European Soccer Review

While not always officially the “halfway mark” of the season, the Christmas/New Year's break has always been considered as much in European football. And while the importance of the dates are debatable, the turning of the calendar is always something of a benchmark for soccer fans in Europe. By this stage, the domestic races have taken shape, both at the top and bottom of the tables. Indeed, one of the most enduring Euro football adages about the Christmas break has to do with teams in the drop zone—those stuck in relegation spots at Christmas are supposedly doomed to finish the season in the same spot. Domestic Cup competitions (especially England’s FA Cup, when Premiership sides finally join the fray) always begin to heat up after New Year’s. The formalities of European “group play” competition in the Champions League and, more recently, the UEFA Cup are also in the rear-view mirror. In those competitions, the turning of the calendar means it’s now knockout elimination time, even though we have to wait until late February for the next dose of clashes in those competitions.

So, as we enter January, it makes sense to take a look at all of the main domestic races on the continent and see how each is shaping up, with an updated list of championship favorites, top contenders, and relegation predictions. In next month’s issue, we’ll be doing the same for upcoming knockout round competition in both the Champs League and UEFA Cup. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, however, another ingenious creation of Sepp Blatter’s has proven a distraction on the world soccer calendar. So, before we get around to reviewing the domestic races, and also to kick off the new year properly, it’s time to pick on the “Seppmesiter” once more.

SEPP’S FOLLIES...THE WORLD CLUB CUP

Oh, goodness, how we were hoping a few years ago that this event would disappear forever! The first World Club Cup, held in Brazil in February of 2000, merely turned the soccer world inside out, especially with Manchester United feeling so obligated (forced?) to participate that it shunned participating in that year’s FA Cup. It was also believed that the FA itself pressured Man U into attending in the hopes of getting in FIFA’s good graces regarding England’s then-candidacy to host the 2006 World Cup, and the subsequent vote on its host country that. Of course, we all know what happened to England’s candidacy and the 2006 World Cup vote. Still, the controversy remains a sore spot for a lot of football fans, and there definitely remain some open wounds in England regarding that Man U decision of almost 7 years ago.

But, big news as Man United’s decision to skip the FA Cup was in 2000, it was all still a peripheral development to the bigger picture, that being the Club World Cup itself, which was and is a blatant attempt by Blatter and FIFA to get their hands on some of the lucrative club-generated money that continues to fuel the operation of its highest-profile federation, UEFA, and its highly-profitable (quite astoundingly so, really) Champions League competition.

After that first misadventure seven years ago in Brazil, the World Club Cup went on hiatus, victim of FIFA’s poor housekeeping and organization (or, more specifically, as a direct result of the collapse of FIFA’s marketing arm, ISSM/ISL). That Blatter somehow managed to revive the event, albeit in a less-obtrusive form, speaks to the resolve (or is it ego?) of the balding Swiss. Never underestimate his brand of persuasion!

The fact is the World Club Cup is not an event that any fan, or team, prioritizes. Indeed, it is one that is almost universally condemned. Participating teams consider it more of a sentence than a reward. That is especially true of the defending European champions, in this year’s case Barcelona, which had to disrupt its domestic La Liga duties in mid-December (after doing as much all autumn long with the Champions League) to fly all of the way to Japan to participate in an event only Blatter himself believes is important.

And a close look at the 6-team lineup for the recent festivities in Japan hardly qualifies the World Club Cup as a meaningful soccer event. Barcelona was thankfully the only Euro side to be disrupted in the middle of its normal season. Internacional of Brazil and America from Mexico were also on hand to lend a little bit of credibility to the proceedings. But the likes of Egypy’s Al Ahli (thilled, it must be noted, at finishing third ahead of America in the tourney), New Zealand’s Auckland City (Auckland City?), and South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors (who?) made up the rest of the 6-team field. It had more the look and feel of one of those dodgy summer exhibition tournaments than a truly meaningful football event. We’re sure Barca manager Frank Rijkaard was tempted to send his reserve team to compete and give his first-stringers a deserved rest, but risking the wrath of FIFA wasn’t worth the trouble. As it was, Barca advanced to the final vs. Internacional, which meant the new World Club Cup ended up being a roundabout version of the old Europe vs. South America “world championship” (also called the Toyota Cup for a few years) played each December in Japan as well. At least that event had a hint of legitimacy, something the new Club World Cup doesn’t have and never will.

It was a no-win deal all of the way for Barcelona, a big target for the other teams looking to make a name for themselves while realizing it would earn few plaudits for beating such an undistinguished field. With so many potholes (including the chance of unnecessary injury to one of its best players), Barca was just looking to survive the jet lag and disruptions and get back to the really important business of Liga football. After pounding outclassed America in the semifinals 4-0 ( a match America earned by beating the feared Jeonbuk Motors), Barca, not surprisingly, it ended up on the short end of a dubious 1-0 loss in the finale, victimized by Internacional’s smash-and-grab tactics and a little bit of shaky refereeing. We get the feeling Blatter took great joy in seeing one of the “evil” big Euro sides (especially from the powerful G-14 group) get its comeuppance from one of the smaller fish in the world soccer ocean.

