Keshi’s Courage Has Eagles Soaring

Nigerian football was not in a good place when Stephen Keshi took over as coach of the Super Eagles in October 2011. Failure to beat Guinea in a decisive 2012 Nations Cup qualifier in Abuja meant Nigeria had failed to qualify for the first time since 1986 and marked the end of the disappointing two year tenure of Samson Siasia. Keshi came in with a clear, daunting mandate to, not only rebuild a disjointed team, but to also secure qualification for both the 2013 Nations Cup and the 2014 World Cup.

As Nigeria completed a 4-1 aggregate defeat of Ethiopia to claim a World Cup spot in Calabar last weekend, it’s safe to say the former national team captain has delivered on all fronts.

Before completing their successful passage to Brazil, the Super Eagles had not only reached the 2013 Nations Cup finals, but they won the whole shebang in South Africa earlier this year, giving Nigeria its first continental title since 1994, back when Keshi captained the side.

More importantly, Keshi has built a new team, founded on talent, youth, hard work, and an unflinching commitment to the cause. And he’s done it in the most unconventional of ways, picking players solely on merit, with little regard for reputation and track record, and without relying on the established “big names” that have been the bane of Nigeria’s failings in recent times.

Success on the field doesn’t mean it’s all been smooth sailing for Keshi, though. Nigerians had, for many years, yearned for a coach who would get those “tired, old legs” out of the Super Eagles and one would have expected that Keshi’s approach – picking young, hungry “unknown” players from Europe and the domestic league – would have all but sealed his popularity amongst the Eagles’ faithful. One would have been wrong. Sometimes, when you give the people what they want, you can find that they don’t actually want it anymore.

The criticism that followed the announcement of Keshi’s Nations Cup squad - a bunch that included six home-based players and 17 players who had never been to a major tournament – was a perfect case in point. No tired old legs, only young hungry boys, just as the people had demanded. Yet, Keshi was suddenly the bad guy, risking Nigeria’s success in the name of “experimenting”. Not since Clemens Westerhof took a new team to Algeria in 1990 had Nigeria been to the finals with a squad so inexperienced and, as the Nations Cup finals kicked off in January, the fans, the media and even the federation were all skeptical.

But Keshi bravely stuck to his guns, insisting that is team had what it takes to make the nation proud and keeping his players focused on the job at hand. Then he rode out even more criticism as his team drew its first two games in South Africa – to Burkina Faso and Zambia - and only started winning over the doubters when they beat favourites Ivory Coast in the quarter finals. Two games later, the Eagles were African champions.

There were bumps on the road to World Cup qualification as well, as the Eagles struggled to find goals in matches against Namibia, Kenya, and Malawi. Amazingly, Keshi’s team managed to score just once in each of their first 5 matches in this group – two wins and three draws in which all their goals came after the 80th minute. That they required late equalisers to get points out of seemingly easy games against Kenya, at home, and Namibia certainly didn’t inspire confidence. But a comfortable 2-0 win against Malawi in the last game ultimately put them through the group, and set up the Ethiopia tie.

Through it all, Keshi, has consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership and courage. It certainly took guts to leave out the likes of Peter Odemwingie – much to his surprise – and Obafemi Martins, but to then go ahead and put his trust in untried players like Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo and Sunday Mba, all of who played key roles in the Nations Cup win, took it to another level.

To be fair, circumstance also played a hand in forming Keshi’s team. For instance, it took an injury to captain Joseph Yobo for Omeruo to get a chance at the Nations Cup, but not many coaches would have then kept the 19-year-old – who’d never even played at senior level before then - in the team even after Yobo recovered. In the same light, Fegor Ogude was Keshi’s first choice in defensive midfield, until suspension kept him out of the quarter finals and 20-year-old Onazi stepped in and proved an obvious upgrade. As for Mba, the Enugu Rangers midfielder who scored the winner against Ivory Coast and the cup clinching goal in the final, Keshi thrust him in to replace the under-performing Nosa Igiebor, who had started the first two games.

Keshi’s biggest impact though, may well be the effect he has had on the attitude of the team’s best player, Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi, who has grown in maturity over the past two years and is now one of the clear leaders of this talented group. It’s proved a mutually beneficial relationship for both coach and player; Mikel gets to express himself more freely than he does at Chelsea, and Keshi gets a talented player fully committed to the team’s objectives.

To be sure, Keshi still has his detractors – not least those who think Yobo should still have a place in the team –and the Super Eagles certainly still have room for improvement. The Ethiopia win last weekend, like many of the World Cup qualifiers, wasn’t the best of performances, even if the result was just right. Then again, the 2-2 draw with Italy two days later – played with seven regulars rested – showed just how far this team has progressed in such a short time, and how much further they could yet go.

