Sports : life magnified

I had written on resisting evils earlier. Rio Ferdinand has asked UEFA to stop the lip service and act. Racism was shown to Eto’o months ago and the South African team during their tour to Australia recently. There have been so so many incidents even if we chalk out only incidents from post January 2005. Wasn’t it only a year ago when Ashley Cole and Shuan Wright-Phillips were abused by Spanish supporters in a friendly in Madrid? It is time sport starts acting. Football excites as few sports can and it is in this excitement that inherent biases surface from the deep core.

Zidane is seen here with a T-shirt which calls to stamp out racism:

Racism is a crime. There is no place for it.

Update: FIFA has decided to take real actions to stamp out racism. Definitely a positive move.

Barca have been drawn to face Portuguese club Benfica in the quarters of the Champions League. They will next face AC Milan or French Champions Lyon should they advance to the semis. In the final, they will face any of Juventus, Arsenal, Inter, Ajax or Villarreal.

A revenge for the 1994 Champions League finals loss to Milan in the semis, victory over the superb Juventus in the final. I can see it right now!

I do hope Arsenal does not do any thing extra ordinary in the first game or even comes up with a draw. They have been struggling domestically and are the ongly English Club left. Any promise would mean all the English newspapers yelling for Arsenal to do a repeat of Liverpool last year. Well every day is not Sunday and it ain’t gonna happen!

I do hope Arsenal crash out as fast as possible also because it could mean they cannot afford Thierry Henry for long and he might come to Barcelona. Certainly mouth watering prospects for me!

Barcelona drew with Chelsea 1-1 in the second leg of the Champions League pre quarter finals to advance on aggregate (3-2) having won the first leg 2-1.

Revenge is sweet. Last year was heart breaking for the fans of Barcelona including yours truly. The exit after losing to Chelsea in the two leg Champions League pre quarters was very hard to digest. After all Barcelona was playing excellent football. Being excellent is not good enough though. The game is so uncertain that it can change within minutes. You have to fight against the unpredictable nature of the game itself. That is when a team keeps winning which translates to real greatness.

Coming to the game. Chelsea started off controversially arriving late in the tunnel. Jose Mourinho was already there but the team wasn’t. It meant that the start was delayed by three minutes. The early game saw some excellent passes between Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho. A great and a possible future great combining to create magic. Messi limped off in the 25th minute, which may explain why he missed the weekend La Liga match, to be replaced by Henrik Larsson.

The first half was tight with Barcelona having more possession. They had a lot more chances as well. Chelsea managed a few chances which were more dangerous but without result. Crespo replaced Drogba in the 58th minute while Mourinho theatricals were showing no signs of reducing in the back ground. Crespo soon had a real chance of scoring but strike was wide to the anguish of Chelsea.

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I had spoken regarding the bright future ahead for Barcelona last year some time after they had won their first Spanish la liga under Rijkaard.

The official FCB site says:

Barça are as regular this season as they were in their 2004-05 championship winning season. They have the same number of points as they did after the same number of matches last season, and are also eight points clear of the second placed team.

Add to the fact that fact that Ronaldinho and Larsson are scoring more goals. Larsson, a Swedish and Celtic legend has to fight for his place. Messi is creating the early waves. Maradona has already called Messi his successor.

The players are happy at the club and no one is talking about leaving or making uneasy sounds. They are signing big long term contracts, a process which has continued from last year and are generally happy at the club. Marquez said this on his position with the club:

Things are going very well. The team has, once again, the dynamics to fight and win more trophies and I help that we will be celebrating at the end of the season with our fans. For me, it is also important to keep growing as a player. I feel very comfortable at Barcelona and my target is to stay here for many years to come.

Cable and thus the sports channels have returned to my life. I will catch as much of FCB as I can. I have watched Barcelona build despite the criticisms under Rijkaard. I feel attached and a natural supporter having seen them grow. This is just the beginning.

Barcelona won the first leg 2-1 after dominating possession and could have scored more than they did. The header from Eto’o sealed it. So that should have been the end of it with all the focus on March 7.

Well this is Barcelona versus Chelsea. The clash which has developed into the biggest game in club football. Of course there was more.

Jose Mourinho, the loudmouth that he is, likes to speak. Mourinho said this on Messi:

How do you say cheating in Catalan? Can Messi be suspended for acting? Barcelona is a cultural city with many great theatres and this boy has learned very well. He’s learned play-acting.

