The revamped League Cup format has been a success

Summer is the enemy of the football fan. That period from June until mid-August when everyone else relaxes in the sun, releasing the pressure built up at work or school, we sit gawping over click-bait articles about transfer rumours conjured up in the imagination of some glorified blogger. Then the unimportant friendlies begin. These are our little fixes – enough to get us to the beginning of the proper football. The clubs might not take them seriously, but that won’t stop us from dissecting them for every second of talking points. Fortunately the SPFL have been kind enough to end that suffering just that little bit earlier this summer.

The revamped Betfred League Cup created enough talking points of its own when it was announced. The SPFL changed the duration of the competition, bringing the final back to November, like it used to be, and introduced a regionalised system and a group stage. The SPFL certainly couldn’t be derided for being stuck in the past; most welcomed these changes, even if some of the regionalisation seemed a little off – Dumbarton in the same group as Peterhead, for instance. But would the alterations make a difference? Could they conjure up excitement about a second-rate domestic competition?

The answer, so far, has not been clear.

With one round of fixtures remaining, five of the eight groups are topped by teams outside the Premiership, including two League One sides in East Fife and Alloa Athletic. Plus, if the tournament were to end now, two of the four second place teams to progress would be from the Championship – although the complex rules regarding second place teams make it a confusing situation to work out. That means, with Celtic, Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs joining the 12 in the next round, half of those involved in the next round would be from the lower leagues. That’s the same number as the season before. So, despite the grouped nature of the round favouring Premiership sides, who are safe from one-off shock results disrupting their cup run, the lower league teams are still represented. But there’s more to this than just results for the League One and League Two clubs.

13 of the 20 clubs in those two divisions were eliminated from the tournament in the first round last season, and just three of those eliminations took place in front of a home audience. Supporters of Premiership sides might not understand, being used to advancing in at least one of the two cup competitions, but, for fans of lower league sides, cup competitions can be a short adventure. Montrose, for example, crashed out of the League Cup at Easter Road, losing 3-0 to Hibs, and then suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of Lothian Thistle Hutchinson Vale in the Scottish Cup. Two defeats, and two cup exits at the first time of asking. Just one took place at Links Park. The revamped League Cup offers them, and their fans, the chance to spend a little more time in a competition. East Fife are a good example of this at work. A bumper crowd of 1,407 witnessed the League One club besting Dundee on penalties after a one-all draw, a result which the Fifers merited; the travelling support got to see them defeat Dumbarton through on the west coast; and the Methil side then continued their almost-perfect form with a victory over Peterhead. Last season East Fife were one of the two League Two teams to reach the second round of the competition, before losing at home to Motherwell. And, while the tournament should help these lower league sides in this regard, there are also benefits for the Premiership outfits.

Turnover wouldn’t be an adequate description of the transformation Kilmarnock have endured this summer under manager Lee Clark – he introduced eleven fresh recruits in one afternoon. Clark has little time to decide upon his starting eleven prior to the start of the league season, but the introduction of the group stage should be a huge boost to his planning. Rather than trying out his overhauled squad in a number of uncompetitive friendlies, Clark has had the chance to assess his signings in a more testing environment. He wouldn’t have had this leisure in previous summers. This is, of course, an extreme example, but it demonstrates how Premiership sides, should they take the competition seriously, can use these extra fixtures to their advantage.

I, for one, think the rejuvenated format has been a success. We’ve seen more cup upsets than usual, including the elimination of holders Ross County after a 3-2 defeat against Alloa Athletic, and some entertaining ties, like Aidrieonians’ 3-3 thriller against Queen’s Park and Berwick Rangers pushing Kilmarnock to the wire in their 3-2 loss in the last round of games. There will be those who think the group stage reduces the importance of the tournament, and there are legitimate concerns about the three substitutes allowed at a time when most players are returning to fitness – something that can’t be helped because of FIFA rules regarding official tournaments – but, for the most part, it’s proven to be a successful experiment. It should be an example to those in charge of Scottish football that trying out new things can succeed.

A defining season for Patrick Roberts

The slightly startled expression on Brendan Rodgers’ face following Celtic’s loss to Lincoln Red Imps summed up the Hoops’ demise better than any sentence could. Perhaps he, having been in the cocoon that is the English Premier League, hadn’t been quite so aware of their declining fortunes during Ronny Deila’s tenure. From the outside, one would see them dominating the league, and perhaps think the Nord had been treated harshly. However, during those 90 minutes, Rodgers’ would’ve become all too aware of the true scale of Celtic’s deterioration.

Under Neil Lennon, Celtic reached the Champions League round of 16, and, as every Celtic supporter will remind you, even bested Barcelona at Parkhead. He’d created a squad that looked more than comfortable in securing qualification for the tournament. All Deila needed to do was to keep the team together, and replace those who departed for a chance ‘down south’. However, it quickly became apparent that he lacked the eye for talent that Lennon possessed. Nir Bitton, for all his qualities, isn’t the midfield powerhouse that Victor Wanyama is; Dedryck Boyata made Efe Ambrose look like a competent defender as he struggled to acclimatise to regular competitive football and failed to replace Virgil van Dijk; and Craig Gordon, while a good goalkeeper, doesn’t inspire the same level of confidence that Fraser Forster did. And that’s the spine of the squad. With Scott Brown also struggling to recapture his best form, and the partnership of Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele not quite clicking yet, there’s little for Rodgers’ to be thankful for. One thing he can appreciate, though, is Patrick Roberts.

