Jose's Champions League plan in full...

Back on the tortured path

Having watched Scotland's last three games (the friendly against Denmark, and the Euro-qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Lithuania) at Hampden Park, this evening I'm settling down in front of the television with thousands of other hopeful souls as the Scots take on Liechtenstein at the Rheinpark Stadion.

Greetings to all my friends in Vaduz. I'll be commenting on the action as it develops, in between biting my nails. The BBC's live stream is here.

The team line-ups are as follows:  Liechtenstein - Jehle, Ritzberger, Kaufmann, Martin Stocklasa, Rechsteiner, Martin Buchel, Hanselmann, Nicolas Hasler, Polverino, Beck, Frick. Subs: Benjamin Buchel, Eberle, Michael Stocklasa, Flatz, Niklas Kieber, Wolfgang Kieber, Bicer. Scotland - McGregor, Hutton, Berra, Caldwell, Bardsley, Morrison, Adam, Fletcher, Bannan, Naismith, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Marshall, Goodwillie, Robson, Cowie, Wallace, Whittaker, Forrest.

What are we going to witness, I wonder? A big test for Craig Mackail-Smith, for sure. It has to be an attacking stance, too. As Scott Booth has observed on BBC Radio Scotland: "If we can look confident and take the game to them, I think we can create chances. Getting an early goal is a key thing."

18:31  A lively start, and also good to see that the Liechtenstein anthem was respected, despite being set to the same tune as 'God Save the Queen'. The pitch doesn't look good.

18:41  Charlie Adam's free kick finds Steven Naismith, who gets a head-flick to the cross. But his effort slips wide. Mackail-Smith has also had a couple of chances. Positive from Scotland, but no real signs of the much needed breakthrough yet.  I think we're going to win, but probably only by a goal.

18:49  A great shot from Thomas Beck of Liechtenstein, and an equally fine save from Allan McGregor in the Scotland goal. The midfield are focussed on moving the ball upfield, but they looked dozy at the back.  Mackail-Smith hits back, but he is caught offside. (Note the the BBC commentator: Brighton is not in the Midlands).

18:55  Having rounded the 'keeper, Naismith should have done much better than hitting the ball into the side-netting. Then Barry Bannan comes close.

19:03  Goal for Scotland! Craig Mackail-Smith heads over the oncoming Jehle, who has looked good so far. A crucial lead.

19:46  Well into the second half, and Scotland look comfortably in control. But they are not turning chances into more goals. Phil Bardsley has just missed a chance provided by Bannan's sweeping cross. Things are looking safe at the moment, but it only takes one slip to put the Scots in danger.

20:00  Nineteen minutes plus time added on to go, as  Liechtenstein make their first substitution. James Forrest is on for Bannan for Scotland. It's going to get very tense unless Scotland can claim another goal.

20:03  Another Liechtenstein substitution. I expect David Goodwillie to be on for Scotland shortly, probably for Naismith. But first it's Cowie for Adam. Keep the ball up the park, lads. Don't try to sit back deep on a 1-0 lead at this stage. (I can see that assistant coach Peter Houston agrees with me!)

20:10  Seven minutes plus left. This is a workmanlike performance against relatively low-grade, if well-organised, opposition. But Spain are going to be a different proposition altogether on Tuesday night.

20:14  Not exactly elegant viewing or a beautiful game, but if the job is done we will all be content. The bagpipes and drums sound out from the 2,000 Scotland supporters. With all the flags and banners, it almost looks like a home game.

20:18  Great attempts by Naismith and Christophe Berra, and excellent saves once more from Jehle. Three minutes time to be added on for stoppages.

20: 21  That's it, all over. Phew! 

Final score:  Liechtenstein 0 -v- Scotland 1.
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A great second half effort

Hearts' new manager Paulo Sergio must have found that one of the hardest half-time talks of his career. Spurs' superiority is so great in the first-leg of the Europa League qualifier at Tynecastle, that it's difficult to see what they can do. Well, other than closing down space, putting pressure on the ball, going for man-marking, and running themselves ragged down the flanks. But it's the morale factor which also matters hugely.

