And Breathe!!!!

Phew, what an exhilarating 29 days of international football! This FIFA WC 2022 is right up there amongst the best ever to have ever been played without a doubt. Given that this global spectacle occurs once in 4 years, the build up to any WC is always special with a lot of talking points and heading into this World Cup, there was none bigger than if the GOAT debate would finally be settled with both Messi and Ronaldo featuring in their last ever world cup!

The drama that has unfolded from Nov 20, 2022 right until Dec 18, 2022 was just truly remarkable! While the first two matchdays of group stage football (or first 32 matches of the WC) were fairly lackluster, all the action that took place especially from the 33rd match , when the Group Stages entered its final phase till the last and final 64th match of this WC was an experience that many of us will never ever forget! And it all culminated with a dream come true as Argentina and Messi finally hoisted the FIFA World Cup Trophy as 3 time champions of World Football! So rather than reviewing it all, I thought I’d share my Top 10 Most Memorable Moments from this stellar WC 2022!

1. MESSI – THE GOAT, ARGENTINA – 3 TIME CHAMPIONS!

One really has to start from here. An absolute blockbuster of a final and in the end, the script of the legendary fairytale of Lionel Messi finally had the outcome that he so truly deserves. Argentina were really riding on Messi’s back and he delivered absolutely sensational performances game after game. Take him out of the equation and Argentina would have had no chance. This one trophy which had eluded him all his career , without which the talk of being one the greatest to have ever graced the game would not have been settled. It finally is his and the GOAT debate is settled once and for all. As for Argentina, it was so refreshing to see a non-European country back at the pedestal after 20 years and this 3rd WC trophy to their name will surely be a fitting tribute to a certain individual who led the nation to their 2nd in 1986, the late great Diego Maradonna.

PS. Special mention to Emi Martinez. His footballing career began 10 years late and his story is the best example of not giving up. He was the hero in the 2021 Copa America Final, the tournament which kick started the dream to become FIFA WC champions, and in the finals, he was their hero yet again.

2. MOROCCO – A NEW AFRICAN BEGINNING?

For years, viewers around the globe have been wanting atleast one African nation to showcase their skills and go really deep into the tournament. Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana had all reached the Quarter Finals. Enter, the Atlas Lions, Morocco. This team, led by a manager just 3 months into the job in Walid Regragui, produced one of the THE storied runs in the WC. “Overcoming All Odds” would be an understatement as not only did this team of heroes overcome them, they did so in style. Knocking out Belgium, Spain and Portugal without conceding a goal!? Are you kidding me!? They fell just short against France, in a match where they genuinely left it all out there on the pitch. These boys were phenomenal to watch and you can expect the stock of players like Bono, Amrabatt, Ounahi, En-Neysri to rise sky high. All of their players were sensational to watch and one really hopes that this African representation deep into the tournament continues, because not only do they deserve it, but their fans bring with them a vibe no other group of supporters can bring and that uniqueness adds colour to the WC. Fabulous and memorable effort!

3. MBAPPE IS NO WHERE CLOSE TO BEING DONE – WATCH OUT

This boy, all of just 23 years of age, has the world at his feet. Its scary to believe what he has achieved and even scarier to try and believe what he can achieve. A footballer reaches his peak between 27-30 years. Mbappe is no where close to that and he already is sensational. He single handedly dragged France back into the contest in the finals and even secured a WC final hattrick. He already has 12 WC goals in just 2 appearances and the all time record is 16. Mbappe will have atleast 3 more WCs in him and its crazy to think of what more he can do. He is going no where and his performance in the finals, was the handing of the torch from one No.10 to another. And another word, about France. Despite all their injuries heading up to the WC, they missed out on going back to back on just penalty shootouts. That is the depth in talent at their behest.

4. THE BEST FREEKICK EVER?

That Netherlands freekick routine in the 101st and final minute of normal time against Argentina will be spoken about for decades and decades to come. Most teams when awarded a freekick in the dying minutes always opt to have their best taker hit a direct freekick. But to come up with a routine from the training ground in that do or die situation!? I employ these tactics while playing FIFA on Playstation. This was just genuinely other worldly. It was brave, it was smart and most importantly it was effective!

