Champions League Round of 16 - Part Two

After last weeks action the Champions League had captured the headlines once again. Giants of the world game going head to head, and world class performances blowing their opponents away. This week was no different. One of recent histories most storied rivalries met at Stanford Bridge, with Chelsea welcoming Barcelona. German champions Bayern Munich welcomed Besiktas, looking to continue on after their great domestic form. Europa League experts Sevilla had the task of finding a way through the resolute defence of Jose's Manchester United. And in perhaps the most underwhelming tie of the round, Shakhtar played host to Italian side Roma.

Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona

Goals - Willian 62' - Messi 75'

Coming into the game a lot of the talk was about Lionel Messi. The Argentine had never scored against Chelsea coming into this round of 16 tie. Barcelona, who have lost only once in all competitions this season, came into the game as favourites. Chelsea not in great form domestically, but they came flying out of the box on Tuesday night. Hazard blazing a left footed shot over from range within five minutes, the Belgian looking sharp. Barcelona played their typical passing game, and their possession led to their first chance just past the 15 minute mark, Paulinho heading wide when he should do better.

Chelsea were holding their own against the Spanish League leaders, and could have been ahead after 32. Willian turning in and firing a sublime effort from outside the box. Ter Stegan stranded, but the post saved the German keeper. Antonio Conte, who hasn't enjoyed much of this current campaign, reacted as if he was certain his side were in front. And less then 10 minutes later Barcelona were again thanking the woodwork, and Willian again struck a viscous strike from the edge, this time heading into the opposite left hand corner. Again however, he left the post shaking. There was time for Hazard to again fire over before the half time whistle was blown. Willian could have had two, but the stalemate remained after 45 minutes.

The second half started with Barcelona trying to force the agenda. Luis Suarez running into the left channel and firing across goal, forcing the first real save of the game from Courtois. Despite a very impressive first half, Chelsea appeared to be set up very defensively in the second. Understandably against Barca, but surprising after the first half went the way of the home side.  But despite this, Willian, who was the best player on the park, continued to create danger. And third time proved to be the charm for the Brazilian. Barcelona hadn't learnt their lesson, again letting Chelsea's number 22 let fly from the edge of the box. But this time it found it's way into the near post. 1-0 to the home side.

But if there is one side in the world you do not want to be gifting chance to, that is Barcelona. Andreas Christensen, who had been brilliant all game, played a sloppy square pass that was latched onto by Iniesta. The Spaniard cutting it back to the man all of the talking had been about, Lionel Messi. Who didn't even blink before slotting into the corner to make it 1-1. Just like that.

And the game was to end like that. Chelsea will be wondering how they won't be taking a lead into the second leg. Tactically, Conte's desire to be solid may have cost them, with Barcelona there for the taking. The Spanish giants take an away goal to the Nou Camp, and Messi's Chelsea slump is over.

Bayern Munich 5-0 Besiktas

Goals - Muller 43', 66' & Kingsley Coman 52' & Robert Lewandowski 79', 88'

Both side domestic champions in their own rights, and despite this Besiktas must have known they were huge underdogs coming into this match. It's not easy for anyone to withstand the fire power of the German giants on any day. Bayern are known to step up the gears when in Europe, and the Turkish champions were nothing more then a punching bag on the night. It would have been hard enough with 11 men, but an early red card for the away side really but their backs up against the wall. Despite being down to 10 Besiktas did manage to keep the ball out of their net during the first half hour. A sublime ball in by James Rodriguez was met by Mats Hummels and well turned over the bar by the man between the sticks for the away side.

Ricardo Quaresma proved to be his usual tricky self down the flank, turning Hummels inside and out before firing in a shot from the right, but easily saved. But it was just delaying the inevitable and the home side were ahead just before half time. Kingsley Coman's pace causing nightmares down the left hand side, he played the ball across, met by Alaba and then turned in by the captain for the night Thomas Muller. Right before the break, the deadlock was broken.

The second half started and as expected, the home side came for blood. Hummels sent a header over the bar, and Robert Lewandowski rattled the cross bar both inside four minutes of the restart. And just three minutes later it was two nil. A slick Bayern Munich move lead to Lewandowski being slotted in down the right, he pulled it back expertly into the on-running Kingsley Coman to slot home. 2-0.

