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Continuing our World Cup countdown we feature one of the most dramatic tournaments to have taken place, the 1950 World Cup in Brazil in this week’s main report. You can listen to the report by clicking above while vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

Background

The 1950 World Cup was the first tournament to be held after the Second World War and as much of Europe’s infrastructure had been destroyed, FIFA turned to Brazil to host the fourth World Cup. Before the competition had even started there was drama with many teams pulling out for a variety of reasons: Argentina didn’t go because they were in dispute with their neighbours Brazil, Scotland had qualified by coming second in their group behind England but refused to travel as they were not British champions. Turkey pulled out and then so did their replacements, France, while India withdrew because they were not allowed to play barefoot. Austria felt their team was too young while Germany were banned from international competition leaving a total of 13 teams to participate. continue

 

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Last week, I visited Mumbai, India. Mumbai is arguably the most cosmopolitan city in India, the business centre, and home to 12 million Mumbaikers. While I was there I saw people walking around sporting Manchester United and AC Milan fake tops, Beckham T-shirts, and in the shop windows there are Chelsea, Man United, and Real Madrid school bags. Despite this, I hardly saw anybody playing football in the streets or in the many parks and beaches in the city. And there was nothing about local football in the newspapers. Why don’t most Indians play or follow football?

 

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There are a host of derbies being played around the world this weekend so we thought we’d take a look at some of these football rivalries in this week’s main report. You can listen to the report by clicking above while vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

What is a derby?

A derby is a game played between rival teams – usually from the same city or region though not always, think Barcelona against Real Madrid or Liverpool vs Manchester United, for instance. Generally the games are played at a frenetic pace as the teams are roared on by the fans who want to have bragging rights over their rivals. This of course means that form often goes out the window making these games very difficult to predict.

Where did the term originate from?

Well, though there is some confusion over its origin, it is now generally accepted that the term derby comes from a folk football match between two local sides from the village of Ashburton in Derbyshire in the Midlands area of England

What is the oldest derby in world football?

Again, there is some dispute about this but it seems that the Sheffield derby between Wednesday and United is now regarded as one of the oldest local rivalries in world football.

So derbies are always about geographical rivalry then?

Usually but not always. Sometimes there are other factors involved such as history (for example, West Ham and Millwall’s London rivalry dates back to an industrial dispute), animosity between a country’s different regions, religion, politics (for example the ‘eternal enemies’ Olympiakos and Panathanaikos in Greece) and footballing honours. For instance, there is rivalry between the two cities of Manchester and Liverpool yet when Liverpool take on Manchester City or Manchester United play Everton there is no real animosity. But when Liverpool and Manchester United play each other then a different form of rivalry kicks in: which of the two sides is the most successful in English football?

The clásico in Spain between Barcelona and Real Madrid is an example of a derby involving two teams from different regions but as many people know, this game is all about history and identity. Rangers and Celtic in Scotland not only share the same city, Glasgow, are the two most successful sides in Scottish football history but they are also divided on religious lines: Celtic, traditionally is a Catholic club while Rangers is a Protestant one. But then there is the example of Galatasaray and Fenerbahce from Turkey – two teams that are also divided on religious lines but they also come from from a city, Istanbul, that spans two different continents.

What are the biggest derbies in the world?

Celtic-Rangers, Galatasaray-Fenerbahce and Barcelona-Real Madrid are three of the most passionate, some would say hate-filled, games in the world but there are many others like them. continue

 

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Our fourth spotlight on World Cup Stars looks at one of Germany’s finest – der bomber! Check out previous posts on World Cup Stars here.

“(He) was short , squat, awkward-looking and not notably fast”, wrote David Winner in Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football. This description does not sound like one you would expect of a World Cup great, but the player described won a European Championship, a World Cup, is second all time top scorer in the competition and has one of the best goal to match ratios of any player – ever! 489 goals in 565 games. Gerd Müller, born in 1945 in Bavaria, was a deadly finisher, a fox in the box, and was simply know as der bomber – the bomber!

He has already established his fearsome reputation as a goalscorer at Bayern Munich, the team that dominated German club football in the late sixties and early 70s. Playing alongside Sepp Maier and Franz Beckenbauer it wasn’t long before Muller, initially believed to be too short and stocky to be successful, was called up to the national side, and in his first international competition, the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, he scored 10 goals and won the Golden Shoe. His haul included hatricks against Bulgaria and Peru, a winner in extra time against rivals England, and two against Italy in a match the Germans lost 4-3. Müller himself believed this competition was the most important in his career and it certainly propelled him into the international spotlight.