5. “THE STREETS WILL NEVER FORGET”

The finish to Group E was wild to say the least. But those 3 minutes of footballing action will forever go down in the folklore. This was the picture by the 72nd minute, Costa Rica were leading 2-1 against Germany while Japan were leading 2-1 against Spain. Yes, for those 3 minutes, in a group containing Germany and Spain, it seemed that Costa Rica and Japan would progress. But alas, it was not to be as Germany rallied back to win 2-4 but still crashed out. Despite the final outcome, those 3 minutes sent the footballing world into chaos!

6. ALL WOMAN REFEREE LINE UP AND AN ALL WOMAN LINE UP IN THE STUDIO!

A significant achievement at this day and age. To have an all woman referee line up in Qatar and involving a footballing giant in Germany was just remarkable. Stephanie Frappart and her team were part of this proud moment for women’s representation in a Global Stage and this was one of those feel good moments during the WC. And not to forget, ITV decided to set up an all women’s panel, hosted by Seema Jaswal involving a Saudi Arabia game no less! Talk about a time to make a difference and create history!

7. SAUDI ARABIA BEATING ARGENTINA

You wouldn’t believe it but Argentina’s march to WC glory actually began with a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in their first group stage match! In a match which saw 3 Argentina goals disallowed for marginal offside calls, the boys from the middle east put up a brave front and come from behind to secure a famous win that sent shockwaves across the globe. That win was the beginning of the multitude of upsets that followed in this WC. Would Argentina have won the WC had they not lost? One would never know. But this result was truly remarkable and showed why WC football is not easy. Every single team (barring the host nation) has to qualify to take part in the WC. Nothing is a given. Each team came not to participate, but to win and move forward and Saudi Arabia did exactly that!

8. DID THE BALL CROSS THE LINE?

Vindication for England? Goal line technology was introduced after the 2010 WC which saw Lampard’s effort ruled out despite the ball clearly crossing the line in England’s match against Germany. This obviously led to many feeling aggrieved. 12 years later and perhaps some vindication for England! The remarkable conclusion to Group E saw Japan come from behind to lead against Spain. Their second goal however was surrounded by controversy as in the lead up to the goal, different camera angles showed different stories and the conclusion was that the ball did not go out of play and the goal stood. This meant that in doing so, Japan and Spain were going through at the expense of Germany! How do these stories even play out, one will never understand and one shouldn’t question it either!

9. THE BEST RED CARD EVER

Vincent Aboubakar and his Cameroon side bowed out of the WC but not before securing a win against giants Brazil. The winner came in the 92nd minute and was scored by the skipper Aboubakar and he celebrated by removing his shirt. He however was already on a yellow card but he continued to proceed with removing his shirt which meant a second inevitable yellow and so a red card. The ref understood the situation, had a smile, congratualed Aboubakar and then reluctantly showed the red card which was graciously accepted. That moment was truly fantastic to watch!

10. SUAREZ VS GHANA, BOTH GO OUT AT SOUTH KOREA’S EXPENSE

Arguably the biggest match of the group stages was Uruguay vs Ghana. The history and tension riding on this given what had happened in 2010 in South Africa was still fresh which led to it being a spectacle. Suarez assumed he had the last laugh as his 2 assists seemed enough for Uruguay to progress through at the expense of Ghana with the other match of the group leading 1-1 between South Korea and Portugal. But South Korea had other plans as they scored the winner deep into stoppage time which meant that Uruguay did not have time to score another goal that they needed to progress and so while in 2010, Uruguay prevented Ghana from progressing, in 2022 Ghana prevented Uruguay from progressing!

Wow! What a world cup! Just truly sensational! Its a shame that its over. Well, another 4 years to wait for WC 2026 which is jointly hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada! Until then, Argentina and Messi can bask in their glory and as mentioned above, the GOAT debate is settled once and for all!

Until next time, take care!

Hello everyone! Club football has taken a backseat at the moment and with the world tuned in for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, I thought of providing a mid-season review of the Premier League season thus far. 15 Matchdays in and the Premier League has witnessed (as usual) a lot of talking points! I will be comparing my review with the piece I had written at the start of this season.

1. TITLE CONTENDERS?

Prediction: Liverpool FC

Current Standings: Arsenal FC

It has been really heartening to see a team like Arsenal step up this season. “Trust the process” has been the theme of the Arsenal resurgence as faith in Mikel Arteta has finally paid off. The Gunners have put forth some stunning displays of football and are rightly sitting at the top of the table. They are fully aware of the need to keep winning to stay ahead of Manchester City and they have been successful thus far. But that though is the issue to be talked about. Can they sustain this tremendous start to the season? Manchester City with Erling Haaland on top have only gotten stronger and you can easily back them to perform at a high-level week in and week out and given their squad depth and talent, this achievement by Arsenal to sit 5 points ahead makes it all the more commendable.