Of course he forgot, as Jonathan Stevenson from the BBC points out:

It is only 17 days since English football widely condemned Blues winger Arjen Robben for theatrically diving to get Liverpool keeper Jose Reina sent off in a key Premiership encounter. There is little doubt that Robben’s acting was greater than Messi’s, yet Mourinho accused Reds boss Rafael Benitez of sour grapes for bringing up the incident in his post-match analysis.

Step back in time at this juncture. Chelsea was down after the first leg similarly. In a few minutes of inspirational football in which they caught Barcelona napping. Chelsea capitalised and took the tie away from Barcelona. Did Barcelona fans cry over the fact that Barcelona dominated possession for much of the two matches last year and still lost?

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The much anticipated encounter between Barca and Chelsea has meant the usual war of words between the managers. No use going into that.

Barca decided to take the sensible approach of practising on the poor pitch yesterday as they are to play the match there itself. Chelsea were bemused Barca wanted to practise on that pitch despite compaining about the obvious poor pitch and offering Barca their own facilities. Well was it that difficult for Chelsea to understand Barca wanted to adjust as much as possible to the difficult conditions?

Chelsea went out of their way to complain to FA when Barca wanted to practise 15 minutes extra and denied Barca practising more than an hour. I do see the concerned Chelsea over the obvious Barca threat in all this.

Barca plays a free flowing game and uses one touch passes. This means the smoother the pitch, the better it is for the club. As Puyol said:

The state of the pitch will affect us more. We like to move the ball quickly and play at a high tempo. We’re not used to playing in these conditions. If we concentrate hard and not give the ball away in midfield where Chelsea are strong we should be able to cope. There are no excuses. We are experienced enough to play on all kinds of surfaces.

Chelsea made sure the pitch was further watered on Tuesday. So the conditions will very tough for Barcelona despite Rijkaard taking the diplomatic route in his response:

Chelsea will be affected by the pitch just a much as ourselves. They have quality players with good technique and skill and they would prefer a better pitch. We are not complaining.

As a Barca fan I will be rooting for the Catalanians. But it will be very tough in the first leg.

Barcelona-Chelsea champions league encounters last year were exciting, full of emotions and heart breaking for me as a staunch supporter of Barca. There has been the pitch controversy with Chelsea delaying re-laying the pitch. Obviously Barcelona players aren’t pleased. Silvinho said:

I cannot believe it. I have heard they are making the condition of their pitch worse. I’ve heard many complaints about the pitch.

Why should patches devoid of grass be left for such a crucial match?

The latest suggestion by Mourinho regarding inviting Barca to use their training base doesn’t serve much purpose. The crucial first leg will still be played on a poorer pitch than it should.

Well the conditions will be equal for both teams and whoever plays better in these circumstances will be the winner. The pressure is on Barca as they did loose to Chelsea last year, though by the thinnest of margins (goal difference) in the two leg encounter. History will not look at Barcelona going down two years in a row to Chelsea too kindly. It will mean that Barca will have a tougher challenge to be recognised as a great team in the future by many fans. It would be greatness denied. I hope I am smiling after the second leg is complete on March 7th.

It is officially shaky now regarding the final of FA Cup final scheduled to be held at Wembley. The new stadium design has always looked brilliant and it is shaping up to be the same in reality as well. Football fans world over still hope for the date with Wembley on May 13th is kept.

BBC carries the wonderful story of how sport unites a nation divided.

The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world. Every year it brings with it superb matches and amazing stories. I witnessed one such match in which Wigan beat Leeds on penalties (4-2)3-3. David Healy’s two goals and Gary Kelly’s superb strike for the 3rd goal (a guy who scores less than a goal per 100 games) for the equaliser in extra time couldn’t stop Wigan from winning in the penalties.

One more team is eliminated then. 673 will see the same fate when a winner is finally declared.

The National Football League starts today. Be sure to catch the action on Zee Sports!

After unnecessary comments after the loss against Barcelona, Mourinho got the well deserved suspension. Now it has come out Mourinho wanted it specified that he was all clear now. UEFASpokesman William Gaillard:

I was quite surprised to hear that he wanted the slate cleaned, because as far as we were concerned everything had already been sorted out.. We have a tradition in football that applies to managers just as much as it does to players. If you are sanctioned, you serve your suspension, pay your fine or whatever and then you start again with a completely clean sheet.

I stated earlier that Mourinho will always be in the news. Even if its for last season’s controversies which are over by now!

