La Liga Talk

Spain have finally overcome their history of underachievers to win Euro 2008. They did so while playing a variation of the style that sometimes led to them being eliminated from competitions. This time around there was one huge difference, the teams spirit. Weather it was winning at the last minute against Sweden, or pinning the Italians back for an entire game, they seemed to all be in the frame of mind to take the game to their opponent. This I feel made all the difference because as we have seen before technically gifted teams don’t always win trophies.

I am reluctant to single out praise for certain players because the entire team had a wonderful tournament, but Torres, Xavi, and Senna really showed up in the final. Senna was a giant in midfield, keeping Ballack quiet for the majority of the match and shutting down multiple attacks. Xavi, having been recently named player of the tournament, set up Torres for the all important goal and ran the midfield. As for Torres, I never expected someone to slip past Lahm so easily, and to still beat an out-rushing Lehman was quite an accomplishment. Casillas showed hes the best goalie in the world right now, but was hardly trouble all night with the Germans only having four shots, three of which were on goal.

As for the Germans the only player that seemed to show up was Frings. While not as effective as he can be, he showed determination the entire match. This brings me to Ballack, I feel for the guy. Hes been runner up to so many things this year I can only hope he takes this in stride and shows up ready to play next season. He carried this team to the final when they needed him, but was unable to do much last night.

The fact that Spain is still a relatively young team means they can only get better. Lets just hope it isn’t another 44 years until the next trophy.

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La Liga Talk writer Jose Maria Malo de Molina Galan had the chance to interview Guillem Balague recently. Balague, for those of you who don’t know, is an accomplished writer, author and broadcaster who is an expert on Spanish football and recently launched his own web site at http://www.guillembalague.com

Sorry for the sound quality, but Balague recorded his answers while on a plane. The hum you hear in the background is the sound of the jet taking Balague to Espana. Enjoy the interview and of course his new website www.guillembalague.com!

 

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Two of the more historic teams in La Liga officially made their return to the Spanish First Division after Sporting (Gijón) and Málaga  beat Éibar and Tenerife by the same 2-0 result.
These two teams will join Numancia in the Spanish top flight next season.

Week 43 Results
Numancia         2     Pol. Ejido       2
Gimnàstic         1     Salamanca      2
Sevilla B           4     Granada 74     2
Xerez                 1     Elche               0
Albacete            3     Las Palmas     1
Sporting            2     Éibar              0
Racing Ferrol   1     Castellón        0
R. Sociedad       1     Córdoba        1
Celta                  2     Alavés            3
Málaga               2     Tenerife        0
Hércules            1     Cádiz              1

Final Standings

PTS.   W    D    L    GF    GA
Numancia      78    22    12    9    64    40
Sporting         75    21    12    10    62    40
Málaga           75    21    12    10    60    41
R. Sociedad    69    18    14    11    56    40
Castellón        61    16    14    13    43    38
Salamanca      60    14    18    11    53    45
Hércules         59    14    16    13    67    56
Sevilla B         59    15    14    14    43    48
Las Palmas    57    15    13    15    52    58
Albacete         55    13    13    16    37    39
Xerez              55    13    16    14    48    56
Alavés            54    13    15    15    43    45
Elche           54    14    13    16    44    51
Celta              53    13    14    16    57    57
Racing Ferrol   53    13    14    16    48    51
Tenerife            53    12    18    13    50    59
Éibar             52    14    11    18    43    53
Gimnàstic    52    12    16    15    50    53
———————————————————
Córdoba       51    11    18    14    51    57
Cádiz            50    12    13    18    41    48
Granada74  45    10    16    17    47    63
Pol. Ejido    45    11    11    21    39    56

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Image details: Mario Kempes of Argentina celebrates scoring a goal served by picapp.com
According to sources, former World Cup winner and current ESPN analyst Mario Kempes is expecting to make a move back to his native Argentina to join the channel’s operations there. The former Valencia and River Plate star calls Bristol, CT home for the past four years and became a vital part of the ESPN International and ESPN Deportes soccer transmissions in Spanish.

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Well here we are, the last group to get underway and we see the first Euro hat-trick in eight years courtesy of David Villa. His inclusion in the squad until now had been mostly as a sub, but after today I think Luis Aragones will have a hard time justifying not having him in from the start partnering with Torres. Spain for the most part performed as many predicted. They passed well, created chances, and for spells during the game looked extremely dangerous. However all was not perfect for them. They looked shaky at the back when pressed and had a tendency to give away the ball at odd times. Ramos was guilty of this a few times but luckily they were never punished, and he played solid the majority of the game.

