UEFA Champions League Final: Post-Game Thoughts

image from bbc.co.uk

So yesterday, I made a trip to the pub and watched the Champions League Final between crosstown rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. After the game, I avoided reading any post-game reports put out by the media because I didn't want my thoughts of the match to be influenced by those reports. The events of what happened are still fresh in my mind.

Before the game started, I thought Real Madrid was doing to dictate the play in the midfield, even without Xabi Alonso, who was suspended, while Atletico rely on their superior defensive prowess and hit Real on the counter. One of the reasons I thought this was because Atletico lacked their primary scoring threat, Diego Costa, as he went down with a hamstring injury in the last game of their season. With the nature of hamstring injuries, I thought there was no way Costa would come back from injury in only a week, even with the "horse placenta" treatment he went through. Turns out, I was wrong.

Diego Costa was actually in the starting 11 for Atletico Madrid, which I'm sure surprised many, because it sure surprised me. One of two things was going to happen. The horse placenta will miraculously heal his hamstring, or he will have to come off very early in the match because his injury was re-aggravated. Turns out, the latter was true, and it got me thinking. Why did Atletico Madrid risk further injury for Diego Costa by starting him? Looking back at that, it was a bonehead move by Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, and I will argue that the extra substitution that Atletico Madrid could have had by not starting Diego Costa would have helped them later in the match.

On to the 1st half, I'd say it was pretty even between the two Madrid teams. They were both organized defensively and cut out each other's attacks. I noticed that the link-up play with Atletico Madrid, especially between Gabi, Koke, Tiago, and David Villa were well orchestrated. With Real Madrid, they relied more on Luka Modric pulling the strings in midfield and Angel Di Maria running at the Atletico back four drawing fouls outside the box. Real Madrid sorely missed Xabi Alonso's vision and passing, as I thought Sami Khedira had a poor game, giving away the ball regularly to the opposition. I was particularly frustrated with Gareth Bale's performance in the match. Bale, who was bought for 100 million Euros, had a great chance to get Real on the board first, but he hit his shot wide. I also have to say something about Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas and his role in Atletico's goal in the 1st half. If you're going to come out for the ball, you better make sure you either catch it, or punch it out. Casillas did neither, and he was left in no man's land as Diego Godin headed the ball in the net.

In the 2nd half, it was Atletico Madrid that looked more intent to score than Real. It was clear that for the majority of the second half, Atletico wanted this trophy more than Real did, as they constantly out-hustled them to the ball almost every time. Real's attempts at goal were easily stuffed by the Atleti defence and for a little bit, it seemed like Atletico Madrid were going to win the trophy. Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was having a very good match, and Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were non-factors in the match. Gareth Bale once again had a golden chance to score, but he forgot he had a right foot, and instead used his left foot to hit the ball into the side netting. By the 80th minute, Real Madrid woke up, and began to lay siege to the Atletico goal, with Atletico trying all they can to hold on to their lead. Atletico were so close to holding on to the win, but they couldn't hold on. In the 93rd minute of the match, Sergio Ramos headed in the equalizing goal from a corner to save Real's blushes and to crush Atletico's hopes and dreams. Going into extra time, all the momentum was with Real Madrid, and Atletico had to pick themselves up physically and mentally.

In extra time, Real Madrid continued to turn up the heat and pressure Atletico Madrid, which was rewarded with Gareth Bale getting a dream winner. Honestly, I loved that it was him that got the game winner because it made up for his missed chances earlier in the match, and it helps to validate his massive price tag. Atletico were completely exhausted and this was where they could have had that extra substitution if they didn't start Diego Costa, as Atletico could have used an extra pair of fresh legs. Real Madrid added a Marcelo goal, and a Ronaldo penalty to put themselves up 4-1 in the match. However, I thought Ronaldo's celebration after scoring the penalty was a bit excessive. There was also an incident with Simeone and Raphael Varane which had Simeone running out of his technical area like a madman to confront Varane. Apparently Varane kicked a ball at Simeone and then Simeone kicked the ball back at him. I'm not excusing Varane's actions, but for a manager, Simeone acted like a complete child.

The match finishes and Real Madrid are the European champions for a 10th time. It was a heated an entertaining affair, and a great match for the neutral.

Now to turn my attention to the World Cup...

The World Cup 2014 Slogans

The World Cup is fast approaching, and I need to ramp up my coverage of this prestigious tournament. What better for me than to talk about the slogans that will be on the team buses for each country. The slogans have been voted on by the public through FIFA, and I will give my honest opinion on each country's voted slogan. Some of the slogans were well thought out, while other slogans were just plain odd. Let's get started.