Ronaldinho has signed a contract till 2010 after team mates Eto’o, Xavi, Deco and Valdes had done the same. This is huge news for a Barcelona fan like me. The best news I have heard in days. What it means is that Barca will have a strong core group which can make it a champion side with pedigree history can refer back to. Barcelona showed immense skills last season. People who watchthe English Premiere League will vouch that Chelsea is the best team in the world but I would vouch that Barca is the best.

With a lengthy contract, Barcelona has a chance to show every one their true potential and silence the doubters. Best of all, ronaldinho is saying what every Barca fan would want him to say:

I am very happy in this side and this type of contentment doesn’t have a price. I want for nothing here and look forward to staying for many years

The side was a shadow of its former self last season. They were displaced from the traditional big 4 of english football. This early season has been worst than ever in their history. So a boost was definitely needed. The signing of Michael Owen, a scoop considering Owen first wanted to go there on loan may be one of the crucial turning points in the history of Newcastle.

In Shearer and Owen they have former England pairing. Shearer is on the way to retirement but Owen is still very young and has a lot ahead of him. Will Owen decide to stay more than a year? Who knows. You can never say in football.

In a big surprise, Barca failed to score versus newly promoted Alaves. I am worried. Barcelona is one side which showed last season it could score a lot of goals. Bonano, the former Barca player jept out of his skin to avoid Barcelona a win.

I hope this is just a hitch start and not a sign of things to come.

After the joy of watching Barca play beautiful one touch football under Rijkaard, I cant wait for the first game on Saturday. Apart from the magic of Ronaldinho, I am looking forward to seeing Van Bommel in his first la liga match for Barca.

The first port of call for the Catalans will be Mendizorroza stadium, home of newly promoted Alaves and the league’s second smallest venue with a capacity of 19,000.

Madrid is looking more knit than last season with the likes of Baptista and Robinho. Can they pose a serious challenge? I certainly hope so as it would lead to a good battle as to who finally ends up the champions.

Also, I really hope Barca can win the Champions league this season and show every one what a great team they are.

It was just West Brom but the display by Chelsea versus West Brom was impressive. Wright Philips was fast and persistent. Makelele and Lampard were strong. I thought Ession showed a bit of inexperience but did not lack in enthusiasm. Drogba is some one I am not hugely impressed by. Maybe try Crespo more for a while.

Barcelona start their Spanish league defense over the weekend and they have a stronger side.

Will we have another Chelsea versus Barca clash with a stronger team for both squads? The prospect with a hopeful Barca victory makes me smack my lips!

Between work 10 AM to 8 PM the sport action I have been able to catch up has been the excellent Ashes contest and the football.

The Ashes have truly surprised me. I did not give the English a chance to win even a test even though I was sure they would give a good fight. I have never seen a close Ashes contest and feel luck I am able to catch the best Ashes contest since 1989.

I managed to catch three Premiership games over the weekend. Liverpool and Gerrard could not score but I liked the well fought out match nevertless. Arsenal vs Newcastle was scratchy but the backup strength of Arsenal looks good. Chelsea vs Wigan was a classic and a heartbreak when Crespo scored.

Too bad the net connection in my room has been non existant for the past few days resulting in a dormancy in posts in the blog.

The Robinho deal with Real is looking on shaky grounds now. And now they have signed Baptista going one up on Arsenal.

So what does the future hold for one of the most talked about new Brazilian players? Brazil keeps producing amazing talent despite football being a world game and all the money and training being in Europe. At least the world should get a chance to know how good Robinho can be in Europe.

Meanwhile Real is still pretty sure Robinho will end up in Madrid. We have not heard the last of this.

Jose Mourinho, after saying Chelsea may stop needing players in his last year said a few days ago that he is recruiting players so that no one takes his place for granted in the side and not because he needs them. So why wont the players start taking their places for granted in 5 years time!?

Also, now there is a lot of bad blood between Arsenal and Chelsea after Mourinho called for Dein to quit. FA has criticsed Mourinho over the comments and Wenger on a different is ruing the purse Mourinho has at his disposal.

Mourinho is frank, Mourinho is blatant, Mourinho is abrasive, Mourinho is calculated and Mourinho will go to any means - psychological warfare/not follow transer rules to accomplish his task of winning. Most crucially he is opinionated and the manager of the team which won the English Premiership last season.

He was in news last year and he will be in the news much more than ever before this season.