I did say that Liverpool will be eventual champions ONLY IF they have an injury-free season. Unfortunately it has not been the case. Liverpool FC have been riddled with injuries. If the 2020/21 season saw them having defensive injuries, then the 2022/23 has seen the rest of the squad sustain injuries. Despite all this, they continue to be a force to reckon with as evidenced by their outstanding wins over Man City and Spurs. I still back Liverpool to be in with a title shout once the Premier League resumes as they don’t have many players taking part in the WC and so fatigue will be less of an issue with them!

2. Top 4?

Prediction: Liverpool FC, Manchester City, Arsenal FC, Tottenham Hotspur

Current Standings: Arsenal FC, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur

              Apart from Arsenal FC, Newcastle United have been absolutely phenomenal to watch. Despite having a crazy huge investment into the club by their current owners, they have not gone gung-ho in the market but have made some shroud standings and that combined with Eddie Howe’s wonderful management, they have been a force to reckon with! They have players willing to put their bodies on the line and that is exactly the kind of commitment you need to sustain the pressure of being in the Top 4 of the Premier League. Tottenham haven’t been too shabby themselves and are putting up a fight to stay in the Top 4.

I still back my claim of the Top 4 at the end of the season. Newcastle will give it a go right until the very end but may fall just short of a Top 4 finish.

3. BEST OF THE REST AND TOP 10?

Prediction : 6th onwards – Newcastle United, Brighton H&A, West Ham, Manchester United, Brentford

11th onwards – Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest.

Current Standings : 6^th onwards – Liverpool FC, Brighton H&A, Chelsea FC, Fulham FC, Brentford

11^th onwards – Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Bournemouth, and Leeds United

I don’t see Liverpool FC staying there for too long. I expect Manchester United to drop out of the Top 6. I am not convinced about Erik Ten Hag and if you remove Lisandro Martinez and Rafael Varane, this Man Utd team will drop them. I have been pleasantly surprised by the fight and spirit shown by Fulham and Bournemouth. They seem determined to stay up and are giving a good go at it. Mitrovic has been brilliant for Fulham and is the key to their survival. West Ham, on the other hand, have been underwhelming, to say the least. They need to pull their socks up and conjure up some results in their favour soon or else they will be sucked into a relegation battle if they haven’t already.

4. WHO IS GOING DOWN?

Prediction: 16th onwards – Leicester City, Everton FC, Southampton, Bournemouth, and Fulham.

Current Standings: West Ham, Everton FC, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, and Wolves.

I am not surprised at seeing Everton and Southampton at the bottom of the table. However, Wolverhampton right at the bottom has been surprising. The team has been very poor thus far and deserve to be there. They lack any sort of potency up front and at the end of the day, goals win you matches and Wolves lack them in a big way. They have scored just 8 goals thus far and if they want to stay up, they need to do something about it in the Winter transfer window. Along with Wolves, Nottingham have been poor as well on their return. After purchasing 20+ players, Steve Cooper’s side have been toothless and they would need a miracle to stay up at this rate. As it stands, Southampton, Nottingham, and Wolves look destined for relegation and barring a miracle, I don’t see this changing.

5. “SACKED IN THE MORNING! “

How Frank Lampard still has his job is one’s guess. But my predictions of Ralf Hassenhutl and Steven Gerrard getting dismissed were unfortunately true. The surprising managerial casualty which none of us saw coming was however the departure of Thomas Tuchel from Chelsea. Despite the change in regime, the ruthlessness of Chelsea FC as a club with their managers continues to live on! That vacancy then paved the way for Graham Potter to come in at the expense of Brighton who were off to a flier! Scott Parker was another surprising casualty as he did a fantastic job in securing promotion for Bournemouth. One manager who deserves credit, as well as the club, for fighting tooth and nail to keep his place is Brendan Rodgers. It seemed absolutely certain that he would be dismissed. But Leicester City finally turned up in the last few matches which has seen them climb into the Top 15!