Bayern have looked a different side since Carlo Ancelotti departed in October last year, and they go from strength to strength. So the last thing they need is a helping hand, but Besiktas didn't come out in the second half. Robben slipped a pass into Joshua Kimmich, the young German whipped the ball into an unmarked Muller to secure his brace. Unmarked in the six yard box, 3-0, game over.

With every goal Bayern grew in confidence, and it was flowing through every player. Besiktas didn't have an answer for it. Mats Hummels charged forward from the back, striking down to the goal keeper's right, forcing a decent save. But on hand was Lewandowski to fire in the rebound and make it four. Even at 3-0 up, Bayern had three players running in for the follow up, the German's wanted this tie over before the second leg.

Bayern's fire power is one matched by few sides across Europe, with Robben, Muller and Lewandowski running at you late on, goals are a guarantee. And the three men combined to put the icing on the cake. The flying Dutchman Robben playing a pass onto Muller, in for the hat-trick. But the German unselfishly squared for Lewandowski to turn the ball into an empty new for his second and the home sides 5th. Game over, tie virtually over. 5-0.

Sevilla 0-0 Manchester United

Jose and his Man United side travelled to Spain and to Sevilla for their round of 16 first leg. The Spaniard's welcoming their second English side of the competition, after a 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the group stage. Many could see United setting up to defend and from the beginning that was obvious, sitting back as the home side attacked. Luis Muriel testing De Gea early on with a strike from range inside four minutes. From a similar range Jesus Navas fired just wide, again with United backing off.

You have to fast forward to the 25 minute mark for United's first chance, and for a £80 million striker, you'd expect Lukaku to do better. A lovely floated ball from Alexis fell perfectly onto the Belgian's left boot, but it flied way over the bar on the volley. Any Liverpool fan will tell you that Banega can not be given space in Sevilla's midfield, as he will punish you. And United got a big let off as the Argentine played a ball over the back of United'd defence and into a team mate, only for a tame shot to be easily kept out. David De Gea dedicated stoppage time to creating a save of the season completion. Firstly brilliant keeping out a glancing N'Zonzi header, tipping it over the bar. But when Jesus Navas' cross found Luis Muriel unmarked inside the six yard box, the Spaniard defied explanation to get his left hand to the ball and pull off an unbelievable save to see the half end at 0-0.

Truth be told, the second half wasn't worth watching. Sevilla managed nothing more then balls into the box, with United dealing with them all pretty easily. The English side showed no desire to win the game, and it finished 0-0. You have to wonder who this result favours. United now can take the tie back to Manchester for the chance to progress. But Sevilla won't have to worry about away goals, giving them an advantage should they strike at Old Trafford.

Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Roma

Goals - Ferreyra 52' & Fred 71' - Cengiz Under 41'

A bitterly cold day in Ukraine saw Shakhtar welcome Roma to their temporary home. The home side known for never being easy to beat in Europe. Both sides pushing for an early goal. A ball played in from the home sides left was met by Fred, but a deflection took all of the power from the shot and fell comfortably into the arms of Alisson. Then a Kolarov corner was met by Dzeko unmarked in the Shakhtar box, but forced a brilliant save from the keeper. Dzeko again forced a save from the keeper after the 20 minute mark, firing first time as the ball was cut back by Perotti.

The Italian side were in the driving seat, and Dzeko continued to be a thorn in the Ukrainians side. Given far too much space just outside the box, the Bosnian turned and clipped a pass through the defence and into the young Turk Cengiz Under, who's shot squeezed under the goalkeeper and in. His first Champions League goal, 1-0 Roma right on half time.

The two sides came out for the second half and the home side had their wings up, and looking to equalise. Un-doing Roma's good work in just five minutes. Ferreyra running into the left channel, cut inside Manolas, and slotted it away brilliantly. The man who didn't get a sniff at Newcastle, brought his side level in the Champions League.

Shakhtar had Roma shaking, and very nearly had the lead two minutes after equalising. Brazilian Marlos bringing the ball down and curling towards goal from inside the box, forcing his countryman Alisson into a sublime save. Roma's keeper proving why Roma have slapped a £70 million price tag on him. And again less then ten minutes later, Taison struck, destined for the top right corner. Alisson showed cat like reflexes to bat the ball away.