And that, without any doubt, is down to the stellar work of Stephen Keshi.

Deschamps Right On The Money

Not many people thought France had what it takes to overturn a two-goal deficit heading into the second leg of Les Bleus’ World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Tuesday night. And I’d bet even fewer would have wagered anything on Mamadou Sakho grabbing two of the goals that would send Didier Deschamps’ side through to the finals in Brazil next year.

Yet all the credit has to go to Deschamps himself. Embattled after a shambolic first leg showing, the former national team captain certainly, on this occasion, demonstrated the courage, decisiveness and perseverance required to stand out at international level.
First, he changed his selection, making no less than 5 changes to the eleven that started in Kiev on Friday. One of those, the suspended Laurent Koscielny, was of course enforced, and you could argue that some of the others left the manager little or no choice than to axe them. Eric Abidal, Samir Nasri, Loic Remy ad Olivier Giroud also made way, allowing Deschamps to name a new centre-back pair in Raphael Varane and Sakho, midfielders Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Valbuena, and striker Karim Benzema.

Second, the new faces also meant Deschamps had to tweak his formation, playing Cabaye a little deeper between the hard-running and slightly more advanced Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi, while Valbuena and Ribery provided support for Benzema upfront. Of course, the two-goal deficit left him with no choice but to adopt a much more positive approach, and Deschamps decisively sent his team out to do just that right from the off.

But his biggest success was surely at the back where Varane and Sakho both put in commanding performances. The Liverpool man was particularly impressive – the two goals aside – and on the back of this performance, it’s hard to see how Deschamps can leave him out of his starting team in the months ahead. If a bit-part role at PSG had hitherto threatened his place in the team, it seems his recent move to England may well have secured it.

Deschamps would have been particularly pleased that the three goals came from two of his “new faces” – Benzema got the other from an offside position, after having a good goal wrongly ruled out for offside – but he is experienced enough to know that there’s still a lot of improvement required if France are to make an impact in Brazil. Benzema, despite his goal, still didn’t quite convince – Giroud looked sharper in his short cameo – and the French still laboured to find that crucial third goal despite playing against 10 men for most of the second half.

Nevertheless, this victory probably gives some indication about the way forward for Deschamps. France is certainly not lacking in quality; it’s more a question of finding the right blend and picking the right tactics for the right occasion – and of course, rooting out the indiscipline and disharmony that brought much ridicule to the French camp in South Africa.

Brazil is still a long way off, but one would expect a good run from any team that can boast a spine of Hugo Lloris in goal; any two of Varane, Sakho and Koscielny at centre back; Pogba, Cabaye and Matuidi in midfield, and an in-form Ribery upfront.

Deschamps will have to keep making those brave decisions to make it work.

In Defence of the Defence

Is it human nature to blame the unfamiliar? To distrust the different? I'll leave the behavioural questions to the social scientists, but that certainly seems the case when it comes to Liverpool Football Club and tactics.

I'll get to all the whining and grumbling in some quarters that has followed Brendan Rodgers' recent shift to a three man defence in a minute. But it's worth noting that we've been down this road before.

It's barely nine years ago that Rafael Benitez swept in to Melwood with his Spanish ways and started the dastardly deed of switching Liverpool from man-to-man to zonal marking at set-pieces.

For all the hue and cry that followed, at least from those talking head analysts on TV, you'd have thought zonal defence had just become number eight on the list of deadly sins. It would have been understandable had the new system suddenly caused Liverpool to leak tons of goals from set pieces. It didn't. And even if it had, you would expect that after a couple of years, once the benefits of the new system had been evaluated, the finger pointing would abate.

Yet, four years later, as Rafa's team reached its peak, every goal Liverpool conceded was still blamed on zonal marking. Not its execution or individual error, but the system itself.

Granted, there could still be a valid basis for such an indictment. Except that the evidence did not bear it out. First, in two of his six seasons at Anfield - 05/06 and 06/07 - Benitez's team conceded fewer goals from set pieces than any team in the Premier League (Opta) and were 4th best in three other seasons.

Second, not one pundit ever blamed man-to-man marking - as a system - for any goals conceded by teams employing that tactic, even though they often conceded even more goals than a zonal marking team.

Zonal marking was unusual and different, so it had to be wrong, regardless of evidence to the contrary.

Then there was the double pivot - two "defensive" midfielders in front of the back four. It was Rafa Benitez, again, that first brought this to Liverpool, when he started pairing the Argentine Javier Mascherano with Xabi Alonso in front of the Liverpool back four in 2007. Alonso is, of course, more than just a defensive midfielder, but granted, he played deep enough to qualify.