So there you have it!  A brief review of the Premier League season thus far! I still back most of my season beginning predictions especially because of the ongoing WC and the mayhem it is going to cost the clubs in terms of injuries and fatigue which will be crucial in the fag end of the season!

Hope you enjoyed reading this! Until next time, stay safe and enjoy the FIFA WC 2022! The last match day of the group stages was absolutely phenomenal to watch and one hopes the drama will continue as they tournament progresses to the knockout stages!

Thank you!

Hello there everyone! Yet another season of the best football league in the world has commenced and the excitement surrounding the Premier League continues to bubble over! This season welcomes back yo-yo club Fulham FC along with AFC Bournemouth who went down a couple of seasons back, as well as a certain once a upon a time European Giant in the form of Nottingham Forest, back after a 23 year hiatus away from the Premier League!

I was wanting to wait until at least 2 match days before I gave my initial assessment of this season as I wanted to have a glimpse of, especially the new teams, and how they seemed to shape up and plan to play this season. So with 20 games of high-octane Premier League football done and dusted, here’s what I feel we can expect from this season along with my predictions for each club! Oh and not to mention, this season has the World Cup taking place in the middle of the season! Expect injuries and tiredness to come into play and influence proceedings late in the season!

1. TITLE CONTENDERS ?

From the offset, Manchester City continue to be the team to beat. They have strengthened an already strong squad both in all areas and the standards they set are ridiculously high! Arsenal have gotten off to a great start and they along with Man City are the only teams with a 100% win record! Yes, there is a sense of optimism in the ranks of the Gunners and the football on display against Leicester City was just delicious to watch! Expect Liverpool FC to bounce back and once again go toe-to-toe with Man City though despite their relatively poor start to the season. If the Reds can get their injuries sorted out quickly, they are in with a chance! Chelsea and Tottenham too are in with a shout with some shrewd transfers.

Prediction – Liverpool FC. Yes, I know its bold, but I really do believe that if they can keep their squad fit soon, they will win the league.

2. TOP 4 !?

Really hard to choose honestly because there are 5 really good teams vying to finish in the Top 4 with the 5th team being Arsenal who seem to have improved significantly! If you ask me, Chelsea seem the more likely team to miss out on the Top 4. I really do feel that despite the impressive signings of Koulibaly and Sterling, Chelsea some how seem to be missing a certain piece in midfield and attack.

Prediction – Liverpool FC, Manchester City, Arsenal FC, Tottenham Hotspur. In that order.

3. BEST OF THE REST and THE TOP 10?

With each season, this particular part of the table is getting increasingly hard to predict given the growing competitiveness amongst the clubs. Brighton, Brentford, Leeds United, Crystal Palace, Newcastle United, West Ham, Wolverhampton and even new boys Nottingham Forest have all made a case for themselves. Despite the relatively poor start by Crystal Palace and West Ham, expect them to rise through the table. Both teams were just unfortunate to not pick up more points and their style of play will most certainly pay dividends as the season goes on. Newcastle United seem like the dark horses. They have made some fantastic signings since the new ownership and have been playing football with an identity under Eddie Howe. Brentford just destroyed Manchester United and so did Brighton while Leeds United have adopted an MLS style of football which will be interesting to watch as the season goes on. Nottingham Forest will be this season’s entertainers if they can keep up what they did against West Ham in their pulsating 1-0 win! Their style of play reminded me of how Leeds United played in their first season back in the Premier League. Oh, I did not realize that I have not included Manchester United in this list. They have been absolutely shambolic thus far but being Manchester United and having more than 1.25 billion worth of transfers under their belt , it would be rather catastrophic if they didnt make the Top 10. I hope they don’t to be honest.

Predictions : 6th onwards – Newcastle United, Brighton H&A, West Ham, Manchester United, Brentford

11th onwards – Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.

Expect these teams to finish fairly close to each other and I feel it will go down to the last few games of the season to determine their positions. This is genuinely hard to predict. I may get them all wrong!

4. WHO IS GOING DOWN!?

Expect Leicester City and Southampton to be in the mix this season. Leicester City have not added a single player thus far and given Brendan Rogers awful injury record, without any recruitments, Leicester City may find themselves in a spot of bother. Southampton too have gone off the boil. They are genuinely struggling to create chances , let along score goals. Their only real chance of a goal seems to come from the foot of James Ward-Prowse from a freekick. Everton are in the same boat as well. Frank Lampard and his troops did rally together in the last few games of last season to stay afloat but the early signs are that it is same old same old and that does not bode well with the status of the club in the Premier League. I expect this season’s newcomers Fulham and Bournemouth to struggle as well. Yes, Fulham played well against Liverpool (I mean, dont all teams always turn up against the Reds and not against the other “Big” teams?) but their over reliance on Mitrovic will be a detrimental factor. As for Bournemouth, I really like Scott Parker and what he has done to the club and hope they somehow stay afloat this season.