The winger arrived on loan from Manchester City in January, having signed for the Etihad club from Fulham for £12 million – a sum that reflects his potential. His debut come in an eight minute cameo at the end of Celtic’s 3-0 thrashing of Inverness at Parkhead, and full debut in a mid-week game against Dundee at the same venue. Although the Hoops had to settle for a share of the points that evening, Roberts showed flashes of brilliance. Another couple of substitute appearances followed, as he stood on the side-lines waiting for a chance to prove himself. That moment came at the beginning of April against Hearts.

Roberts started on the right, going up against Igor Rossi and Juwon Oshaniwa. The staunch Hearts defence did an excellent job at marshalling the City loanee in the opening 30 minutes of the game, refusing to let him cut inside as he so often does to great effect. However, when Hearts’ Nigerian left-back lost possession to a persistent Tom Rogic in the 35^th minute, it opened up their back-line. Rogic sprinted inside, luring Alim Ozturk out of position and leaving John Souttar caught between two potential targets. The Aussie midfielder slipped a deft through ball ahead of Roberts, who remained cool as Neil Alexander closed him down, and chipped the ball to the goalkeeper’s right. A cool goal to announce himself to the Celtic faithful. A second came just after half-time. This time the Hearts defence opened up acres of space on the right flank, perfect space for Roberts to make an impact. He charged at the maroon shirted defenders and used his clinical left-foot to send the ball past the outstretched fingertips of Alexander.

His performance that afternoon earned him a starting berth on the right flank. Although he failed to add to his two goals in the next four games – including a shocking miss against Rangers in their Scottish Cup semi-final clash – Roberts continued to highlight his considerable talents. His sheer pace and quick feet are one thing – James Forrest has those – but his sublime touch and quick thinking make him so dangerous for defenders. Add to that a dangerous left foot and you’ve got an understanding of why City were willing to separate with £12 million to bring him to the Etihad.

But it was in Celtic’s next two matches during which Roberts cemented his position as one of Celtic’s best players. The winger tormented a frustrated Hearts defence for a second time, forcing Alexander into making numerous stops to save his side’s blushes, before pouncing on a loose ball to punish the hosts and slotting his shot through the legs of the veteran goalkeeper. His tormenting didn’t end there. Graeme Shinnie had a nightmare against Roberts, being caught out of position several times and struggling to handle the speed of the loanee. A brilliant run and 25-yard thunderbolt and then a stunning curling effort help guide Celtic to a 3-2 win against their title rivals. These two performances proved he was capable of turning a game on its head; something Brendan Rodgers needed after Celtic laboured in their defeat in Gibraltar.

Roberts made an immediate impact. His drive, challenging the nervy Red Imps defence, was a far-cry from the lethargic build-up play Celtic utilised in the first leg. Many of Celtic’s attacking midfield possess the technical skills but lack the confidence and drive to force chances – that can’t be said of Roberts. In the 30^th minute he completed the 3-0 rout with a goal that summed up his talents in one burst. He dragged the ball along the line, waiting for his moment to pounce onto his left-foot. He feigned right, deceiving the full-back, and dodged to his left. A sudden pull-back sent the same defender one way, before twisting past another. Roberts then pulled a pass back to Callum McGregor and darted into the box. McGregor reciprocated and slipped a through ball between the closing defence, inch-perfect as Roberts prepared to shoot. He reached the ball just before a Red Imps defender could make the block, and curled the ball into the bottom corner.

It would be ignorant to suggest that Celtic’s improved performance, and the besting of Lincoln Red Imps, all came down to Patrick Roberts’ influence. There were numerable things for Rodgers to be positive about following the game. That being said, Roberts’ impact is obvious. His pace and directness terrifies defenders, who await the moment he switches to his left-foot and cuts inside. Yes, he’s too one-footed and perhaps a little too predictable, but his deft touches and sublime control of the ball mean defenders can’t seem to prepare for the moment he does make that bursting run. This is the final season he’ll spend at Parkhead. It’s just as important to him as it is to Celtic. He’ll find playing time scarce at the Etihad – Dedryck Boyata is the prime example of the lack of development a young player has when he’s stuck rotting on the bench or in the youth leagues – and that ground can be a rotting ground of once promising talent. If he doesn’t want to be among those names, the ones that fill in the ‘could’ve been’ box, this needs to be a defining season for him.

Rodgers must solve Celtic’s problems quickly

Tens of thousands of Celtic supporters turned out to welcome Brendan Rodgers to Parkhead. There was a buzz about his appointment; a feeling that the Hoops had taken a step in the right direction. In hiring him, the Celtic board had made a signal of intent. He’d been made the highest paid manager in Celtic’s history; the board weren’t doing this on the cheap. Rodgers’ arrival alone brought about a huge increase in season ticket sales. There was something to be excited about this coming season.