Algeria: DESERT WARRIORS IN BRAZIL

Pretty standard and direct. These desert warriors are sure to go down fighting. Actually, I don't know about fighting, but them going down will be a given, barring a miracle.

Argentina: Not just a team, we are a country.

This slogan is trying to tug at the heartstrings of the Argentinean people. The embodiment of the country will be on the likes of Messi, Aguero, and Di Maria. Hope they don't succumb to the pressure.

Australia: SOCCEROOS: HOPPING OUR WAY INTO HISTORY!

How cute. The history Australia must be thinking about is getting zero points in their group stage matches and conceding about 20 goals. Hopping right back on the plane…

Belgium: EXPECT THE IMPOSSIBLE!

Expect the impossible from Belgium? It could be a possibility to be honest. That team could make a deep run in the tournament.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: DRAGONS IN HEART, DRAGONS ON THE FIELD!

I like this slogan. This slogan is solid motivation for a team that is in their first World Cup.

Brazil: BRACE YOURSELVES! THE 6TH IS COMING!

Are they talking about their 6th World Cup win? It’s a tall order considering the astronomical amount of pressure being put on the team. They have a chance, though.

Cameroon: A lion remains a Lion

Cameroon wins the award for the most obvious slogan in the World Cup.

Chile: CHI CHI CHI!, LE LE LE! Go Chile.

This slogan is ridiculously tacky.

Columbia: Here travels a nation, not just a team!

I feel a bit indifferent about this slogan. You'll notice a common theme with slogans trying to use "the nation" or "the country", instead of "the team".

Costa Rica: My passion is football, my strength is my people, my pride is Costa Rica.

This slogan is powerful and patriotic. Usually a winning combination with slogans and this slogan nails it.

Croatia: WITH FIRE IN OUR HEARTS, FOR CROATIA ALL AS ONE!

That's a slogan to fire up their fans. 

Ecuador: ONE COMMITMENT, ONE PASSION, ONLY ONE HEART, THIS IS FOR YOU ECUADOR!

Did this slogan need to be this long? Will it fit on the team bus?

England: THE DREAM OF ONE TEAM, THE HEARTBEAT OF MILLIONS!!

Sadly, those millions of England fans will feel the disappointment and embarrassment only England can deliver.

France: IMPOSSIBLE IS NOT A FRENCH WORD

However, the words "surrender" and "revolt" are certainly French words.

Germany: One Nation, One Team, One Dream!

This slogan is simple and to the point. The slogan is a bit industrial, just like Germany.

Ghana: BLACK STARS: HERE TO ILLUMINATE BRAZIL

That's incorrect. If a star in the sky is black, it wouldn't be able to illuminate anything.

Greece: 'HEROES PLAY LIKE GREEKS'

If this was Euro 2004, then it could be true. Not sure about now, though.

Honduras: We are one country, one nation, five stars on the heart

Decent slogan, but Honduras don't really have much else going on in the tournament, don't they?

Iran: HONOUR OF PERSIA

Three words are all you need sometimes.

Italy: Let’s paint the FIFA World Cup dream blue

Well, at least it's painting the World Cup dream, and not the trophy itself.

Ivory Coast: Elephants charging towards Brazil!

Better hope these elephants will be able to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

Japan: SAMURAI, THE TIME HAS COME TO FIGHT !

Japan is channeling their inner 19th century with that slogan.

Korea Republic: Enjoy it, Reds!

This slogan is so stale. It's like Korea are happy to get medals for simply participating in the tournament.

Mexico: Always united, Always aztecas

Mexico could have used this slogan during their qualification for this tournament.

Netherlands: REAL MEN WEAR ORANGE

I would like to argue that people who tend to choke are more likely to wear orange.

Nigeria: ONLY TOGETHER WE CAN WIN

Are you sure? I thought you can only win by standing alone. Man was I wrong.

Portugal: The past is history. The future is victory.

This might be the best slogan of all (and it rhymes!), but I have an alternative slogan: "Help us, Cristiano Ronaldo. You’re our only hope." 

Russia: No one can catch us

I can't help but think this is a thinly veiled statement towards the Western World regarding the situation in Crimea.

Spain: Inside our hearts, the passion of a champion

Spain may be the defending champions, but I have questions on whether they can maintain the passion.

