Champions League Draw

The memory of that unexciting night in Athens can finally be extinguished on August 30th, when UEFA hold the draw for the group stage of the Champions League. It'll kick off two days of glitz and ping pong balls, with a meaningless exhibition match thrown in for good measure.

Besides setting the early schedule for the two European cups, UEFA's Monaco extravaganza will culminate with the UEFA Super Cup. Sevilla will meet Milan at the Stade Louis II stadium on Friday, August 31st. It'll be only the fifth time in the game's 35 year history that a team has had the opportunity to defend it's title.

Monaco media details [UEFA.com]

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UEFA Should Be Commended

In what could be considered UEFA's first bold move since Michel Platini took charge, the joint bid of Poland/Ukraine was awarded the hosting duties for the 2012 European Championships. While my vote was for Croatia/Hungary, I'm tickled pink for that one, Italy didn't win, and two, that the tournament is finally moving east.

Though there are plenty of issues, both political and sporting (see Guardian article), that the 2012 hosts still need to resolve, I'm in complete agreement with Sean Ingle when he writes that "in the end, Uefa's delegates decided to vote for the future; for the emerging nations, not the status quo."

Poland/Ukraine awarded Euro 2012 [Guardian]
Ukraine court opens crisis case [BBC]

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Platini Picks Another Fight

Apparently not busy enough restructuring continental tournaments and crank calling Lennart Johansson, the president of UEFA is "insisting" that cup-winning teams must now receive their trophies in the stands instead of on a makeshift stage on the field. According to the Guardian's Paul Kelso, Michel Platini has managed to piss someone off, again:

Television executives are unhappy with the move, believing there was nothing wrong with a procedure that provided footage of elated team-mates gathered together on a raised dais backed by ticker-tape. Platini has ignored their concerns, however, as he attempts to stamp his authority on the organisation.

While I could care less, one does get the feeling that there must be at least a couple of people within UEFA that are wondering about what they've gotten themselves into with Platini as president.

Platini's retro trophy proposal is a TV turn-off [Guardian]

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Where Does The "Anyone But Italy" Line Start?

If UEFA is serious about helping the game progress throughout Europe, than the only choice it can make is for Hungary and Croatia to co-host the 2012 Euros. Sure, their logo needs a little work, but who else are you going to award the hosting duties to? Poland/Ukraine, not so much.

Giving the Italians the right to put on the tournament would be nothing but a vote for continental stagnation. Peterjon Cresswell gives us some insight before the big vote next week.

Why Euro 2012 could go east [Guardian Sport Blog]

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My Brother Darryl, And My Other Brother Darryl

Sometimes you have to look pretty hard for the real story, and it wasn't any different today when I started reading this piece about the Man U v. Lille fracas. While it's all well and good that the Red Devils are in the clear concerning their smash and grab goal, the noteworthy item in the report is clearly about Gary and Phil Neville's dad. No, I'm not talking about that fact that the Neville patriarch went to France for last Tuesday's match.

If you scroll about half way down the page, you'll notice that the guy's first name is Neville. There's actually somebody walking around England right now who's name is Neville Neville. My only disappoint is that he didn't take a page out of George Foreman's playbook and name all his sons after himself. Well, you win some, you lose some.

Uefa backs United over Lille walk-off [Guardian Unlimited]

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I Think The Legal Term Is "Collusion"

Speaking of money (see post below), Craig Bellamy's golf swing at the Camp Nou has paid out a pretty penny to some clairvoyant gamblers. Money quote:

William Hill's response to its £50,000 [about $98,000] loss also raised eyebrows. A spokesman for the company said it was likely the Liverpool striker had heard about the bet before the match, though he played down suggestions of a coup. A Uefa spokesman said: "We have regulations that prevent people betting in a way that endangers the integrity of the sport, but unless we had evidence that he [Bellamy] actually placed a bet it is very hard to investigate."

Hey Craig, that's a nice watch, new is it?

