champions (the UEFA mag) and World Soccer. The least favourite – there are a number of them. The magazines that I have the most trouble with are the ones that just lift pieces and drop them into the magazine – Soccer Italia a prime example – and they are often contradictory stories. Page 3 states Fabio Star Defender wants a transfer to Real Madrid; Page 7 Fabio Star Defender says “I will never leave.” 2. I thought both teams did very well. When Brian Ching scored with only minutes left I thought Houston were going to do it. As far as what is needed - experience obviously helps and I don't think a MLS side winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup again in the next three or four seasons is out of the question. 3. Dark horse - well with a 13 team league it pretty difficult to be a dark horse. However, i can see Chicago Fire challenging DC United in the east and I liked the look of Colorado Rapids on Saturday so they might be the team to watch in the west.

djnima19 – 1. Do you think losing Vidic will cost United the title? 2. Is Foster or Kuzscak a better keeper than Edwin for next season? 3. Who would you like to see coming from La Liga to the EPL next season?

Bobby – 1. Not necessarily although he does leave a large hole in the defense – a lot can happen in the next half a dozen games. 2. I don’t think you can consider Foster or Kuzscak better than van der Sar. Kuzscak, for the rather obvious reason that he is currently the back-up. In Foster’s case he has been playing with very little pressure on him so it is a very unfair comparison at the moment. It is not unusual for keepers to look better playing in a poorer team because they get more chances to shine. With better sides I think that keepers need to concentrate more because of the lack of action. Foster is still very young for a keeper and he certainly looks like he has the potential to be a very good goalie.  3. There is always a big gulf between who we would like to see and who is available. Even with Premiership riches you can’t have all the great players. Goalscorers are high on everyone’s list so the likes of David Villa, Fernando Torres and Diego Milito will probably be targets.

LosAngelesChelseaFan - I have a few questions:
1. Can you recommend a theBLEEP who specializes in Depressive Goonophrenia?
2. Do you think asking over and over again if Thierry Henry will leave Arsenal at the end of the season is a symptom of the above condition?
3. Do you think if Arsene Wenger wears the grey suit with the grey tie at next week’s game against Bolton, it will bring him more of the bad luck that caused them to lose the double against Whamo Utd for the first time since 1965?
4. Do you think hell is a place:
a) populated by Arsenal players who pass the ball for endlessly, but who never shoot at the goal or
b) a place where there’s a soccer game in which the referee is being chased by a complaining Wane Rooney for all eternity?

Bobby – 1. Dr. George Graham. 2. No it is a condition caused by the Vieiraitis virus that was limited to Highbury for a period of five years although it was thought to have been eradicated. 3. Only if he wears it with the standard Sam Allardyce earpiece. 4. Hell is what North America was to soccer fans 20 years ago.

Verbal97 – 1. Does Dumfermline stand a chance to a) stay up in the SPL and b) to make it to the Scottish Cup Final? If they make the finals and play Celtic, would they get a UEFA Cup spot like in the FA Cup? 1 c. Also, how do you rate Adam Hammill, if you've seen him?
2. Also, do you think Abramovich will fire Mourinho this week WHEN Chelsea lose to Valencia or will he wait for the end of the season?

Bobby – 1a. Stephen Kenny seems to have whipped the Pars into much better shape and they now have at least a fighting chance of survival – four points behind St. Mirren with five to play. 1b. They beat Hibs last weekend in the SPL and they face each other again this Sunday in the Scottish Cup semi final. If they do make it and finish up facing Celtic (who play St. Johnstone on Saturday) then a UEFA spot is guaranteed. 1 c. I haven’t seen him and to be honest no one that I correspond with in Scotland has mentioned him. 2. I guess that now changes to “WHEN Chelsea lose to Liverpool.”

Neophyte – 1. What do you think about Riquelme coming to the Prem? or another La Liga team? What ever happened between Villarreal and Riquelme? You can clearly see that without him they're just middle to bottom of the Liga.
2. What do you see SAF doing about the obvious aging midfield at Old Trafford? Does Scholes get the same treatment as Becks and Keane? Is Giggs' time up as well?