But up steps Shakhtar's star man. Brazilian Fred has the world's biggest names lining up for his signature, and for anyone who doesn't know why, it explained it with one swing of his left foot. A truly sublime free kick, from the right hand side, in off the bar. Alisson had no chance. No keeper in the world would have any chance. The home side were ahead, 2-1.

There was time for one more exceptional save from Alisson, sprawling to deny Ferreyra his second from point blank range with what proved to be the last chance of the game. Roma take an away goal back to Italy, but the Ukrainian champions have a lead to defend.

Germany Win - In other news grass is green.

Before you read on just scroll to the bottom of the page and read the quote. Gary Lineker really knows his stuff.

Germany have added two more titles to their incredible tally in the last week, with the U21's winning the European Championships, beating favourites Spain in the final. And last night the senior team won their first ever Confederations cup by edging out Alexis Sanchez's Chile side, also by 1 goal to nil. So Germany winning major tournaments, what's new? Germany are the joint second most successful side in World Cup history (Level with Italy on 4 titles, 1 behind Brazil) and the most successful side in the history of the European Championships, winning three titles. The are also currently ranked 3rd in the World in the FIFA world rankings but their Confederations cup win will see them up to first when the new rankings are announced. So, I ask again, what's new? Why is Germany winning two more titles such a news worthy event?

Let's start with the U21 European Championships. Going into the tournament the heavy favourites were Spain, and the Spaniards appeared to be taking the competition very seriously, brushing teams aside on route to the final. Then we have Germany. First of all, the team that featured was not the Germany U21 side, in fact 10, yes 10 players who could have featured in the tournament weren't even part of the squad. And these aren't squad players, these are guaranteed starters. The likes of Emre Can from Liverpool, Joshua Kimmich of German champions Bayern, Manchester City's Leroy Sane as well as Bayer Leverkusen stars Jonathan Tah and Juilian Brandt, none of these players made the squad. Why? We'll get to that. In fact with the missing players, you can put together an entire outfield side that could have won the tournament. Then we have, what I like to call, typical Germany. Why is it that, no matter how good the side, as soon as they face Germany they forget how to play football. This means that Germany don't even have to play well to win on many occasion, and that is often the case, including during this tournament. Germany didn't even win their group, finishing second to Italy via the head-to head rule. But then we reached the knock out rounds, the matches that actually matter to the Germans. Despite being taken to penalties by England, they were by far and away the better team, out classing the young lions at every turn. This still however wasn't a convincing Germany win, but that's the key word, win. Then we reached the final, their opponents Spain tore Italy apart 3-1 in their semi final and looked in great form. But form doesn't matter when Germany are involved. It was a tactical masterclass by the under dogs (How can I call Germany the under dogs!?) Limiting Spain to very few chances, the fast flowing football that had lead the Spaniards to the final was no where to be found, and one glancing header later, Germany were champions. They played their best football once all tournament, with a drastically weakened team, and they won the entire thing. Of course they did.

Now to the Confederations cup.  This is a very strange tournament, with some sides taking it incredible seriously and featuring their star players (Like now former holders Brazil in 2013) and with some sides featuring weakened sides. Now Germany fall into the column of the later. Do you remember when I said 10 Under 21s didn't feature in the U21 European Championships? That was because they were all playing in Russia. The U21 team were effectively representing the senior side, the likes of Leon Goretzka, captain of the side Julian Draxler and star striker Timo Werner. These U21 players were staring for the senior side, and as you now know, winning the entire thing. And much like in the U21 European Championships, Germany won it without every really hitting top gear! Much like Spain in the before mentioned tournament, opponents Chile came into the Confederations Cup final looking like the better side. The likes of Sanchez and Vidal were tipped to be too strong and experience for this second string German side. Now Chile managed a lot more chances then Spain's U21s but once again Germany did a number on their opponents. Scoring an early goal through a defensive mistake and then sitting back and playing on the counter. Now this is what makes the current situation so impressive from Germany's point of view. If you class the Confederations Cup winning side as German's B team, and their U21 winning side as their C team, you are, of course, left with their first team, the current World Champions. This means Germany currently are able to put out three entirely different sides, knowing they can win on the world stage. They beat the current, back to back Copa America winners Chile, without the likes of Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, Marco Reus, Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil just to name a few. Chile featured their strongest side, a side that turned over Lionel Messi's Argentina to reach the competition, and Germany's second team out thought them, beating them and claiming their first Confederations cup title. 

