EXTREMELY WELL BALANCED REAL MADRID WINS BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLES

Real Madrid has made the history today, yet again. As the first team at a club level, the "merengues" were able today to repeat, back-to-back, as the winners of UEFA Champions League, by beating Italian champion Juventus Turin, by the score of 4:1. In the old formula of the competition, called the European Cup of Champions, the "merengues" have won it six times, out of which five times in a row (1956-1960); yet since the enactment of the new formula of UEFA Champions League in 1992, no team, including Messi's Barcelona, was able to win two back-to-back titles. Altogether, the "merengues" have now won record 12 European Champion League titles - the same amount as won by all English club teams! The Real Madrid charismatic coach, and one of the greatest players in soccer history, Zinedine Zidane, was able to give the "merengues" the necessary balance and cohesion which the team was lacking under the previous coaches. Throughout this season, Real had the key players in Marcelo, Modric, Isco, Kross and Ramos, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo, although lacking in dribbling skills and vision to be considered a player on the level of Lionel Messi, is truly now a veritable poacher of goals, even though he disappears for the long intervals of the game. Juventus exhibited throughout this season a formidable defense, yet somehow, due to scintillating Real Madrid midfield, and below par performance of Pijanic and Khedira, the "merengues" were able in the second half to assert the control of the midfield, and to create more scoring opportunities which were converted twice by Ronaldo, in addition to Casemiro and Asensio. Juventus' goalkeeper, Gigi Buffon, who was looking to collect the only missing title in his career, has to hope that 2017/2018 season, apparently the last in his career, will be the lucky one. On the other hand, Paulo Dybala, the formidable dribbler of Juventus, might want to join Barcelona this summer, as Juventus seems to lack quality in the midfield in order to have a shot at winning the next edition of the Champions League.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney who writes on legal or other community important topics. You can contact him by telephone at (212) 634-4250,  or, through email: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com or jwandrzejewski@gmail.com.