A European Championship title in 1972, culminating in a 3-0 win over Russia – two goals for der bomber and the top-scorer award – was followed two years later with West Germany’s successful campaign in the 1974 World Cup in front of their own fans. Müller’s West German side were up against most neutrals favourites, Holland. The Dutch, led by legend Johan Cruyff, were playing what became known as ‘total football’ a fluid approach to the game freeing players to change position in combinations that defied traditional thinking about line-ups and tactics. The West Germans had been solid in the tournament but not outstanding, unlike the Dutch who most pundits thought claim the trophy. The game became a tight, tense affair and the difference between the sides was  der bomber and his goal that put the Germans up 2-1 and ended up being the winning goal, and Müller’s last for his nation. This is how he described it, “I ran forward with two Dutch players then checked back because the pass was behind me. The ball jumped off my left foot, I turned a little and suddenly it was in.” ‘Suddenly it was in’, if any phrase describes the short, squat, stocky, slow striker from the south of Germany, ’suddenly it was in’ is perhaps it.

David Miller goes on to say about Gerhard Müller, “he had lethal acceleration over short distances, a remarkable aerial game, and uncanny goalscoring instincts.” Der bomber, goal-scoring machine and World Cup great. continue

 

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The Champions League is back after a two-month break with the first-leg matches from the last 16 taking place this week. On this week’s main report we preview these games and predict which teams should make it to the quarter-finals. You can listen to the report by clicking above while vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

Barcelona and Beckham

The Champions League returns this week after a two-month break with the knock-out stage involving 16 teams from 8 different countries. This season UEFA has decided to have the 8 ties played over two different weeks, so there are 4 games this week and four next in an obvious attempt to maximise the competition’s advertising power. This means that holders and favourites Barcelona do not play until next week when they face Bundesliga side Stuttgart in what should be a fairly straightforward tie. The Germans scraped out of a weak group though their form has improved recently in the domestic league. Barca’s big rivals, however, Real Madrid face a tough trip to France where they will play Lyon. The French side are not as strong as they have been in recent years but Madrid will be under pressure to make it past the second round for the first time in 5 seasons, particularly after spending so much money on new players this year. Now, despite the pressure and this tricky away first leg I am tipping them to progress. On the same night, English champions Manchester United travel to AC Milan where they received a thrashing on their last visit three years ago. Few predict a similar scoreline this time in what should be an intriguing battle, especially as it will see David Beckham face his former club for the first time since he left. Despite the brouha surrounding David Beckham’s return to Old Trafford for the second leg I don’t think Milan will have enough and Manchester United will qualify.

Dark Horses?

Another English club in action this week is Arsenal who will play away in Portugal against FC Porto, who are playing in the Champions league for the 13th consecutive year and gave Chelsea a scare in the group stages to prove that they will be no pushovers. In fact, I am predicting that they will knock-out Arsene Wenger’s side. The other match to be played this week sees Italian side Fiorentina going to Germany where they will play a resurgent Bayern Munich team that is challenging for the Bundesliga title as well. The Germans have hit form at the right time and will comfortably make it to the next round where they will no doubt make things uncomfortable for whoever they face – a dark horse to win the title maybe?

Jose and Chelsea

Now, next week sees Russian side CSKA Moscow take on Sevilla from La Liga. The Russians are still in their pre-season, while Sevilla have been inconsistent in recent weeks – dropping out of contention for La Liga title but making it to the Copa del Rey final. A Spanish victory here then. Many people’s dark horses, Bordeaux travel to Athens to play Olympiacos in what should be a hostile atmosphere but the French team had the best qualifying record – 5 wins and a draw – and should have too much for the Greek side. The final game to take place next week sees Jose Mourinho return to his former club Chelsea with his current side Inter Milan. Jose is under pressure there, for despite looking as if the club will retain the Italian title he was brought in to win the top European prize for the first time since 1965. Now, Chelsea do not need motivation after coming so close in the past three seasons but I think they are going to get a shock here with Jose’s team making the last 8.

 

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Not long to go now in the Premier League, so it’s a good chance to check out where the runners and riders are – who’s on their way up and who’s on their way down. Vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

Click above to listen!

