[EU] Champions League 05/06 (31 Viewers)
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What a sad story, Arsenal today reminded me of a certain liverpool last year who held onto the ball whenever the could otherwise defend there asses off. Villareal werent the fasted going up but whenever they did they produced something special only to be denied by a lemon of a goalkeeper who used his acidic powers to thwart the submarines in to the bottom of an ocean and a stubborn defense who rarely did many mistakes. What a pity, another english side in the CL based on relentless defending against there oppositions ( minus Juve). I really wish whoever they may take on gives them a proper lesson on how to play football. For me Senna and riquelme won the midfield but the forwards were not exemplinary in going up and staying sharp. Riquelme worked hard throughout the night and produced somegood football. Senna most of the time kept his stance and Alvarez usually had the rare henrys attack covered. What villareal lacked today was some magical skill in the wings and soe players who could control the ball, nevertheless they had the determination to actually go out and give the arseoles a run for their money and I admire that, something we just couldnt do... villareal should be proud of themselves especially as they come from a town which has a population of 45K and were simply never expected to reach this stage. Arsenal have gone broken the record for clean sheets in the CL which rightly makes them the CL finalists, pity neither we nor real madrid really tested there defense to the max.
Enron said:
I always thought the object of the game was to score more than your opponent.
Who knew?
Who knew?
. Also as recent history suggests the team who has the best defense is usually the one that wins the CL and it doesnt have to be a team that has the best attack. In the past seasons we had the stubborn liverpool, fc porto and of course milan. To not concede a goal infact gives you a better chance to take opportunity of the opponents flawed defense.. Either way well done to Arsenal.
Kaká out to eclipse Ronaldinho
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
by Julio Gomes Filho
'Watch out!'
Milan trail 1-0 from the first leg in Italy, but Kaká is adamant the tie is far from over. He told uefa.com: "If I had the chance to speak to Ronaldinho right now, I'd say: Gaúcho, we will be there on Wednesday, watch out! Milan are never dead. See you soon!" Despite being tightly marked at San Siro, Ronaldinho made his mark in the first leg, picking out Frenchman Ludovic Giuly to score the only goal of the game. But Kaká is determined to make a similarly dramatic impact in the second leg as Carlo Ancelotti's men look to cancel out that important away goal.
Individual brilliance
"Individuals make the difference in matches like this and unfortunately for us, Ronaldinho gave that one pass and Giuly scored," Kaká told uefa.com. "In that moment the tie changed. I gave some good passes, but we couldn't score. Details like that make the difference sometimes. I hope it is different this time. But Milan are prepared for these kinds of matches. It is an international classic and it is going to be a great match. Barcelona always like to attack, so they obviously leave some open spaces at the back. We have to make the most of it and take absolutely every chance we might have."
Injury fears
Kaka, who turned 24 earlier this week, was carried off on a stretcher during the first half of AC Milan's weekend victory against Serie A strugglers FC Messina Peloro with a bruised knee, but the Brazilian international is expecting to be fit enough to face Barcelona. And once again he is expecting to be shadowed closely by compatriot Edmílson. "It was a surprise for me the way Edmílson followed me for 90 minutes," he admitted. "It used to be like that in every single game in Brazil, but here in Europe it is unusual. Everywhere I went Edmílson was there with me.
Playmaker's tactic
"When that happens, you usually take the man-marker to different parts of the pitch and open spaces for your team-mates," Kaká added. "It didn't work during the first half, but in the second half I played differently, trying to escape from Edmilson, and it worked better." If Milan are to overturn Barcelona's lead and reach the final, they will become only the second side in the history of the UEFA Champions League to reverse a first leg semi-final deficit away from home, ten years after AFC Ajax recovered from a 1-0 loss at home against Panathinaikos FC in the 1995/96 competition.
'Smallest details'
Kaka remains optimistic despite the odds against his side. "I was frustrated after the first leg in Milan because in my opinion the result was harsh," he said. "But although the situation is difficult, we have to try. An international classic like this is always decided by the smallest details, so we have a chance."
uefa.com
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
by Julio Gomes Filho
'Watch out!'
