My Opera"Best Players In The World " Set Euro Final Alight ???????
Saturday, May 20, 2006 2:56:15 PM
Anticipation and expectation of a classic Final was dashed in a split second of ludicrous decision making by the Referee. Imlementing the letter of the Law he disallowed a Barcelona goal and awarded them a freekick. The reason being the Arsenal goalkeeper had fouled a Barcelona forward moments earlier.Being the last covering defender the goalkeeper was sent from the field.
The game became 10 players against 11.
My thoughts were of complete disbelief and anger. Disbelief that common sense had not prevailed, and anger that Europe's Premier Club Final had been spoiled for both players and spectators alike.
From the Barcelona players perspective a 1-0 lead after 18 minutes is a good way to start any match. In this match Barcelona had been second best to Arsenal in the opening exchanges and this goal would have settled them down, allowing them to play in a more relaxed manner. Their uncertain opening was quite understandable being hot favourites to win the Cup. This goal would have been the tonic they needed.
From the Arsenal players perspective, they would have no argument with the award of a goal against them as their defence was hopelessly exposed by some fine attacking play. They would also have realised that the game had a long way to go and that they had every chance to redeem the situation in the remaning 72 minutes, given that they had 11 players on the field. In any case they had already proved that the Barcelona defence was far from impregnable, and in fact should have been 1-0 up themselves.
The decision, obvious to all students of the game was -
1 Award the goal
2 Yellow card for a professiona foul to the Goalkeeper
Who was cheated the most by the events that happened?
1 Robert Pires
2 The spectators at the ground who paid high prices for entrance tickets and Travel
What was going through the Referee's mind? I don't know, but I have two ideas to put forward
1 Did he have UEFA or FIFA instructions?
2 Was he too concerned about referee assessors' potential comments about interpretation of the Laws so he was determined to apply the letter of the law in order to avoid criticism?
We shall probably never know.
Anyway, to the game. Up to this point Arsenal opened better, playing some good controlled football and should have scored after about 5 minutes, Henry missing a sitter. His inability to react to good Goalkeeper positioning resulting in his shooting directly at him instead of lifting the ball over him. This could have been 1-0 and what a match in prospect! Arsenal continued to be the more likely team to score up to the unfortunate incident described above, playing with a good tempo, good technique and admirable offensive intentions. Barcelona defended adequately without looking comfortable, Marques looking resolute but Puyol looking slightly apprehensive.
Then the incident - enough said!!!!
After this it was obviously going to be a different game, and it was.
Arsenal reset their formation to a more defensive pattern - naturally, and prepared to attack on the break with Henry as the lone striker. Barce settled into a patient possession style. The contest although intreaguing was not exciting. Then, shock, Eboue cons the referee with an outrageous dive and gets a free kick outside the Barca 18 ysrd box. Henry takes it and Sol Campbell heads Arsenal in front unchallenged by Barce defenders, 1-0. (Could Mr Henry,s miss come back to haunt him as this would have been 2-0, a comfortable lead! - even with 10 men)
What a game for the referee, two bad decisions that have directly affected the result, oh dear!
Barcelona must have thought it was just not meant to be. Real Madrid fans must have been pinching themselves to make sure they were not dreaming!
Half time came an went and so did many minutes during which Arsenal defended resolutely with the occasional break away attackonly bothering the Barce 'Keeper on a couple of occasions. Barce on the other hand were still playing patiently, mostly in the Arsenal half, convinced the breakthrough would present itself and they would get the equaliser they believed their pressure deserved. It nearly did arrive when Arsenal 'Keeper Almunia made the save of the match from Etoo from close range, when he pushed the striker's shot onto the post
From the 70th minute onwards significant changes were made by the Barcelona manager that changed the match and the result. The most significant being Celtic reject Henrich Larssen, as within 10 minutes he laid on two goals, one for Etoo to equalise with Eboue pathetically having stopped playing with his hand held aloft for offside, to equalise, and the othe for the other substitute full back who scored at the near post from an acute angle off the 'Keepers legs. Oh dear!!!!!
The Arsenal manager also made his own substitutions bringing on Reyes And Flamini taking off Fabregas who had been workmanlike but ineffective and Hleb,who with Lungberg, had been the star acts for Arsenal. (WOT NO DENIS BERGKAMP!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??)
The one player who can turn any game in a split second, with genuine world class credentials is overlooked in favour of a second rate midfield/full back and a young developing midfield/striker. Oh Arsene is not this where you finally lost the game, you have to score a goal and you put on Flamini???) Bear in mind also that Henry was at this time tired, dejected, and totally ineffective.
The jury is out as far as I am concerned as to Mr Wenger's ability to change a match whilst it is in progrees and his courage to pull off "star" players when they are not performing.
The remaining minutes of this game were largely played out with Barce in possession. There was not much danger of Arsenal equalising as was the case.
Oh dear, I havn't metioned Ronaldinho. Yes he did play, yes, and the whole match, but I thought it prudent not to mention the free kicks that missed the target and the shot that almost hit the corner flag, all of which he found highly amusing. I must however, from an Arsenal point of view thank him for some of his circus tricks performed with various measures of success in unimportant areas of the field with a total lack of effect.
Having seen this match, if the two players who are reputed to be the best in the wold are Henry and Ronaldinho what did they do?