Twelve games remain in the Premier League and it now looks as if it is a two-horse race between Chelsea and holders Manchester United for the title. The London side currently lead by two points but they have just been held to a draw by relegation-threatened Hull City and of course the allegations over their captain John Terry may undermine them further. United have suddenly hit form and with players returning after injury and Wayne Rooney in their side they will feel that they have the experience to win the title yet again. If they were to do so it would be their fourth in a row – a feat that has never been done before – it would also give the club a record 19th league title which would upset their Lancashire rivals Liverpool no end. What of Liverpool? Well, they currently lie in 5th place, 14 points behind the leaders but it is not the title they are challenging for but rather the much-coveted 4th spot, which would guarantee Champions League football next season. If the Reds were not to make it then the financial repercussions could be extremely damaging indeed, something which would not affect one of their rivals for that Champions League spot Manchester City.

Mega-rich City don’t need to be in the Champions League for the cash, they just want to be able to play with the big boys and be taken seriously next year. They lie in 6th place 1 point behind my team Tottenham who are in 4th with 42 points. This time last year Spurs were flirting with relegation so the turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable. Most fans still don’t think they can maintain their challenge but rather than worry about the chasing pack – including Aston Villa – it might be worth focusing on the third place currently filled by rivals Arsenal. Yes, they are 7 points clear but they have just received a thumping from Manchester United, face leaders Chelsea this weekend, are struggling in front of goal and have lost confidence in defence.

So, who is going to win it? I am going for Manchester United first, Chelsea second, Manchester City third and Tottenham to finish in the  top four. Now that would throw the cat amongst the pigeons!

It would indeed! But what about at the foot of the table? Which teams are struggling and in danger of the drop? It looks as the south-coast side, Portsmouth, FA Cup winners in 2008 but financial car crash this year, have already booked their place on next year’s Championship, the second division of English football, as they have been stuck at the bottom since , well, pretty much the start of the season. They have 15 points and only four wins and despite new owners, – their fourth this season – you could put your house on them being relegated. But they may be able to salvage something as they are in the 5th round of the FA Cup where they take on rivals Southampton.

But who will join them? Burnley sit 5 points above them in 19th and there are five teams within two points. Any kind of win in the remaining games is going to be like gold for Burnley, Hull, Wolves, Bolton, West Ham and Wigan. These look the likely candidates to fill the final two relegation spots. Two of those came up last year, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers and my feeling is that Wolves will be going straight back down. While Burnley have been poor recently they have the faint hope that their form at Turf Moor may return to see them safe – they’ve only lost twice in 11 games.

That leaves one more team to join Pompey and Wolves. West Ham seem to have steadied the ship with new money and new players and Bolton have shown in their 3-3 draw against Manchester City and even the 4-2 loss against Arsenal that they have a side that should do enough. So Wigan or Hull. For me, it’s Hull City, who escaped relegation last season by the skin of their teeth. Phil Brown’s side are often hard to beat, but with no win in 10 they may find it hard to pick up enough points to save themselves. Portsmouth, Wolves and Hull to go down.

Vocabulary

a two-horse race: a competition between two teams, only these two teams are likely to win

continue

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The Spanish League has reached the half way stage of the season - la primera vuelta – and so the languagecaster team thought it would be a good time to review what has been happening in La Liga and also to predict how it may all end in May. Vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

Let’s start at the top where the usual suspects can be found. Barcelona lead Real Madrid by 5 points and Valencia by 10 so they look odds-on to retain the title they won so impressively last year. Indeed, the Catalan side have not lost a game so far this season and though they are not as free scoring they still play with the swagger of champions. Ibrahimovic has settled in well with 11 goals but he trails the league’s top scorer, his team mate Leo Messi who has 15. continue

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On this week’s main report, Hans, our German correspondent, takes a look at the Budesliga. The German league takes a long break in winter – over three weeks – and last week they were back in action, so it’s a good time to see what’s going on in one of Europe’s biggest leagues. Vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

Listen to the report here

Transcript

Welcome back to the Bundesliga. The winter break is over, and despite snow and ice, games started on schedule last weekend. And there has been plenty going on. continue

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On this week’s main report, we continue our look at some of the countries who have qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. This week we feature one of the teams that made it through from the African section and who are also currently taking part in the Africa Cup of Nations, Algeria. Vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post.

Transcript

In qualifying for the South Africa World Cup, Les Fennecs or the Desert Foxes, came through a very tough group which included Zambia and huge rivals Egypt. In fact, they finished joint top of the table with the Egyptians and since they both had an identical record, including head-to-head, a play-off was needed to decide which of the two sides would play in South Africa. The tie-breaking game was held in neutral Sudan and the tension was enormous as there is no love lost between these two nations when it comes to football. The Algerians won thanks to a goal from Yahia which meant they would be appearing in their third ever World Cup finals. continue

 

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Damon and Damian cast their eyes over the four groups in the African Cup of Nations and choose who they think will progress.