Bellamy's cheap shot costs bookies a wedge [Guardian Unlimited]

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We Have A Winner

Get used to three Champions League spots apiece...

Platini elected Uefa president [Guardian Unlimited]

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Dusseldorf Is Where It's At, Well For Tomorrow At Least

As we gear up for one of the biggest decision-making days in Europe, I thought it would be helpful to take a look at what the two candidates for UEFA president would like to implement in the upcoming four years.

Both the incumbent, Lennart Johansson, and the challenger, Michel Platini, have very similar views when it comes to the issues facing the European game in the 21st century. They agree that UEFA should use it's power to develop and benefit all of the continent's FAs, with a keen eye on the countries that don't have as high a profile as England or Spain.

Again, the two candidates are in unison when it comes to soccer's place within the law. They both agree on having closer ties with the European Union and believe that the sport should govern itself. They are opposed to having national courts of law having any kind of say in disputes from the world of soccer.

Johansson and Platini are also in agreement when it comes to the problems that currently plague the game: racism, agents, match-fixing, doping, money-laundering, etc. No surprise there, they both pay lip service to wanting to clean up the game. Even a candidate for town dog-catcher says he's against crime.

Now let's start with what affects us, viewers and fans of the game. It's the structure and running of the Champions League where you find the real differences between Johansson and Platini. The Swede wants to leave the Champions League as it is. He feels that there isn't one good reason to change Europe's top club competition, since in his eyes, it is working extremely well at the moment. Let me add, he has a lot of company when it comes to this viewpoint. The tournament makes a lot of money for UEFA and the clubs who participate in it.

Platini would limit the available spots for the "big" leagues to three. As of right now, countries like Spain, England, and Italy have fours places available to them. Platini would like to see the tournament opened up a bit, balanced more towards the clubs who actually are the champions in their respective country.

Johansson is also in favor of salary caps, reduction of number of foreign players in a side to three, and increasing the number of participants in the European Championships. Platini would like to explore the idea of having four linesman per game and is against any kind of video assistance for referees.

This campaign has turned into quite an interesting contest. With Sepp Blater siding with Platini and Franz Beckenbauer coming out against the Frenchman's candidacy, this bit of political theater has become both fascinating and unpredictable. We'll know in what direction UEFA's headed in by tomorrow morning.

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Grown men and handbags

Ooh, it's heating up at Stamford Bridge. In the course of just a week or so, there was rift between Jose Mourinho and Roman Abramovich, a backing down by the Russian tycoon, and possibly a potential coup. Roman's buddy Avram Grant, of Maccabi (both Tel Aviv and Haifa) and Israeli National Team fame, is set for a move to Chelsea. Apparently, Grant will help Andriy Shevchenko with his struggles (being rich, model wife, can't score goals). Think Jose will last the season? [Guardian]

Oh Hleb, why now? Arsenal midfielder, feeling the Gunners have been left out of the spotlight, decided to give his uninvited opinion on Sheva. Perhaps Arsene Wenger is feeling left out in the London papers with all that's going on at the Bridge. [The Sun]

And since we're talking verbal handbags, how about two men who should know better, given their class and influence in the game. [Telegraph]

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The Grab: 12.11.2006

Pizzagate revisited. Nice to see Ashley Cole and Cesc Fabregas ensuring the competition stays alive, with a little handbags in the tunnel after Sunday's 1-1 derby at Stamford Bridge. [Teamtalk]

Another Yank, the Gooner David Hirshey, gives us his take of the London derby. [Deadspin]

Whatever happened to Freddy Adu's trial with Manchester United? Was it Man U or Man City? Oh well, whatever, he's been traded. [ESPN Soccernet, IHT.com]

Les Bleus' beloved Platini is going to run against incumbent Lennart Johansson, of which we know very little (normal for a Swede?) for the top spot at UEFA. We know about Michel Platini. [Guardian, Wikipedia, YouTube]

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