Barca Fans in India to Miss on La Liga Action
There are reports emerging there is a high chance of the La Liga fans in India missing out on this season's actions. ESPN Star network had the right to telecast La Liga last season. The fans had already missed the opening day matches but was pinning hope of ESPN-Star network bagging the rights late on. But now it looks like that is a non-existent option. ESPN STAR Sports paid 1 million/ year last season for the telecast of La Liga action. In most times they showed deferred and truncated matches; but still La Liga fans were satisfied as they could catch some actions of the same. La Liga matches start late in the night in India and ESPN STAR Sports has decided it does not make economic sense to air the same. Now the only Barca action we will be hoping to catch will be the Champions league actions, which will be aired by Ten Sports and Zee Sports.
Messi and Ronaldo, No Match to Maradona's Greatness
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has been compared to the Argentinian legend 'El Diego' throughout their career. Messi has been brought up as the natural heir to Maradona's throne, while Ronaldo has always maintained the view that he is above all in the world. As far as I am concerned these comparisions are futile and I have stated the same many times earlier. By comparing Maradona to Messi or Ronaldo we are doing a great injustice to the greatness of Maradona and at the same time we are also putting unwanted pressure in these two upcoming stars. The recent showing of these two geniuses in International Matches serves as the perfect example of why we should not compare them to the Legend. At this moment Argentina and Portugal lies in very precarious position in their respective qualifier group. Argentina is dearly holding on to the fourth position but Portugal looks very lost in their attempt to go to South Africa. As far as I am concerned there is a higher chance of Argentina qualifying than Portugal; but there is an equal chance of both countries missing on him. It will be a determental for the World Cup success to have both Ronaldo and Messi missing.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2009
Maradona in Deep Trouble; Will Harry Redknapp Take Notice ?
Diego Maradona's term as Argenita's coach ran into deep trouble after his side lost a vital home encounter against arch-rivals Brazil. Brazil defeated Maradona's boy by a score of 3-1 in Rosario. Argentina lies in fourth place at this moment, but Columbia and Ecuador lies just two points behind. Argentina can ill-afford to draw a single of their last three matches now, let alone lose. Argentina's task is made much harder by the fact that they will be travelling to Paraguay and Uruguay for these matches. They will be facing Paraguay on Wednesday and Maradona cannot afford to get his selections wrong there. Messi was the best Argentinian player on the field but was constantly kept under check by a Brazilian defense. Argentinian defense practically looked non-existent and the midfield is struggling in the lack of a creative midfielder. Maradona's only option now looks like using Messi in the midfield to create some moves and having Aguero, Milito and Tevez in the front to finish of those moves. With Heinze in it will be disastrous to use a three man defense. Meanwhile Dani Alves came in as a substiute in the second half.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
AUGUST 28, 2009
How Significant is Barca's Super Cup Victories?
FC Barcelona has added two more silverware with the victories at domestic and European super cup. Some claim this as two more trophies to an already silverware packed last season, whereas some sees this as two more trophies to a bright looking this season; It all depends on how you view it. Last season FC Barcelona comfortably won the Champions League, La Liga and Copa Del Rey title. That made the possibility of competing for six trophies this season. Already we have grabbed two out of the six, but the significance of these two has to be questioned. I have earlier written in a post that a Super Cup victory will not be hailed as a great result but definitely a lose would have asked questioned about the squad and the club. No one in the press or footballing fraternity is going to go over-board with Barca's triump at Spanish Super Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
FC Barcelona Wins UEFA Super Cup
FC Bracelona - 1, Shaktar Donetsk - 0
FC Barcelona won the UEFA Super cup for the third time in history with a 1-0 victory over Shaktar at the Louis II stadium in Monaco. A late Pedro Rodriguez strike in the second half o the extra time was the difference between the two sides. FC Barcelona went with a line-up as I predicted to the build up of the match. Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique and Abidal formed the defense; Xavi, Toure and Keita were present in midfield; Henry, Ibra and Messi formed the attacking troika. From the beginning it was clear that Shaktar was taking an ultra defensive approach. Barca started the match very slowly and there was no pace in the build up. This suited Shaktar well and they held firm without creating much of chances. Throughout the first half and upto half way in the second half, the match was very boring. It was so boring that you can confidently take a nap without missing any action, as there were none. In that time there were only three shots on target from both sides.
UEFA Super Cup Preview
UEFA Champions League winner FC Barcelona will face UEFA Cup Winner Shaktar Donetsk at the Louis II stadium in Monaco to decide the winner of this year's super cup. This will officialyy flag the start of this year's Champions League season. For FC Barcelona this will be a great oppurtunity to start the season in the right not. They have already won the Spanish Super Cup, and will be looking forward to bag their second official silverware of this season. Pep Guardiola has taken all his available player to Monaco. He has also included four youth players in the squad - Jeffren Suárez, Andreu Fontàs, Marc Muniesa and Jonathan Dos Santos. Andres Iniesta and Marquez has been included in the squad but niether has got green light from the medical staff. This would be an epic match for Chygrynskiy as he will be making his switch to Barca after this match.