 Bobby – 1. I never thought there was much of a chance of Riquelme moving to the Premiership at the end of last season and so I think that there is almost no chance now.  Most likely destination – where he is now, at Boca Juniors. Next – a return to Villarreal. Then – who can guess? It seems that Miguel Pellegrino and Riquelme just fell out – it can’t have been anything that important or we would have already heard all the lurid details. 2. Manchester United have clearly benefited from the incredible seasons that Scholes and Giggs have had. Unless they “misbehave” – and there is no reason to believe that will be the case – Ferguson will be dumping either of them out. Well deserved testimonials for these two – someday.

Porto vs. Chelsea - A good draw for Chelsea, but perhaps a little more difficult than many of the pundits will have you believe. Jose Mourinho and Porto boss Jesualdo Ferreira are no strangers to each other. Ferreira has a reputation as a shrewd and cunning tactician who gets the most out of his players.

Premiership buffs may turn up their noses when they see Helder Postiga leading the Porto line but under Ferreira Postiga has recaptured the scoring touch that made him one of the most sought-after youngsters in Europe.

Porto made a poor start to group play but three successive wins and a draw turned it around. A 2-0 away win in Moscow against CSKA was pivotal. Goals from Argentine midfielder “Lucho” Gonzalez and former Barcelona winger Ricardo Quaresma did the trick that day and both players are enjoying good seasons. Brazilian striker Adriano Vieira has just returned from injury and he should be back to match-fitness by February.

Celtic vs. AC Milan - These two teams have met four times before in European competition and Celtic has yet to record a victory.  In 1969 Celtic returned to Parkhead after achieving a scoreless draw at the San Siro. But Prati took advantage of a McNeill error early on in the first half of the return leg and Milan went on to beat reigning champions Manchester United in the semi-final and then to beat Ajax 4-1 in the final at the Bernabeu.

Two seasons ago the teams met again with Celtic losing 3-1 at the San Siro.  Two goals in the last two minutes by Inzaghi and Pirlo flattered Milan. The return leg finished in a scoreless draw. Milan fans will have noted that their team again made it to the final that season.

Celtic fans need no reminding of their atrocious away record in the Champions League - one draw and 11 defeats. In his four Champions League away games in charge of Celtic, Gordon Strachan has seen his side concede 14 goals.

However, Celtic's record at Parkhead is quite imposing.  Including qualifying games, Celtic has only lost one of the last 19 home games with four draws.

PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal - Arsenal is unbeaten against PSV in their four meetings in the last four years.  Although they lost two games - their last two - PSV cruised through as runners up in group C to Liverpool.  PSV was unlucky to lose to Milan at the semi-final stage two seasons ago and last season they lost in the round of 16 to Lyon 5-0 on aggregate.

PSV supporters are used to a continual turnover of players but they also saw for their manager Guus Hiddink leave this past summer. However, his replacement Ronald Koeman is an extremely experienced manager when it comes to European competition and he also lifted the European Cup as a player.

The PSV squad is a veritable United Nations with thirteen countries represented in the first-team pool.  Gomes (Brazil) provides the Dutch side with consistent goalkeeping while the back four normally comprises of a Dutchman (Jan Kromkamp), a Portuguese (Manuel da Costa), the Brazilian (Alex) and a Mexican (Carlos Salcido). Csaba Feher (Hungary), Tommy Simons (Belgium) and Phillip Cocu are often joined in the midfield by Australian Jason Culina or Edison Mendez (Ecuador).  In attack Jefferson Farfan (Peru) and Arouna Kone (Ivory Coast) round things off.

Lille vs. Manchester United - Although Lille beat and drew with Manchester United in the group stage last season neither team qualified for the last 16. In fact the goal Lille scored against Manchester United was their only marker in the Champions League last season.