Switzerland: FINAL STOP: 07-13-14 MARACANA!

The Swiss train is more likely to break down on the way.

Uruguay: Three million dreams … Let’s go Uruguay

At least there are a number of dreams.

USA: UNITED BY TEAM, DRIVEN BY PASSION

That slogan would make even the most patriotic bald eagle shed a tear.

25 Years On: My Thoughts on the Hillsborough Disaster

Image supplied by bbc.co.uk

I'll start by saying this. I support Manchester United Football Club.

I've followed the club for as long as I can remember, so naturally, I have come to dislike Man United's rivals, which includes Liverpool Football Club. When I was younger, I used to think that the rivalry trumps everything, but as I got older, I've learned that there are significant events that transcend even the intensity of rivalries.

The Hillsborough Disaster was one such event.

It happened only two years before I was born. With my ever growing love of football, I delved more into the history to football, and I learned about the events that made modern football what it is today. Of course, that curiosity led me to the events at Hillsborough Stadium on April 15, 1989. I watched live footage of that day, as well as documentaries and witness interviews. I learned about how a lack of police control, a decrepit stadium, and the lack of a prompt emergency response claimed the lives of 96 football fans. It's saddening to even think about it. Ninety-six people, who went to enjoy themselves at a football match, didn't come back and were never to be heard from again. I learned about how the police herded the fans like sheep into the already overcrowded central pen in the Leppings Lane end. Looking at that central pen, it felt like trapping wild animals in cages. The onrush of all these Liverpool fans that the police let through into the central pen crushed the fans already inside, which led to people suffocating to death.

What truly made the disaster sickening and appalling were the police and the press spreading lies about what happened at Hillsborough. The police tried to pin the blame about what happened on the fans, citing crowd trouble and hooliganism as the reasons why this disaster happened. In the 1980s, violence at football matches were regular occurrences, and English fans had a reputation for violence and disorder. This culminated in the deaths of 39 fans at Heysel stadium in 1985 during the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus, and it resulted in all English clubs banned from UEFA competitions for 5 years (Liverpool got 6 years). With all that in mind, it made sense for the police to pin the blame on the Liverpool fans.

The press (most notably "The Sun" tabloid newspaper) made false claims that Liverpool fans were robbing the dead. On top of all that, the police and the government at the time tried to cover up what really happened at Hillsborough. This led to a 25-year long battle taken up by the families of those who lost their lives to uncover the truth of what happened at Hillsborough, and who really was to blame. The battle continues to this day.

Looking back at this disaster, I think it's unfortunate that the families of the 96 lost not only had to grieve for their loss, but they also had to fight the corrupt system in order to achieve some sort of appropriate justice, in which they are still fighting for. The police labeled the Liverpool fans at the stadium as hooligans, when they were simply just football fans enjoying a day out supporting the team they love. As for what happened at the stadium itself, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. No one should have to go to a football stadium and die.

I believe that the Hillsborough disaster was a catalyst for the new age of modern football, not only for England, but for the developed world as well. Without the disaster, there would never be the Taylor Report which called for the use of all-seater stadiums, among other things. Football stadiums were modernized, were more safe, and it encouraged a more family-friendly atmosphere. I don't hear about the lack of safety at football stadiums in the developed world anymore, and the Taylor Report kick-started that need for safety. I'm still a bit in shock to know that it had to take 96 people to lose their lives in order for the rest of us to feel more safe when going to football stadiums.

This morning, I watched the 25th Anniversary Hillsborough Memorial Ceremony, which was very touching. This Manchester United supporter is happy that actions are being taken to remove the stain that has been inflicted on the families of those who perished, and the City of Liverpool as a whole. I am happy to see other football clubs and their fans, including rivals, send their prayers and condolences to the families. I hope that it is sooner, rather than later, that the seeds of justice can be sown.

Justice will be served. Justice for the 96.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Toronto FC: Post-Game Thoughts

This isn't a photo of the match.

That was quite the start to Toronto FC's 2014 MLS season.

With the revamp of Toronto FC's management, and their new significant additions to the squad, the expectation level of Toronto FC's season was sky-high. They sure lived up to that expectation with a satisfying 2-1 away win in their season opener against the Seattle Sounders. Before the match, most of the hype was surrounding Jermain Defoe, and whether he would be able to set Major League Soccer alight with goals. To add to the hype, the MLS media pounced on the fact that Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey, two significant United States National Team players, would be opponents in the match. The MLS media did create a bit of a mini-rivalry between the two.

