Posts Tagged ‘Jake Glavies’

AROUND THE WORLD: Benfica

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

By Jake Glavies

In a country with a population smaller than that of Los Angeles or New York, a former football power is plotting its return to glory.

Situated in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, Benfica – one of the most decorated teams of the 1960s – has claimed a league-leading 31 Portuguese Liga titles, but has recently fallen on tough times. But in its heyday, it was known as a giant slayer. During an era when Real Madrid had won five-straight European Champions’ Cups, now known as the Champions League, spanning from 1955-60, Benfica was the first to knock the Spanish giant from its lofty perch. In 1961, tiny Benfica claimed the first of two-straight European Champions’ Cups, beating Barcelona to claim the title of best in Europe. The following year the Eagles managed to top Madrid in the finals to win their last European title.

Throughout the rest of the decade, Benfica continued its push for greatness. Making it to the European Cup finals in 1963, ’65 and ’68, the Lisbon squad was one of the top clubs of its day. And it was reflected in the company it kept. After downing Barcelona and Real Madrid in its two cup victories, Benfica clashed with such giants as Milan (1963), Inter (1965) and Manchester United (1968) before the golden age in Lisbon came to a close. By the time the decade was over, the squad had added eight Portuguese Liga titles and three Portuguese Cups to its haul.

The Eagles soared to the top of the soccer ranks on the back of the legendary Eusebio. As the only Benfica player to ever win the Ballon d’Or (1965) and European Golden Boot Awards (1968, 1973), it was Eusebio that carried the club to greatness. Often overlooked in the annals of soccer history, he managed to score an astonishing 727 goals in 715 career matches. He helped Benfica to four more Liga titles and two Portuguese Cups before leaving the club in 1975.

Benfica managed to reach the European Cup final twice in the late 1980s, but after Eusebio left the squad became a shell of its former self. Not only did it drop out of the European scene, but it was struggling to be the best in its own country. Winning just 10 league titles since 1975, with the most recent coming in 2004, the Eagles have given way to rival club Porto. Benfica may have been the class of the Liga in the past, but it’s Porto leading the way now – winning six of the last seven league titles and 24 overall.

The squad has reason to be hopeful of a turnaround, though. Through 20 matches this season, new manager Jorge Jesus has the Eagles back on top of the Liga table. Led by talented players such as Oscar Cardozo, 16 goals, and goalkeeper Quim – who’s allowed just 10 scores this season with 11 clean sheets – the future is looking very bright for Benfica.

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INJURY LADEN BARCELONA MUST FIGHT TO RETAIN TOP SPOT

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

By Jake Glavies

An already depleted Barcelona defense received another blow Tuesday, as defensive ace Eric Abidal has been sidelined for the next two months with a leg injury. Abidal suffered the injury during a routine practice with the club.

The Frenchman is just the most recent scratch for Barca, though. Abidal joined Dani Alves and Yaya Toure on the injury report, while Rafael Marquez and Gerard Pique were handed suspensions for Sunday’s match at Atletico Madrid after receiving red cards during a slim 2-1 victory over Getafe Saturday.

The change in line-up couldn’t have come at a worse time for manager Pep Guardiola. With Real Madrid – winners of seven of its last nine matches – gunning for the top spot in La Liga, Barcelona will have to keep winning just to stay one step ahead of Los Blancos. Only five points back in the league standings, Real Madrid is hot and only getting hotter. Cristiano Ronaldo, the most feared goal scorer in the world, will return from a two match suspension in time to regain his form against league bottom dweller Xerez Saturday.

With Madrid pushing for a title, a trip to face a mediocre Atlético Madrid squad could be a tall order for a diminished Barça team. Atlético is currently 12th in the league, but it packs a very potent goal scoring punch. The duo of Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero has produced a combined 17 goals for Los Rojiblancos this season and it could also produce quite a few headaches for a weakened Barcelona defense.

Despite the task before them, Guardiola knows how to win, keeping his team out of the losing column this season while racking up only four draws. If Barca wants to avoid its first loss of the year though, it’ll have to lean heavily on its own offensive duo – Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Perhaps the most feared tandem in the game today, Messi and Ibrahimovic have combined for 27 goals this year. Though Ibrahimovic has failed to find the back of the net in five-straight league contests, all it’ll take is an open crease for him to find the stat sheet once again.