This season they scored 8 goals, only lost one game and qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League for the very first time.  However, they did need to beat Milan in the San Siro in the last game of group play in order to qualify. Goals appear to be coming more freely this season for Lille but much of their strength still resides in defense and particularly midfield. Cameroon international Jean Makoun is an all action figure in midfield and is complemented by the young French attacking midfielder Mathieu Bodmer.  Both have been rumoured to be Premiership targets in the past.

Roma vs. Lyon - This is new territory for Roma given that they have never qualified for the knockout stage of the last 16 of the Champions League. Although there are signs that some younger players are successfully breaking into the Roma squad and contributing, it will still come down to the likes of Totti, Chivu, Pizarro, Mancini and De Rossi to do the heavy lifting.

Lyon's ambitions extend beyond the last 16 and by that I do not mean the quarter- final stage at which they have departed the competition in the last three seasons.  Domination of the French league is one thing, but it is the Champions League where Lyon needs to succeed. The French champions should have Brazilian striker Fred back in time when the tournament resumes in February and that should provide Lyon with a major boost.

Barcelona vs. Liverpool - Not surprisingly this game is being held heralded as the tie of the round. This match up is intriguing on many levels - the Champions League winners from the past two seasons; Rafa Benitez facing a club that he has triumphed over before; the number of Spanish players plying their trade at Anfield; and two teams with worldwide support and fabled histories.

I suspect that this is not the match up Barcelona would have preferred but there again I doubt Liverpool are overly impressed either.  Benitez has been heavily criticized for his rotation policy at Liverpool. With the team now running into form the pay off for Liverpool may not necessarily come in the Premiership but in the Champions League.

Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich - These two sides are certainly no strangers to each other having faced each other 16 times in the last 30 years in European competition. And it is Bayern Munich who holds the upper hand with nine wins and two draws over that time.

Neither side was ever in any danger of not qualifying for the knockout stage. Real Madrid finished as runners up to Lyon while Bayern Munich won group B, seven points ahead of third placed Spartak Moscow.  Bayern Munich has only failed to make the group stage once in the previous five seasons but have not progressed beyond the quarter-final stage.

It is a far cry from the turn of the century when they reached the semi-final in three successive years, and finished runners up once (to Manchester United) and won the trophy when he beat Valencia two years later. It was of course Real Madrid who knocked them out at the semi-final stage, and Madrid went on to lift their eighth champion European Champions trophy by beating the unfortunate Valencia.

This game might have stirred the blood a few years back, but it is likely to be a dour 180 minutes…. or maybe even more.

Inter Milan vs. Valencia - Valencia must be hoping that the injury hoodoo that they have suffered through during the early part of the season will be long gone by the time February rolls around.  During the summer, Valencia was aggressive in the transfer market signing Ferdinando Morientes from Liverpool, Asier Del Horno from Chelsea, Empoli striker Francesco Tavano, speedy winger Joaquin from Real Betis as well as reclaiming David Silva who had been on loan at Celta Vigo.

While the signings encouraged Valencia fans that the team could mount a legitimate challenge to Barcelona in Spain, injuries to a number of key players have taken a toll domestically. However, it did not seem to affect their European form as they finished top of group B three points ahead of Roma and seven points ahead of third place, Shakhtar Donetsk. 

With three wins in their first three games Valencia was very much in the driving seat right from the start. A draw away to Donetsk in the fourth game of qualifying was a minor bump in the road and by the time Valencia traveled to Rome qualification was secure and Roma’s 1-0 was largely inconsequential.

Inter's route to the last 16 was very different and after two games the Italian side looked to be odds-on favourite to become a high-profile casualty at the group stage. 

Losses to Sporting Lisbon and Bayern Munich (without scoring a goal in either game) placed Inter firmly behind the 8-ball. But the Milan side roared back with three successive wins, and by the time they traveled to Munich progress to the last 16 had been secured.  

The ties are to be played on 20/21 February and 6/7 March with the final in Athens in May.

The Money
Prize money to be paid out to the 32 group teams-$363 million.
Pool money from TV to be shared-$355 million.
Estimated prize money for the eventual winner-$29 million.
Total sponsorship and TV revenue generated by the Champions League-$986 million.