Benitez was relentlessly criticized for being too defensive. Why play so many defensive players, even against weaker teams at Anfield?

And again the system - not its execution - was blamed for every bad result. Of course, double pivots are pretty much the norm these days. You certainly wouldn't hear such criticism of the system now.

Not so in 2008. Spain, for instance, who were also criticized for pairing Alonso and Busquets at the start of the World Cup in 2010, did not play a double pivot at the Euros that year, favouring Marcos Senna ahead of Alonso.

So, it didn't matter that Liverpool's double pivot allowed the full backs to contribute much more to the attacking play, or that, in 08/09, when this "defensive" set-up was at its best, Liverpool scored more goals than any team in the Premier League. Much easier to point the finger at the unfamiliar, the different, the double pivot as the cause of all Liverpool's woes in the latter Benitez years.

Which brings me to Brendan Rodgers and the 3-5-2. It's now been 5 league matches since a combination of injury (to Glen Johnson), a surfeit of centre backs and the need to fit in two in-form strikers, compelled the manager to change tack and jettison his preferred 4-2-3-1.

On the whole, 3 wins one draw and one defeat would suggest its not been a disaster. True, the second half troubles that characterized the first five games of the season, haven't been completely eliminated. But it's fair to say performance levels had improved significantly up to the West Brom game - the best of the season so far - and even in defeat at the Emirates, difficult as it was, there were signs of progress.

But it is that loss to Arsenal that has got many fans questioning the very notion of playing three at the back, and seemingly blaming this for any negatives we've seen over the past few weeks.

But is this just another case of blaming the unfamiliar? Has this different system with 3 centre backs really been any worse than the usual back four we are accustomed to?

Well, as far as performance and results go, it certainly hasn't, even if the return of Luis Suarez was always expected to improve the team regardless. Indeed, it would greatly surprise me if anyone suggests that we played better football in the first 5 matches, than we have since.

The one stick that has consistently been used to bash the back-three formation is the fact that the team hasn't kept a clean sheet since switching formation, conceding 7 times in the last 5 games. Of course, a back four had also let in three goals in the two games right before the switch, but its instructive to look beyond the bare stats when considering those numbers.

Of the 7 goals the back three have let in, three have come from long range shots; two from free kicks; one from a penalty and one (Santi Cazorla at Arsenal) from a cross into the box.

Now, while one could argue that the defence - or the midfield ahead of them - could have done a better job in preventing those long range shots, conceding shots from distance is hardly a consequence of playing three at the back. The same could happen with a back four. More often than not, you'd prefer your opponents to shoot from distance - rather than close up - especially with a shot stopper like Simon Mignolet between the posts. He did reach Ki's shot at Sunderland, but couldn't quite direct his deflection wide enough. As for the other two shots, from Yohan Cabaye and Aaron Ramsey, they were simply unstoppable.

Likewise, while it is disappointing to concede from free kicks - basically high balls into the box - when there are three centre backs on the field, it's not a consequence of playing a back three since pretty much the entire team drops into the box and gets organised for the set play. Dwight Gayle for Crystal Palace, and Paul Dummett at Newcastle profited from poor marking at free kicks, just as Dejan Lovren did for Southampton when we played a back four of centre backs in week 5.

The penalty against West Brom? Sure, it denied a clean sheet, but again, I don't see how that is a consequence of playing a back three. Back fours concede penalties too.

That leaves us with the one goal scored in the box from open play - Cazorla's volley at the Emirates last week - which would be the only one that can be put down to the decision to play a back three, because it clearly exploited a weakness in wide areas - worsened by Cissokho's poor showing - that is a clear shortcoming of playing a back three.

But every system has its weakness, and every system can be fallible when execution is below par or concentration drops - as it did when Swansea twice cut through the middle of a four man defence to score goals in the box from open play at the Liberty Stadium in week 4.

The back three aside, we've learnt a few things about Rodgers' 3-5-2: it's enabled Liverpool to play both Sturridge and Suarez in a position where they can wreak the most havoc; it's allowed Rodgers to keep three central midfielders in that key area in the middle of the park - either in a 1-2 or 2-1 pattern; and, for it to work well, both wing backs need to be both aggressive on the offensive and resilient in defence.

The latter point - proven by its absence at the Emirates - is the one facet of this system that we are yet to see. Jose Enrique seemed well suited for the role in the League Cup game at Old Trafford - when Glen Johnson was still out injured. When the England right back did return, against West Brom, Enrique was out injured, and both players missed the Emirates match. I think the outcome could well have been different had both played, and it would be nice to see just how things would work with both wing backs back to full fitness.

