The Soccer thread

[Grapeviney 9,712]

Juve 2 - 1 Real

Barca 3- 0 Bayern

Messi scored twice in 3 minutes after it looked like Barca were going to be held to a scoreless draw at home.

He and Ronaldo have now scored a combined 153 goals in UEFA matches!

[Grapeviney 9,712]

Barcelona will play Juventus in the final in Berlin on June 6.

We were on track for a super-classico until Juve levelled with Real in the 57th minute to secure a 1-1 draw in Spain. Although Real had lots of the ball and peppered the goals, they were lucky to be in the lead courtesy of a controversial penalty which looked soft at first glance.

Yesterday, two early goals to Neymar - thanks to some lovely passing from Messi and Suarez - put to rest Bayern's finals hopes, before the Germans scored some late junk time goals.

Semi Final Second Leg Results:

Bayern 3 - 2 Barcelona [barca win 5-3 on aggregate]

Real 1 - 1 Juventus [Juve win 3-2 on aggregate]

Interesting to hear that there's talk of ditching the away goal rule.

[Grapeviney 9,712]

I know the EPL's pretty much done and dusted but just caught the second half of what was a cracking finish at Arsenal, with Sunderland holding on for a 0-0 draw to avoid relegation.

Gunners had 28 shots on goal and most of the play i saw was in their penalty box.

Great scenes after the game with Sunderland's coach in tears.

Was thinking about how many relegation games we would have been involved in during recent years if there were two divisions here - the club would be in permanent survival mode from Round 1 !

[Macca 16,922]

This FIFA story is immense ... goes back over 20 years ... The Whistleblower

In a story that reads like a spy novel, Blazer secretly wire tapped other FIFA officials in 2012 — using a key chain with a tiny in built mic that he would leave on the table during meetings — and then turned whistleblower and is poised to bring down the whole sham by sending the FBI right into the dark corners.

World soccer rocked by U.S., Swiss arrests of officials for graft

"The Beginning, not the end"

They said their investigation exposed complex money laundering schemes, millions of dollars in untaxed incomes and tens of millions in offshore accounts held by FIFA officials.

[Grapeviney 9,712]

Massive story. The only surprise is that it's taken this long to come out.

The IOC should be next.

[Macca 16,922]

FIFA corruption scandal's best social media responses

[Macca 16,922]

FA Cup tonight (actually, tomorrow morning at 2.30am) Arsenal vs Aston Villa ... Preview & Match Facts

A sixth FA Cup win for Wenger would create a record in the modern understanding of a manager, though Villa's manager/secretary George Ramsay oversaw six FA Cup victories between 1887 and 1920 and was the driving force behind their success.

[Grapeviney 9,712]

Villa never looked like it. The goal from Sanchez was a beauty, but all in all, it was a disappointing game, contest-wise.

[Macca 16,922]

Villa never looked like it. The goal from Sanchez was a beauty, but all in all, it was a disappointing game, contest-wise.

Yep, a bit of a non-event in the end GV ... well done to the Gunners all the same. That's 2 cups in a row for a team that gets criticised for not winning enough silverware.

Anyway, this goal on the weekend by Messi (in the Copa del Rey Final) was something special ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAwEuOgI7yU

[Grapeviney 9,712]

Anyway, this goal on the weekend by Messi (in the Copa del Rey Final) was something special ...

Wow!!

Cheers for posting, as I'd seen the result but not the goal - absolute magic.

Back on the FIFA corruption, there was a funny little sideshow over the weekend with one of the officials using a story in the satirical newspaper, The Onion, as part of his self-defence. Hard to believe you could mistake it for a genuine news outlet, but it's happened before.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/01/world/americas/ex-fifa-official-jack-warner-cites-onion-article-in-defense.html?_r=0

[Macca 16,922]

In further developments there's apparently some talk from Uefa of a "breakaway" World Cup in 2018 (or another European Championships) ... not sure that Uefa could get all it's member nations on board though - especially the eastern European countries ... also, Spain & France voted for Blatter in last Friday's elections - obviously Russia wouldn't be a part of it either.

The top South American nations could be invited to this alternate World Cup as well ... on the surface, it seems like quite a far-fetched idea but I'm thinking there might be some kind of split regardless.

Here's the story anyway (from The Independent) ...

Fifa corruption: Europe plots to stage an 'alternative World Cup' in place of Russia 2018

Also, things might hot up if Blatter ends up being implicated in the bribery scandal ... and then there's the separate issue of the Swiss authorities investigation the awarding of the World cups to Russia & Qatar.

Bribery Inquiry Drawing Closer to FIFA’s President, Sepp Blatter

[Macca 16,922]

Sepp Blatter to resign as Fifa president amid corruption scandal

At 6.45pm a shrugging, forlorn director of communications walked in. Mr Blatter would be making a statement he said. Blatter looked reluctant, perhaps a little sad that 40 years of his life's work was coming to an end. The press room was silent. No one really expected this just four days after winning a fifth term as Fifa president.

His speech lasted barely four minutes. Speech over, he left to silence."

[Grapeviney 9,712]

I guess it was inevitable given our bid, but Australia is now embroiled in the FIFA mess, with a $500,000 payment that was earmarked for a facility in Trinidad & Tobago allegedly being pocketed by Jack Warner.

Even without Warner's involvement, it's beyond farce that our bid money should underwrite so-called 'soccer development projects' elsewhere in the world, especially at a time when we've substantially cut foreign aid spending.