As for Russia they were much tamer than I expected. Don’t get me wrong they had their chances and even hit the post twice, but they never seemed like the team most expected to show up. Lets just chalk this one up to first match jitters. As it stands they are currently at the bottom of the group and need a win to stay in contention. The only positive that can be taken away from this is that the team did not roll over and had brief spells in the second half that showed they are willing to fight. Now weather this is because Guus Hiddink encouraged them or threatened them we may never know.

From a neutral point of view I must confess that this was one of the better games played so far and the only one where both teams scored, which is good to see. Both teams displayed moments of brilliance and slick passing that was very easy on the eyes and hopefully there will be more games like this so we can all enjoy a great tournament.

On a side note I suggest reading the first person account of Netherlands v Italy by our very own Gaffer, you can find that here.

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Spain are off to a great start against the Russians, here are some of my observations this far.

• Spain are two goals ahead from David Villa, who looks sharp and full of confidence today. There was no way he could have missed from the setup by Torres, and did well to finish under pressure by the goalie for the second.
• Villa and Torres are starting to combine well, looks like Luis Aragones made the right choice leaving out a midfielder for the extra striker.
• Russia still looks dangerous, especially out on the flanks when Spain goes forward.
• Torres is finally getting free space after being contained for the first twenty.
• Russia needs to cope better with Spain’s speed if they are to get anything from this match.
• Having hit the post twice it just might not be Russia’s night.
• Iniesta has had some very nice slick passes so far.
• Listening to the announcers try and say the Russians names is quite amusing.

Well I’m off to watch the second half, hope Spain doesn’t blow it.

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A few years ago there were rumors milling in Bristol, CT about the possibility of ESPN trying to buy Gol TV. That rumor evaporated alongside the Dave O’Brien experiment.

With the Worldwide Leader in Sports trying to justify that self-proclaimation, this is news is starting to pick up steam as the feedback they received from their coverage of Euro 2008. Although it is still in the beginning stages, the network is doing a quick about-face as far as shutting down ESPN Classic later on this summer. According to sources, there are talks to switch the network to full out coverage of the Beautiful Game.

Although plans are still vague, some of the considerations range from expanding on their UEFA Champions League Coverage, as well as MLS, and other international events such as the European Championships and of course, the World Cup. The channel would be molded more towards that of ESPN Classic in Europe or for fans state side- more like Fox Soccer Channel and Gol TV.  The main function of this channel is to compliment the other channels’ (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN 360) coverage of the game and further expand on the rights battles in the United States for events like World Cup Qualifiers, and many of the top leagues in the world.  There should be a final announcement expected in the next 30 days.

Stay tuned, football fans as the summer can only get hotter.

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With Euro 2008 right around the corner and teams already preparing for the tournament, I find it odd that Raul was excluded from the national team. With his dip in form the past few seasons it was easy for Luis Aragones to drop him, however this past season he has shown that his career is not over yet. With 18 goals and 3 assists he lead Madrid to its second title in a row. This was on top of the fact that Madrid’s previous top scorer, Ruud van Nistelrooy, was out injured for a long period of the season. Now I’m not saying that with him in the squad Spain would win the Euro Cup, but his experience could only have been beneficial to the team.

With that said I am still hoping that Spain will finally shed the tag as underachievers and have a great Euro Cup. The squad of players they posses are extremely talented and with many of them having enjoyed a successful year with their clubs it will be interesting to see if they will continue in the form they have shown. Having been drawn in the group consisting of Greece, Russia, and Sweden it will not be an easy task but they should secure a place in  the quarter-finals. If they do it is here that they will meet one of the teams from the group of death (France, Holland, Italy, Romania) and we will see if they are capable of a serious challenge for the Title. So when Euro 2008 gets under way keep an eye out for Spain and enjoy what is shaping up to be a great tournament.

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In the second episode of the Ronaldo Signing…

“Negotiations” are underway.  Portuguese superagent Jorge Mendes is going to be a busy week.  After helping Massimo Moratti get Jose Mourinho… he prepares for one crazy summer.

Malcolm Glazer rebutted Real Madrid’s offer by asking for three key players of Real Madrid’s in exchange for Cristiano Ronaldo. Mahmadou Diarra, Sergio Ramos, and Robinho as well as 50 million euros are the bargaining chips that Manchester wants Madrid to put on the table.  Who would have ever thought that the Yank would have thrown such a curve ball (using an American sports term)?  He knew that Madrid had the “liquidity” to handle a signing the magnitude of Ronaldo, but how far would they be willing to go.  Would they compromise their long-term midfield and defensive lines in order to get the Portuguese star?

What next many Merengue fans must ask?  A percentage of the club?  Ownership of the Bernabéu?   Alfredo Di Stefano to walk side-by-side with Sir Bobby every time the Red Devils win a trophy?