Predictions : 16th onwards – Leicester City, Everton FC, Southampton, Bournemouth and Fulham.

Expect another close battle in the relegation zone between these clubs.

5. “SACKED IN THE MORINING!”

There are quite a few contenders for managers whom I feel will get “Sacked in the morning”. Frank Lampard, Marco Silva, Brendan Rogers, Ralf Hassenhuttl and unfortunately even my favourite player Steven Gerrard. These men are under a lot of pressure and the only way this pressure can be relieved is with results and moving up the table. Despite an expected poor season from Manchester United, I don’t see them sacking Erik Ten Hag and they will probably back him for one more season.

So, there you have it! There’s a huge possibility that everything mentioned above may be completely wrong but hey, that is why it is called Predictions! The prospect of the World Cup being played mid-season is what is going to be a challenge for all the clubs involved. Unfortunately, the FA has barely given time for the players both before and after the World Cup and this is going to most certainly result in injuries to key players and apply further pressure on each manager. This season is going to be unique and that is what excites all of us football fans. The Premier League after all is the gift that keeps on giving and there were a few early gifts in the opening 2 weeks, none more so than the epic spat between Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte! I will be re-visiting this article in May 2023 and we shall have a laugh and find out just how many I’ve got right. If more than 50%, I think I should be hired by some sporting agency!

Updates on the Premier League will be given as and when time permits. Until then, hope you all stay safe and enjoy the Premier League this season!

On a chaotic and shameful night in Paris which saw Liverpool fans, journalists and families of players getting mistreated and fired upon by tear gas shells outside the stadium, on the field Real Madrid managed to pip Liverpool 0-1 on the night to claim a record extending 14th Champions League trophy!

The evening was marred by events outside the stadium where poor organization led to unfortunate scenes and experiences amongst the Liverpool faithful and the UEFA deciding to postpone the match by 36 minutes. The Madrid fans had no issues (of course) whatsoever in arriving to the stadium. Heck, the Liverpool team bus itself got delayed due to poor police management, so you can imagine the state of the fans.

Back on the pitch, after that 36 minute delay, kick off between the two sides finally happened. Liverpool absolutely dominated the match, playing between the lines and creating multiple opportunities, but unfortunately not able to bulge the back of the net. Shots from Mane and Salah were repeatedly thwarted by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. As is always the case against Liverpool, the opposition goalkeeper always suddenly manages to find a way to go into FIFA legendary mode and produce a stellar performance. Regardless of where and how , the goalkeeper would always be there and this time it was the turn of Thibaut Courtois to turn on legendary mode. At the end of the full time whistle, he made a record 9 saves and was named Man of the Match.

Real Madrid’s ploy in the match was simple and effective and they used the same tactics that helped them in the previous rounds against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City. Survive and repel attacks as much as they can, play an out-ball from Toni Kroos or Luka Modric towards Vinicius Junior, use his speed and dribbling to move forward and pass the ball to Benzema to score a goal. That is what brought them success and this time around the ball was put in the back of the net by Vinicius Junior. It was inevitable and expected that Real Madrid would score. I honestly don’t blame Trent because it was just one moment out of many attempts that he didn’t defend well but that is what great teams do, utilize that one opportunity.

On reflecting the match, there were just two players from Real Madrid who played exemplary football, Dani Carvajal and Thibaut Courtois. Dani Carvajal brought in all his years of experience to the fore and was never beaten one-on-one and timed nearly all his tackles to perfection to stem any attacks down the left from Luis Diaz and Andy Robertson. And as mentioned above, Thibaut Courtois decided to produce the best performance of his career last night. Perhaps on hindsight, you could probably say that it was written in the stars for Real Madrid to win given their incredible journey to the finals highlighted with multiple improbable comeback wins !