Australia's $500,000 payment under scrutiny

Champions League final this weekend - 4.30am Sunday morning.

The much anticipated match-up of Luis Suarez and Giorgio Chiellini won't happen, with the defender ruled out because of injury. Perhaps a case of once bitten, twice shy. Boom-tish!

Preview: Juventus v Barcelona

[Macca 16,922]

A 3-2 Barca win is my tip ... Juve will need to come out and try and score goals but the firepower from Barcelona should be too much.

Came across this article focusing on Andrew Jennings in today's Age ... he's the man responsible for exposing much of what is now being revealed about the goings on at FIFA

The reporter who exposed the FIFA scandal that toppled Sepp Blatter

"Credit in this saga should go to the dogged obsession of a single reporter, Andrew Jennings," The Guardian's Simon Jenkins wrote last week, citing in particular Jennings' BBC Panorama film called The Beautiful Bung: Corruption and the World Cup.

[Grapeviney 9,712]

but the firepower from Barcelona should be too much.

And so it proved, Macca.

Was an entertaining game, despite Barca's dominance, and they could have easily finished with another one or two.

Juventus were disappointing. Aside from the short period after Morata's goal, which itself came against the run of play, they never looked threatening.

Juventus 1 - 3 Barcelona

That completes the treble for Barca, too - La Liga, Copa Del Rey and now UEFA.

Neymar, Messi and Suarez bagged more than 120 goals between them across all three competitions.

[Macca 16,922]

And so it proved, Macca.

Was an entertaining game, despite Barca's dominance, and they could have easily finished with another one or two.

Juventus were disappointing. Aside from the short period after Morata's goal, which itself came against the run of play, they never looked threatening.

Juventus 1 - 3 Barcelona

That completes the treble for Barca, too - La Liga, Copa Del Rey and now UEFA.

Neymar, Messi and Suarez bagged more than 120 goals between them across all three competitions.

Yep, they're one hell of a team GV ... the dominance of them, Real Madrid & Bayern seems set to continue as well. Not sure that any of the England clubs can get near them to be honest ... Juventus did very well to make the final and they might have a bit more spending power after their successful run - they'll need that of course to keep pace with the other 3 big European clubs.

All three teams (Barca, Real & Bayern) have absolutely quality strikers and/or goal scorers who can also all work in unison. Messi would have to be the most unselfish "great striker" that I've seen play. He would be a nightmare to try and mark (any defender marking him would also be constantly making sideways glances at Neymar & Suarez in the process - quite a task!)

[Grapeviney 9,712]

The Copa America kicks off in Chile tomorrow morning, with coverage on beIN sports channel, for those who have it.

You'd have to think Argentina and Brazil start favourites, but it should be a cracking tournament regardless, and Mexico, Colombia, and the hosts would all consider themselves a chance too. Suarez is still suspended but there's plenty of other talent on display obviously.

Was astonished to learn that the South American football federation, Conmebol, is headquartered in an area of Paraguay that is basically protected from prosecution.

"In 1997, the Paraguayan Government passed a law that granted virtual diplomatic immunity to the Conmebol compound, its property, documents and archives, similar to the privileges enjoyed by the embassy of a foreign nation."

That protection looks like it's about to be rescinded by the Government, which would allow investigators to probe more rigorously into its affairs.

[Henrietta Lumbago 331]

Anyone going to watch Real Madrid, Roma and Manchester City?

Im going to Real Madrid vs Roma in a fortnight.. dont know what sort of crowd is expected, I will be shattered if it isnt full.

[Arrow 1,257]

I got two free tickets to Manchester City vs Roma at the G tomorrow night 8pm. Looks to be Level 3.

Happy to give them away if anyone is interested.. Maybe a Dad and son out there are fans..

Inbox me if interested at all

[Grapeviney 9,712]

Bad news for those EPL followers with Foxtel after Optus won the broadcast rights for the next three years.

Optus hasn't said yet whether it will on-sell the rights to a FTA station, or set up a subscription service, or a new distribution model.

Whatever the case may be, it leaves Foxtel with very little in terms of world soccer, with all the other major European and South American leagues signed to beIN Sports.

Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Edit: As I wrote in an earlier post, it's annoying that beIN seems to be available on Fox but not part of the sports package.

[Deestroy All 14,262]

Whatever the case may be, it leaves Foxtel with very little in terms of world soccer,

Pffft, Indian Super League!

But seriously, how Foxtel didn't secure the rights again is beyond me. The only things I watch on it are footy and EPL.

[Grapeviney 9,712]

Pffft, Indian Super League!

Aaah, I see you are a man of exceptionally refined taste..

..perhaps I can interest you in the Aston Villa Match of the Round show?

[Deestroy All 14,262]

Aaah, I see you are a man of exceptionally refined taste..

..perhaps I can interest you in the Aston Villa Match of the Round show?

Thanks, but I'd rather stick with the ISL.

[Cards13 9,117]

Liverpool 4, Chity 1... Hahahahahha. We finally may have a manager who can get the best out of the squad. Besides the 1 magical year with Rodgers it has been a long hard slog as a Reds fan.

[Macca 16,922]

Liverpool 4, Chity 1... Hahahahahha. We finally may have a manager who can get the best out of the squad. Besides the 1 magical year with Rodgers it has been a long hard slog as a Reds fan.

...and Leicester on top of the table ... who would have thought?

The title race is wide open.