The first half began, and TFC were a bit cagey in the first 10-15 of the match, as Seattle were creating chances and were playing some free-flowing, attacking football. However, Ryan Nelsen and the coaching staff made a tactical adjustment that changed the flow of the half. They made Alvaro Rey and Jackson switch their positions, so instead of going up the wing and putting in the cross, both players cut inside towards the middle of the box, better suiting their skill and athleticism. This tactical adjustment put Seattle on the backfoot, and Toronto began to create their own chances. Not long after, Jonathan Osorio played a pass to Jermain Defoe who one-timed his low shot in the corner past Stefan Frei.

Cue the pandemonium, Toronto FC were leading against the Sounders in Seattle. A few minutes later, off a giveaway in the midfield, Defoe picked up the ball and once again popped it in the back of the net to give Toronto a dream 2-0 lead at CenturyLink Field. For the rest of the half, Toronto FC looked threatening and hungry for more, and much of that was down to Michael Bradley. He did make a few mistakes in the half, with passing and heading the ball forward, but he more than made up for it with his intense pressure on any Seattle player with the ball and forcing them into mistakes. TFC's second goal came from that Bradley pressure. Michael Bradley was a beast, and I don't think Matias Laba could put in that kind of performance.

The second half was all Seattle Sounders. They were relentless in their pressure whenever Toronto FC had the ball, and they were also relentless in their attack in order to find the goals necessary to get back into the match. When Clint Dempsey scored for Seattle to make it 2-1, I (and many others) wondered whether Toronto FC had the ability to hold out and preserve the victory. If you didn't know, before this season, whenever Toronto FC were in a position to pick up points in a match, they almost always conceded one or more goals in the closing stages of a match. The fear was there, but all credit to Toronto FC's back four, as they dealt with the threats inside the box without the panic that surrounded previous Toronto FC teams.

I initially thought that Mark Bloom would have a hard time with the attack of the Sounders, but he proved me wrong and he had a solid match, clearing the ball when necessary, and denied the Sounders a penalty with a great recovery inside the box. Julio Cesar made some key saves to deny Seattle to level the match, and the two center backs, Steven Caldwell and Doneil Henry, did an admirable job with shutting down Seattle's attacks down the middle, and clearing Seattle's crosses into the box. 

It was a game of two halves, and despite the relative shakiness in the second half, Toronto FC put in a performance that the supporters can be proud of, and I hope that these kind of performances are consistent throughout the season. Let's not get carried away, TFC supporters. It's only one game, but hopefully this is a sign of things to come. Right now, just enjoy the win.

Toronto FC is back, and oh does it feel good (for a change).

Other things that I noticed during the match:

If I had a nickel for everytime Jason DeVos talked about Doneil Henry's "potential" and "development", I would be a very rich man. I know he rates him highly, but before this season, he was reckless and made some costly mistakes that lost TFC games. There are some bloggers and journalists that say that Toronto FC's success this season will depend on Doneil Henry's performances this season, and I agree with that. However's I'm sick and tired of hearing about his potential. He's had a number of years in MLS to prove his potential, and I'm still not convinced that he is the future of Toronto FC and the Canadian National Team. This season will be huge for him.

The Sounders fans were in fine voice, but why would they chant the "Can you hear Toronto sing" to probably less than 100 Toronto FC road fans in a stadium that had an attendance today of around 38,000 people. It seemed a bit stupid to me. In my opinion, the only acceptable times to sing that chant are if you are the away support, or if you are the home support with a significant amount of away supporters in attendance.

With this match, it felt like eating a spoonful of scrumptious ice cream, but now I want the entire tub. I absolutely cannot wait for the home opener. This should be an interesting season for the Reds of Toronto.

My Predictions for the 2014 Toronto FC Season

2013 was a year of change. The only thing that didn't change was that Toronto FC was still a losing team, missing the MLS playoffs again for a seventh straight year. However, there were a number of things that happened that, once again, gave supporters a sense of optimism. MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke and TFC GM Tim Bezbatchenko have brought in a number of high-profile players in order to try and rejuvenate the club and hopefully give the supporters something to cheer about. The supporters hope that the likes of Jermain Defoe, Michael Bradley, and Julio Cesar, along with head coach Ryan Nelsen, can finally deliver a playoff spot for Toronto FC.

It's time to give my predictions for the 2014 Toronto FC season. I did this last year, with limited success, but I think I feel somewhat confident about this one. Let's get this started.