Whatever Sergio said, it seemed to have worked some early magic. A series of Hearts attacks, three corners, a couple of close ones - including a great opportunity when Andrew Driver cut in from the right and almost found Ryan Stevenson with a low cross. Tottenham have barely been out of their half in the first 11 minutes. And a fabulous run from Templeton, just denied by a very pacey Walker. Good to see.

But then Gareth Bale breaks and makes it 4-0 to Spurs. Cruel. Let's hope the  Jambos can come away from this with some dignity in tact. Fantastic breakaway goal for Spurs. Hearts fans sportingly applauding... and chanting, "We're going to win 6-5!"

5-0 to Spurs, and footballing credit to them. Men versus boys, sadly. 
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Hearts on the rack

Great to discover that the big Scotland-England clash is on ITV4 tonight. Even though I'm a Leither and a Son, I'd have loved to have got a ticket for the game at Tynecastle tonight. But it's going to be a tough watch, I fear.

On paper, even a weakened Tottenham Hotspur team playing its first competitive game of the season in this Europa League qualifier against Hearts are easy favourites - they are ten times as wealthy, for a start. And sadly, due to a little defensive over-crowding and a really unlucky deflection, Spurs have their away goal within the first five minutes - Van der Vaart being the man who's done the initial damage.

At the moment, just getting the ball is the Scots' main problem. John Sutton has just had a shot. But it would best be described as a long-range speculative punt. Then, oh dear, on 13 minutes Jermaine Defoe makes it 2-0 and the Spurs fans start to chant "easy","You're supposed to be at home" and "Are you West Ham in disguise?"

You won't catch me saying this often, but 'mon you Jambos! I fear that their main task now is avoiding too much humiliation. (As I type this, Defoe makes it 3-0).

Incidentally, the ITV commentators and summarisers haven't bothered to learn a single thing about Hearts.  Such arrogance.
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Spanish or Catalan eyes smiling?

Pep and Jose shake 'n' wrestle

No, I'm not just referring to the football in tonight's Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Real Madrid, but to the complex politics, as well. 'El Classico' as it has been dubbed (or hyped) is also a clash of regions, cultures, histories and sensibilities. But this being football, the emotions are even more confused than that.

On paper it has to be Barcelona for me: not just because they are the finest team on the planet right now, but because they are a fan-owned club (of a kind), were player-formed (Spanish, Swiss and English), have deep regional roots, resisted fascism in the '20s and '30s, and sponsor UNICEF. That said, there was a decidedly messy episode with skinhead groups a few years back, the UNICEF link is about to go, and as of late 2010 club membership is no longer open to the public. Only close relatives of current and former Barcelona members can join, as well as previous members with at least a two-year history of membership.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, the most successful football club of the twentieth century, have been the team of many a school kid's dream for nigh on fifty years. Including mine at certain weak moments - even if my favourites European moment of all time was (and will probably remain) Aberdeen's extraordinary victory over then in the European Cup Winners' Cup Final of 1982-3. It is also difficult not to feel some affection for the current ludicrously successful, quixotic and entertaining managerial figure of Jose Mourinho, currently up against former colleague Pep Guardiola. Unfortunately, Real have also been a club of the super-rich (not that FCB are poor!), of dictator Franco, and of the repellingly egotistical Cristiano Ronaldo.  Even so, a bit of me would like to see a Madrid versus Manchester United final. An obituary to the past half century? Go figure.

Meanwhile, the football in the goalless first half of the first leg of this semi has been underwhelming. The occasion, tactics and desire not to lose has overcome the sense of adventure, of which we have seen but hints so far. There has also been plenty of 'handbags' (including a spat at the break as the teams came off). The recent Copa del Rey final, won against the overall odds by Real Madrid, was both electric and incendiary. The football sparks have yet to fly in this one.
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Rangers down and out

Diouf is briefed by Smith

It's Europa League night again. The multi-millionaires of Manchester City have just been dumped out of the second-string European competition by Dynamo Kiev, Liverpool have a careless goal deficit to overcome against FC Braga (Who made monkeys of Celtic) and - in the match I'm watching - Rangers are trying to dig themselves out of the hole they've got themselves in against PSV Eindhoven.