That feeling dissolved in his first competitive fixture. Under the shadow of the Rock of Gibraltar, Celtic lost their first round Champions League qualification match against Lincoln Red Imps. This is a team made up of part-timers who’d finished working hours before the game – their left-back’s taxi round had ended at one that afternoon. Lee Casciaro, a police officer, outfoxed and outmanoeuvred Efe Ambrose to score. Their captain, Roy Chipolina, even described it as the ‘biggest shock in European football history’. It was certainly one of the most embarrassing defeats in Celtic’s illustrious history, even if Rodgers tried to downplay it.

Rodgers looked stunned upon the final whistle. After the game he tried to act as a fireman – there’s not one among the Red Imps’ line-up – and handled the criticism aimed at his squad. He even said the result was not an embarrassment. It’s not a surprise to hear a manager come out and defend his players – they all do it – but Rodgers must’ve realised that his side’s limp performance indicated deep-rooted problems that he needs to fix.

The problem for Celtic managers, as Rodgers discovered last night, is that they are not afforded time to organise their teams; to work out the correct formation, the best tactics, and the most efficient line-up. These Champions League qualification games come thick and fast. He doesn’t have the luxury of less important matches to test out his squad. He especially needs time to work out his attacking situation.

Leigh Griffiths scored 40 goals for the Hoops last season yet found himself pushed out to the right flank against the Red Imps. It’s a possible concern about Rodgers. Will the former English Premier League manager think less of players who’ve matured in Scotland in favour of ones who’ve developed in England? Will Griffiths be pushed out of position to make space for Moussa Dembele? The former Fulham striker laboured in the Gibraltar heat. He hasn’t developed a connection with his team-mates; an understanding of their qualities and how to get the best out of them. Griffiths has that. He’s also been a consistent and reliable goal-scorer – he deserved all of his Player of the Year awards last season. It’d be unfair of Rodgers not to give him a chance in his preferred position against the Red Imps back at Parkhead. That would be the first of many changes Rodgers needs to make.

Another is that the partnership of Nir Bitton and Scott Brown needs to end. The holding midfielders are too alike, and the underperformance of Brown in the last year is a cause for concern. He lacks the bite and pace to break up attacks; the confidence that made him such a terror in midfield; and the movement that helped him turn defence into attack. He looks like a shadow of his former self. Bitton, on the other hand, looks like someone who’d rather not be playing for Celtic. It’s been claimed that the Bhoys turned down a £6 million offer from Espanyol for the combative midfielder, hoping to squeeze a further four million pounds for his services. Celtic would lucky if the Spanish side even paid £4 for him after his lame performance in Gibraltar. He looks disinterested. Rodgers must make a change here. Either sell Bitton or drop Brown. The pair are too similar and the team can’t afford both underperforming. Whether that means dropping Tom Rogic deeper, allowing Kris Commons or another to sit behind the striker, or to change the system to a four-four-two, with Griffiths and Dembele working as a pair, Rodgers can’t set out the same line-up. But this still isn’t the most pressing alteration he needs to make.

Efe Ambrose. How does this man – I refuse to call him a defender – still have a role at Celtic? His mistakes and red cards have cost Celtic innumerable points in recent seasons – yet he’s still in a starting berth. Ambrose’s dismissals against Ross County, in the League Cup semi-final, and Fenerbache, in the Europa League group stage, are two notable examples of his errors proving to be turning points in matches. There are many more. And he added to that long montage of mistakes last night. His fumbled defending, sticking too close to his man and reacting too late to his movements, allowed Casciaro to swerve past the Celtic centre-back and put himself in front of Craig Gordon. His mistake again cost Celtic. Brendan must be wondering why Ambrose is still at the club. Does he have something on Dermot Desmond? Did someone accidently sign him to an indefinite contract? It’s an area that Rodgers needs to address in the transfer market. Dedryck Boyata is no better, and Jozo Simunovic, although a promising looking option, is often injured.

In the post-match press conference, Rodgers asked for the support of the Celtic fans at Parkhead. It says a lot about the result that he feels he needs to do this already – normally this cry for help comes much later in a troubled tenure. But it’s important that the Celtic fans – and board – do back Rodgers. Little of the blame can fall at his feet. No manager can truly understand the problems within a squad until he’s seen them playing competitively. But against Lincoln Red Imps he witnessed the absolute worst of Ronny Deila’s Celtic. He’ll have been made aware of the problems and should be coming up with a list of solutions. That is what Rodgers must be judged on.

Euro 2016: Wales 3-1 Belgium – Talking Points

DID WALES JUST GET TO THE SEMI-FINALS?

Let’s put Wales’ achievement into perspective. The last time they reached a quarter-final was also the last time they made it to a major tournament. The goal-scorer who eliminated them: a dashing, 17-year-old Brazilian by the name of Pele. It’s been 58 years since Wales entered a major tournament. And what a tournament it’s been for them.

It feels like every time Wales score they create another glorious moment in their football history. When Gareth Bale scored a free-kick against Slovakia he’d also notched Wales’s first ever goal at a European Championship; when Hal Robson-Kanu snatched three points later that same game he confirmed Wales’ first ever win at a major tournament – the Dragons drew all three of their group games in ’58 – and when Aaron Ramsey, Neil Taylor and Bale sunk Russia, they secured Wales’ first progression since that World Cup in Sweden. But the dream didn’t end there.

