Fergie’s Chewing Gum August 29
2014 Champions League Draw
The qualifiers are completed, the seedings set and the draw was conducted in festive UEFA indulgence this morning in Monaco. Once again Arsenal and Dortmund have been drawn together (3 times in 4 years), while Chelsea got a nice looking trio of opponents and City got a rotten looking group. Liverpool get to relive past glories (as is their favourite pastime) when they meet defending champs, and the team they beat for the 1981 European Cup, Real Madrid. The first gameday is September 17, NZT.
Farewell Fat Frank
The iconic Frank Lampard has retired from international football, right before he treks off to America for his New York adventure. Let’s be honest, they were never gonna pick him from America so retiring now was just him preceding that. It shouldn’t take away from what’s been a wonderful international career from a dedicated professional and one of the best English players of his generation. He finishes with 29 goals in 106 caps. Congrats Frankie, even if your England career never rewarded you the way you deserved, it wasn’t for lack of talent or effort.
Speaking of England football, Woy Odgson has named his first squad since the World Cup, and it included 4 debutants and Wayne Rooney as captain. Man Utd’s recent form may put a dampener on that announcement for many fans but Wazza was definitely the standout candidate. In fact with Gerrard, Lampard and Cole all out of things, he’s one of the very few players guaranteed a spot in the team. Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Danny Rose (Spurs), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa) and Jack Colback (Newcastle United) are the debutants.
A Bulgarian Fairy Tale
Here’s a story for ya. Bulgarian side Ludogorets managed to take things into extra time in their Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucuresti after Wanderson scored a nice volley in the 90th minute. But with time ticking down, goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov was sent off and Romanian defender Cosmin Moti was forced to go in goal… for a penalty shootout.
Moti stepped up and scored the first kick, and then went and saved two to send his side through to the Champions League group stage for the first time in its history!
Aaaand A Not So Happy UCL Tale
This is the protest from Legia Warsaw fans, still pissed after being disqualified from the Champions League despite beating Celtic 6-1 on aggregate after they subbed on an ineligible player in the second leg.