At the end of the match, Liverpool had 24 shots on goal with 9 on target while Real Madrid had 4 shots on goal with 2 on target, one of which found the back of the net. As the stats clearly indicate, Liverpool clearly dominated the match but the main stat that differentiates a football match is that of the scoreline which read Liverpool FC 0-1 Real Madrid FC and in doing so, handed the Los Blancos a record 14th Champions League title.

With this win, it was Carlo Ancelotti’s record 4th Champions League win as manager adding to a record 5th different domestic trophy he won earlier in the month by helping Real Madrid win the La Liga.

It was a disappointing end to a fantastic season for Jurgen Klopp and his team of Redmen. But they should hold their heads high. They played all 63 matches available and fell short of greatness by just 2 wins. As Klopp said post match and I believe it as well, we will come back next year and learn from this experience of playing 63 matches and play 63 more season and win them all.

PS. I know I am not meant to show my allegiances while writing, but I am a Liverpool fan at the end of the day and am super proud of the lads. Yes, disappointed of course but I know they gave it everything. We don’t run on unlimited reserves like Manchester City and PSG or spending billions of dollars like Manchester United who end up with nothing. We believe in building something special together with what we have available.

And so, after 370 matches of high quality football played across 20 beautiful stadiums across different seasons in the year, it all boils down to the last 10 matches this Sunday. And even after 370 matches of drama of the highest order, there remains to be decided key positions right from the top to the bottom of the table in this fantastic season of Premier League football.

The Champions of the League, Battle for 4th and final European Champions League spot and the last spot of the relegation battle are all still to be confirmed despite 37 Match Weeks and with this level of excitement and drama in the air, we decided to ask some of the Premier League fans to weigh in on their predictions come the end of Match Week 38. The only important bits that have been decided are that Chelsea will finish 3rd while Watford and Norwich are relegated once again!

League Champions battle between – Manchester City (90 points) and Liverpool FC (89 points)

Battle for 4th spot between – Tottenham Hotspur (68 points) and Arsenal FC -(66 points)

Relegation Battle between – Burnley FC (35 points) and Leeds United (35 points)

Anmol Khandelwal and Krishna Kumar have been kind enough to offer their thoughts when I approached them. I asked 3 other genuine premier league fans as well but they refused to comment given the precarious position of their respective clubs! Thats how much we all love and support our clubs! I too, Mathew Cherian will be contributing to the cause.

Just a brief history on the two lads.

Krishna Kumar and I have been schoolmates and classmates and close friends. Thats how we know each other. He is a crazy Manchester United supporter and so for him to be able to muster up the courage to write on his rival clubs, I give him credit for that despite the dismal season that the Red Devils have endured, who mind you are battling for 6th spot, the second and last Europa League spot with West Ham who are 2 points behind in 7th.

Anmol Khandelwal on the other hand, he and I were housemates in school and we both loved our cricket and we became close after being part of the same cricket team. He came across as a powerful swashbuckling left hander and I absolutely loved every minute of playing with him. One of those really important members of the school and house cricket side. He supports Tottenham Hotspur! Yes, you read that right! I’m sure I can boldly say that he is a rare kind in India atleast!

Right! Let’s get to it then!

1. Premier League 21/22 Champions!

Krishna Kumar (KK) – As a Manchester United supporter especially this season, it’s such a painful question to answer . Who’s gonna win : Man city or Liverpool ? I wish it was neither. As a football fan , one could not have asked for a better end to the season than this. Perhaps two of the best managers battling at their respective home grounds for a shot at the title. The advantage is with Pep’s ever consistent team against Steive G’s Aston Villa who have had a very mixed season. Their key player is KDB. What an unbelievable midfielder!!! He always turns up at these big games! Having said that, you got to keep in mind what Klopp has built with his team. Mentality Monsters who won’t give up until it’s the end. You know there is no way they are going to drop points at Anfield especially when the stakes are this high.  They will hoping for their legend Stevie G to do them a favour and win it for them. I’m sure the supporters will have a big role to play in the game. The team that scores first will have the advantage in the tie. You don’t want to concede first in such a high stake fixture.. Nail biting finish!!! 

Anmol Khandelwal (AK) – Difficult to see Man City bottling it, especially after their recent draw to West Ham. Pep sure would have had some harsh words, as the PL determines whether or not they win silverware this season. That being said, it wouldn’t be anything short of spectacular and a perfect storyline if Stevie G and Coutinho were to do Liverpool a big favor. 