Gareth McAuley’s cruel own-goal sent them through to the next round for a testing tie against Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ – a moniker that always seems to do more harm than good. Belgium are, somehow, ranked as the number two team in the world and had been expected, especially given they found themselves in the easier half of the knockout bracket, to reach at least the semi-final. But Wales are going from strength-to-strength. There’s a genuine belief about the squad.

I don’t often enjoy Robbie Savage’s jarring voice co-commentating on games, but when he said ‘go and wake your kids up, something special is happening’ he was completely right. This is a historic achievement. So many generations have missed seeing Wales at a World Cup or a European Championship. Players like Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes and Ian Rush couldn’t do it; couldn’t silence the force that seemed to hold them back. But Bale, Ramsey, Joe Allen, Ashley Williams and every other member of that squad has done it. Wales are in the semi-finals of the European Championship!

 

HIGH-ENERGY BELGIUM IS THE BEST BELGIUM

When the always reliable for a quote Thibaut Courtois was asked about the future of manager Marc Wilmots, he admitted that he’d given his opinion in the changing room but the final decision was up to him. There’ll be few who disagree with Courtois’ statement. Wilmots has proven to be a tactically inept manager, who has wasted Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ so far, failing to create a team and instead sticking out eleven talented individuals. Their lacklustre performance against Wales summed up their problems.

The Belgians had started brightly. They attacked with energy and purpose and should have scored an early goal. Romelu Lukaku found Yannick Carrasco free at the far post. The Atletico Madrid midfielder stopped the ball, moved it to his right foot, and then slammed it straight at Wayne Hennessey. The rebound fell to Thomas Meunier, who stuck the ball hard into a crowd of red shirts blocking the line. Neil Taylor made the crucial block on the line. Another deflection sent Eden Hazard’s final effort sailing over the crossbar. Radja Nainggolan then produced a stunning strike to reward Belgium’s drive. But then the Red Devils changed.

That pedestrian style which has hampered Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku in particular came back to the fore. Belgium’s best performances to date – against Hungary, in the second half against the Republic of Ireland, and in the opening 20 minutes of this game – came when they moved at speed, running into space, making quick passes, and getting at teams. They aren’t unified enough as a unit to break teams down like Spain. Players like de Bruyne and Hazard need space to flourish, and playing at an OAP tempo means opponents can pack their defences and close down any potential space.

If Wilmots is replaced, which should be the case, Belgium need to recruit a coach who can nurture this talented squad. Antonio Conte and Chris Coleman have proved that team-work and structure beat individualism – if Belgium are to take advantage of the tools at their disposal, they need someone who can create a team. If not, then that’s another ‘Golden Generation’ wasted.

 

RAMSEY WILL BE MISSED

Aaron Ramsey looked gutted upon seeing a yellow card flashed at his face. It’s a ridiculous rule that two bookings in five games mean he’ll miss the semi-finals. The Arsenal midfielder has been tremendous for Wales so far, even eclipsing the performances of Bale. Supporters of the Gunners might question where he’s been all season; often a peripheral figure in the Arsenal midfield, he’s declined since standing out a couple of seasons ago. His movement and passing is linking the entire Wales midfield and attack, helping get the best out of Bale and co. Wales will certainly miss his presence.

Euro 2016: Italy v Germany: A Short History

There have been two constants in European international football: Germany and Italy. England, Spain, the Netherlands and France have all had spells of success, but have been far too inconsistent to be considered regular challengers. The Azzurri and Die Mannschaft, however, have eight World Cups between them. It makes sense, then, that these giants of football would be rivals. But this isn’t one built on war or religion, elements outside the football sphere, but rather competition and success. It’s also a rather one sided rivalry.

We’re not used to seeing the Germans bring emotion into football. Englishmen think of the German national team as a Teutonic nightmare; an ever-reliable and destructive presence. Yet, when it comes to facing Italy, fear enters the German psyche, for the Germans have never beaten the Italians at a major competition. It’s a streak that stretches back to 1962.

 

1962 World Cup – Group Stage – West Germany 0-0 Italy

The Chilean World Cup marked the first meeting between Die Mannschaft and the Azzurri in a major competition. Although both had lifted the World Cup – Germany in ’54 after the ‘Miracle in Bern’; Italy in ’34 and ‘38 – those accolades had marked the beginning of a decline. The Superga tragedy robbed the Italians of a generation of shining talents – ten of their eleven starters at the time were Il Grande Torino players – and as a result the nation crashed out of Brazil ’50 and Switzerland ’54 in the first round and had missed out on Sweden ’58 entirely. Germany, meanwhile, had yet to introduce professionalism to its game – something it did in 1964 when it also created the Bundesliga. Despite their struggles, both possessed amazing talents.

The tournament marked the World Cup debut of Gianni Rivera. Italy’s ‘Golden Boy’ made appearances at the next three tournaments for the Azzurri and is regarded as one of the best attackers to ever grace the blue shirt. He wasn’t the only Milan legend in the team. Cesare Maldini made his only World Cup appearance in ’62, unable to replicate his success at club level for the national team. And behind him stood Inter goalkeeper Lorenzo Buffon – yes, he is related. The Germans, on the other hand, had Willi Schulz, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, one of the best left-backs of his generation, and Uwe Seeler, who scored 43 goals in 72 matches for the national team and was later chosen as one of FIFA’s 125 Greatest Living Players.