Milan trail 1-0 from the first leg in Italy, but Kaká is adamant the tie is far from over. He told uefa.com: "If I had the chance to speak to Ronaldinho right now, I'd say: Gaúcho, we will be there on Wednesday, watch out! Milan are never dead. See you soon!" Despite being tightly marked at San Siro, Ronaldinho made his mark in the first leg, picking out Frenchman Ludovic Giuly to score the only goal of the game. But Kaká is determined to make a similarly dramatic impact in the second leg as Carlo Ancelotti's men look to cancel out that important away goal.
Individual brilliance
"Individuals make the difference in matches like this and unfortunately for us, Ronaldinho gave that one pass and Giuly scored," Kaká told uefa.com. "In that moment the tie changed. I gave some good passes, but we couldn't score. Details like that make the difference sometimes. I hope it is different this time. But Milan are prepared for these kinds of matches. It is an international classic and it is going to be a great match. Barcelona always like to attack, so they obviously leave some open spaces at the back. We have to make the most of it and take absolutely every chance we might have."
Injury fears
Kaka, who turned 24 earlier this week, was carried off on a stretcher during the first half of AC Milan's weekend victory against Serie A strugglers FC Messina Peloro with a bruised knee, but the Brazilian international is expecting to be fit enough to face Barcelona. And once again he is expecting to be shadowed closely by compatriot Edmílson. "It was a surprise for me the way Edmílson followed me for 90 minutes," he admitted. "It used to be like that in every single game in Brazil, but here in Europe it is unusual. Everywhere I went Edmílson was there with me.
Playmaker's tactic
"When that happens, you usually take the man-marker to different parts of the pitch and open spaces for your team-mates," Kaká added. "It didn't work during the first half, but in the second half I played differently, trying to escape from Edmilson, and it worked better." If Milan are to overturn Barcelona's lead and reach the final, they will become only the second side in the history of the UEFA Champions League to reverse a first leg semi-final deficit away from home, ten years after AFC Ajax recovered from a 1-0 loss at home against Panathinaikos FC in the 1995/96 competition.
'Smallest details'
Kaka remains optimistic despite the odds against his side. "I was frustrated after the first leg in Milan because in my opinion the result was harsh," he said. "But although the situation is difficult, we have to try. An international classic like this is always decided by the smallest details, so we have a chance."
uefa.com
Ronaldinho eyes the record books
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
by Lucas Brown
from Barcelona
Ronaldinho has only one desire and that is to help his FC Barcelona side write their own chapter in the club's history as they prepare for a UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against AC Milan.
Glory push
The Brazilian international already has a fine collection of individual and team honours – including a FIFA World Cup winner's medal – but he is desperate to add to Barça's own trophy haul by spearheading Frank Rijkaard's side's push for glory. And following last week's 1-0 victory in Italy, Ronaldinho knows that Wednesday's game is another step towards completing that dream.
'Making history'
"We want to start making our own history and winning important competitions," he said. "We respect those that have had the chance to win this trophy many times, but we want to start doing that too and that can only happen by winning this game. That is an incredible motivation and we have to be well-prepared in order to reach the final."
Chelsea precedent
Despite Barcelona being labelled as favourites due to the slight advantage gained by Ludovic Giuly's goal, Ronaldinho expects a stern challenge from Milan at Camp Nou. He recalled the threat posed by Chelsea FC in similar circumstances in the first knockout round. "We need to have the same focus we had when we played Chelsea, but we have to play like we always do," he said. "We are used to saying that the next game is always the most important, but this time we have the opportunity to make history.
No holding back
"If anything, it will be more difficult in this match because they need to score and they have some great players. We have to use our heads and forget about the first leg. We have to play to win, not to defend the lead we secured in Milan."
