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Category: Soccer-Football

  • Relegation In Europe’s Top Leagues

    Relegation In Europe’s Top Leagues

    It is late April and the football season is drawing to a close in almost every country. Disappointment time is up on many teams, some of which spent or over spent to stay in the top division.

    Here’s the status of the relegation fights across some of Europe’s top leagues.

    In the English Premier League Huddersfield are going back down after spending two seasons in the premiership. Jan Siewert was unable to keep them up after taking over mid season. Fulham spent around 100 million after getting promoted but can be called one of the expensive flops of the season now that they are going back down. Cardiff and Brighton are fighting to avoid being the third relegated team. The latter are starved for goals and have failed to maintain the momentum of the early season home win vs Manchester United.

    In Spain’s La Liga Rayo Vallecano and SD Huesca are almost certainly going down to the Segunda. A handful of teams will try stay and not join the aforementioned. Girona, Real Valladolid, Celta Vigo and Levante are all separated by only three points with 4 weeks left.

    Italy‘s 2018-2019 Serie A relegation list has long included Chievo, the team started with -3 points after financial issues and has been at the bottom ever since. Frosinone have been thereabouts too, the Lazio region team is not surviving their second ever attempt in the top league. Empoli seem doomed and those above them like Udinese, Parma, Genoa and Bologna have likely done enough but there is still a month to go.

    In France Guingamp, Caen and Dijon are likely done. The latter have been in the Ligue 1 for four years running, for the first time in club history.

    In Germany‘s Bundesliga Hanover and Nurnberg are certain of relegation. Stuttgart have a big following of course but have disappointed in recent seasons, a far cry from the Bundesliga winning days of 2006–07. The Baden-Wurttemberg team are facing a relegation playoff.

    Holland‘s Eredivisie will lose NAC Breda to relegation. Excelsior and De Graafschap are in the relegation playoff spots as of late April. FC Emmen, playing at the top level for the first time, are likely to survive but are still in danger.

    In Portugal Aveiro district’s Feirense are way behind in 18th place. Nacional and Chaves occupy the places just above them but there is still time for Tondela and Boavista to fall into the last 3 spots.

  • Value Tracker: Champions League Quarter Finals

    Value Tracker: Champions League Quarter Finals

    The Champions League quarter finals produced more drama of the VAR variety. The introduction of Video Assistant Referees to the Champions League for the first time was bound to create questions as it has done at various leagues like the Serie A it hasn’t failed in doing so. A separate long read is required to point out the faults and the good of VAR but alas the results were surprising in themselves.

    Liverpool might have been expected to over come Porto and Manchester United’s somewhat declining form might have given enough cause to make Barcelona favorites for the tie but the other two matchups provided bigger drama.

    Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have spent massive amounts in all areas of the pitch and over spent on defense in order to achieve balance and stability but when scoring four goals at home is not enough to advance questions must again be asked. Tottenham were widely mocked for spending exactly zero euros last summer but now have reached the Champions League semis against a team that regularly spends over 60 million on individual players. All without their main star, Harry Kane.

    In the other semis Ajax surprised Ronaldo and Juventus by producing another surprise after eliminating Real Madrid in the previous round. A young, fluid and composed team beat Juventus away after having tied at home. Ajax’s Matthijs de Ligt enhanced his reputation further and so did Hakim Ziyech.

    Ajax meet Tottenham in the semis with the latter featuring numerous former Ajax players like Christian Eriksen, Davinson Sanchez, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. In the other semi Liverpool must overcome Messi and Barcelona to reach another final. Messi will have a chance to outshine Ronaldo, his generational rival.

    ↑ Ajax for beating another giant
    ↑ Tottenham for overcoming a big spender

  • Youngest Coaches In Europe

    Youngest Coaches In Europe

    Julian Nagelsmann is 31 and has been coaching 1899 Hoffenheim since 2016

    Coaches (or managers) seem to be getting earlier starts as many former and not former players get to coach teams at highest levels inside their thirties. The following is a list of some of the youngest coaches in Europe’s biggest leagues.