Don’t see Liverpool dropping points to Wolves, so it’s up to City to pull their weight. 

Mathew Cherian (MC) – Well, as much as it pains me to say it, I have to agree with my mates. Realistically, practically, rationally, historically and factually speaking, it all lies in Manchester City’s favour. The fact that we are even talking about a title race though is purely credited to the phenomenal work by our gaffer Jurgen Klopp and his squad of Redmen. The fact that atleast till the end of our 38th and final game that we can still talk about the dream of the Quadruple is just an astonishing feat. Just 6 points dropped since the beginning of the year to close a 14 point gap to just 1 point! Are you kidding me!? Well, my head says Manchester City, but my heart and a belief in a miracle of Stevie G doing the business at his end is all that I can cling to.

2. Battle for 4th spot!

KK – The top four was Arsenal’s to lose just couple of weeks ago. How a single game can change fortunes! The North London derby defeat has dearly costed Arteta and his team the chances to play Champions League football again since Wenger’s departure. I would place my bets on Spurs to finish top 4 as they have an easier fixture against Norwich compared to Arsenal who face the just survived Everton. Richarlison is in fine form and would cause the Arsenal backline plenty of problems. For Spurs, Son has had a tremendous season and is likely to finish as the top scorer for Spurs above Harry Kane for the first first time and maybe win and snatch the PL golden boot from Mo Salah. Whether you like Spurs or not , you got to love and admire Son.   Antonio Conte has come in and uplifted the spirits of this Spurs team.

AK – I’m really tempted to say Spurs.. for obvious reasons, but one never can tell with them. Add to this the fact that Romero is still unavailable, Kane is unwell, Kulu (Kulusevski) recovering from illness and Tim Krul (Norwich City goalkeeper)almost always pulls off 5-6 really good saves against us every time, this game can be quite a tricky fixture. Hoping we don’t choke it, would be a shame after all the work that’s been put in. Counting on Dele to do us a favour, but seeing as Everton have secured PL status for next season, they may not have that do-or-die attitude, which Arsenal may capitalise on.

MC – This battle for 4th spot has been so much fun to watch as a neutral! Literally nobody wants it! It started out as 4 team battle for the 4th spot and it wasn’t until the beginning of April that it slowly became a 2 horse race between the bitter North London rivals! Arsenal seemed absolutely nailed to clinch 4th spot and then Arsenal go and do an Arsenal to hand the initiative to Spurs who have duly and surprisingly taken advantage of it! Despite the 2 point gap and just 1 match to go, I’m going to place my bets on Arsenal. The Gunners face Everton who will be in drunk state after their amazing comeback win midweek to secure Premier League status and I see them duly dispatching the Toffees. Spurs though travel to Norwich. Yes, Norwich are relegated but they would like to depart with a satisfying performance in front of their fans in their final home game and I just feel that Spurs are going to Spurs it!

3. Who is the 3rd and last team going down!?

KK – What a survival story for Lampard and his Everton team! What a comeback ! 2 goals down to win it in the end by DCL (Dominic Calvert-Lewin) and defeat Vieara’s Crystal Palace! The post match celebrations by the fans and teams was almost like they had won the league. Leeds have been a fantastic team to watch under Bielsa. Always exciting and unique football. They might have sufferred against the top 6 teams but they never sacrificed their game or style of football. I’m all admiration for what Bielsa did with Leeds. On the other side Burnley, who under former Sean Dyche ,have always managed to cause upsets and survive the league despite having limited resources. Talk about loyalty! However he was unceremoniously sacked with just a few games to go for the season. While I want Burnley to go down for this reason , I think Leeds would get relegated as they missed several important players through injury and suspension through the season which has definitely affected their performance and ability to get points on the board.

AK – This season’s relegation battle between Everton, Leeds, Burnley over the last few week has been quite spectacular to watch. With Everton safe, it comes down to Burnley – a sort of budget Atletico Madrid, who rely on being disciplined at the back and play a physical game ; and Leeds – a team that was punching way above their weight thanks to their former manager. 

With the two teams are locked on points but having daylight between them in terms of GD (Goal Difference), I have to give Burnley the upper hand, because as long as they mirror Leeds’ results, they will be safe. This all but puts Leeds in a must win situation, which I don’t see them doing. Brentford have been solid at home, taken points from some good teams, I don’t see why they can’t beat a Leeds team that leaks goals, especially one that’s going to be eager to try and force a win. On the other hand, Burnley end the campaign at home, and although Newcastle have had some decent results at home, their away form leaves a lot to be desired. 