Ancelotti acclaim
Visiting coach Carlo Ancelotti has said he believes Ronaldinho is unstoppable, with man-marking the only way to reduce his influence. The 26-year-old does not exactly concur. "There are not unstoppable footballers - everyone has their good days and bad days - but nobody is unstoppable," he said. "Everyone in the team is important and the most important thing is that the team does well. On a personal level, I hope to help take the team to the final."
Quality defenders
With Ancelotti plotting to limit Ronaldinho's input, the coach must decide whether to field Jaap Stam, who played at the San Siro, or bring back Cafu at right-back. The Barça star was full of praise for his compatriot, while recognising the Dutchman's qualities. "Cafu is one of the best-ever full-backs. It is always difficult to face him, but it is the same against Stam, who is also very strong."
www.uefa.com
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
by Lucas Brown
from Barcelona
Ronaldinho has only one desire and that is to help his FC Barcelona side write their own chapter in the club's history as they prepare for a UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against AC Milan.
Glory push
The Brazilian international already has a fine collection of individual and team honours – including a FIFA World Cup winner's medal – but he is desperate to add to Barça's own trophy haul by spearheading Frank Rijkaard's side's push for glory. And following last week's 1-0 victory in Italy, Ronaldinho knows that Wednesday's game is another step towards completing that dream.
'Making history'
"We want to start making our own history and winning important competitions," he said. "We respect those that have had the chance to win this trophy many times, but we want to start doing that too and that can only happen by winning this game. That is an incredible motivation and we have to be well-prepared in order to reach the final."
Chelsea precedent
Despite Barcelona being labelled as favourites due to the slight advantage gained by Ludovic Giuly's goal, Ronaldinho expects a stern challenge from Milan at Camp Nou. He recalled the threat posed by Chelsea FC in similar circumstances in the first knockout round. "We need to have the same focus we had when we played Chelsea, but we have to play like we always do," he said. "We are used to saying that the next game is always the most important, but this time we have the opportunity to make history.
No holding back
"If anything, it will be more difficult in this match because they need to score and they have some great players. We have to use our heads and forget about the first leg. We have to play to win, not to defend the lead we secured in Milan."
Ancelotti acclaim
Visiting coach Carlo Ancelotti has said he believes Ronaldinho is unstoppable, with man-marking the only way to reduce his influence. The 26-year-old does not exactly concur. "There are not unstoppable footballers - everyone has their good days and bad days - but nobody is unstoppable," he said. "Everyone in the team is important and the most important thing is that the team does well. On a personal level, I hope to help take the team to the final."
Quality defenders
With Ancelotti plotting to limit Ronaldinho's input, the coach must decide whether to field Jaap Stam, who played at the San Siro, or bring back Cafu at right-back. The Barça star was full of praise for his compatriot, while recognising the Dutchman's qualities. "Cafu is one of the best-ever full-backs. It is always difficult to face him, but it is the same against Stam, who is also very strong."
www.uefa.com
"Watch out!"? How about watch nothing.
Many of you have heard this all before, but I'm left to catch this match -- just like the first one of the Milan-Barca tie -- through Internet feeds. Why? Because ESPN2 (not even ESPN) has the only English-language coverage in the country, and they only decided to air both legs of the Arsenal-Villarreal semi-final ... including yesterday's snoozer.
What is ESPN2 airing instead during today's Milan-Barca match in the U.S., you might guess? Good luck, because the correct answer is the 2005 USA Jump Rope National Championships. No, not even the 2006 USA Jump Rope National Championships ... the 2005 ones.
Forza Skippy. :faq2:
Many of you have heard this all before, but I'm left to catch this match -- just like the first one of the Milan-Barca tie -- through Internet feeds. Why? Because ESPN2 (not even ESPN) has the only English-language coverage in the country, and they only decided to air both legs of the Arsenal-Villarreal semi-final ... including yesterday's snoozer.
What is ESPN2 airing instead during today's Milan-Barca match in the U.S., you might guess? Good luck, because the correct answer is the 2005 USA Jump Rope National Championships. No, not even the 2006 USA Jump Rope National Championships ... the 2005 ones.
Forza Skippy. :faq2:
