This score just in: England 2, Rest of Europe 0.
That was the damage after Liverpool and Chelsea both won high-profile Round of 16 match-ups on Tuesday. Liverpool shredded Real Madrid, 4-0, while Chelsea defeated a tough but outplayed Juventus side.
Liverpool tore Real Madrid to shreds at Anfield and only a valiant effort from Iker Casillas kept the match from being a full-blown disaster. The Reds still won, 4-0, to cruise into the quarterfinals as a team nobody wants to face right now.
Chelsea got a clutch goal from Michael Essien and some solid defending in a very closely-contested 2-2 tie vs. Juventus that sent the Blues through by a 3-2 margin.
In the day's other action, Villarreal downed Panathanaikos, 2-1, to take the series, 3-2. Bayern Munich destroyed Sporting Lisbon, 7-1, to take a 12-1 series victory.
What did you think of today's action? Who impressed you? Who looked terrible? Which of today's winners can you see lifting the trophy at the end?
Share your thoughts below.
Thought I would check the latest EPL standings and their managers: 1.Man U (Scot),2. Chelsea (Dutch,previously Israeli and Portugese), 3.Liverpool (Spanish),4. Aston Villa (N. Irish), 5 Arsenal (French), 6.Everton (Scot) 7.West Ham (Italian), 8. Man City (Welsh). Is there a pattern here? We have to go far down the table to find any English managers. Oh, I know, the English will define the Scots, the Welsh, the N. Irish, even the Irish if need be as honorary Englishman as long as they contribute to the greater glory of England. For as Lord Nelso stated at Trafalgar “England expects every man to do his duty”, even if he isn’t English. Thank goodness the England National Team is managed by an Englishman. Oops, he was fired because England failed to make the recent Euro Nations Cup. His replacment is an ITALIAN. I’m all for international integration and cooperation, but I am opposed to appropriating the accomplishments of all to one nation, in this case the English.
You miss the point. No one questions the success of teams in the EPL. What we are objecting to is the idea that England won or an English team won. Teams located in England may have won, but with non-English ownership, non-English managers, and many non-English players, their success is not English. If the headline had read teams from the EPL won, there would be no objection. We are resisting the English (and might I add American) tendency to treat the success of others as their own.
The draw on the 20th of March will decide whether or not it’s possible I reckon.
I think the scheduling may disrupt it. All I know is that in the round of 16 2 teams from the same federation could not be paired up. After this round however they can be.
Is an all English semi-final even a possibility? Or does the scheduling preclude it?
Colin give it a rest. 2 Englishmen starting is not a compelling argument, sorry to break it to you pal. There is nothing english about the Premiership clubs in Europe and that includes Liverpool.
northzax, I think you need to be reminded that buying players under 20 DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE PRODUCTS OF YOUR YOUTH SYSTEM! Ronaldo & Nani were developed in Sporting. Rooney with Everton and Anderson with Gremio. Go do some research before you make such misinformed comments.
Thanks
also: Rooney (bought at 18); CR07 (bought at 17) Nani (bought at 18) Rafael & Fabio (bought at 17) Anderson (18) and the manager has been there for 26 years. only four regular starters were brought to the club after the age of 20.
but hey, let’s examine InterMilan, shall we? Manager (one year) number of starters from the last match who were products of the youth system or bought before 20? 1 (Davide Santon)
how about Barca? there’s the only club to really be able to claim a large number of starters in their 20s from the youth system (Xavi, Valdez, that Messi fellow) but even then are seriously bulwarked by players such as Henri, Eto’o, Marquez, and others who were, shockingly, brought in from other teams. usually for a fee. Henry and Eto’o combined cost 48 million Euros.
If you want a team that doesn’t buy players for a lot of money, may I suggest Lyon? or Panathanaikos? it’s a global game, and the wealthiest clubs will usually do better in the long run. (and everyone knows Real and Barca are the two wealthiest clubs, right?) it’s a global marketplace, and that’s a good thing. go build what you can. I no more want to see an all Catalan Barca than I want to see an all-US Apple. doesn’t make sense, there is talent everywhere, go find it.
and luckily, if you want to see what a team built of all spaniards looks like, you can, since there is one. if you want to see the best team money can buy, that competition exists as well.
oh, and Colin: Liverpool started more Spaniards than Real Madrid did. so let it go.
@ the guy who said english clubs dont use their home grown talent.
Liverpool won with two of their best three players being homegrown. Carra and Stevie G. Jay Spearing got a nice cameo in the end, homegrown. Dont you dare lump La Pool in with Manure and the rent boys chelski
DC Josh: “Need a salary cap to stop this hording of the best players. With Arsenal as the exception as the only team who buys players BEFORE they are world-class, the other English teams use their cash to win, not home-grown youth.”