Although a lot of great rivalries start out with great matches, this one did not. The Germans had the better of the chances, striking the post on one occasion, but neither team could make the breakthrough. The match finished 0-0. The West Germans went on to top the group, but a 1-0 defeat to Yugoslavia in the next round sent them packing. The Italians didn’t even escape the group.

 

1970 World Cup – Semi Finals – Italy 4-3 West Germany (AET)

If the 1962 World Cup marked a nadir for both the Azzurri and Die Mannschaft, the 1970 edition highlighted them at their peaks. The Italians had suffered the embarrassment of being eliminated from the ’66 World Cup at the hands of the less-than-mighty North Korea – hope Kim Jong-un doesn’t read this – but came back in style to lift the 1968 European Championship. A fresh generation had emerged to lift the national team out of the slumber it had been in since ’49. Dino Zoff, Giacinto Facchetti, Luigi Riva and Sandro Mazzola all broke through at the same time, creating one of the strongest national teams of the time. The Germans had also made vast improvements.

The introduction of professionalism and the creation of the Bundesliga in 1964 ushered in a new era in German football. The changes yielded immediate results. While England defeated them in the ’66 final in London, there had been a noticeable improvement in the standard of their players. Bayern Munich legends Sepp Maier, Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller, all of whom would go on to lift three successive European Cups, and Monchengladbach great Berti Vogts added to a line-up which still included the veteran trio of Willi Schulz, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger and Uwe Seeler. Both the Germans and the Italians boasted brilliant teams, but only one could reach the final of the 1970 World Cup.

It’s not often that a game is declared the ‘Game of the Century’. Yet, there is plaque stating as such on the side of the Estadio Azteca. The game in reference: Italy v West Germany. The Italians struck first, Roberto Boninsegna dancing through the German midfield before lashing the ball past Maier within eight minutes. It appeared that it might be enough for the Azzurri to reach the final. However, in the final minute, Schnellinger received a cross from Jurgen Grabowski and side-footed it into the bottom right corner. The Germans had sent the game to extra-time. At that point all hell broke loose. Der Bomber lived up to his moniker, scoring twice and sandwiching goals from Tarcisio Burgnich and Riva. Four goals in 20 minutes had left the sides on three apiece. But one minute after Muller’s second celebration, the Italians were celebrating a goal of their own. Boninsegna charged up the left flank just after the restart and pulled the ball back across the box to Rivera. The Milan legend fired first time and sent it straight through the centre of the German box and into the net. The goal concluded an exhilarating 21 minutes of football.

The exhausted Italians held on to progress to the final. Unfortunately for them, the side they were meeting was that Brazil team. The Selecao demolished them 4-1.

 

1978 World Cup – Second Group Stage – Italy 0-0 West Germany

Germany dominated European football in the mid-seventies. After recovering from their defeat to the Azzurri, the Germans lifted the European Championship in ’72 and the World Cup in ‘74. During this period, Beckenbauer’s Bayern clutched their resilient hands around European Cup, lifting on three successive occasions. However, all periods of domination must come to an end. The reigning champions lost their European Championship on penalties to Czechoslovakia – the last time the Germans lost a shootout at a major tournament – and looked off the pace in the ‘78 World Cup. The Italians, meanwhile, were on an opposite trajectory.

Italy missed out on the ‘72 and ‘76 European Championships and crashed out of the ‘74 World Cup in the first round, losing to Poland. However, another era began for the Italian national team. Paolo Rossi broke through at Vicenza, scoring 24 goals for the promoted side as the team went on to finish second in Serie A. The striker shone for the national team alongside Roberto Dettega and Franco Causio, collecting the Silver Ball for being the second best player at the tournament. With Antonio Cabrini, Claudio Gentile and Gaetano Scirea in defence, and a burgeoning Marco Tardelli holding in midfield, the Italians could boast one of the strongest teams in Argentina.

Both teams had progressed through the initial group stage to reach the second one: the Italians had a perfect record, winning all three of their games, including a 1-0 win over eventual champions Argentina, and the Germans squeezed through ahead of third place Tunisia. Their meeting, however, proved to be more like their 1962 match than their ‘Game of the Century’ classic. A scoreless draw had little impact on the finish of the group. The Netherlands trashed Austria 5-1 and defeated the Azzurri 2-1 to reach the final.

 

1982 World Cup – Final – Italy 2-0 West Germany

It hadn’t been plain sailing for the Azzurri since the planting the seeds in ’78. The team finished fourth in the European Championships in ’80 and did it without their star striker. The Totonero scandal ended up with Paolo Rossi being banned from the game for three years, although later reduced to two. And what a difference a year makes.

The Germans, on the other hand, had lifted their second European Championship in the Stadio Olimpico. This generation was based around a midfield including Bernd Schuster and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and built upon a defensive foundation consisting of Uli Stielike and Karlheinz Forster. Schuster didn’t make it to the ’82 World Cup, though, after suffering a bad injury to his right knee. His absence meant the return of Paul Breitner, who’d retired from international duty years before.