WORLD CUP 2014: FOOTBALL ROLLERCOASTER IN ENGLISH MEDIAS

The English media, as well as English football fans, had a rollercoaster kind of a summer this year. Prior to each of the last several World Cups, to which they qualified (1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010), English media and fans loudly and widely claimed there was nobody in the world their golden boys could not beat, so they were proclaiming themselves the world champions (in waiting) and waited impatiently for the start of each of the upcoming tournaments. In 1998 their was no "hand of God" around but the English were "cheated out" again by those canny Argentinians who dared to dismiss their golden boy of the pitch, in 2002 it was that "lucky goal" by Ronaldinho and Seaman taking a momentary nap, in 2006, that winking man from Canary Islands "they taught how to play" got their "great" Rooney off , and title was gone, and in 2010 lack of goal line technology in the 1:4 loss to Germany (I wonder how loudly they complained about the lack of same technology in 1966, when, at the score standing at 1:1, Soviet referee decided to give the proud and fair sons of Albion a helping hand, and created a goal which wasn't, as the ball never crossed the goal line).
Having learned from their previous humiliations, this time around during the 2013/2014 Premier League season nobody dared to repeat any of the "glorious predictions" of the recent world cups. But, as soon as the season was wrapped up, the hope for glory was back. Why not, Liverpool had such young, bright and already "accomplished" players as Sturridge, Sterling, Henderson, Southampton showed off Lallana and Luke Shaw, Manchester United Jones, Smalling, Cleverly, Arsenal Ox-Chameberlain and perennial great hope, Theo Walcott. Just add to this "galaxy of interstellar talent" the "best goalkeeper" in the world in form of young and tall Joe Hart, and "all-time great" Wayne Rooney, known in various places of a certain island as "White Pele". The camp and friendlies started and English "pundits" started to ponder aloud "Sturridge" great chances for sneaking the World Cup 2014 golden boot. Soon, the multiple voices were heard supporting the unheralded young starlets to spring a nice surprise, then, after Sturridge came up with a decent goal in a friendly, the concept of "bright young talent commandeered from the back by the old master Steven Gerrard, taking the world by surprise", was circulated quickly in the headlines. Then, the show took another turn, and everybody pondered Rooney and the position on the pitch he should be gracing the world around with. Eventually, it was the time to play ball, and the English team performances we can cover with silence, accept to note the following: Italy v. England, the first fall down, but soon the train was on the way up, as Urugway was to play the unfit Luis Suarez, who happens to be the most hated man in England, for daring to be the best player in the Premier League, in addition to several cultural and anthropological deficiencies. But, oh my God, Suarez scored twice, and it was a major down - not only he humiliated his detractors, but also kicked out England from the World Cup and finished their glory dreams, the football coming home mantra, etc. Came the third round of group stage matches and very good things for England started to occur, England drew with Costa Rica, a real accomplishment, but the best news came from the Urugway v. Italy match: Luis Suarez has struck again! No, strike it from the record, he has BITTEN again! O thank you God, thank you God, thank you Almighty! The old Eng(er)land was merry again! Oh, how joyous can life be? English media, pundits, fans and population at large was together again (forget the bleak Scots and their independence murmurs). Punish him! Ban Him! Eject him! Remove him from football! Guilty of all accusations, including of the fall (or demise) of British Empire! Be done with the savage! Hospitalize him! Institutionalize him! So much venom coming from quite a merry England. At this juncture nobody remembered about another humiliation of English football. Nobody was willing to finally admit that the English were in the league of Montenegrans, Swedes, the Poles, Norwegians, Hungarians rather than Germans, Dutch, Spaniards, French, or Belgians. So, the World Cup 2014 went on and the English spirits were much higher now, but soon somber moods prevailed, the black clouds were seen again over the horizon, the great armada of harbingers of oncoming evil were brought by the mixed winds from south-west, across the ocean: Germany and Argentina were still around... Oh, why do we have to be punished so heavily? The two most hated in Eng(er)land teams with a chance for glory? But there were still traces of hope left in the pundits voice...Perhaps Brazil would improve, perhaps Van Gaal - in couple of weeks to be OUR MAGICIAN - will vanquish the Argentines and their claims to glory? Glory to Argentina? But it might enhance their claims to Malvinas (what? what did you call it?). Unfortunately, it was time for another turn down on the rollercoaster as Brazil collapsed in front of methodical Germany, and Van Gaal misplaced somewhere his magic wand, and despite help received from the brothers behind the Canal La Manche (again, what did you call it?) he couldn't find it back. Ah well, so we have to watch in the World Cup final the two most hated teams? But, there is good news in it, at least one of them will lose! And let's pray for Messi disappearing from the match, so we wouldn't have to swallow and digest another great from Argentina, not after the Maradona's miracles, hands of God, etc. After all, we do not want to raise on pedestal short footballers... In merry ol' England we prefer the big lads, like Cristiano. That he has no vision and cannot dribble? Who cares, he is big, and he is ours, we schooled him properly in the solid ways of English football. He can jump to all our high and long balls. That he "winked" us out of the glory at the World Cup 2006? We are a forgiving and civilized nation. Bygone is bygone. Messi can't jump to our high balls... Besides, we refuse to put the dwarfs on the pedestal of our sport! Never! That we are politically incorrect? No, not true, we always are! Except, when it pertains to our football. After all, we have invented it, we made the rules and we decide who can be great or not. Yes, Brazilians stole the football from us, but look at them, they were punished severely just recently. It's a lesson to the whole world, hands away of our football. And this World Cup was a success -  we did not have to be humiliated by Germany again, we can come back to our island with the heads held high this time. In several weeks we will be best in the world again, thank you Almighty for the Premier League! And we don't have to suffer Luis Suarez's skills again... We will press FIFA and UEFA to ban him from all matches to be played by Barcelona on English pitches. After all, we invented football and deserve some lenience.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other important community topics. You may contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or by e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

