Beer, Hooligans, Riots, Oh My

My daily stop at The Offside brought me to this nugget from Google's video library. It's titled Hooligans: The Untold Story, and originally aired this past August on BBC's Panorama program. You can find a write up on it here.

For those of you that want an up close look at what it's like in the eye of the storm, set aside an hour and give it a look. It follows the hooliganism that was on display at Germany '06. It's main focus are the English, but the program does take a look at German and Polish trouble makers as well. Let's just say that it isn't pretty.

It seems that with each passing international tournament, the authorities have been able to learn from previous mistakes and have tailored their actions accordingly. I came away from it thinking about how relieved USA '94 organizers must have been that England failed to qualify that year. That leads to the big question: how prepared are the police in Austria, Switzerland, and South Africa? [Goggle, BBC]

In other eye numbing news:

• Rod Stewart says he never fancied himself a "thespian", but his Forever Young video sure some of the best acting I've ever seen on VH1 Classic. Again, thanks to the good folks at The Offside for sniffing this one out. [Contact Music]
• Come on, all the cool kids are doing it. [Juventus official site]
• Not exactly Real Madrid money, but not bad for the MLS. [Soccer Silicon Valley Blog]
  

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BL has got the EPL slate covered below, here's the rest of the games of note on TV through Sunday:

Thursday
Pachuca v. Colo Colo
8:00pm ET,LIVE
FOX Sports en Espanol
Mexican teams have made it to continental finals before, but they've never won either of South America's cups. First-leg of the Copa Sudamericana final is tonight.

Chivas Guadalajara v. Club America
10:00pm ET, LIVE
TeleFutura
What the people want, the people get. Mexico's fiercest and most hated rivals take each on in a semifinal first-leg. Not to be missed.

Friday
Sporting Lisbon v. Benfica
3:30pm ET, LIVE
SPT (DISH Network exclusive)
[Same Day Delay on RTPi: 9:30pm ET]
Two of Portugal's Big Three meet in Lisbon's most heated derby. Benfica needs the points to not drop back even further behind leaders Porto and Sporting.

Saturday
Bayern Munich v. Borussia Moenchengladbach
9:25am ET, LIVE
GolTV
Our boy Kasey didn't suit up in Galdbach's loss to Stuttgart over the weekend, so don't expect to see him in this one either. With or without him, his club is in deep crisis these days as it has gone winless in eight matches leaving them one point above the relegation zone.

Werder Bremen v. Hertha Berlin
10:00pm ET, Same Day Delay
GolTV
The match of the weekend in Germany. Bremen are in second place, two points back of Schalke 04. Hertha lie in fifth place, three back of the Chelsea beaters.

Sunday
Parma v. Palermo
9:00am ET, LIVE
GolTV / RAI International
Palermo can't afford to drop any more points against the strugglers if they hope to keep pace with Inter and Roma.

Cagliari v. AC Milan
9:00am ET, LIVE
FOX Soccer Channel
Will a forward finally step up and score for Milan? My guess is no.

Belgrano de Cordoba v. Boca Juniors
3:00pm ET, LIVE
FOX Soccer Channel / FOX Sports en Espanol
The coronation could be today, una vuelta olympica anyone?

Club America v. Chivas Guadalajara
9:00pm ET, LIVE
Univision
The Azteca hosts the return leg.

As always, check your local listing for dates and times in your area.

-ac