Um, look again at Manchester United: Scholes, Giggs, Neville, Fletcher, Wes Brown, Evans, and Welbeck are all products of Manchester United’s academy and have all started games for Man Utd. (I’m not including players out on loan to other clubs in order to gain experience.)
Man Utd, like Arsenal, have a well-deserved reputation for developing youth players. So, I think your statement is a little off-base.
My first paragraph (above), I was quoting Tim’s comment from above.
Also bear in mind… in the USA, only the Liverpool-RM and Chelsea-Juventus games were carried by affiliates of ESPN. The other CL games were more difficult to see.
Comments are typical pro EPL. No one going to touch Bayern 12-1 on aggregate? They will be in the semi’s for sure.
They played good football against a dispirited side — after their second goal it was ho-hum. It looked like the Porto defenders had given up.
People aren’t talking about it because Porto was not a serious challenge, and Bayern have shown weaknesses against serious challenges in the Bundesliga.
best.
Ives, Juventus outplayed? Did you get real life confused with some match you played on Xbox 360 or something? For starters you should try watching the match rather than relying on chelseafc.com for the analysis. Once you accomplish that, watch the first match at Stamford bridge and I’m pretty certain even you’ll come to the conclusion that Chelsea outplayed Juventus for about 30 minutes in 180 minutes of ball. Chelsea didn’t deserve to proceed but that’s football.
Sick and tired of the England teams making it deep in this tourney.
Need a salary cap to stop this hording of the best players. With Arsenal as the exception as the only team who buys players BEFORE they are world-class, the other English teams use their cash to win, not home-grown youth.
We’ll see how Bayern does with a real opponent in the quarterfinals…
Inter can make my week perfect if they can win tonight…
^^^
exactly
how many Italians play for Inter?
this debate is old news.
Bayern will only make it to the quarterfinals. They don’t have the stomach to advance.
I know how painful it is for people to think that pl is the best league, especially at the top, so I understand a lot of the hate. But last time I checked, both Chelsea and Liverpool are in England. So is Manchester and the home grounds of Arsenal. Hence they are English clubs, no matter who owns them or who plays for them. Heck, Liverpool started more spaniards than Real did. Welcome to the 21st century. Face it, there is a very real chance that for the second straight year, serie a will crash out to the English clubs again, leaving Barca and Bayern as the only continental clubs with a shot. I’m assuming that Barca will squeak by Lyon here.
Bottom line on the Juve v. Chelsea is that:
Drogba is the biggest skirt in football period.
If there were 4 games how could it be EPL 2-0 Rest of Europe. Didn’t “EPL” win 2 games & Rest of Europe win 2 games? The headline didn’t make any sense to me and that doesn’t have to do with the games. Liverpool looked unreal but Bayern was kind-of convincing too. In no way, shape or form did Chelsea dominate Juve though.
Who looked terrible? Sporting.
What is this “England” being discussed on this entry? I sure saw many players playing in that “England” at the last Euro
Real had no spirit at all. They were terrible. Liverpool on the other hand, was magical. They do a wonderful job keeping their shape, but today their attacking prowess and creativity was unmatched. No one can beat them if they continue to show up like they did today.
Soccer by Ives = Site for EPL and English fantasy
England 2? England had very little to do with it. Two EPL teams won which is quite a different matter. Liverpool is American owned and Spanish coached and the critical first goal was scored by a Spaniard (credit to Gerrard, however). Chelsea is Russian owned and Dutch coached and Drogba is from Africa. I repeat. What has England got to do with it? Oh, don’t forget tomorrow, if Man U and Arsenal win, it is the same story.
Posted by: Don | March 10, 2009 at 10:03 PM
=========================
Exactly!
Comments are typical pro EPL. No one going to touch Bayern 12-1 on aggregate? They will be in the semi’s for sure.
Not surprised Liverpool won, but surprised they scored 4-goals and the 5-0 Agg. score.
Thoughts on the day:
What the hell happened to Real Madrid? I’m glad the cafe I was at was showing both matches, Liverpool were excellent but Madrid were equally pathetic-no imagination, no grit, really woeful.
Torres is a stud-that turn early on in the box was genius-i was hoping for a big game from him and he delivered-the dynamics of the Liverpool attack w/ Gerrard, Torres, Kuyt and Babel were really fantastic.
Chelsea-Juve was a fantastic match-I was at a cafe in the North End of Boston w/ about 50 Italians so I was naturally cheering along for the bionconeri.