But Blatter isn’t fooling anyone. After all of his blither about the fans’ best interests and doing “what’s good for the game,” he continues to promote an idea that appeals only to himself, which is a sign of nothing other than massive, uncontrollable ego run amuck. The World Club Cup is a crass grab by FIFA for a piece of the big-money club football pie. Nothing more, nothing less. And if Blatter really is “about the people” as he professes, he should do what the fans want and rid the soccer calendar of another needless event. Permanently.

But don’t hold your breath.

EURO DOMESTIC LEAGUES MIDSEASON UPDATES

ENGLAND...Interestingly, there have been quite a few surprising developments in the EPL this season. Mostly, however, it’s the fact that Chelsea isn’t running away with the race. In fact, it’s not leading at all.

No, that honor at New Year’s goes to none other than Manchester United, exiting December with a 6-point lead over the Blues at the top of the table. Hardly unassailable, especially with visits to Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool still on deck. But it’s a sign of the times in England that the once most-reviled team in the land (Man U) suddenly has become more popular as it stays ahead of the new most-dislikes team on the block from Stamford Bridge. That Chelsea has yet to really “fire” on all cylinders isn’t completely surprising some longtime EPL watchers who have maintained for a while that at some point, manager Jose Mourinho would simply have too much talent on hand to use properly. As it is, new world-class acquisitions such as Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko are having a difficult time making consistent contributions. John Terry’s recent injury casts doubt over the strength of the backline, and the GK situation has been hurting as well. But don’t feel too bad for Chelsea, with Didier Drogba still in fine form up front and Claude Makelele again proving to be the continent’s most unsung star, as he was at Real Madrid. But Mourinho appears more frustrated than we’ve seen during his tenure at the Bridge. And if the Blues come up empty-handed as far as all trophies are concerned this season, we shudder to think what Roman Abramovich might decide to do. Sell the team, perhaps?

For the moment, Man United, with Cristiano Ronaldo in the midst of an MVP season, appear capable of hanging on especially if Terry’s injury lingers at Chelsea. Arsenal, minus an injured Thierry Henry for the past few weeks and springing many defensive leaks on set pieces, again doesn’t appear a serious title threat, and more likely to make a run in the FA Cup or Champs League (like a year ago) instead. A curious byproduct of the Gunners’ malaise has been the increasingly unpleasant demeanor of manager Arsene Wenger, whose gentle personna has morphed into something of a raging bull, based at least upon some controversies and incidents (such as the touchline row with then-West Ham gaffer Alan Pardew). Liverpool has also dropped off the pace bu could remain a force in the FA Cup and/or Champs League. The Reds, however, get a rough draw with Barcelona in the Champs League round of 16. More on that next month.

Surprise teams...Bolton & Portsmouth. Euro contenders...Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Bolton, Portsmouth, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur. Disappointing team...Middlesbrough. Relegation worries...Watford, Charlton, West Ham, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Sheffield United.

SPAIN...Still perhaps the toughest league in Europe, top to bottom. And Christmas break is no time to stop worrying just because a team is outside of the drop zone. There really is no mid-table safety in Liga. The league can rise up and bite any week, as the better squads (especially Barcelona and Real Madrid) have known for years.

The title race, unlike a year ago, when Barca was dominant, truly appears up for grabs. The Camp Nou crew, minus last season’s top Liga scorer Samuel Eto’o since September, has definitely fallen back to the pack. The absence of Eto’o (who could return before Champs League play reconvenes in February), and Henrik Larsson’s offseason departure, have robbed the attack of some of its cutting edge. Ex-Chelsea man Eidur Gudjohnsen, has scored a few goals but has generally not been able to fill Larsson’s shoes. That’s opened the door for a side such as dangerous Sevilla, last season’s UEFA Cup winner, to mount a serious challenge. The southern side has already beaten Barca once, and knowledgeable Iberian observers are insisting the team is the real deal. Ex-Spurs striker Frederic Kanoute leads all Liga scorers with 14 goals heading into January.

Don’t forget Real Madrid, either, lurking only a few points off the pace but looking a bit better set to carry the battle into the spring under coach Fabio Capello, Capello, who won Liga in his last stint at the Bernabeu in 1996-97, has made good use of ex-Man U striker Ruud van Nistelrooy (left), but is still figuring out how the lineup will have to slowly unwind itself from the likes of David Beckham, Ronaldo, and Raul. Fabio Cannavaro has lent some real steel to the defense, however, and Iker Casillas is solid in goal. Valencia looked a legit title contender for the first two months before a spate of injuries sent the team on a 6-match winless streak in November. The “Che” have recovered, but look more likely to cause trouble in the Champs League, especially with Fernando Morientes providing the atrtack end with more bite.