WORLD CUP 2014: LEO MESSI AND THE LAST MISSING TROPHY

In yesterday's matches at World Cup 2014 Argentina and Nigeria qualified to next round from group F, and France and Switzerland from group E. Already eliminated Bosnia prevented Iran from qualification by beating them by the score of 3:1 whereas in the other match of this group Argentina edged Nigeria 3:2. This match has been a showcase for Leo Messi who gave Argentina early lead by pouncing on a rebound and directing his fierce shot under the roof of Nigerian goal. Argentina did not enjoy the lead for too long as young Nigerian Musa has scored from left side of the penalty area even a more beautiful goal then Leo Messi. Eventually, Leo Messi responded in second half with a beautiful free kick which found Nigerian goalkeeper Enyama frozen on the goal line. Young Musa once again equalized the score with another well taken goal, to which Argentina responded with the winning goal headed from a corner by left-back Rojo. After that goal Messi has been taken off the pitch and Argentina comfortably preserved their lead to the end. As I have been saying all along since January of this year, Leo Messi has sacrificed the Barcelona club season in La Liga and UEFA Champions League just to be ready for the World Cup. He already has won everything with FC Barcelona and was voted four times the best player in the world, yet he had to deal with accusations of not giving it all to the home country, Argentina. When at the end of last year he was sided by injuries, I have predicted that the break in the season will serve him well during the upcoming World Cup. Even though Messi came back from injury in January, 2014, he was playing until the end of the season for Barcelona not like Leo Messi we knew from the past. I voiced an opinion on various forums at football blogs in England (newspaper Guardian, etc.) that Messi sacrificed everything to win the World Cup, or at least to get to the final. Even though he is the greatest footballer in the history of the sport, various detractors did not want to recognize his greatness and were bringing in discussions Diego Maradona casus, claiming that he was able single-handedly to win one World Cup in 1986 with a weak Argentina team, and then to get back to the final in 1990 with even a weaker team. I repeated at football discussing forums on many occasions my theory that Leo Messi sacrificed everything with Barcelona this season just to lead Argentina to the final at the World Cup, yet my opponents in discussions were claiming that Messi is finished, that perhaps he wasn't that good, that Ronaldo is better, what of course made me respond with laughter for Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be put on the same level with Messi. Whereas Ronaldo is a an athletic type of footballer, runner and powerful shooter, though limited dribbler with a lot of unnecessary step overs, who achieved everything with hard-work, Leo Messi is a brilliant technical player who can dribble with ease and lightning speed, with a ball glued to his feet, through whole defenses and shoot unexpectedly or supply other players with brilliant passes or assists. Whereas Ronaldo is petulant and has big ego, and makes his teams weaker (look at Portugal national team or Real Madrid studded with best players for many seasons yet without success except for this season's Champions League) Leo Messi is a player with a vision, who constantly creates for the team and makes it better. When Ronaldo disappears in big games like Champions League final or major international tournaments (except for Portugal v. Sweden playoffs, however, because of his big ego Portugal didn't qualify directly and had to go through back door to the World Cup) Leo Messi scores huge goals for either Barcelona (all Champions League and La Liga successes) or Argentina (qualification to World Cup 2014 and the World Cup 2014 itself, where his goals decided each of the matches played by Argentina so far). When Ronaldo is a child who showcases his muscles and sulks when his teammates score big goals, Leo Messi is still a humble man who doesn't stop the world around when kicked or otherwise fouled (like Ronaldo does) but calmly walks away. Argentina is a long shot for the World Cup which is blessed with teams huge on talent like Germany, Netherlands, Colombia, France, or even Brazil (even if so far it did play poorly), but with Messi everything is possible. In next round Argentina will meet Switzerland, who beat yesterday Honduras 3:0 with the hat-trick hero Shaqiri from Bayern Munchen playing like on fire, whereas France, who drew Equador yesterday 0:0 and topped group E, will meet Nigeria, team playing better and better with each next game. Notwithstanding the valiant opponents, Argentina and France should advance.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney writing on various legal and community important topics. You can contact him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com