Listen to the report here

Transcript

Damian: This weekend sees the Africa Cup of Nations kicking off in Angola with the hosts, the Black Goats, taking on Mali in the capital Luanda. Despite European clubs’ complaining about losing many of their best players in the middle of the season, there is a real excitement building up about this tournament and not just because of the high quality of those players – think Drogba, Kanoute, Toure, Keita and Song for instance. This, of course, is also a World Cup year so those teams that have made it to South Africa will use this competition as an important warm-up while those who did not reach the World Cup will be determined to compensate for their setback. In this week’s main report we look at the participating teams and attempt to make sense of the four groups involved. Damon will be looking at groups C and D but first up I review Groups A and B.

The hosts in this continental championship always do well and many critics feel that this tradition will continue with Angola having a relatively easy group. True, Malawi are there to make up the numbers in only their first ever appearance at the African Cup of Nations but the hosts will have their work cut out to overcome World Cup qualifiers Algeria, as well as Mali, a team that boasts a midfield of Real Madrid’s Diarra, Barcelona’s Keita and Juventus’ Sissoko with Sevilla’s Freddie Kanoute up front. If they can get something from the opening match against the hosts I think they could be one of the dark horses and go all the way. Qualifiers then from Group A? Angola and Mali.

As for Group B it looks pretty clear cut for the two teams that have made the World Cup in South Africa, namely Ghana and the Ivory Coast. These two teams also share the disappointment of losing out in the semi-finals in 2008 when the competition took place in Ghana. The other two teams in the group are Burkina Faso who lost out to the Ivory Coast in this year’s World Cup qualifiers and Togo who hope that Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor brings his early season form to the tournament. I can’t see any shocks here however with Michael Essien’s Ghana and Didier Drogba’s Ivory Coast comfortably making it through to the knock-out stage – with the Ivorians possible winners of the overall crown come the end of the month.

Damon: So let’s take a look at groups 3 and 4. First, group 3 which  has two teams of proven pedigree in this competition, Egypt with a record six titles, and Nigeria. The group is completed by Mozambique and Benin. Egypt of course are the holders and they qualified for the African Cup of Nations behind bitter rivals Algeria, the latter secured World Cup qualification with the play-off win, and it will be interesting to see whether or not they suffer any hangovers from that shock. Personally I doubt it and I think they will go through to the knock out round with Nigeria. The Super Eagles have a great record in the competition, last time out going out in the quarter finals was a huge shock. Their coach, Shuaibu Amodu is under enormous pressure to at least make the semi-finals, and they may just make it that far especially as they are not in the same side of the draw as Ghana and the Ivory Coast, two of the favourites for the title. Sorry Benin and Mozambique, but I can’t even see them as dark horses – unless that is Egypt do have a hangover from not qualifying for the World Cup.

In Group 4, I think, we’ll see more competition for the top two places. Cameroon, Tunisia, Gabon and Zambia make up this group. Cameroon, coached by Frenchman Paul Le Guen, beat Gabon twice leaving them in second place in their qualifying group, but Gabon will be confident that they will be able to grab one of the qualifying spots from their group. If they are to do that they will probably have to beat Tunisia, who finished one point behind Nigeria in their qualifying group. The Carthage Eagles have a new coach, Faouzi Benzarti, and will also feel that a top two place is theirs for the taking. The winners of the tournament in 2004 will be favourites to join Camaroon, but Gabon are the dark horses. Zambia? Well, since the tragic plane crash of 1993, which saw the Zambian team all killed on their way to a World Cup qualifying game in Senegal, they haven’t quite recovered their previous strength. Just qualifying was a success this time and I can’t see them troubling the other three.

So, here we go, second round will see Nigeria, winning their group,  take on Tunisia, and Egypt face group 4 winners Cameroon. Overall winners – Ghana. Overall dark horse – Tunisia.

Vocabulary continue

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Damon and Damian take a look back at some of the FA Cup memories of their teams: Liverpool and Tottenham. The transcripts can be found below.