Both Italy and West Germany were fortunate to squeeze through their respective groups. The Germans suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Algeria in their opening game, one of the biggest shock results of the time, and came close to crashing out of the group stages. Coming into their final game against Austria, with Algeria having beaten Chile the day before and thus on four points, the Germans knew that a win would be enough for them to scrape through on goal difference. The match between them and Austria has come to be known as the Schande von Gijon or the Disgrace of Gijon. Horst Hrubesch scored inside ten minutes…and the game ended. Not literally, of course. But both teams stopped attacking; passing the ball around their defences and making no effort to score. One German commentator refused to comment once he realised what was happening. The Algerians lodged an official complaint but neither team had done anything wrong. Austria and West Germany progressed, and a furious Algeria headed home. Italy, on the other hand, were lacklustre. Three tired and pedestrian performances secured them three draws, enough for them to progress ahead of Cameroon thanks to their superior number of goals scored.

Something clicked in the next round, though. The Italians came to life. Goals from Tardelli and Cabrini were enough to beat Argentina and a superb Rossi hat-trick defeated a classic Brazil team – one that featured Falcao, Socrates, Zico and Luizinho. The Germans held England to a goalless draw in their second group and then defeated Spain. In the semi-finals Rossi again struck gold. The clinical striker grabbed a brace against Poland and secured a place in the final. The Germans had a tougher route. Their 3-3 clash with France is regarded as one of the greatest World Cup games. Michel Platini even called his ‘most beautiful game’. Harold Schumacher saved Maxime Bossis’s spot-kick; the frustrated Hrubesch scored his; and West Germany progressed to another World Cup final.

The Italians never looked like losing inside the Santiago Bernabeu. Rummenigge had yet to recover from a knock he’d sustained earlier in the tournament and Hansi Muller was relegated to a place on the bench. The Germans were more content with stopping the Italians from playing; and thus the first-half had little to it. Cabrini missed the chance to put the Italians in the lead after 24 minutes, after Hans-Peter Briegel lunged in on Bruno Conti and conceded a penalty. Enzo Bearzot refused to let his team’s heads drop. In the second half the Azzurri came alive and demolished the turgid Germans. In the 57^th minute Tardelli took a quick free-kick that caught out the unorganised German defence. Claudio Gentile put the ball in the box, where it evaded a host of blue and white shirts before the perfectly-timed foot of Paolo Rossi poked it past a stunned Schumacher. The Italians didn’t settle for one, though, and ripped the ill-disciplined Germans apart. A second came soon after. Some precise and slick passing sliced open the opposition defence and led to Tardelli rifling a second in. He sight of his manic and ecstatic frame charging from the scene of his goal, his arms pumping and his mouth agape, towards a huddle of blue shirts is one of the classic World Cup memories. A third rounded off a spectacular second-half performance. Conti spearheaded a sudden counter-attack and ran half the length of the pitch to the edge of the German box. The befuddled defence swarmed to him and thus opened up a huge gap in the centre. Conti’s simple pass found Alessandro Altobelli, who took one touch to take it around an onrushing Schumacher and then fired the ball into the unprotected net. A late Breitner strike squeezes past a 40-year-old Dino Zoff for a consolation goal but game is all but done – Breitner can’t even bring himself to celebrate.

The Italians matched Brazil’s record of three World Cup victories and had done so at the expense of the West Germans.

 

1988 European Championship – Group Stage – Italy 1-1 West Germany

Both the West Germans and the Italians had declining fortunes after the World Cup final. The Azzurri failed to reach the 1984 European Championship and a 2-0 defeat to France eliminated them from the World Cup in the round of 16. Following a first-round elimination from the ’84 Euros, West Germany turned to former captain Franz Beckenbauer. The Germans rebounded under the leadership of Der Kaiser and reached the final of the ’86 World Cup, losing to Argentina 3-2. The old rivals met once again at the 1988 European Championships in the group stage and the first match of the tournament.

The match highlighted another generation of young stars for both teams. The Germans boasted Lothar Matthaus, Jurgen Klinsmann and Rudi Voller; the Italians Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Mancini, Gianluca Vialli, and the defensive duo of Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini. Mancini made his mark first: the Sampdoria striker pounced on a defensive error and hit the ball first-time past the fingertips of Eike Immel. But Italy’s lead didn’t last. An indirect free-kick bounced off Andreas Brehme and beat Walter Zenga. Beckenbauer and Azeglio Vicini had to settle for a share of the spoils that afternoon.

Both the Azzurri and Die Mannschaft won against Spain and Demark and thus secured progression to the semi-finals. There, however, the Germans lost to that Marco van Basten strike and the Italians succumbed to the Soviet Union in a 2-0 loss.  

 

1996 European Championship – Group Stage – Italy 0-0 Germany

Beckenbauer’s West Germany went from strength-to-strength after the disappointment of losing to the Netherlands in ’88. They reached their third consecutive World Cup final in ’90 and defeated Argentina to get revenge for their defeat in ’90, before Berti Vogts replaced the outgoing Beckenbauer. Euro ’92 welcomed the unified Germany, who reached another final but lost out to Denmark. A shock defeat to Bulgaria in the quarter-finals eliminated them from the ’94 World Cup.