With upcoming matches against Racing Santander, Malaga and Almeria – who have combined for only 15 victories this season – Guardiola will have time to wait for his defense to heal, but not too much, as Barça will travel to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu April 11 for a clash with Los Galacticos.

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AROUND THE WORLD: BOCA JUNIORS

Monday, February 8th, 2010

By Jake Glavies

The heart of Argentinean soccer beats in the neighborhood of La Boca. Buried amidst a tangle of colorful Benito Quinquela Martin buildings is La Bombonera, a bastion of glory for millions of fans around the world and the home of Boca Juniors.

Over the past 104 years, Boca has risen to become one of the most storied clubs in soccer history. And they’ve racked up quite a few trophies along the way. Though most wouldn’t dare compare a South American squad to the upper echelon of European football, Boca has made the comparison necessary. The team is currently tied with AC Milan for most international titles in soccer history at 18 – the most impressive being its three world club titles.

Domestically, the squad has clutched 23 Argentine Primera Division championships, the last of which came in the 2008-09 season when the club won the Apertura. During the 2005-2006 season, Boca won the Apertura and Clausura trophies, giving them one of their most successful seasons in squad history. Los Xeneizes is second to only River Plate, 33, in domestic titles.

On the international scene, Boca has also claimed four Recopa Sudamericana crowns, the South American equivalent of the UEFA Super Cup, six Copa Libertadores and two Copa Sudamericana titles.

Beyond a stuffed trophy case, the team has churned out some of the top names in the game. Heading the list is the mercurial Diego Maradona. Arguably one of the best players of all time, Maradona joined Boca at the age of 21. Before making the move he scored 115 goals in 167 appearances for Argentinos Juniors. During his first stint with Boca, Maradona netted 28 goals in 40 appearances before leaving for Barcelona. After two years with Barca, he moved on to Napoli, where he enjoyed his most success – scoring 81 goals in 188 appearances over a seven year span. Also playing for Sevilla and Newell’s Old Boys, Maradona returned to Boca where he finished his club career.

Other former Los Xeneizes players include: Gabriel Batistuta, Carlos Tevez, Fernando Gago, Rodolfo Arruabarrena and Nicolas Burdisso.
Despite its storied past, the team has fallen on tough times recently. Finishing just 11th in the 2009 Apertura, the team is currently seventh in the Clausura. Martin Palermo led Boca with six goals during the Apertura and currently has a team-high three scores. The squad’s next match will be Feb. 14 at home against Atletico Tucuman.

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BACK ON TOP

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

By Jake Glavies

Though decimated by injuries on the defensive side, Manchester United has still found a way to the top of the Premier League standings – a feat, due in large part, to the play of striker Wayne Rooney.

Celebrating vs Hull City/photo credit: Getty Images

Currently leading the league in goals with 19, the 24 year old has been the bright spot Sir Alex Ferguson has desperately needed this season. Currently, Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent and Didier Drogba are second in the Premier League with 14 goals each.

By dispatching Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo this past summer, Ferguson put all his money on Rooney to lead the team. And boy has it paid off.

After playing second fiddle to Ronaldo for his entire career, the Liverpool native has finally become the centerpiece of the Manchester offense. Through just 22 games, Rooney has already eclipsed his past scoring mark of 16 goals set in the 2005-06 season. A four-goal performance in a 4-0 thrashing of Hull City Saturday helped elevate him from one of England’s best, to one of the world’s best – and rumor has it, a new $140 million contract is soon to follow. The stout striker did most of his damage in the second half against the Tigers, scoring three goals in the final eight minutes to seal the victory at Old Trafford.

With matches at Arsenal and Aston Villa set for the coming weeks though, Rooney will need more help at the back if he’s to keep Manchester in the top spot – a place it hasn’t been since November. The return of defender Rio Ferdinand will surely help the squad’s cause, but an end to the drama surrounding stellar center back Namanja Vidic is also a must if the team is to push ahead. Rumors of a summer departure to Barcelona – coupled with Vidic’s mysterious ailment prior to a clash with Leeds – have left United’s defense in limbo.

Despite the early-season question marks surrounding Rooney’s ability to lead United and the current issues at his back, he’s found a way to be the man at the Theatre of Dreams. Something Manchester supporters are truly happy to see.

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