Rodgers may well return to a four man backline against Fulham at the weekend, but I doubt this is the last we’ve seen of the three-man defence.

Bayern Loss Reveals Barca’s Need for Depth

It’s easy to see why Bayern Munich were favoured to see off Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals, but I doubt anyone could have foreseen the one-sided 4-0 bashing the Bavarians laid on Lionel Messi and co. on Tuesday night.

Bayern were way too strong for Barca on the night, attacking with pace and purpose, particularly through Arjen Robben on the right flank, using their size advantage to great effect at set pieces, and working relentlessly to deny them time and space at the other end. With Javi Martinez constantly on Andres Iniesta’s tail and the duo of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Dante squeezing a half-paced Lionel Messi, the Spanish giants could hardly get into their usual rhythm. When you see Franck Ribery and Robben – two guys hardly known for defensive discipline – tracking back and tackling, you can tell that Jupp Heynckes has instilled real work ethic at a club that used to be known as FC Hollywood.

The easy conclusion to draw from all these would be that Barcelona’s favoured tiki-taka style has been found out by Bayern’s physical, direct style; that Barca’s lack of a Plan B once again proved their downfall in a Champions League semi-final.

Yet, Bayern didn’t re-invent the wheel here; it’s never been a secret that to stop Barcelona, you have to deny them the time and space they need to cut you to shreds. It’s never been a secret that this vertically challenged team could be found out at set-pieces; or that their defence has been prone to the quick counter-attack all season. All that, as we’ve seen several times over the years, is easier said than done. Many have tried, and failed. On Tuesday night though, Bayern executed perfectly and were well worth their win. Besides, Bayern weren’t just about defensive resilience; they can pass it too. Indeed, they’ve taken the best parts of tiki-taka – relentless pressing and passing possession – and added their own brand of directness and physicality, to devastating effect.

Rather than an indictment of a playing philosophy though, I think what Tuesday’s result really highlighted was that Barcelona have allowed their squad get a little stale – and thin – over the last year or so.

Consider Barcelona’s defense; with injuries to Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano – and Eric Abidal’s long term illness – things have looked far from steady at the back. Of course, even with all those guys fit and ready, it’s worth remembering that Puyol is now 35 and well past his prime, Abidal, 33, has hardly played this season after a second liver transplant, and Mascherano, effective as he has been, is a converted midfield player. Next in line is the young and promising Marc Bartra, who didn’t exactly cover himself in glory in Munich, explaining why Barca have had to play reserve full back Adriano at centre back in key games against Real Madrid and PSG this season.

Further afield, the sheer brilliance and fitness of Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Messi, means Barcelona have been able to cope with just Thiago and Cesc Fabregas as reserves of similar ability. Jonathan dos Santos and Sergio Roberto are hardly first team tested, and Alex Song hasn’t exactly impressed since arriving from Arsenal.

Now, in contrast, consider this: Most people would think Bayern trounced Barcelona with their first choice eleven on Tuesday night. Yet they started without four guys who, under different circumstances, would most likely have played. Germany centre back Holger Badstuber has been injured since December; Brazilian midfielder Luis Gustavo made way for Martinez; midfield ace Toni Kroos went down to injury in the last round; and first choice striker Mario Mandzukic was serving out a one-game suspension. Also in reserve, they could count on Anatoly Tymoschuck, Daniel van Buyten and Diego Contento, who all played in the Champions League final just a year ago, and the brilliant Swiss youngster, Xerdan Shaqiri.

You get the picture. Sure some guys are harder to replace, but Gustavo could step in for Martinez with little or no drop in quality; ditto Kroos for Thomas Muller, van Buyten for Jerome Boateng, or Mandzukic for Mario Gomez. In fact, Robben – one of those you would expect to be indispensable - started the Juventus 1st leg on the bench, only coming on when Kroos got injured.

Barcelona still have some of the best players in world football – indeed, on their day, with all the starters fit, they still have one the best teams anywhere. They are, after all, comfortably on their way to another La Liga title. But they will need to add some depth to their squad, and quickly too, if they want to remain at the very top of the European game.

Champions League (2): Dortmund Re-do for Mourinho

Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund. It would be easy to call this one a classic David v Goliath. Indeed, when you compare the Spanish giants’ 9 European Cups to the solitary one the Germans won in 1997, the scales look pretty unbalanced. And in terms of personnel – both on the field and on the sidelines – the difference is even starker. Aristocrats v plebians. The special one v the schleppy one.