The Italians had had mixed success at the same time. The Azzurri missed out on lifting the World Cup in Rome after losing 4-3 on penalties to Argentina in Naples in 1990 and then missed out on Euro 1992 altogether. Roberto di Baggio’s high spot-kick cost them the World Cup final in ’94. Their fortunes did not improve in 1996.

The Italians and Germans again found themselves meeting in the group stages. Another goalless draw followed. Germany had already progressed anyway, but the result meant Arrigo Sacchi’s side missed out on the knockout rounds of the tournament. The Germans would go on to lift the cup, defeating Croatia, England and the Czech Republic on route.

 

2006 World Cup – Semi Finals – Italy 2-0 Germany (AET)

The Azzurri flourished after Euro ’96, reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup in ’98 and the final of Euro 2000. On both occasions, however, the Italians came out second best to France’s ‘golden generation’. Another dip followed, though. Controversial officiating cost them in their last 16 tie against South Korea in 2002, and they then failed to escape their group at Euro 2004.

The Germans had also been in decline after lifting the European Championship in Wembley. Croatia thrashed them 3-0 in the quarter-finals of France ’98 and a 3-0 drubbing by Portugal left them bottom of their group at Euro 2000. These performances led to the change in system that has brought about this current generation of stars. The Germans had low expectations heading into World Cup 2002. Die Mannschaft had missed out on automatic qualification and had looked disjointed through the campaign. However, at the tournament itself, a relatively simple route led them to the final – Paraguay, the US, and South Korea stood in their way. A Ronaldo double ended any hopes they had of lifting another World Cup for the time being. A first-round exit at Euro 2004 continued their previously terrible form at major tournaments. Many expected that to continue in 2006.

The teams met in a pre-tournament friendly before the World Cup and the Italians crushed the Germans 4-1. Jurgen Klinsmann’s stock had reached ground level. But, like in 2002, the Germans again came together at just the right time. Ecuador, Poland and Costa Rica were all put to the sword in the group stage. Lukas Podolski grabbed a brace to eliminate Sweden in the round of 16 before penalties put them through to the semi-finals at the expense of the tipped Argentina. The Azzurri had also been convincing throughout. The Italians strolled through their group and then dispatched Australia and Ukraine in the knockout rounds. The 3-0 thrashing of the latter secured them their semi-final against the hosts in Dortmund. They’d also conceded just one goal – an own-goal – in the entire tournament.

On paper, the Italians held the advantage. This was not a classic Germany side. Michael Ballack captained a team including Tim Borowski, Sebastian Kehl, Christoph Metzelder and Arne Friedrich – all good, but not great, players. Italy, on the other hand, had a centre-back pairing of Marco Materazzi and Fabio Cannavaro, who collected the Ballon d’Or in 2006, Pirlo and Gattuso in centre-midfield, and Francesco Totti and Luca Toni up front – one of the strongest spines you could ask for.

Like in 1982, the organised Germans looked to stifle the attacking flair of the Italians. Ballack and co had a smattering of half-chances but Gigi Buffon was more than capable of handling their desperate attempts. Italy couldn’t find the breakthrough: Alberto Gilardino danced through the German defence but his tight-angled shot struck the post and Gianluca Zambrotta’s blasted shot cannoned off the crossbar. The Germans had held the Italians off for 119 minutes when their hope of taking the game to the coin-flip that is penalties came crashing down. A failed clearance from a corner landed at the feet of Pirlo. The maestro attracted the attention of four white shirts, leaving Fabio Grosso in acres of space in behind. Pirlo slipped the ball through to the left-back, who hit a first-time shot straight into the bottom left corner. The Germans looked stunned. A couple of minutes later the blue shirts broke on the counter-attack. Gilardino held up the ball as the small legs of Alessandro Del Piero caught up. The Juventus legend angled his run and flicked the ball around the rooted Jens Lehmann.

The Italians had reignited a feud that had died down since 1982. Not that the Azzurri cared. It was they, in Berlin, who lifted the World Cup, as Germany had done so in Rome 16 years before.

 

2012 European Championship – Semi-Final – Italy 2-1 Germany

The Germans’ failures at the turn of the century had led them to restructure their system. In the years that followed that disappointment in Dortmund, they began to see those plans come to fruition. Joachim Low replaced Klinsmann and led them to a runners-up finish at the 2008 Euros and a semi-final spot in South Africa – both times the Spanish ruined their tournaments. The Italians had been less successful since their World Cup triumph. Roberto Donadoni took the reins from the departing Marcello Lippi and took them to Euro 2008. The Italians squeezed through their group after losing 3-0 to the Netherlands and being held to a 1-1 draw against Romania. Donadoni’s spell came to a premature end after his side exited at the quarter-final stage losing on penalties to eventual champions Spain. Lippi returned but he couldn’t recapture former glories. The blues lost to Slovakia and were held by Paraguay and New Zealand, and thus left South Africa at the group stage. There wasn’t expected to be a huge improvement heading into Euro 2012.

However, Cesare Prandelli’s team far exceeded expectations, holding Spain and Croatia and besting the Republic of Ireland. A tight victory over England on penalties sent them to the semi-finals, where they met a familiar foe. The Germans had smashed their group, defeating the Netherlands, Denmark and Portugal without leaving first gear. A 4-2 win over Greece put them up against their rivals in blue.

The Germans had been firm favourites coming into the game, but Mario Balotelli provided a rare glimpse of the talent that lay beyond his flashy exterior that day – one that highlighted why clubs like Liverpool and the Milan sides are desperate for him to succeed. On the 20^th minute, Antonio Cassano held up the ball, spun around to dodge the desperate challenges of Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels and flicked a cross into the six-yard-box. The dome of Balotelli rose high as Holger Badstuber raced back into position. The striker powered the ball past a helpless Manuel Neuer. Cesare Prandelli’s side celebrated a second 16 minutes later. Riccardo Montolivo, trapped deep in his half, picked out a lonesome Balotelli with a stunning long-range pass that eliminated almost the entire German team. Balo let the ball drop and then raced into open space. Philip Lahm was fast catching but Balotelli kept cool and rifled the ball into the top right corner. He ripped off his shirt and posed like statue – but not even the emotionless expression he spread across his face could mask the true jubilation he felt inside. He hugged and smiled the second he ended his façade. The score remained the same until the final minute. Like in 1982, the Germans reduced the deficit but couldn’t change the result. The ball struck the chest/arm area of Federico Balzaretti and French referee Stephane Lannoy deemed it enough to warrant pointing to the spot. Mesut Ozil dispatched his penalty and ran back to the centre-circle. But it was too late, Italy had completed their 8^th win over their German rivals in major competitions.

Euro 2016: Portugal 1-1 Poland – Talking Points

Renato Sanches introduces himself

He brought the ball to walking pace as Cedric Soares bust a gut to catch up. Soares acted as a distraction, forcing Artur Jedrzejczyk to step outside, and leaving just Kamil Grosicki in his path to goal. A sudden shift inside awarded him enough space to slip a delightful ball to Nani, who’d cut through the Polish defence. He ran into the space the chasing defenders had vacated as a huge chasm opened up ahead of him. Nani’s no-look back-heel found him on the edge of the box. He took one touch to move it onto his left-foot and then opened himself up as he released a thunderous shot. The ball skimmed the front of one Polish defender and smacked off the arm of another, redirecting it perfectly into the right corner of the net. Renato Sanches had introduced himself to European football.

Many of us hadn’t had heard of Renato Sanches before this summer. Yet, only the most die-hard Benfica fans and talent scouts would’ve known of him a year ago. It’s been a meteoric rise. Sanches debuted last season and made 36 appearances for Benfica, his performances garnering interest from the biggest clubs in Europe. It came down to Manchester United and Bayern Munich. The Red Devils hesitated and the Germans did the business. Bayern stumped up 35 million euros – a sum that could rise to 80 million if some sources are to be believed – to secure his signature under the nose of United. Yet, for many of us he was still an unknown quantity. He changed that against Poland.

He’d broken two records before half-time: the youngest goal-scorer in a Euros knockout game and the youngest Portuguese starter at a major tournament. But his performance was more than just a goal. He operated as a box-to-box midfielder, dropping back to help out in defence and then bringing the ball forward to link defence and attack. He popped up on the right, through the middle, on the left; his presence was everywhere. He completed 94% of his passes, had 98 touches, more than any Portugal player, completed seven dribbles, and made three interceptions, more than anyone not in defence.

The 18-year-old has the world at his feet.

 

Lewandowski ends his drought

Robert Lewandowski turned up at the party just as the lights were coming up and music was quietening down. Arkadiusz Milik operated in behind the Munich goal-machine and it made for a much better partnership. Both found more space, and Lewandowski flourished for the first time in the tournament. After four games without scoring, he opened up his account in just two minutes against Portugal – the fastest goal in Euro history.

Cedric Soares misjudged a headed clearance and ball found Kamil Grosicki. The winger charged up the left-flank and, with a two-on-two situation in the box, he waited just long enough to force Pepe to move out of position – the Madrid centre-back had to make sure he didn’t have a clear run at the goalkeeper. The space Pepe surrendered left the Polish striker clear. Lewandowski didn’t react like someone desperate for a goal. He didn’t rush or lash out. He remained calm and side-footed the ball past Rui Patricio.

It’s just a shame he ended his drought just as Poland crashed out.

 

Is Ronaldo holding Portugal back?

Earlier this week Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football. The diminutive Argentine has hoisted the burden of an entire nation on his small shoulders for a decade and the stress has finally worn him down. The pressure has killed his love for playing in the blue and white stripes. The same pressure is also killing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Euros.

The Real Madrid star has been atrocious in Euro 2016 apart from a brilliant turn against Hungary; a performance which kept the Seleccao in the tournament. He’s rushing, lashing out, getting frustrated minutes into games. But there are differences between him and Messi. The pressure on Messi is mostly external. Argentinians compare him to Maradona and his exploits in ’86. There’s an expectation that he should win trophies dragging his team-mates kicking and screaming. For Ronaldo, though, the pressure is mostly internal. We all know that he demands the absolute best from himself. His dedication to training, exercise, and, quite simply, perfection, over the years has moulded him into one of the best footballers ever. However, that pressure is getting to him at the moment. He’s missing chances; not passing when he should; looking a shell of the performer he is week-in week-out in Madrid. These lapses in judgement come from the added pressure he’s placing on himself. If he doesn’t begin to relax and think straight, his misses could cost Portugal.