Controversy will follow this one, as a clear Dutch handball on the line by Atiba Hutchinson (a cast-iron penalty and sending off) is missed by all five officials. UEFA will have some questions to answer. However the Glasgow Blues only have themselves to blame for the situation they're in. As for much of the 0-0 first leg in the Netherlands (a good result for Walter Smith's men), the 'Gers chased the game for the first 50 minutes - outplayed, out-positioned and out-paced. This is not the SPL, fellas.

In the latter part of the second half, Rangers - behind to a well-taken Jeremain Lens goal, provided by slack marking on the break - are showing some purpose and have gone 4-4-2. They'd get killed trying that on Barcelona. But PSV are a different proposition. Greg Wylde is having a good game for the Scots. They are now looking to Steven Naismith and El Hadji Diouf to work some magic.

I can't see it happening. They should be be level by rights, but even then they'd be out on away goals. I want Rangers to pull it back for ex-Dumbarton man Walter Smith's sake (his last season in charge), and because they represent Scotland. Normally I wouldn't give them the time of day, being Old Firm. And the mourning period will be very brief if they exit tonight. Funny old (emotional) game.

Update:  Rangers, Manchester City and Liverpool all out. OK, back to real life.
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Still all to do for Arsenal

Well, it was quite a match. Not a classic in an 'all time' sense, maybe, but a game that had you constantly on the edge of your seat. In the English Premier League, Arsenal are a team who others often struggle to get near, playing a fluent and forward-thinking passing game, laced with moments of destructive dynamism.  At home to Barcelona in the Champions League, however, roles were reversed.

Barca dominated proceedings for large chunks of the game, taking the lead through David Villa on 26 minutes. The Gunners were tenacious, but even when they could get the ball (their opponents had 61% of play throughout) they struggled to find a way through. Then in an extraordinary spell in the second half, Arsene Wenger's men turned the game around, coming out 2-1 winners thanks to two pieces of considerable skill and creativity from Robin Van Persie and Andre Arshavin.

The response from the home fans was ecstatic. Recording a first-ever win over the Spanish/Catalan giants was like winning a cup final to them. Except that the Champions League final is still a good way away, and Barca remain firm favourites for the second leg at the Nou Camp. Tough but true. With an away goal in hand, they need only a single further one at home to go through. And with a pre-announced determination to attack remorselessly, it is difficult to see Pep Guardiola's team not getting at least one. That means Arsenal have to score. Their chances will lie in the space made available by Barcelona's need to regain the advantage.

Can the Gunners do it? If they do, will they be able to maintain the momentum beyond such a momentous achievement? There's all to play for on 8 March 2011.

Graphic courtesy and (c) of the Mirror
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The promise of a beautiful game

I try to ration my watching of 'billionaire football', but the Arsenal and Barcelona Champions League encounter this evening is simply unmissable. Da Vinci versus Rembrandt, Saussure versus Chomsky, or Bach versus Boulez comes to mind... different backgrounds, technically superb, and capable of extraordinary flights of imagination. Already (15 minutes in) it's thoroughly absorbing. Even when not much is happening, everything is happening - or could do, in a few explosive minutes. As I write, Lionel Messi very nearly breaks through to put the Catalans ahead. Not quite, thankfully. But they are claiming the majority of the possession.