    In the English Premier League Jan Siewert at Huddersfield is the youngest at 36, he took over after David Wagner (47) left earlier in 2019. Scott Parker is currently the second youngest at 38. The former Fulham, Tottenham, etc. player is only a caretaker after Claudio Ranieri became Fulham’s second coach of the season, after Slavisa Jokanovic was fired in 2018. Marco Silva, in charge of Everton, is the third youngest at 41. Eddie Howe (also 41) has been in charge of Bournemouth for nearly seven years. Other coaches under 50 include Nuno Santo (Wolverhampton, 45), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United, 46), Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham, 47), Unai Emery (Arsenal, 47), Sean Dyche at Burnley since 2012 (47) and Javi Gracia (Watford, 48).

    In the Spanish La Liga Huesca’s Francisco is youngest at 40 followed by Javier Calleja of Villarreal also 40. The pair are younger than Sergio, 42 at Valladolid. Bilbao’s Gaizka Garitano is 43. All four have taken over their current posts within the last year. Three time Champions League winner as coach Zinedine Zidane (46) only recently returned to Real Madrid after resigning last Spring. Others under 50 include Imanol Alguacil (Real Sociedad, 47), Mauricio Pellegrino (Leganes, 47) and Paco Jemez (Rayo Vallecano, 48). Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid since 2011 is 48, Abelardo Fernández (Alaves, 48) and Rubi (Espanyol, 49) round out the list.

    Italy’s Serie A, somewhat befitting its stereotype, boasts “only” six coaches under 50 years old. Sassuolo’s Roberto De Zerbi is only 39. Igor Tudor, back for a second spell at Udinese, is 40. Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso is 41. Roberto D’Aversa at Parma is 43. So is Simone Inzaghi, at Lazio since 2015. Inzaghi’s brother would have been on this list but the 45 year old Pippo was fired by Bologna in January and replaced by Sinisa Mihajlovic. Vincenzo Montella, back at Fiorentina within the last week, is 44.

    In Germany’s Bundesliga the highly rated Julian Nagelsmann has been at Hoffenheim since 2016 and is only 31 in 2019. This is unlikely to be matched at a top league club. Florian Kohfeldt at Werder Bremen is 36. He stepped up from the II team in 2017 when he replaced Alexander Nouri, another former Werder Bremen II team coach. Boris Schommers is a caretaker at Nurnberg and is only 40, he replaced Michael Kollner earlier in 2019. Mainz’s Sandro Schwarz is also 40. The Hungarian Pal Dardai is 43 and at Hertha Berlin since 2015. Markus Weinzierl is 44 at VFB Stuttgart. Niko Kovac, at 47, is hanging on to his job at Bayern. Rounding up the list is 49 years old Eintracht Frankfurt coach Adi Hutter.

    In France’s Ligue 1 38 year old Julien Stephan moved up from Rennes B last year. Patrick Vieira, 42, moved from MLS’ New York City to Nice in 2018. Leonardo Jardim (44) returned to Monaco after 41 year old Thierry Henry failed there. Thomas Tuchel (45) is trying to create a more successful Champions League team at PSG, he will be trying again next season! Caen’s Fabien Mercadal is 47 and so is Guingamp’s Jocelyn Gourvennec. Bordeaux’s Paulo Sousa, at only 48, has coached for over a decade.

    The Dutch Eredivisie FC Groningen’s Danny Buijs is 36. Mark van Bommel at 41 is trying to help PSV retain the title, he replaced Phillip Cocu last year. Giovanni van Bronckhorst is leaving Feyenoord at the end of the current season, he is 44. Johnny Jansen (44) is a caretaker at Heerenveen after replacing Jan Olde Riekerink last week. Forty six year old Jaap Stam (PEC Zwolle) will move to Feyenoord next season. FC Emmen’s Dick Lukkien is 47 and has been at club since 2016. Mitchell van der Gaag is 47 at NAC, Russia’s Leonid Slutsky (Vitesse) is also 47. Erik ten Hag is 49 and is in charge of the rising Ajax team.