Except, of course, that football is a team game, and as teams go, Borussia Dortmund is a damn good one. So good, in fact, that they’ve already beaten Real Madrid once in the group stages of this Champions League – and came within a minute of winning at the Bernabeu. They also managed to win back-to-back Bundesliga titles over the last two seasons, despite competing with a very good Bayern Munich side, and remain the only unbeaten side in this season’s Champions League.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has moulded a bunch of young, committed players into an immensely, competitive unit that has proved more than a handful for Europe’s best this season. That he has done it without spending big on established stars is even more remarkable. If anything, Dortmund has consistently shipped out its best players over the last three years – with the likes of Lucas Barrios, Shinji Kagawa and the now returned Nuri Sahin all departing for greener pastures. And you can add to that list the name of 20-year old Mario Gotze, whose impending departure for Bayern Munich was only just announced.

The one big-money addition – German international Marco Reus – has proved good value for the 17 million Euros Dortmund splashed to lure him from Borussia Monchengladbach last summer, and his attacking combo with Gotze and the prolific Robert Lewandowski could cause problems for the Real backline.

There’s more to Dortmund than just attacking prowess though; Roman Weidenfeler is a reliable and experienced last line of defence; Mats Hummels is one of the best ball-playing defenders in Europe, and he’ll partner either Neven Subotic or quarter-final hero Felipe Santana in central defence; and then there are the unsung midfield workhorses – Ilkay Gundogan and Sven Bender.

Even so, Dortmund will need to produce their best football to get past Jose Mourinho’s potent counter-attacking machine. Real are finishing the season in much better shape than they started and have their eyes firmly set on decima – a 10th European title. Real have the star players that can turn any game – not least the free-scoring Cristiano Ronaldo – and that can prove crucial in a close game. But they’ve also become a stronger unit, with a solid defensive base built around Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in central defense, and the assured passing and industry of Xabi Alonso in midfield.

But Real’s biggest asset will be Mourinho, and the fact that he has already had a chance to run the rule over Dortmund twice in this year’s competition. The Portuguese tactician has shown his acumen at eventually solving difficult problems time and again, and it would surprise me if Dortmund managed to get the better of Real over the two legs.

In a battle between two quick, counter-attacking sides, it may come down to defensive solidity - or mistakes – in the final analysis. I think Dortmund will find Ronaldo and co. just a little too hot to handle and Real Madrid will return to the final for the first time in 11 years.

Champions League(1): Barca Face Tough Bayern Test

After some dramatic high jinks in the quarter finals this week, it’s easy to make the case that Europe’s top four clubs make up the final four as the Champions League reached the semi-final stage.

German giants Bayern Munich – already crowned Bundesliga champions with 6 games to play – will take on La Liga champions-in-waiting Barcelona; while, in the other tie, Spanish defending champions Real Madrid face up against Borussia Dortmund, German champions in both 2011 and 2012.

And it’s not only domestic laurels that make these sides outstanding; their recent form in Europe also stands them in good stead. Barcelona, champions in 2009 and 2011, will be playing in a record 6th consecutive semi-final; Real Madrid return to the last four for the third straight year; and Bayern Munich were finalists – losing both times – in 2010 and 2012. Even Dortmund, who haven’t gone this far since they were defending champions in 1998, have already proved their mettle this season, beating both Real Madrid and Manchester City to finish top of their group, and remain the only unbeaten team in this year’s Champions League.

The Bayern – Barcelona looks, on paper at least, the bigger of the two clashes. The Catalan giants have undoubtedly been the team of the era – some say of all-time – dominating in both style and substance over the last 5 years and boasting some of the game’s best ever players in the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and the mercurial Lionel Messi. Yet, it’s fair to say they have been far from their best this year, needing to dig deep to get past both AC Milan and Paris St Germain in the last two rounds. The trademark metronomic passing and relentless pressing, key attributes of their success, have slipped somewhat in recent months, consequently leaving a defence ravaged by injury and illness – to Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal respectively – often vulnerable to the quick counter attack. Perhaps the long absence through illness of Tito Villanova has allowed standards to slip, but a side that commands a 13 point lead in La Liga is hardly in crisis. If there’s one positive, it’s that Barcelona, hitherto able to overcome through excellent execution, have been able to use other attributes – character, determination and pure grit – to pull through some trying situations. And of course, they have Messi, who, despite nursing a hamstring injury, once again proved his value to the Barca cause in that PSG match in midweek. His two goals against Milan also helped inspire the 4-0 comeback win in the 2nd round.