Listen to the report here

Damon

Liverpool have a good history in the FA Cup although, strangely they didn’t have much success during their Golden Age from the mid-seventies to the mid-eighties. For me, one of the best FA Cup moments was when Ian Rush’s second sealed a 3-1 win over Everton – a beautiful sweeping move which was started by Rush in his own half and finished in clinical style. The whole atmosphere of that game was great, too. Both sets of fans from Liverpool, a city going through a lot of problems in the 80s with Margaret Thatcher’s government in power, seemed to take the opportunity to make a statement for the city their teams both play in – obviously better for Liverpool who won, but still a great FA Cup afternoon. continue

 

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Damon and Damian take a look back at the fortunes of their teams. The transcripts can be found below.

Damian

2009 for the most part has been a good year for Tottenham. This time last year we were languishing in 15th place in the Premier League having had the club’s worst start in its history and very much in a relegation dog fight. New manager Harry Rednapp had steadied the ship somewhat but there were still worries about the character of the team – particularly away from home as defeats at Wigan, Middlesbrough and Newcastle were to testify. Dumped out of the UEFA and FA Cups with weakened sides early on in the year, Spurs fans were worried that maybe Harry was somewhat out of his depth but he made some good signings, players that were big personalities both on and off the pitch. Back came Robbie Keane to captain the side, Jermaine Defoe to lead the attack and Wilson Palacios to bolster the midfield. In March, Spurs went to Wembley again, this time losing to Manchester United on penalties in the Carling Cup final. Tottenham finished 8th in the league which was almost perfect for Harry as he had lifted the club out of the drop zone but did not quite make it into the European places. No distractions then for the current season.

Of course the club was busy during the summer transfer window – we always are – but yet again good quality was brought in, Krancjar and Crouch coming from Portsmouth. Darren Bent was transferred to Sunderland while players deemed to be lacking in character, that word again, will be on their way soon – Bentley, Pavylunchenko and Hutton for example.

Currently the club lie in 5th place, two points behind the Champions League positions. They have had some notable victories already this season, 9-1 against a hapless Wigan side, good home wins against Man City and Liverpool and some very impressive attacking performances throughout. Defoe is scoring goals, Aaron Lennon is fulfilling promise, Gomes has calmed down in goal and we still have our best player to return in Luka Modric. However, they have been outclassed in three matches this season: Chelsea, Manchester United and loathe though I am to say it, Arsenal. There is still a long way to go but Tottenham have come a long way in 2009 and with strong character all around the club there is real optimism that this could be our year to make the breakthrough.

Damon

Well the second half of 2009 has been much much worse than the first. Liverpool are out of the Champions League, where much of their and Rafa Benitez’s reputation has been made, and they are slipping away from the all important top four spots in the League – currently they lie in eighth place. Last season they finished strongly, including a glorious purple patch which included thrashing Real Madrid, real aristocrats of European football, 4-0 over two legs, arch-rivals Manchester United 4-1 at Old Trafford, ensuring the double over them, and 5-0 against Aston Villa. Compare that with losing 2-0 to bottom club Portsmouth in their last game and losing seven games before Christmas – famously last season they only lost two and still finished second!

There is real pressure on Benitez and his players to turn things around. This was the season that they were meant to continue, if not build, on there second place finish and quarter-final finish in the Champions League. Oh how badly things have gone. Most people point to the fact that Xabi Alonso left for Real Madrid after becoming disenchanted with his manager, others talk about the injuries suffered by Torres and Gerrard amongst others that have meant there has been no fluency, a red beach ball scoring against us has played its bizarre part, but it does look as though Liverpool’s squad is just not good enough – particularly as big signings Glen Johnson at right back and Alberto Aquilani in midfield have not lived up to their price tags – the former because question marks still remain over his defensive strength, and the latter because, well, we haven’t seen him play yet. £20 million is a lot to spend on an injury prone player, especially when you don’t use him.

So, not good around the Fields of Anfield Road at the moment. But lets not despair, my highlights in 2009 have been the wins over Manchester United at Old Trafford and this season at Anfield – both games saw the Reds at their best as they absolutely terrorised Man United’s Nemanja Vidic who was also sent off in those games. Let’s just say I’ve seen those highlights a few times this year.

No matter how many times I remember those good times, it is very worrying to see the club struggling on the pitch, and in my opinion the main problem lies off it and in the board room, where Gillet and Hicks continue to bicker and load the club with debt. No new stadium means the future is uncertain, not good  for attracting high profile players. Liverpool fans have often been accused off living off past glories, I think people will have to get used to that continuing. Despite the defiance in the stands, there is little on or off the pitch at the moment. continue