As for Arsene Wenger's men: well, they may be English Premier League 'big four', and therefore antithetical to my moral and sporting interests in the larger realm of football, but they do play a beautiful game. The passionate and articulate Frenchman has also refused pressure to splash ridiculous cash, has defied calls to temper flair with deadening efficiency, and has nurtured some extraordinary young players. I'd love to see an upset tonight. But Barca are, without doubt, the finest club side on the planet, with Messi and Andrés Iniesta Luján their magicians-in-chief. Glorious to watch, even if they're not Dumbarton.
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Another Euro night car crash from ITV

As half-time approaches, Arsenal's Champions League group stage encounter with Partizan Belgrade is proving less than compelling. Which is a pity, because on their day (or evening) the Gunners are one of the most attractive sides on the planet to watch. The occasion is not helped by the fact that I'm having to view it on ITV, whose coverage is proving as lamentable as ever. One moment it drips with condescension or dismissal towards the 'foreigners'. The next it offers another wobbly footed cliche, banal 'insight', or minor piece of misinformation. "He's probably going to get that treated... Oh, he's back on the pitch."

Robin Van Persie's penalty to give the home side the lead was very soft, but they should have enough to see them through, even if Partizan are not quite the supreme mugs ITV clearly thinks them to be. The best moment so far has been the commentary team's 'Alan Partridge blip' with the nickname of Parizan's supporters (read: ultras). Grobari means 'Gravediggers' they rightly inform us, before speculating vaguely that this might have "something to do with their black uniforms". Then, with perhaps the faintest warning echoes of Balkan politics (and maybe the recent history of regional football hooliganism) sinking in, they add: "er, hopefully nothing more sinister."  No, of course not, boys.

Meanwhile, anchor Adrian Chiles' attempt to explain the fairly simple maths of Group H produces amused consternation in the studio and further bafflement in the gantry. For the record, Arsenal need to beat Belgrade in this, their final match, to guarantee progress. Shakhtar Donetsk will top the group if they avoid defeat to Braga, who are also seeking a place in the next round. Arsenal can still go through if they draw or lose to Partizan Belgrade but only if Braga do not improve on that result. The Gunners can also still top the group if they win and Donetsk lose to Braga. Seemples....

The second half resumes. "What could possibly go wrong?" asks Peter Drury of Jim Beglin. Or possibly the other way round ... it's all becoming a horrid blur. Well, for one thing, lads, Partizan could score. Oh look, they have! Who'd have thunk it, what with them being vastly, ridiculously, unfathomably inferior and all that? Ah well, "that's football". Now the Gunners could be sunk by a single goal in one of two other games. (Oh good, they've figured that. Things are looking up.)

Theo Walcott scores on 72 minutes and Samir Nasri makes it 3-1 on 76. "Huge relief" and "it's all right on the night" (especially for the commentators). Arsenal will now progress in the European big boys' competition. The affable Chiles will try to throw a bit more humour at his colleagues' weapons-grade cluelessness. The rest of us will survive to return to another TV channel, thankfully. Job done.

Image (c) and courtesy of Sabotage Times: "We can't concentrate. Why should you?"
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Breaking through

Half-time at Ibrox, Rangers are 1-0 up against Turkish champions Bursaspor, and according to Dutch analysts InfostradaLive, Steven Naismith is the first Scot for over three years to score a Champions League goal for the 'Gers at home. The last was current Blackpool captain Charlie Adam against VfB Stuttgart on 19 September 2007. Also, Lee McCulloch scored at Ibrox last season in the match against Unirea Urziceni. But unfortunately it was in the wrong net. Meanwhile, it's a 0-0 borefest in Spain between Valencia and Manchester United.  [Coda: Rangers won it with that single goal. MUFC found a get-out-of-jail car right at the end.]
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Trauma counselling in Europe

Normally, I'd be backing whoever the Old Firm are up against in the SPL or Cup competitions. But the rules change a bit for a European night, so I hope Rangers can get a win against Bursaspor of Turkey in the Champions League this evening... though I might draw the line at cheering them, especially as I will be watching the game in a pub in Edinburgh, since STV are showing Valencia -v- Manchester United.

In theory this ought to be winnable, but that might mean coming out of defending mode (which the 'Gers did very well against United), and this has undoubtedly been the Blues' undoing: they haven't won any of their last six European home games. They've scored just twice, and have not tasted victory for 13 games.