They’ll certainly need him fit if they are to overcome a Bayern Munich team that, for me, are currently the most complete in Europe. The first 45 minutes of their 1st leg quarter final against Juventus was a stunningly breathtaking display of attacking football, the only concern was that they had just the one goal to show for it. Indeed, the ease with which they dismissed the Italian champions over two legs was testament to their all-round strength. Bayern were good enough to reach the final last year, and should have won, but they’ve built on that and look even stronger – and deeper - now. The arrival of Brazilian centre back Dante has tightened up the back line; Javi Martinez provides much needed competition and cover for Luis Gustavo in midfield; and, upfront, the mobility and all-round play of Croat Mario Mandzukic has left last year’s top scorer Mario Gomez (40 goals in all competitions) cooling his heels – and hungry – on the sidelines. Add to that the measured distribution of Bastian Schweinsteiger, the creativity of Toni Kroos, the energy and versatility of Tomas Muller and the trickery and pace of Arjen Robben and Frenchman Franck Ribery, a man playing some of the best football of his career, and it’s clear to see why Bayern, on their day, would be pretty tough to contain.

It’s never easy to bet against Barcelona – especially with the 2nd leg scheduled for the Nou Camp. Yet, their defensive frailties and Messi’s injury troubles mean they are not as strong as usual. Let’s face it; even with a fit Messi, Barca would face a real test in this Bayern side. But that’s as much a testament to the strength of the German champions, as it is of Barca’s perceived weakness. Let’s not forget, the Barca side that started against PSG last week, without Messi, still included eight players who started for Spain at the last World Cup and/or at Euro 2012. (For the sticklers: Jordi Alba didn’t play at the World Cup and David Villa missed the Euros). That big game experience will serve them in good stead.

All told, this tie could hinge on two questions:

First, how much will Bayern miss the suspended Mandzukic in the first leg at the Allianz Arena? Gomez scores more goals than the Croatia international, but cannot match his mobility and work-rate – both important for shutting down Barcelona’s intricate build-up play

How fit will Messi be? His game-changing cameo against PSG showed how much Barca depends on his physical and psychological influence, but Bayern will be a far bigger challenge and the stronger Messi is, the better for Barcelona.

I never predict these things accurately anyway, but I think we are in for two intriguing, close-run, semi-final games, and if the Bavarians can find the goals to crown their relentless attacking play, they’ll deny Barca and book their place in a second consecutive final.


Next: Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund

Spain's Subs Take The Plaudits

Spain’s 1-0 win in Paris on Tuesday night yet again underlined why this team have ruled international football majestically for the past 5 years. When the chips are down, when their backs are against the wall, they simply find a way to overcome the odds and get the desired result. At the Stade de France, against what is beginning to look like a really strong French side under Didier Deschamps, they did just that; snatching the three points to regain control of this World Cup qualifying group, just when it seemed they would stumble and complicate their route to Brazil next year.

For once, it wasn’t the artistes that took the plaudits. For all the pretty passing patterns that Xavi and Iniesta painted all night, the decisive goal was down to the speed and determination of the unsung Pedro, as well as the relentless drive and energy of substitute left back Nacho Monreal. After drifting past two Frenchmen and picking out the overlapping Monreal with a cross field pass, the Barca striker burst into the French box at such pace that he was in the back of the goal even before the ball, his strike having deflected off Hugo Lloris before bouncing across the goal line.

The Arsenal man had already made his mark on the game earlier, setting up Xavi after a surging run down the flank only for the captain to blaze over from 8 yards. Pedro’s earlier impact should have been even more telling, after Lloris brought him down in the box in the first half only for the referee to wave play on.

Much had been made, pre-match, of how much Spain were going to miss starting left back, Jordi Alba, yet Monreal’s performance was just further evidence of how much talent Spain have in reserve. As was the performance, in goal, of Barcelona ‘keeper Victor Valdes, who started again because of the injury-induced absence of team captain Iker Casillas.

For me, Valdez had as much to do with this victory as anyone else in Spanish red. First, he foiled Franck Ribery when it seemed more likely that the Frenchman would score in a one-on-one break midway through the first half. Then, with the French piling forward in a desperate search for an equalizer, his superb reflex save stopped Patrice Evra’s close range diving header to preserve Spain’s lead.

Two more worth a mention: midfield double pivot Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets. Not, this time, for their poise on the ball and controlled passing, but for their willingness to dig in, fight and put their bodies on the line for the cause. It was what this game called for and neither of them shrunk from the challenge forced on them by France’s energetic midfield trio of Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi and Yohan Cabaye. Busquets finished the game with a bandage turban for his troubles and Alonso is probably still nursing the bruise Pogba’s knee must have left on his neck.

This wasn’t one of Spain’s smooth, dominant performances, yet on a night of high pressure, and away to a decent French team, they were good value for their win. If anything, they certainly proved – after drawing their last two home games – that all those “end-of-an-era” obituaries may just be a tad premature.