    Portugal’s Primeira Liga boasts a slew of under 50 year old coaches. Tondela’s Pepa is 38. Nuno Manta Santos is 40 at Feirense, so is Abel Ferreira at Braga. The latter moved up from Braga’s B team. Benfica’s Bruno Lage is 42 and took over from Rui Vitoria in January 2019. Belenenses’ Silas is also 42, and so is Maritimo’s Petit. Ivo Vieira at Moreirense is 43. Costinha at Nacional is 44 and Joao Henriques at Santa Clara is 46. Antonio Folha (47) is in charge of Portimonense after years in the Porto system. Daniel Ramos (48) recently took charge of Rio Ave and Lito Vidigal (49) did the same at Boavista.

  • FIFA U-20 World Cup

    FIFA U-20 World Cup

    The FIFA under 20 World Cup takes place every two years. The 2019 edition is the 22nd and will take place in Poland – who beat India’s bid – between May 23rd and 15th June. England are the defending champions. The English beat Venezuela 1-0 in South Korea two years ago but failed to qualify for Poland. Six venues have been chosen for the 2019 tournament with capacities ranging between approximately 15,000 to 20,000.

    Twenty three teams from six confederation have qualified and with the hosts’ automatic qualification will play in six groups of four. The qualification process is via the following tournaments. The player eligibility for Poland 2019 is for those born between January 1 1999 to December 31 2003.

    Asia: AFC U-19 Championship (4 teams allocation)
    Africa: African Youth Championship (4 teams)
    North America: CONCACAF Under-20 Championship (4 teams)
    South America: South American Youth Championship (4 teams)
    Europe: UEFA European U-19 Championship (5 teams + hosts)
    Oceania: OFC Under 20 Qualifying Tournament (2 teams)

    The top two of each group plus the four best third placed teams will qualify for the second round. Argentina have won the tournament 6 times followed by Brazil, Portugal and Serbia with 5, 2 and 2 wins respectively.

    The draw was made in February 2019 and the groups are as follows:

    Poland
    Colombia
    Tahiti
    Senegal    		Mexico
    Italy
    Japan
    Ecuador    		Honduras
    New Zealand
    Uruguay
    Norway
    Qatar
    Nigeria
    Ukraine
    United States    		Panama
    Mali
    France
    Saudi Arabia    		Portugal
    South Korea
    Argentina
    South Africa
  • Champions League Quarter Finals

    Champions League Quarter Finals

    The 2018-2019 Champions League quarter finals are set for April 9 and April 10 with the return legs one week later. The first leg match up are as follows:

    April 9April 10
    Liverpool – FC Porto
    Tottenham Hotspur – Manchester City     		Ajax – Juventus
    Manchester United – Barcelona

    In the round of 16 Ronaldo and Juventus overcame Atletico Madrid. Manchester City destroyed Schalke to do the same and Barcelona did the same to Lyon. Liverpool piled pressure on Nico Kovac and Bayern Munich to get here and so did Manchester United on Thomas Tuchel and PSG. Porto did enough to eliminate an out of form Roma. Tottenham’s relatively easy 4-0 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund was a small upset. Ajax played a perfect return game at Real Madrid to cause the biggest upset and news of the round of 16.

    Since the round of 16 Manchester United have lost some form and are more vulnerable now. Barcelona still first in La Liga and still on form could easily eliminate United.

    Ajax may not be able to create another big casualty versus a Juventus team that should have Ronaldo back from injury.

    Manchester City are on course on many fronts and probably remain superior to Tottenham that is having a somewhat disappointing second half of season in England.

    Liverpool are matching Manchester City in the English Premier League title race and expect to move forward in the Champions League versus the Portuguese club.

  • The Canadian Premier League

    The Canadian Premier League

    The Canadian Premier League will start its inaugural season on April 27 2019. The first season will feature seven teams spanning almost the full width of the country. The founding teams span Pacific FC on west coast’s Vancouver Island to Halifax as HFX Wanderers FC on the easy coast with York 9 FC, Forge FC, Valour FC, Cavalry FC, FC Edmonton in between.

    The aim is to expand over time and unlike the MLS have a relegation/promotion league system. Many cities have shown some interest and this first season will be an important test for the league in its initial life.

    Teams are playing in stadiums that range from 5,100 to 33,000 capacity, FC Edmonton to Valour FC respectively. Not all teams are residing in long term facilities, for example York 9 FC are using York University’s York Lions Stadium until plans are finalized and a brand new ground can be built.

    There has been a new mini wave of talent emerging that promises a better team, perhaps in time for the US/Mexico/Canada hosted 2026 World Cup. In the previous decades players like Owen Hargreaves didn’t even choose to represent the country and the few other recognizable names didn’t make a big enough mark in the country itself. The three Canadian teams in the ML have opened a new market and attracted interest in the game but three teams is not enough. The MLS Reserves and United Soccer League did and do provide small avenues for staying and developing in North America but a Canada only league can make it more local and attract more Canada wide interest.

    Now players like Cyle Larin and Alphonso Davies are young and gaining experience at Besiktas and Bayern Munich, others like
    Ballou Tabla play for Barcelona B (he is currently on loan at Segunda Division Albacete). Perhaps crucially all three of the above are offensive talents, that is in contrast with most of the previous generations of top Canadian players such as goalie Craig Forrest and defender Jason De Vos.

    The first season of the Canadian Premier League will run until October 19 2019.

  • 2019 Women’s World Cup

    2019 Women’s World Cup

    The 2019 edition of the Women’s World Cup is the eighth of its kind. It will be held in France between June 7th and July 7th in nine cities around France with the smallest venue being Grenoble’s Stade des Alpes and the biggest Lyon’s Parc Olympique Lyonnais. The stadium capacities range from just above 20,000 to 59,000.

    One hundred and forty three countries started the qualification tournament and the teams are now whittled down to 24 including France as hosts. Asia has five slots, Africa three, Oceania one, Europe eight plus France and South America 2.5 which became three when Argentina beat North America’s Panama in a two leg playoffs. The, of course, meant that North America has three teams qualified for 2019 Women’s World Cup.

    The draw was conducted on December 8th 2018 after the 24 teams were placed in four pots of six based on their FIFA ranking.

    USA is currently ranked first followed by Germany, England, France and Canada. South Africa, at 49th, is currently the lowest ranked qualified team.

    France
    South Korea
    Norway
    Nigeria    		Germany
    China
    Spain
    South Africa    		Australia
    Italy
    Brazil
    Jamaica
    England
    Scotland
    Argentina
    Japan     		Canada
    Cameroon
    New Zealand
    Netherlands
    		USA
    Thailand
    Chile
    Sweden

    France vs South Korea will open the tournament. Top two in each group and four of the best third placed teams will qualify for the round of 16. The final will take place in Lyon.

  • 2019 Africa Cup of Nations

    2019 Africa Cup of Nations

    The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations features 24 teams for the first time. 51 teams entered the qualification and near half have made to the tournament. It will be held in Egypt from June 21st to to July 19th. Cameroon were initially awarded the 32nd edition but due to political and infrastructure problems were stripped and the dates were also pushed back from a June 13th start due to the holy muslim month of Ramadan.

    As with every edition of the Cup controversy and lack of organization is a problem. Egypt do have the stadiums and are well suited to host, all despite the violence that has been rife in their stadiums in the recent past. Sierra Leone were disqualified after FIFA for the usual ‘government interference’ reasons. In part due to that disqualification Ghana and Kenya found an easier path to Egypt.