The most important question that is being presented in the new season is whether Toronto FC will make the playoffs in 2014. I had to think about this for a while, and after taking into account the new players, the new management, and the overall positive and professional atmosphere surrounding the club, I believe that Toronto FC will make the 2014 MLS Playoffs. However, I don't think that they will finish as strong as people will expect. I see them finishing in the third or fourth spot in the Eastern Conference. About the playoffs, I can't see Toronto FC making it to the MLS Cup Final. I think that they will be eliminated either in the Eastern Conference Semi-Final, or the Eastern Conference Final, as I believe the likes of Sporting KC and the New York Red Bulls have stronger teams. 

With this new-look team, there is a lot of pressure being put on Ryan Nelsen. I think it's great that he used his influence to bring in Jermain Defoe and Julio Cesar, but influencing players to come play for your club and coaching those players are two different things. A lot is being made of Ryan Nelsen's leadership, but I don't think Ryan Nelsen has the tactical acumen to continually deliver positive results at Toronto FC. Ryan Nelsen will be fired as head coach of Toronto FC at some point during the season. There have been a number of games last season where Toronto lost points due to Ryan Nelsen making odd substitutions, failing to adapt his tactics to gain an advantage in a match, or both. I think TFC could fall into an early-season (or even a mid-season) slump, and he will be the reason for it. Also, I wouldn't be surprised in Tim Bezbatchenko has a replacement in line if Ryan Nelsen were to consistently fail in delivering results for the club.

There has been a lot of discussion surrounding the shock year-long loan of Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar to Toronto FC. There are a number of supporters who think Julio Cesar will do a great job behind the goal posts, but I'm not so sure about that. I would be lying to you if I told you I wasn't skeptical of Julio Cesar and how he will do this season. I'm confident in saying that Julio Cesar will not perform to expectations. I say this for two reasons. The first reason is that he doesn't really have any challengers for the #1 goalkeeping spot for the Brazil national team, so it's not like he can take his tenure with Toronto FC seriously, though I hope he does. The second reason why I say this is because Julio Cesar's loan move reminded me of when Carlo Cudicini signed for the Los Angeles Galaxy last year. Cudicini was a somewhat high-profile keeper who put in a number of awful performances for LA. Julio Cesar is also a high-profile goalkeeper who I hope won't put in the consistently awful performances like Cudicini did. Julio Cesar will have his good performances, but he will also have his poor performances, more than most supporters will expect. One last thing about Julio Cesar, he is a definite upgrade over Joe Bendik. Joe Bendik, despite having an okay season with Toronto FC, has a lot of glaring flaws that sorely need to be addressed.

Another talking point in Toronto FC's season is how Jermain Defoe will do in his first season as a Toronto FC player. I found it difficult to quantify how he will do, but I think that his lack of involvement in Toronto FC's pre-season could negatively affect how Defoe will perform when the season rolls around. With that said, Jermain Defoe will not be the MLS top scorer this season, though he will have a good season regardless. I think Defoe will hit his stride near the end of the season and I think he will score between 12-15 goals this season.

Some other quick predictions for the upcoming season:

Matias Laba will not be a Toronto FC player by the time TFC play their first regular season game.

Michael Bradley will be the team MVP for this season. If not, then Jermain Defoe will be my second choice.

Gilberto will score between 7-9 goals this season.

Doneil Henry will get a red card at least three times during the regular season.

An important Toronto FC player will get injured during their friendly against Tottenham Hotspur.

The last thing I want to talk about are the Toronto FC social media outlets. I noticed that a new person is running the social media accounts, and it is evident that the style in how Toronto FC posts in their social media outlets this year is different to last year. Maybe I'll warm up to this new guy running the social media outlets in due time, but I think the social media outlets are a bit unprofessional nowadays (I can't be the only person thinking this), and I think this person uses the outlets to post some inside jokes that most TFC supporters wouldn't understand. I can see one of the Toronto FC social media outlets (probably the Twitter account) be embroiled in some sort of controversy. Maybe a social media outlet will insult an opposing player, or make fun of an opposing coach, or even tweet about something not remotely related to Toronto FC. What I'm trying to say is, I think the unprofessionalism of the Toronto FC social media outlets, run by this new guy, will be called out by someone important. Maybe it might be someone in the media, or a member of an opposing club. Who knows.

Anyways, these are my predictions. I will probably revisit this post at the end of the season. Until then, I wish Toronto FC the best of luck in the 2014 MLS Season.