The level of depth Germany currently have with their national side is simply remarkable and it is all a product of their reshuffle following the European Championships in France in 2000. After a poor tournament the German FA restructured their national league and everything below it to be a platform for the national side. The growth of young players was the priority, with the goal to become World Champions again by 2014. And now, in 2017, we can see that Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but have continued to grow, with their depth and pool of talent the envy of the rest of the footballing world. The German players now all posses a winning mentality, they know how to win when the pressure is really on. This is what allows them to win big games without playing well, they just know how to win, it's been pumped into them from the grass roots level, the overhaul in the early 2000's and it is now paying off big time on the national stage. 

Every side on the planet right now can learn from Germany, but really we've been saying this for years! The perfect execution of the plan set up by the German FA is an example of a long term goal being reached and surpassed, but to reach a long term goal you first have to set one! That is a big problem, in particularly with the English national side. Too much pressure is put on the 'here and now' and not enough thought is being put into the future. Joachim Low saw the Confederations cup as a chance for some of his younger players to shine for the senior side, win the competition, gain that vital winning mentality. The side Germany's U21s beat in the semi finals of their competition, England, and despite the close score line they out classed them with a side that was very much their junior! The side that player were effectively German's C team and they seemed far more matured and used to playing on the national stage. If the likes of Deli Ali and Marcus Rashford where at the tournament then that game could have gone very differently and it would be young English players learning how to win and gaining the vital experience that the German's clearly already possesed, but yet again it's the German's. Of course it is. What was that quote again Gary? 

Football is a simple game, twenty two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win. 

English youth football - Why isn't this a bigger deal?

On the 11th June 2017 England reached their second ever men's World Cup final and their first since 1966. However unlike that famous day at Wembley, this final saw the under 20's take on South American side Venezuela... and they won! That's right, England are world champions! So why isn't this everywhere? Why do so many people not seem to care about history being made in English football? Simple. In this country, we don't take youth football seriously.

Now this isn't everyone, I for one am a firm believer in youth internationals and think they should be taken just as seriously as senior internationals. They help to prepare younger players for international football, where a mesh in styles makes it a completely different animal to the domestic game. Also preparing the future first team players for the travelling involved with qualification for major tournaments and the tournaments itself will make the experience much let daunting. Most of all however the experience gained by youth internationals is one which could set the precedent for the years to come, it could be a sneak peak into the countries future successes on the world stage.

Now with the FIFA U20 World Cup and the UEFA U21 European Championships you would expect to see the winning nation's senior side mirroring it's youth systems success a few years on, and on plenty of occasions that is correct. Italy perhaps being the prime examples, between the years of 1992 and 2004 Italy won 5 out of 7 under 21's European Championships. The next competition they won? The 2006 FIFA World Cup. The best way to look at this is to see the group of players that featured in Italy's youth successes leading up to their 4th world cup win. Starting with their 1996 tournament success, the man named player of the tournament that year was none other then Fabio Cannavaro, the future Italian captain who would lift the World Cup for Italy a decade later. In that same side we saw great AC Milan centre back Alessandro Nesta, who played a crucial role in the Azzurir's senior defence for 10 years to come. And of course, Francesco Totti, the Roma striker who has just announced his retirement a very impressive 21 years after scoring the winner in the semi finals of the 1996 Under 21's European championship on the way to winning the competition. Now to the year 2000, straight out of the block can you guess the scorer of a brace in the final and winner of player of the tournament as well as the golden boot? Andrea Pirlo. The midfielder went on to have an incredible career at the top, playing for the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus, during the 2006 World Cup Pirlo was voted as the third best player in the competition, showing his success on the national stage. Much like Pirlo a future anchor in Italy's midfield featured in the before mentioned tournament, Gennaro Gattuso. The hard tackling midfielder went on to feature 73 times for the senior side and was named man of the match in the 2006 World Cup quarter final, proving to be a very important part of that side. And finally onto Italy's 2004 Under 21's European Championship win which saw Daniele De Rossi, Alberto Gilardino and Andrea Barzagli all starting in the final two years before playing a part in Italy's World cup win, with Gilardino, much like Pirlo 4 years prior, winning the golden boot and title of best player of the tournament.