    Twelve groups of four competed with top two of each group qualifying. The 51 teams had been reduced to the 48 after a mini preliminary round led to the exit of Sao Tome and Principe, Mauritius and Djibouti at the hands of Madagascar, Comoros and South Sudan respectively. Somewhat surprisingly Madagascar have qualified for the final tournament after finishing second in a group that included Equatorial Guinea and Sudan.

    The full list of qualified teams is not all that surprising and although some groups threatened upsets – for example at one point South Africa tied Libya and the Seychelles to put qualification a bit in doubt – none really occurred.

    The 24 teams are divided into four pots based on their African Confederation (CAF) rankings. Six groups of four will play, top two of each group plus the four best third placed teams will qualify for the round of 16. The draw will take place on April 12 in Cairo, Egypt.

    Egypt
    Cameroon
    Ghana
    Ivory Coast 
    Tunisia
    Senegal     		Morocco
     Nigeria 
     Algeria 
     Guinea 
     Mali 
     DR Congo     		Uganda
     South Africa 
    Guinea-Bissau
     Zimbabwe 
     Angola 
     Burundi     		Mauritania
    Namibia
    Benin
    Kenya
    Madagascar
    Tanzania
  • FIFA Club World Cup

    FIFA Club World Cup

    Gianni Infantino wants World Cup and World Club Cup expansion

    FIFA has seen the money in the Champions League and has always wanted to add a potentially lucrative club competition to its assets.

    The Confederation Cup was an idea that started in 1992 and expanded to eight teams, from four, in 1997. It became a once every four years tournament taking place one year before the World Cup in the same country as the World Cup host. It became a de facto warm up for the World Cup host. Commercially it wasn’t the biggest success and FIFA has now decided to scrap it, for now at least. Scraping it presents FIFA with an opportunity to expand on its also not very successful annual FIFA Club World Cup (previously Intercontinental Cup) which had grown from two teams to six in recent seasons. The aforementioned six team tournament takes place in the middle of the European season in December and scrapping the summer Confederations Cup allows FIFA to move it to a more friendlier summer time.

    The European Club Association which represents many European clubs opposes this and doesn’t want its members to participate until at least 2024. The year is significant for the clubs because there are fixture calendar agreement until that date and any change to it are opposed by clubs. After 2024 there may or may not be an agreement for the World Club Cup, which is due to include eight European teams and eight groups of three.

    Any additions to the fixture list are an over burden and potentially dangerous for the players. As it stands the players and quality of football benefit from even less games, even as far as reducing top leagues to 18 teams, from 20.

  • Value Tracker: Messi and Ronaldo March On

    Value Tracker: Messi and Ronaldo March On

    The 2018-1019 Champions League round of 16 featured more than two outstanding individual performances. Manchester City’s Leroy Sane scored one and assisted on three in City’s 7-0 win over Schalke. Two other very familiar names did better than the German international.

    Ronaldo and Messi continue their super form with a hattrick for the Portuguese and two goals and two assists for the Argentinian. Juventus and Barcelona advanced and eliminated Atletico Madrid and Lyon respectively once again mainly due to the work of the aforementioned.

    Ronaldo is 34 and Messi is 31. Both, especially the former, insist on continuing for more years to come and why not. Ronaldo has shattered records by scoring 124 times in 160 Champions League appearances. Messi is just behind and with a slightly better goals to games ratio with 108 in 131 games. The third position is held by
    Raul, the Real Madrid legend scored 71 goals in the competition. Ronaldo’s 160 appearances is second only to Iker Casillas’ 175.

    The draw for this edition’s quarter finals takes place on Friday with four English teams still in the competition, reversing a recent trend. The last time this many English teams had reached the same stage was 2008-09. That year 3 of 4 semi finalists were English but Barcelona beat Manchester United in the final.

    Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur are joined by Juventus, Ajax, Porto and Barcelona.

    ↑ Ronaldo for his continuing records
    ↑ Messi for the same