As Roddy Forsyth put it in the Telegraph this morning: "There will, of course, be team talks before tonight's Champions League meeting of Rangers and Bursaspor, but there is a case for trauma counselling, too."

No Turkish side has ever won in Scotland, though Bursaspor will be giving it a real crack, I'm sure. And Rangers are the team "who conceded four goals in successive group stage matches last season against Sevilla and Unirea Urziceni at Ibrox and who finished with the worst home record of any side in the group stage with three defeats and 10 goals against."

Could be painful viewing, whichever way it goes. 'Mon you coefficient!
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Men versus Bhoys

No joy for Celtic this evening. At times it looked as if Arsenal were treating the game as a training match. Indeed, given their team selection and substitution, it was almost boys versus Bhoys. Eduardo's penalty was fortuitous, to put it politely. The replay showed no contact by Boruc. Celtic tried to push forward after Arsenal's opener, but with the exception of an offside goal from McDonald and a stunning (if intended) consolation strike by Donati in time added on, it was mainly a case of punt and hope. At 3-0 to the Gunners the tie was pretty much over at half time, sadly. The 5-1 aggregate result was a fair reflection of the gulf in class, even if three of Arsenal's goals had elements of fluke or deception in them. Next year, there will be no automatic SPL entrant to the group stages of the Champions League. It could be a long drought for Scottish football on the European stage.
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Respect is a two-way street

Strange how football sometimes conspires to turn you against your most basic instincts. While deploring the moronic threats against referee Tom Henning Ovrebo following the Chelsea-Barcelona Champions League semi-final, I can't help feeling a bit sorry for the Blues. There, never thought I'd say that about the billionaires!  In truth, Barcelona are by far the better side, but on the night in question it's hard but to conclude that they would have lost if one of the two pretty solid penalty decisions had gone Chelsea's way. The referee did, I think, lack the experience needed for this particular sporting cauldron, and a number of his decisions - including the Barca sending off, too - were woeful. He was honest enough to admit that afterwards, and doesn't in any way deserve the calumny or abuse. 

That said, UEFA are being typically smug and aloof over the matter. Drogba and Ballack cannot finally be defended, but they are easy targets and are not the only problem to be tackled. You can't have players throwing abusive tantrums, but when the system itself, and the mistakes it makes or masks, seems immune to common sense, due humility and the exercise of proper discretion (no doubt for 'good' litigious reasons), the boiling point is bound to be reached more readily. Meanwhile, I very much hope that Scotland's Darren Fletcher is given a reprieve for the Champions League final, following his clearly erroneous red card and concomitant suspension in the Arsenal semi. This is one case where the 'no appeal' rule will result in a clear injustice if the officials do not relent. And no, I'm not a Manchester United sympathiser normally, either. I wanted Wenger's youngsters to win.  I doubt that decency will prevail in the Fletcher case, but this instance does give UEFA a chance to show that it can exercise a sense of natural justice. 

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Queens do themselves proud

Overall, it was a fine performance from Queen of the South in Denmark tonight. For once I was able to watch some live non-Old Firm Scottish football (and the First Division Doonhamers, no less) courtesy of BBC Scotland's internet streaming of the UEFA Cup second qualifying round second leg tie against Superliga side Nordsjaelland.

Leading 2-1 from the first game at Airdrie, the Danes were given an early shock tonight after Queens' Bob Harris hit a screaming free kick from 35 yards in the second minute. There were times in the first half and in stretches of the second, a much better footballing proposition, when you thought the Scots might just create something. When ex-Dumbarton loan hero Stephen Dobbie (who also appeared once for Hibs in the Inter Toto Cup) came on after 63 minutes, he immediately created the best chance of the match for the Doonhamers.

But generally Nordsjaelland, who have struggled this season, became a different team after the break, and when Queen of the South had to throw everything into securing the second goal they needed to win the tie, the Danish side clipped in two opportunistic (but superbly taken) goals right at the end to claim the honours at Faram Park Stadium. The Scots just lacked that decisiveness in the final third of the field.