 

WORLD CUP 2014: HIGH MARKS FOR GHANA, ALGERIA, COSTA RICA AND USA IN THE SECOND ROUND OF GROUP MATCHES

The second round of group matches has shown how exciting World Cup 2014 has become. It is time to talk now about the perennial lightweights consisting either of poor countries such as Costa Rica, Honduras, Iran, Algeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Nigeria or of the rich newcomers, relatively speaking, to the football table such as the United States, Australia, South Corea or Japan. I kind of predicted that CONCACAF countries might have much more to say in this World Cup due to their tropical climate (Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, even U.S.A.) and time zone location, not demanding any acclimatization from their players or any time adjustment, even if they play during majority of the year in Europe). But never I would have predicted that Costa Rica would be able to beat Uruguay and Italy in two consecutive matches! I could have smelled an accidental win, but two in a row? Over the giants of world football? I knew that Costa Rica best players play in solid European clubs, even if not in those from the top shelf, and that they are exposed to high standards of European football on a daily basis. FIFA, the regulatory body of world football (or soccer, if your language is American English) apparently smelled something fishy about Costa Rica wins for they selected seven players from Costa Rica, after the match against Italy, for anti-doping tests. Usually, two players from each team are selected for the routine anti-doping post match tests. FIFA claims that selection for the doping test of so many players from Costa Rica was caused by unavailability of many Costa Rica players for anti-doping tests prior to the tournament. Those who follow doping affairs know that it is common to those using doping during training prior to the competition to disappear so not to be caught by unannounced random anti-doping inspectors (i.e. Jamaican or U.S. track and field athletes). We will see what happens but we all hope that Costa Rica is for real. Regarding African teams, prior to the tournament I hoped that at least Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria would make it to the post-group round of 16. In fact, I hoped that Ghana (or Belgium) might be the surprise team of the tournament. Even though Ghana outplayed USA, and their better footballing skills were clearly visible; they were beaten in the first round of group matches as USA played a smarter brand of football.  But, in the second match against Germany, incidentally so far the best match of the tournament, Ghana showed that they are capable not only of football full of power, but also of flowing, positional play, marked by high technical individual skills of the players. Unless Germany and USA will come to a quiet understanding and draw their final game, I predict that Germany and Ghana would advance from the so called group of death. I have to give high praise to USA team for their second game against Portugal which they drew 2:2. Although they won the first game against Ghana (2:1), Ghana was the more enterprising team, notwithstanding USA great team spirit and killing instinct displayed by the goals of veteran of English Premier League Clint Dempsey and the newcomer John Brooks. However, in the game against Portugal, USA were visibly the better team, creating better occasions and playing consistently, notwithstanding the higher technical skills of Portuguese players. Portugal, on the other hand is a funny team, boasting the talents of Ronaldo, Nani, Moutinho, Veloso or Carvalho, yet unable to play as a cohesive team, overwhelmed by the egos of their players. And Ronaldo does not make them better but worse (except for the occasions such as the pass to Valera which gave Portugal the drawing goal in the injury time). In my comments to articles in English Guardian before the World Cup, I had predicted that Portugal will not make it out of their group. Returning to USA team, it seams that Jurgen Klinsman has gotten it right, by getting rid of Landon Donovan and putting his money on  Dempsey and Bradley (and the only world class US player: goalkeeper Tim Howard)  as the leaders of the American team. The team is cohesive, exhibits killing instinct and never die attitude, even though it lacks still in technical skills department. They should get better. What happened to the national team of Cameroon, only God knows. The indomitable lions of 1982 or 1990 World Cups are just a distant memory, although I would not bet against them in match against unconvincing Brasil (incidentally, I do not rate this Brazilian team highly and do not consider them as capable of getting to the final, notwithstanding the referees help and the best schedule of the matches). Nigeria, now without big names except for Odemwingie and Emmenike, in the game against Bosnia showed that they can be successful with their passing game as long as they are consistent in defense. Against Bosnia, their defense was focused and solid, and it could rely on the goalkeeper. I believe they should advance together with Argentina to the play-off rounds. The complete surprise were Algeria, usually a defensively minded team from North Africa, as they were in the game against Belgium. This time, they changed their tactics and played offensive football, surprising South Korea with the simple directness of their game. South Korea and Japan appear to have regressed since the last World Cup, although they might still pull out a surprise in third game. Australia, relying on good Cahill and Jedinak, clearly the weakest team in the tournament, continuing to play typical British football. I do not see much happening for them in the near future. Iran, on the other hand made visible progress under the tutelage of Carlos Queiroz, relying on good defensive game and dangerous counterattacks conducted by skillful and mobile players. They were particularly dangerous against offensively minded Argentina, and had they won, it wouldn't have been undeserved, notwithstanding that it is easy to park a bus and rely on counterattacks against offensively playing teams. Summarizing, great World Cup for the minnows, if minnows still exist in the world football.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney writing on legal and various community important topics. You can reach him by telephone (212) 634-4250 or through e-mail: janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