The answer for me is Henry missed two sitters and Ronaldinho nothing!
To conclude, I would add that if a person who saw that match and did not know who the two superstars were, he certainly would not have picked them out.
The game became 10 players against 11.
My thoughts were of complete disbelief and anger. Disbelief that common sense had not prevailed, and anger that Europe's Premier Club Final had been spoiled for both players and spectators alike.
From the Barcelona players perspective a 1-0 lead after 18 minutes is a good way to start any match. In this match Barcelona had been second best to Arsenal in the opening exchanges and this goal would have settled them down, allowing them to play in a more relaxed manner. Their uncertain opening was quite understandable being hot favourites to win the Cup. This goal would have been the tonic they needed.
From the Arsenal players perspective, they would have no argument with the award of a goal against them as their defence was hopelessly exposed by some fine attacking play. They would also have realised that the game had a long way to go and that they had every chance to redeem the situation in the remaning 72 minutes, given that they had 11 players on the field. In any case they had already proved that the Barcelona defence was far from impregnable, and in fact should have been 1-0 up themselves.
The decision, obvious to all students of the game was -
1 Award the goal
2 Yellow card for a professiona foul to the Goalkeeper
Who was cheated the most by the events that happened?
1 Robert Pires
2 The spectators at the ground who paid high prices for entrance tickets and Travel
What was going through the Referee's mind? I don't know, but I have two ideas to put forward
1 Did he have UEFA or FIFA instructions?
2 Was he too concerned about referee assessors' potential comments about interpretation of the Laws so he was determined to apply the letter of the law in order to avoid criticism?
We shall probably never know.
Anyway, to the game. Up to this point Arsenal opened better, playing some good controlled football and should have scored after about 5 minutes, Henry missing a sitter. His inability to react to good Goalkeeper positioning resulting in his shooting directly at him instead of lifting the ball over him. This could have been 1-0 and what a match in prospect! Arsenal continued to be the more likely team to score up to the unfortunate incident described above, playing with a good tempo, good technique and admirable offensive intentions. Barcelona defended adequately without looking comfortable, Marques looking resolute but Puyol looking slightly apprehensive.
Then the incident - enough said!!!!
After this it was obviously going to be a different game, and it was.
Arsenal reset their formation to a more defensive pattern - naturally, and prepared to attack on the break with Henry as the lone striker. Barce settled into a patient possession style. The contest although intreaguing was not exciting. Then, shock, Eboue cons the referee with an outrageous dive and gets a free kick outside the Barca 18 ysrd box. Henry takes it and Sol Campbell heads Arsenal in front unchallenged by Barce defenders, 1-0. (Could Mr Henry,s miss come back to haunt him as this would have been 2-0, a comfortable lead! - even with 10 men)
What a game for the referee, two bad decisions that have directly affected the result, oh dear!
Barcelona must have thought it was just not meant to be. Real Madrid fans must have been pinching themselves to make sure they were not dreaming!
Half time came an went and so did many minutes during which Arsenal defended resolutely with the occasional break away attackonly bothering the Barce 'Keeper on a couple of occasions. Barce on the other hand were still playing patiently, mostly in the Arsenal half, convinced the breakthrough would present itself and they would get the equaliser they believed their pressure deserved. It nearly did arrive when Arsenal 'Keeper Almunia made the save of the match from Etoo from close range, when he pushed the striker's shot onto the post
From the 70th minute onwards significant changes were made by the Barcelona manager that changed the match and the result. The most significant being Celtic reject Henrich Larssen, as within 10 minutes he laid on two goals, one for Etoo to equalise with Eboue pathetically having stopped playing with his hand held aloft for offside, to equalise, and the othe for the other substitute full back who scored at the near post from an acute angle off the 'Keepers legs. Oh dear!!!!!
The Arsenal manager also made his own substitutions bringing on Reyes And Flamini taking off Fabregas who had been workmanlike but ineffective and Hleb,who with Lungberg, had been the star acts for Arsenal. (WOT NO DENIS BERGKAMP!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??)
The one player who can turn any game in a split second, with genuine world class credentials is overlooked in favour of a second rate midfield/full back and a young developing midfield/striker. Oh Arsene is not this where you finally lost the game, you have to score a goal and you put on Flamini???) Bear in mind also that Henry was at this time tired, dejected, and totally ineffective.
The jury is out as far as I am concerned as to Mr Wenger's ability to change a match whilst it is in progrees and his courage to pull off "star" players when they are not performing.
The remaining minutes of this game were largely played out with Barce in possession. There was not much danger of Arsenal equalising as was the case.
Oh dear, I havn't metioned Ronaldinho. Yes he did play, yes, and the whole match, but I thought it prudent not to mention the free kicks that missed the target and the shot that almost hit the corner flag, all of which he found highly amusing. I must however, from an Arsenal point of view thank him for some of his circus tricks performed with various measures of success in unimportant areas of the field with a total lack of effect.
Having seen this match, if the two players who are reputed to be the best in the wold are Henry and Ronaldinho what did they do?
The answer for me is Henry missed two sitters and Ronaldinho nothing!
To conclude, I would add that if a person who saw that match and did not know who the two superstars were, he certainly would not have picked them out.