But Chelsea are good-damn good. Playing w/ tremendous composure under Mother Goose and if Liverpool beat ManU this wknd, watch out for Chelski in Europe AND in Englad.
I loved Giovinco at the olympics and I loved him today-kid is going to be a superstar, the little hesitation reception of the ball-unreal.
And how about Bayern Munich-really made me feel for LD-the guy has some crappy luck-to put up 12-1 aggregate at this level is mindboggling.
I CAN’T WAIT FOR TOMORROW-FORCA BARCA!!!!
woops, meant Cech not Czech
sorry about that
Josh, the rule states that the entire ball must be over the line for a goal to be scored. That did not happen on that free kick as the ball was against the post. Buffon made a miraculous save and robbed Drogba.
Now, the ref did mess up multiple times during that Juve-Chelsea game. How didn’t Czech get a red card for handling the ball outside of the box?!
Ives, how exactly did Juventus get outplayed in today’s game? That was not the game that I saw.
Stevie G is the most complete player in the world. It’s a shame he only has one teammate that is anywhere near his level.
Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, InterMilan will all be in the semi-finals.
Wouldn’t be the CL without a Liverpool-Chelsea semi-final matchup.
Stevie G scored his 6th and 7th goal in the CL in this match. Unbelieveable. The last time he scored 7goals in a CL season was back in 05-06. I can see him getting up to 10 this season. He’s f%cking brillant.
Overall he has 9goals in 24matches for Liverpool and now 17 alltogether. Brillant.
Stevie G scored his 6th and 7th goal in the CL in this match. Unbelieveable. The last time he scored 7goals in a CL season was back in 05-06. I can see him getting up to 10 this season. He’s f%cking brillant.
Overall he has 9goals in 24matches for Liverpool and now 17 alltogether. Brillant.
Hopefully Liverpool bring their top form to making a surge into the league. They may not be able to take the league from Man U but they will finish 2nd.
Here’s hoping Torres can score more goals especially against Man U this weekend.
He has 8goals in 15 PL matches this season. This is his 10th goal overall in 25matches all season.
all 4 English teams are going through, and possible 3 are going to be in the semis.
it wasnt a hand ball. it went off the shoulder and i am a pool fan. it didnt matter anyways because that was the best ive seen the team play in awhile..and the reason they say england 2 is for the simple fact that both teams are from england
Sox, agreed.
Not to mention Chiellini’s bogus sending off which changed the dynamics of the game when Juve were pressing for the third goal.
bogus handball call? did we watch the same match?
How can u say both chelsea’s goals were gifted by the ref………drogbas free kick was CLEARLY over the line and everyone in the statdium thought it was a goal but the ref
England 2? England had very little to do with it. Two EPL teams won which is quite a different matter. Liverpool is American owned and Spanish coached and the critical first goal was scored by a Spaniard (credit to Gerrard, however). Chelsea is Russian owned and Dutch coached and Drogba is from Africa. I repeat. What has England got to do with it? Oh, don’t forget tomorrow, if Man U and Arsenal win, it is the same story.
real madrid were horrible. although it was a bogus handball call, that wouldnt have changed the outcome. real madrid were embarassing 2 watch. i was excited to watch my favorite team, but they let me down.
The entire Real midfield other than Lass stunk up the joint. I wouldn’t give a loose G for Gago or Guti.
Liverpool looked great on attack. They don’t need those everybody back on defense days imposed by Benitez.
Pool are my new favorites, as everyone is going all out.
Again, Liverpool continue to show up on the European stage, but fail on all fronts to keep the league title within reach. This week can seal the deal for Man U.
chelsea were a bit fortunate. both their goals can be traced to bad decisions by the ref.
how bout those U20s?
up 2-0 now in 85th min.
down to 9 men after Brek Shea and Jorge Flores sent off. ussoccer matchtracker (only way to follow game) has been full of praise for Dilly Duka, Brian Ownby, Gale Agbo, Kyle Davies.
congrats to the reds, wut the heck is wrong with sporting? talk about a demoralized team after the 5-0 thrasing, but you would think they would have pride and least try o salvage something. 12-1 on aggregate? unheard of!
Madrid didn’t seem to even care about the game. Pepe and Cannavaro barely tried.
Though I am very happy Liverpool won I can’t help but wonder/worry if they will bring that kind of play/intensity to Old T this weekend? I was surprised I didn’t see more out of Madrid in this match.
Well, it’s a good thing Donovan wasn’t there to be made the scapegoat for Bayern’s iffy performance.