Here it is. The big Premiership prediction. From the man who told you Holland would win Euro 2004: Chelsea will win the championship this year. Neal Collins sticks his neck out on why the Blues will win the English Premier League — and he’s prepared to cartwheel naked if they don’t.
Auf Wiedersehen. Arrivederci. Ciao. Yes, it’s good night from our friends in Germany, Italy and Spain, three of the world’s established footballing powers.
This sad trio, all ranked in Fifa’s top 10, are going home. The Czech fans were singing Auf Wiedersehen long before Milan Baros scored the winner at the Jose Alvalada Stadium in Lisbon on Wednesday night.
Prepare ye for the greatest show on Earth (until August’s Olympics, of course). If you live on the world’s most cramped continent or breathe football anywhere on the planet, the European Championship is all that matters until the final at the Stadium of Light on Sunday July 4.
Neal Collins weighs up the chances, country by country, of the players and their sides: from Portugal, where Luis Figo is the man to watch though he never seems to hit top form at the right time, to Holland, where former Rangers boss Dick Advocaat is back in the big orange hot seat for the second time.
Whatever else happens, it’s been an historic season, peppered with tales of Thierry Henry’s talent, Roman Abramovich’s wallet and Sir Alex Ferguson’s anger. Oh, and David Beckham’s wilful … but we can’t delve too deeply into that in a family newspaper. Neal Collins looks at the best and the worst of the past nine months.
On Saturday in Cardiff, the FA Cup final. On Wednesday in Gelsen-kirchen, the Champions League final. Both showdowns are awash with unwanted players, dodgy fans and soon-to-be-poached coaches. First-division Millwall, who have the ugliest fans in football, should never be anywhere near these heights.
For those who live in monasteries, some football news. Arsenal are one match away from an historic unbeaten season atop the Premiership. Leicester will become their 38th unsuccessful opponents on Saturday. Put your brightest red shirt on it. According to the pundits it’s all down to that nice chap Thierry Henry.
One man will dominate Gothenburg on Wednesday. If his abominable abdominals hold up. Didier Drogba, the Olympique de Marseille striker who so effectively destroyed Newcastle in the Uefa Cup semifinal a fortnight ago, should be back to haunt Spanish favourites Valencia in the final.
Can you imagine what it’s like at Chelsea, where they’ve got 13 midfielders? You can play like a bloody Brazilian on ballet shoes and still get jerked off at half-time, as the actress said to the bishop.Chelsea’s embarrassment of riches makes for some very unhappy players.
Roman Abramovich has spent more than £130-million signing new stars for Chelsea – and millions more paying their extravagant wages. But on Wednesday night, just as they had taken control, the Blues conceded a late first-half goal, which was clearly handled by Hugo Ibarra, when it hit his arm after coming off the post.