This is all part of negotiations.   Calderón went after the Mancunians’  debt, Glazer went after Madridistas’  on the field stability.   Glazer mentioned that the future of the Portuguese international will be resolved in the “next two to three weeks“.

So if Portugal wins the European championship, they will not fade away into the sunset.  They will remain on the radar for quite a while… or at least their biggest star will.

Stay tuned.

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I can’t blame him. If I were in his position, I would do the exact same thing. While Sir Alex Ferguson and Real Madrid trade potshots- Ronaldo just sits back and basks in the glory of the moment. Hey I can sympathize with him. I remember the days when I had models and hot chicks fighting over me all the time. Hey, it’s tough to do… but after the first couple of times you get used to it.

But let’s be real. We’ve seen these types of whims by Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón. Seems like ages since Kaká was being Photoshopped with a Merengue jersey. To be completely honest, there are other “pressing” needs for Madrid right now. Calderón’s “mental masturbation” now has Pedja Mijatovic tapping his foot waiting for his boss. He had plans to look into getting a player like Didier Drogba in order to shore up the striker position. He also wanted to reinforce the backline as well as obtain a playmaking midfielder. The Ronaldo fever could cost Bernd Schuster a significant amount of reinforcements. Also this means that success is getting to Calderón’s head. If you remember a few years ago, after Florentino Pérez resigned, he was the man that ran on the “anti-Galáctico” platform. It won him the presidency and two titles shortly afterwards. But Cristiano Ronaldo’s effect as a marketing heavyweight would help the club earn once again Galático-type money. If there is one thing that is quite safe to say it’s that in Portugal there are more Ronaldo jerseys being sold than Pepe’s. In Argentina, there are more Messi jerseys being sold than Gonzalo Higuaín, Gabriel Heinze, and Javier Saviola (times 50). I haven’t seen very many Iker Casillas jerseys being sold. My point is that Madrid was built to win titles not merchandising wars. A few years ago that was not the case. Beckham (considered a dirty in Madrid now), Zidane, and their posse dominated that end of the sport.

For many, the arrival of a player like Ronaldo would bring back that era of divisiveness.  For others, it would be a welcome change.  Where would he fit in? Who would have to leave? What about a player like Raúl? Well let’s wait until he is actually taking the flight to Madrid before we star putting him in our fantasy team list wearing white instead of red.

As far as Manchester is concerned, they are willing to drag this out until later on this summer.   Hey they said they weren’t going to renegotiate now.  That doesn’t mean they won’t do it later.  Stay tuned.

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Numancia, like Real Madrid, ran away from the pack and are just one point away from returning to the first division.  The big battle for promotion is being fought between Málaga, Sporting, and Real Sociedad.   Málaga have a slight advantage with a one-point lead over Sporting and Sociedad.

On the opposite end of the spectrum there are 16 teams that are still not safe from relegation.   No team is condemned to Segunda B as of yet.  Every.  The top six teams in the Spanish Second division are safe.  Las Palmas and Sevilla B will be out of that problem with a win or draw this weekend.

Numancia       75
Málaga            67
Sporting         66
——————————
R. Sociedad    66
Castellón        57
Elche               54
Las Palmas     53
Sevilla B          52
Hércules          51
Celta                51
Salamanca      50
Gimnàstic       49
Tenerife          49
Éibar               49
Racing Ferro  46
Córdoba         46
Cádiz              46
Albacete        45
———————
Xerez             45
Alavés            44
Granada 74   44
Pol. Ejido       42

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Seydou Keita’s signed his contract with Barcelona on Monday. He might as well just signed Deco’s walking papers in order to give people the same message.

The Mali international, one of the players requested by new blaugrana coach Josep Guardiola, signed a four-year and the club had to pay Sevilla 14 million euros which were part of the clause rescission in the former Lens star. Keita mentioned that he had “various offers” from clubs all throughout Europe and was satisfied to sign with Barcelona.

His addition to the club will help the culé attack in order to obtain balance on the left side that was so dangerous during the Rikjaard era when both Ronaldinho and Portuguese international were so dominant. This season especially in the second half when both “Brazilian” players were out of the lineup due to injury, that it was the right side where Lio Messi, Bojan Krkic, and an host of others tried as much as they could and came up short of the net on various occasions.  Deco was one of the first names that was thrown out by new Inter manager Jose Mourinho along with Chelsea’s Frank Lampard.

For Barça this is just the beginning as the talk of this past season’s pichichi, Dani Güiza, is heating up. In an interview with Spanish daily As, mentions that he would be interested in returning to Barcelona.