SIR ALEX FERGUSON PUSHED OUT FROM MANCHESTER UNITED?

When last Tuesday evening a news appeared, claiming Manchester United is about to issue an important statement, and that it might pertain to Alex Ferguson, I could only think that the Glazers, a family from the United States, who took over ownership of the club several years ago, must be pushing him out, unhappy with United's another failure in the Champions League. All the news coming out of Manchester on Wednesday said that Sir Alex decided to leave now, supposedly at the best of times, when United was assured of winning the 20th domestic title and when the team's future was secured financially as well as on a sporting level. It was so strange to me that nobody  seemed to doubt the official story. Yet, last Sunday Sir Alex claimed that he feels great and is already thinking of another campaign, he was in fact actively involved in attempts to bring back Cristiano Ronaldo and to acquire Robert Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund. What could have happened that caused such an immediate turn around in the space of two days? Illness of Sir Alex or his wife? There was no such a news coming out of his inner circle, instead there was a news of a conference of the top people in the club with the Glazers. Must be the Glazers, I formulated quickly an opinion, and here is why: the Glazers must be unhappy with Manchester United's recently perennial failure in the most prestigious of competitions, the UEFA Champions League, why they still are paying off the huge loan which they took to finance Manchester United takeover and then burdened the club with it. In this season, the team did not make the quarterfinals; the season before was even worse as United were eliminated in the group stages of the Champions League and were banished to Europa League, from which they were eventually kicked out by lowly but stylish Athletic Bilbao, the same team which is holding for dear life in current La Liga season. Sir Alex was a great coach who had a blue print for successfully competing in Premier League, the English domestic competition. However, in the Champions League, where he had to deal with teams consisting of players on a higher technical and tactical levels, he was able to convert the 13 Premiership titles to only 2 Champions League trophies. Apparently, he had too many English, physical players in his team, who were and still are unable to compete with the more sophisticated European or South American players of top European teams. Clearly, Manchester United recent failures in Europe were treated by the Glazer family as one bridge too far, particularly when they realized how much profits were lost in the recent Champions League campaigns. Someone had to pay for it. It appears that that someone is Sir Alex Ferguson, the man who secured for Manchester United 13 Premier League titles, but only 2 Champions League trophies. The world of business nowadays is still cruel and the credo "greed is good" still rules; the owners and corporate executives do not dwell on the past, either you win and are profitable or you are gone. Such is the news to world of football (or soccer) from corporate America.