Surprise team...Recreativo Huelva. Euro contenders...Sevilla, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Real Zaragoza, Recreativo, Osasuna, Getafe, Espanyol, Villarreal. Disappointing teams...Deportivo, Real Betis... Relegation worries...Gimnastica, Real Sociedad, Real Betis, Levante, Athletic Bilbao, Mallorca.

ITALY...There’s less interest in Serie A this season, and for good reason. Last spring’s scandal that banished Juventus to Serie B and docked the likes of AC Milan and Fiorentina significant points has left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. Moreover, it has left Inter Milan head and shoulders above everyone else in the league.

Talent-wise, no one in Serie A can touch Inter these days, not after Patrick Vieira escaped Juve to join the likes of Hernan Crespo, Zlatan Ibrahimovich, Luis Figo, and Adriano to form one of Europe’s most-imposing rosters. With Marco Materazzi and Walter Samuel holding down the defense, and Francesco Toldo still a top-flight keeper, Inter is loaded, and it would be a shock if the nerazzurri, comfortably on top at New year’s, don’t win the scudetto in a trot.

Only Roma has stayed within earshot, thanks mainly to Francesco Totti’s amazing comeback (12 goals already!) from last year’s serious leg injury. Palermo showed good early foot but has faded lately, losing three times and drawing twice in its last 7 games before Christmas to fall 13 points behind Inter. Moreover, sporting director Rino Foschi just received a severed goat’s head from disgruntled fans in a Godfather-like warning to do better or else. And what about that poor goat? Ah, Serie A fans, priorities in order like always.

The chasm between the first three and the rest is canyon-like, especially with Milan and Fiorentina deducted 8 and 15 points, respectively, off the bat. At least those teams look like they’ll survive the penalty and stay in the top flight. Maybe not Reggina, however, itself docked 11 points and squarely in the drop zone at New Year’s.

Surprise team...Catania Calcio. Euro contenders...Inter, Roma, Palermo, Catania, AC Milan, Lazio, Udinese, Sampdoria, Fiorentina. Disappointing teams...Chievo Verona, Parma. Relegation worries...Ascoli, Parma, Reggina, Chievo Verona, Messina, Cagliari.

GERMANY...Recently the territory of Bayern Munich (a conclusive league winner the past two seasons), the race seems very much up for grabs this time around, and we suspect this one will end up being one of Europe’s trop domestic dogfights before all is said and done.

A lot of the same names are in the upper half of the table as last year. But leading the charge to oust Bayern Munich is Werder Bremen, itself a bit disappointed it was KO’d in the Champs League (thanks to a brutal qualifying group with Chelsea and Barcelona) but now only concerned with the UEFA Cup in addition to the Bundesliga. Bremen, the last non-Bayern Munich Bundesliga champ in 2003-04, have been propelled by the goals of top scorer Miroslav Klose, who has picked up where he left off in the World Cup. Schalke is also putting up a real battle, tied with Bremen for the top spot entering January and boasting the most air-tight defense (just 17 goals allowed in 17 games) in all of Germany, if not one of the best in all of Europe.

Of course, that elephant sitting in the corner of the room is Bayern Munich, and even after a cold spell in November and December sits only 3 point adrift of the top spot. Michael Ballack has bene missed in midfield, although Mark van Bommel has proven a useful addition. We still expect Bayern Munich to prevail, but it’s going to be tight. Remember that Bundesliga teams take a long winter break and won’t be in action again until late January.

Surprise team...Arminia Bielefeld. Euro contenders...Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Schalke, Stuttgart, Hertha Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen. Disapponting teams...Hamburg, Borussia Dortmund. Relegation worries...Mainz, Hamburg, Borussia Moenchengladbach, Energie Cottbus, VfL Bochum.

FRANCE...We don’t have to even bother about title talk in Ligue Un. Lyon is flying away to its sixth straight domestic crown, almost lapping the field before Christmas. Lyon’s 15-point lead is eclipsed in Euro only by runaway Scottish leader Celtic, which might have the SPL wrapped up by St. Patrick’s Day. The same could be true for Lyon, which is in the enviable position of being able to focus on upcoming Champions League duties while not worrying much about its domestic respnsibilities.

Elsewhere, there is a spritied battle taking place for the other European spots up for grabs. One team not in that mix appears to be disappointing PSG.

Surprise teams...Sochaux, St. Etienne. Euro contenders...Lyon, Lens, Sochaux, St. Etienne, Lille, Marseille, Nancy, Bordeaux. Disappointing teams...PSG, Monaco. Relegation worries...Sedan, Nice, Troyes, Nantes, Valenciennes.

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