As is often said, football can be a cruel game. Queens and their wonderful 1,000 away travelling supporters, who never stopped urging their boys on, deserved at least a draw. People may question whether a non-premier team who were runners-up in their national cup competition should have been given a UEFA Cup berth. But witnessing QoS's endeavours and skill this evening, you have to say that they used their unexpected European opportunity very well indeed. A good advert for the game.
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A fitting denouement

Congratulations to Spain, deserved European champions for the first time in 44 years. It was a very good game, packed full of flair, incident and tension. Just the end to Euro 2008 that the tournament deserved. Presumably Dani Guiza will now marry his girlfriend, as he pledged the other day.
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Half way there

Germany started brightly, but Spain are well worth their 1-0 half-time lead from Fernando Torres (pictured) -- whose experience of bruising Premier League defences with Liverpool may have helped him to battle the ball into the net. The chipped finish was pure class, too. The German centre backs are being outwitted in the air, through the middle and around the side. Which doesn't leave much latitude! An early near own-goal and a Torres header well smothered by Jens Lehmann on the near post could have opened an even greater lead for the Spanish, who have now won 21 games in a row. Creative in midfield and lively up front, their record of conceding only three goals in Euro 2008 as a whole suggests that they should end their long wait (since 1964) for a major trophy tonight.
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Hoping Spain can reign

I'm not going to predict a Spanish victory tonight, but like the millions who will be watching, I hope that the final of Euro 2008 is a fitting climax to what has been (after a bit of a slow start) a fabulous tournament. Sad that Scotland were so near yet so far to getting there. But England haven't been missed, despite attempts by the BBC to make their absence the defining issue. Gary Lineker (pictured, trying to look wry) famously quipped that "football is a game involving two teams, in which the Germans eventually win on penalties." I don't think that will be the outcome tonight. But I could well end up saying, as I have many times before, "what do I know?" Or you, or anyone, for that matter. Which is one of the things that makes it a great game. A beautiful one in Vienna, too, we'd all like to say on a balmy evening.
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¡Venido el Sons!

Well, España, actually. But Spain are thoughtfully wearing Dumbarton colours for their Euro 2008 semi-final clash with Russia tonight... an absorbing, positive encounter between two skilled, technical and tactically aware sides. A few more fireworks are coming from the Spanish, though not with sharp enough finishing. Arshavin is very quiet for the Russians as the end of the first half approaches. But he could certainly explode into life at any moment. Update 21.33: Fabulous football from the Spanish and a deserved 3-0 victory, taking them to their first major international final in 24 years. [Pic: Two more for Jim Chapman?]
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Turkey on top?

Given that they have five players injured and four out with suspensions, few have given Turkey much consideration as Euro 2008 draws ever-closer to its denouement. But Germany have clearly been shaken by their opponents' smart semi-final start, with Colin Kazim-Richards rattling the bar and then a scrambled goal going in on 22 minutes. In a certain sense, the pressure is now on the outsiders in a game which is, in certain respects, a 'derby' -- given the close ties between the countries, including 2.5 million Turkish migrants and guest workers in Germany. It was gratifying to see that all sections of the crowd joined in the anti-racism aspect of the opening ceremony. Just over half-way through the first half, and this tournament is again living up to its promise of excitement, tension, twists and turns. (As I write, Germany have just equalised. This could be a corker, with both teams believing it is their destiny to get to the final.) Update, 21.42: though their performance did not merit it, Germany stole a turbulent match 3-2.
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A victory for football

Yes, I know it's a cliché. But all lovers of the Beautiful Game will surely rejoice that the forward thinking Spain triumphed over negative Italy tonight -- with Cesc Fabregas' cool decider in the penalty shoot-out and Iker Casillas' goalkeeping heroics finally separating the sides after a less than enthralling encounter in Vienna. Justice was done.
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