Progress for Rodgers' Reds

It's probably not the appropriate time to assess the stewardship of Brendan Rodgers at the helm of Liverpool Football Club. Then again, in a week following the landmark victory over 3rd placed Tottenham, it's probably the perfect time.






In truth Rodgers cachet, as Liverpool manager at least, has never been higher. Not only did Sunday's 3-2 win mark Liverpool's first of the season against any team in the top six, it was also the Reds third consecutive league win - fourth in all competitions - and it pushed them above Everton into a season high 6th on the league table.

Now, Rodgers team have had better games than Sunday's this season, and they were certainly helped by some shambolic defensive errors by Spurs. But too often this season, it's been the other way round - Liverpool playing superbly only to concede to silly mistakes - so perhaps they were due some good fortune. Besides, Spurs also benefitted from some poor defending to grab their two goals. All told, Rodgers' team did well to restrict a very good Spurs side to only a handful of half chances, and they certainly controlled the in-form Gareth Bale better than anyone else has over the past several weeks.

Sure, Liverpool are nowhere near title contenders just yet. Even the more modest target of a top four finish looks well out of reach with 9 games left. But this Liverpool team is a far cry from the early season strugglers that kicked off the season with a meagre return of 2 points from its first 5 games. In fact, it's only in comparison to those early season numbers that Liverpool's progress this season can be truly judged. Consider this: After the first 14 matches, Liverpool had just three wins and a grand total of 16 points. In the 15 matches since, they've won 9 times and amassed 29 points. And then there's the goals. Liverpool scored 18 times in those first 14 games and had a goal difference of +2. Since then, they've hit an additional 38 goals - they lead the league with 25 goals this calendar year - and now boast a goal difference of +20. If that's not progress, then I don't know what is.

Rodgers always insisted his team would get better as the season progressed and their recent form would suggest that his players have gradually grown accustomed to his methods. Beyond that though, Liverpool's improvement can be put down to several factors.

The obvious one would be the consistent goal scoring of striker Luis Suarez, who now leads the league with 22 goals - 29 in all competitions. The feisty Uruguayan has been at the heart of Liverpool's best moves all season and the fact that he's done so well for a team that's struggled for a long time makes him a prime candidate for Player of the year awards. Yet, Suarez was scoring regularly even in the early days when the team struggled to get going.

More telling, perhaps, is the return from injury - and gradual return to full fitness - of holding midfielder Lucas. The Brazilian has given the team much needed balance and defensive solidity, while enabling Steven Gerrard - surprisingly ever-present all season - to venture farther forward (he has 9 assists so far), and allowing Rodgers to rest tiring new boy Joe Allen.

There's also the January arrival of striker Daniel Sturridge and midfielder Phillipe Coutinho, two signings that are looking quite inspired at this early stage. Sturridge has taken some of the goal-scoring burden off Suarez with 4 goals in 7 league games since arriving, and Coutinho's trickery and vision as already earned him 1 goal and 2 assists in just 3 starts.

To cap it all is the extra bonus of a return to form of two players who were clearly on the outs when the season started. Jose Enrique at left back as proved effective at both ends of the field - he's scored twice this season - and Stewart Downing, benched for teenagers Raheem Sterling and Suso early in the season, has raised his game significantly and is now playing his best football since arriving at Anfield 18 months ago.

Of course, while all these bode well for a good end of season run - a good run always breeds expectations of more - things could still go awry in the weeks ahead. Tough games against Chelsea, Everton and resurgent Newcastle still lurk in the future, but on the face of it, Liverpool's next four games - Southampton, Aston Villa, Reading, West Ham - look quite winnable and a further 12 points from 12 would put a nice gloss on Rodgers first season at Anfield. On the other hand, playing teams in a relegation battle - as three of these clubs are - can always be tricky, as Man City found at Southampton a few weeks ago.

You have to think Liverpool have what it takes to keep their run going. It will be a further test of Rodgers' mettle to keep his team focused when things seem to be going well.

Bayern's Unsung Heroes

I saw the Bayern-Dortmund DFB Pokal quarter final on Wednesday and I couldn’t help but marvel at the performance of some of Bayern’s unsung heroes.

Being a match between the top two clubs in Germany – and two of the best in all of Europe – the preponderance of top talent was hardly surprising. Bayern could boast the accomplished duo of Bastien Schweinsteiger and Arjen Robben, alongside Thomas Muller; Jurgen Klopp’s side were led by the younger trio of Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus and Mario Gotze.

Those six certainly played their part in a thrilling affair – Robben scoring a spectacular winner - yet it was some of the lesser acclaimed guys that caught my eye.