Janusz Andrzejewski is a New York City based attorney, writing on legal and other important community subjects. You can contact him at (212) 634-4250 or by e-mail at janusz@januszandrzejewski.com

GERMANY WON, AS USUALLY. THE DUTCH DISAPPOINTED

Second day of the Euro 2012 disappointed, after two exciting matches of the kick-off day. Holland, the favorites of many, appear to have reached their limits with reaching the final of World Cup 2010. But, the initial loss 0:1 to Denmark does not have to be ominous to their chances. Denmark perhaps does not posses players of great technical skills, but it is a team consisting of players astute tactically, exhibiting sound usable technical skills. Perhaps only veteran Greek team can compare to them with the level of tactical skills. Van Persie and Robben disappointed, whereas Senijder appears to have regained some of his brilliance, blunted recently by his illness, by exhibiting some of great passes. Unlike during the matches played in Poland so far,  several thousand seats in Kharkov Stadium were empty. It appears that BBC Panorama doctored report did not help Ukraine. The second match of the day, between Germany and Portugal, has ended with expected 1:0 German victory. Portugal, until Mario Gomez goal, were preoccupied mostly with containing Germany. To achieve that aim, they fielded three holding players in midfield: Veloso, Mouthinho and Meireles. After the German goal, they changed their style of play and almost succeeded in creating several of opportunities for a tying goal. Unfortunately for them, the old rule that football is played by 22 players and Germany always win in the end, is still true. Also, having in the team Cristiano Ronaldo, does not help. It appears that Portugal would have been much more cohesive as a unit without him.
UEFA had charged Russian FA for excesses by Russian yobs in the match between Russia and Czech Republic in Wroclaw, Poland. Apparently, Russian fans have made monkey noises toward Czech black player, Gebre Selassie, and they also have brutally beaten four stewards, who attempted to detain Russian fan throwing firecracker onto the pitch. Today, higly anticipated Spain v. Italy match. Will the Spaniards be enough hungry for a third title in a row? What about the rift in Spanish national team (created by infamous Jose Mourinho) between Real Madrit and Barcelona players. Will the Italians respond to the bribery allegations with another title (as they did in 2006 World Cup)? Or, perhaps, they will start in a slow manner as in 1982 World Cup in Spain? Come today to Gdansk, Poland and see for youself.

Janusz Andrzejewski

POLAND JOINS BIG LEAGUES WITH EURO 2012

Finally, after years of preparations, Euro 2012 in soccer is about to kick off tomorrow at Poland's National Stadium in Warsaw. The new stadium, one of the most impressive venues in the world of soccer, with a retractable roof, has over 58,000 seats and rather does not belong to the biggest arenas. But, its design inside and state of the art amenities make it impressive and imposing venue, indeed. Even more beautiful is a bit smaller PGE Arena in Gdansk, in various shades of amber color, with a light design of the outside walls and of the roof. The City Stadium in Poznan characterizes futuristic design of the roof construction (as seen from inside of the stadium) whereas Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw boasts with great visibility from each of its traditional one-tier level seats. The roads in Poland have been considerably improved, new highways were added, although not all of them are finished. The hotel industry, quite impressive in recent years, has been made even better. Warsaw Airport, already modern, opened additional terminal whereas majority of local airports were either modernized or rebuilt. Polish economy, which as the only one in Europe has not known recession in recent years, is still advancing ahead with 3,5 % growth, made even more impressive by the troubles of Greece, Portugal, Spain or Italy. Krakow, one of the most picturesque cities in the world does not stage any games, but it hosts teams from England, Holland and Italy and is already crowded with tourists from all over the world. Well done, Poland! Enjoy, for your time has finally arrived. Let's hope, that none of the racial incidents, predicted by BBC's sensational Panorama program, will take place for we cannot allow those few yobs to spoil our soccer holidays. Let us rather show the world our traditional Polish hospitality!

Janusz Andrzejewski