Italy are a prime example how success on the youth level can translate to success at the senior tournaments, but they aren't the only example. Germany are the current World Champions after winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, just 5 years prior at the 2009 Under 21's European Championship, they managed to roll over England 4-0 in the final (We'll get back to that later). In that final Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, Mesut Ozil, Howedes and Manuel Neuer all started, these same five players also started the 2014 FIFA World cup Final. Sami Khedira also started in the youth final and despite not featuring from the start in their World Cup winning performance, was a big part of their overall campaign. During Spain's most successful period in their history, winning three major senior tournaments back to back to back and making history in the process, their Under 21 side also won the European Champions in 2011 with Juan Mata staring. The current Manchester United midfielder won player of the tournament, and just one year later scored in Spain's 4-0 win against Italy during UEFA 2012 European Championships final.

Italy, Germany and Spain are the three most recent sides to translate youth success into senior titles. Until Portugal's European Championship win in 2016, the previously mentioned nations were also the only three sides to win a major international competition in the previous decade, proving that success at the youth level can be a sign of things to come. So why aren't more Englishman sighting the Under 20's World Cup win as a look into the future? Why, do we not have the confidence that this group of players can end what is now over 50 years of hurt? Simple, England and the FA don't take youth internationals seriously. Remember the U21's 2009 European Championship I mentioned earlier? When a German side made up of 5 future world champions beat England 4-0? This was the first final ANY England side had reached since the 1980's, which is a major achievement. Well lets look at that England side. Now at the time of writing this, 14th June 2017, England have just faced and lost 3-2 to France in a friendly in Paris. Do you know how many members of the 2009 under 21's side were a part, not of the starting eleven, but of the twenty three man squad? Zero. Overall nine of the German players from the match day squad in 2009 featured in their most recent squad, but zero for England. The players who were seen as the future of English football have, in the most part, done nothing of real note since their losing effort against Germany in 2009, with only 6 of them ever playing for the senior team, three of which playing within the last 12 months but as of right now, not a single member of the 2009 Under 21's side is a part of the England squad.

Okay but a bad history of translating youth success into senior success isn't everything, a lot of very talented youngsters break through the ranks every year around the country, the likes of Marcus Rashford and Dele Ali are two prime examples. Recent research has valued Ali as the second most valuable player in Europe (trailing only to Neymar) and the Spurs midfielder is the current PFA Young Player of the Year! Now Marcus Rashford, despite a relatively slow season, scored 5 goals in his first 11 league games for Manchester United and shot to stardom very quickly, being touted as the leader of England's next generation of front men. However this is my problem, Ali and Rashford are 21 and 19 years old respectively, and yet despite the Under 20's World Cup taking place, as well at the Under 21's Toulon Tournament both of which England won, neither Ali or Rashford were featured in the squads. Also in two days (16th June 2017) the Under 21's European Championships for 2017 gets under way, the tournament which has shown a bigger glimpse into the future then any other, and yet again, neither Rashford or Ali are featuring. This takes it right back to my very first point, neither player is going to these tournaments because the FA do not see youth football as a priority. Now with Dele Ali it is different, he is a guaranteed starter in the England team so to some degree you can understand his involvement being solely with the senior team. But Rashford does not start for England and rarely features at all, so you'd think the opportunity to win some silverware and be a focal point for the youth sides going into competitions would be a great opportunity for the teenager to get some experience on the international level, putting him in a much better position for the future. But no, instead he sits on the bench for the senior team. And this is why expectations are virtually none existent coming from the Under 20's World Cup win, yes it's a great achievement, but how can we tout these players as the 'future of English football' if the best young players in England right now don't even feature in the squad despite being eligible?

As soon as a player is seen as 'good enough' he is forced into the senior squad whether he's ready or not. Player for the senior sides at a younger age is fine, there is nothing wrong with that, what is wrong with it however, is if sitting on the bench watching a senior friendly takes precedent over playing in a youth world cup final. Players being made unavailable by their club, the FA or simply not being interesting in featuring in youth internationals is exactly why winning the Under 20's World Cup means nothing. The 'next generation' of England players will likely have a handful of Under 20's and Under 21's caps between them purely because it isn't treated with the respect it deserves, which is the respect other countries treat it with. Footballing giants like Germany use the youth systems to build teams, to build players and to give them the experience that will help them drastically in the senior competitions to come. England use youth football as something for EFL players and Premier League kids to feature in who will likely never get a real shot at the first team.

But yay... England are world champions.