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Valencia is an estrange team. They never have calm. We can compare its recent history with a rollercoaster. They have been twice La Liga winners (01/02 and 03/04) just some years ago and this season they have been on the verge to be relegated. They are always having internal problems with its direction staff, something that is a big problem when you have behind ones of the most passionate supporters all over the country but, at the same time, probably the most demanding ones. They don’t need so much to start complaining but this year they have reasons to do it. 

We open this week newspapers and we see Koeman, former Valencia coach, saying: “Joaquín had a 30 Euros performance” (remember Joaquín was bought for 30 millions). He also says that “it was a mistake coming to Valencia”. I agree. He is so bad to train los ches. He arrived here with Valencia in fourth position and left it bordering relegation. As you know, his first decision was putting aside Albelda, Angulo y Cañizares, a curious way of doing things.  

Although Koeman has been a problem for Valencia, the main one is its chairman and, at the same time, owner. It is true that El Larguero, the main radio sport program (with great influences in this country), has launched a campaign against Juan Soler. But the problem is that he deserved it. He has destroyed a team prepared to win La Liga, dismissing employees when he was angry, signing estranges players for too much money (Banega, Fernandes…) and taking unbelievable decisions as the one of the three captains, that everybody think was his idea. 

The city of Valencia doesn’t deserve this man. Now is not the president (he has delegated this function in Agustin Morera who, at least, seems to be a more logical person), but he still have the real power, so we can say Valencia FC is still in danger. Marcelino (sensational former Racing’s manager), for example, said “no” to Valencia because of its strange future project. After Albelda, Angulo and Cañizares probably this summer will leave the club Silva, Joaquín and Villa. Too much talent lost, I think. 

For the best of the city of Valencia, but also for the best o Spanish football (that definitely needs Valencia again at the top) we hope Soler leave the club soon, so we can see again Valencia where its supporters deserve to be.   

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Luis Amaranto Perea was called up for duty by coach Jorge Luis Pinto.  Colombia will play Ireland and France before they play Peru and Ecuador in World Cup qualifers.

Goalkeepers:
Agustín Julio (Santa Fe), Róbinson Zapata (Ateaua Bucarest-ROM)
Defenders:
Camilo Zúñiga (Atl.Nacional), Ruben Darío Bustos (Internacional-BRA), Luis Amaranto Perea (Atlético Madrid-ESP), Wálter Moreno (Atl. Nacional), Cristian Zapata (Udinese-ITA), Elvis González (Cúcuta), Pablo Armero (América)
Midfielders:
Freddy Guarín (Saint Etienne-FRA), José Amaya (Atl. Nacional), Yulián Anchico (Santa Fe), Fabián Vargas (Boca Juniors-ARG), Carlos Alberto Sánchez (Valenciennes, Francia), Freddy Grisales (Independiente-ARG), Macnelly Torres (Cúcuta), Juan Carlos Escobar (Steaua Bucarest-ROM), Giovanni Hernández (Junior)
Delanteros:
Hugo Rodallega (Necaxa-MEX), Radamel Falcao García (River Plate-ARG), Edixon Perea (Gremio-BRA), Dairo Moreno (Steaua Bucarest-ROM),  Roberto Polo, (La Equidad)

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There are teams you can actually imaging playing in 2º Division. Zaragoza is not one of them. With the highest budget of its history, a team made for Champions League is now in hell, deciding who they are going to sell in order to face an extremely difficult season.

Just take a look to some of their players: Cesar, Ayala, Diego Milito, Sergio García, Zapater, Aimar, Juanfran… They have one of the best La Liga teams! Now newspapers talk about Milito, whom Zaragoza expects to sell for 15 or 20 millions of euros (Tottenham and Barcelona are interested), and Sergio García for nearly 10 millions (probably more if he does a good Euro 2008). Sadly this is the only way the have to face its debt not playing in 1º Division.

Today Real Madrid plays a match against Al Nasr for which it is going to receive 2 millions of Euros. This money can help to complete the Rolando’s operation, something overdiscussed these days in Spain. The problem is that Portuguese crack is saying yes and no at the same time. That’s because English press prefers to quote “I’m really happy here because every day I learn something new”, and Spanish newspapers quote “I’ve always said I want to play in Spain”. This is a business and newspapers must be sold. From Real Madrid headquarters one sentence has been repeated continuously: “We have enough money, and if he wants to come, he will”. We can only wait.

The Spanish national team is, after the end of La Liga, the topic that centres the whole attention. This year has not been really brilliant for Spanish clubs, so probably is la seleccion year. After so many deceptions this country is afraid of having hope. We have incredible players, but when they team up it seems they are everything but a team. Spain is waiting the first match, and after that we will decide if it is worth or not to have faith… again.

By the way, be attentive to laligatalk because in just one or two days we will post a really interesting interview with the most important Spanish football journalists in England. I’m sure you know the name. For those who don’t… you’ll have to wait.

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