For Dortmund, goalkeeper Roman Wiedenfeller pulled off some impressive saves to ward off the Bavarians; Brazilian Felipe Santana impressively filled in for the missing Mats Hummels in central defence; Ilkay Gundogan further enhanced his growing reputation in midfield; and substitute Julien Scheiber carried a real goal threat aftr replacing Reus in the second half.

But it is three Bayern players that really stood out for me. Let’s start with the superb Austrian left back David Alaba. When we talk of the best left backs in the game today, it’s easy for names like Ashley Cole, Marcelo and, of late, Leighton Baines to pop up. Yet, this 20-year-old son of a Nigerian father can’t be too far behind. In fact, considering the age of the others, it can’t be too long before Alaba claims the mantle for himself. Quick, defensively sound and a real threat on the offensive end, Alaba, in his second year as Bayern first choice, is on his way to big things.

His defensive teammate, the Brazilian centre back Dante was another stand out against Dortmund. Strong in the tackle and majestic in the air, his positional play helped neutralize the threat of Lewandowski and Reus. At 29, the much-travelled Brazilian is no spring chicken and he only arrived in Munich – from Borussia Monchengladbach - in the summer. But he’s certainly settled in quickly, playing regularly all season, and his performance against Dortmund further underlined why Felipe Scolari recently handed him a first international cap.

In midfield, 23-year old Toni Kroos again showed why there’s little doubt that he will ultimately take over Schweinsteiger’s pivotal role in the German national team. Of course, having already earned 35 caps and featured at both the 2010 World Cup and last year’s Euros, Kroos’ talent is no secret. And if it were, his stunning Champions League strike against Arsenal at the Emirates last week should have put paid to that. His poised, controlled passing, set piece ability and excellent shooting with either foot are clear signs of a blossoming talent that first came to light at the U-17 World Cup in 2007.

Business as usual at Old Trafford

It always hurts to lose to Manchester United. Even in those long gone days when Liverpool ruled the roost and a defeat to the Mancunians was a mere blip on the way to another title, it always stung a little bit more than other defeats.

Of course, in the larger scheme of things today, I’ll be hard-pressed, and I wouldn`t even try, to convince anyone that losing at Old Trafford – to a team 7 points clear at the top of the Premiership – is worse than losing at home to an Aston Villa side that has hardly scored a single goal and shipped tons since scoring three times at Anfield in December.

As is usually the case, much has been made of Liverpool’s loss – and performance - at Old Trafford and I suppose the historical rivalry between the two clubs makes that inevitable. Yet, this was no significant clash with far-reaching consequences for end of season honours. First versus eighth, had it involved any other clubs, would hardly have generated even half the attention this tie did. Indeed, the last time this fixture held any relevance to the title race was back in 2008/09, not that long ago, when Rafa Benitez’s side won the battle – taking all three points in a 4-1 win – yet lost the war, finishing 4 points behind United at the end of the season.

If anything, Sunday’s 2-1 result was pretty much par for the course. Take out that 08/09 game and Liverpool’s last six results at Old Trafford read: 1-2, 2-3, 1-2, 0-3, 0-1, 0-1. So, in 7 Premier League visits to Old Trafford since 2005, Liverpool have a dismal 1-0-6 record. And I daresay, many of those Liverpool teams – especially between 2007 and 2009, when Rafa’s team lost only 6 times in 76 league games (twice to United) – were a much stronger vintage than Brendan Rodger`s `work-in-progress` class of 2013.

All told, Sunday`s game may have presented Rodgers with perhaps the toughest test his side will face this season – the tension of age-old rivalry only adding spice to an encounter against the runaway league leaders – but failure to beat a side that`s won 18 of 22 matches this season, especially on a home patch where they`ve been almost unbeatable for two years, can hardly be used as a barometer of progress – or the lack thereof.

If anything, Liverpool`s performance at Old Trafford – leaving aside the result – provided a microcosm of what we`ve seen from Rodgers`s team all season; a disappointingly tentative and uninspiring first half was reminiscent of the worst days at West Brom and Stoke, and at home to Arsenal and Aston Villa; while the energetic, positive attacking display of the second half brought to mind better days against QPR, Fulham and Sunderland, and even those early season home games against Man City and United.

Liverpool fans will be hoping to see more of the latter between now and May, and the fact that Rodgers – for the first time this season – could put three strikers on the field for the most of that second half can only be a source of encouragement.

As for United, the pundits keep telling us that this squad cannot compare to their great teams of yesteryears, yet they remain miles ahead of the pack. If they are that bad, what does that say of the rest of the league?

I know it’s only January, but it’s their title to lose now.