MC – I’m going to go the other way and say that Leeds United are going to survive. Burnley have had a great run in the topflight for many years thanks largely to the bullish managerial tactics employed by Sean Dyche despite the limited resources. But his sacking was very poorly timed and it’s not gone down well with a lot of football fans. Yes , Burnley since have gotten some valuable points but they face a buoyant Newcastle side who want to end the season on a high and carry momentum to the next season. I just really want Leeds United to stay. They waited 20 years to get promoted, play some unbelievable heavy metal football in the absence of fans for an entire season, and when their fans are back they get plagued by the injury bug to pretty much all their first team players. Jesse Marsch has done a decent job and I back him to do a better job next season. Yes they travel to Brentford ,who with the arrival of Christian Eriksen , have been wonderful since February, but I expect Leeds to come all guns blazing and win the match in a high scoring thriller and secure PL status for one more season!

So there you have it! We’ve given our opinions! It’s been yet another tremendous Premier League season and just thinking about the final match week is giving me butterflies in my stomach!

I’m going to leave you with something that Anmol said in his write up that he sent me, that truly sums up the situation : ” All this being said, it really depends on which player shows up for their team in those 90 minutes. We’ve seen a lot of crazy stuff happen in the PL before, and I wouldn’t be surprised if all my rational predictions above goes wrong, because that’s just how the game of football goes. When the stakes are at the highest, all rationale leaves the window , it’s pure raw emotion and passion. “

Thats why we all Love the Beautiful Game.

Oh boy, just what is it between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC this season!? The Red side from Merseyside and the Blue side of London squared off in yet another show piece, this time for the FA Cup and boy did they deliver a goalless classic yet again!

Up until this match, the two sides had played 5 hours of football between them and the aggregate score line had been 3-3 with Liverpool FC only nudging ahead by pipping the Blues in the Carabao Cup final on penalties, which by the way involved all 22 players. And so with that sort of narrative heading into this match, another draw was on the cards and I honestly predicted a 3-3 draw after 120 minutes of action because that was the only score line missing between these 2 giants this season.

Instead, what we witnessed for yet another high quality football match bar the finishing. If the Carabao Cup final was known for its offside flags, then this FA Cup final will be known for its n number of near misses from either side, in particular Luis Diaz from Liverpool and Christian Pulisic of Chelsea. And not to forget that both sides hit the frame of the goal as well with an Alonso freekick early in the second half skimming off the crossbar while Robertson smashed the post from close range in the dying moments of the 90 minutes to ensure that another round of 30 mins of football would be played between the two sides. It honestly could have ended 3-3 had the goal been widened by a few more inches!

Of significance though was the injury sustained to Mohammed Salah which forced him off the field within the first half . But unlike the Champions League 2018 final when he was forced off with an injury, this Liverpool side filled with quality and monstrous mentality did not slump, but instead kept the tempo going. And after the 90 minutes of action, Klopp was forced into yet another big change, bringing off big Virg for Matip who slotted in brilliantly to thwart off any Chelsea attempts in extra time.

And so inevitably, once again at Wembley and despite 7 hours of football between these 2 sides this season, they could not be separated and so the final was going to be decided on penalties with the keepers from either side being Alisson and Mendy unlike Kelleher and Kepa in the Carabao Cup shootout.

Chelsea were the first to blink as their club captain Azpilicueta thrashed the team’s second penalty onto the post to give Liverpool and Mane in particular to seal the deal against his countrymate from Senegal in goal. However, it was not to be as Mendy got the better off Mane to send the shootout into yet another sudden death. And yet again, Chelsea lost the onus as Mason Mount, who has endured a horrible run at Wembley in his young career, saw his spot kick being saved by Alisson, giving the Greek Scouser Kostas Tsimikas the opportunity to win the match and he duly did so with a cool and calm penalty to send the team and the Red fans in the stadium into delirium and raptures!

By doing so, the Henderson shuffle was seen yet again this season as Klopp and his men helped Liverpool clinch their 8th FA Cup in their history and the second trophy of the season. Also, by winning the FA Cup, Jurgen Klopp now has in his Liverpool CV, the complete set of 6 trophies that can be won by a club , all achieved in a span of just 3 years! And not to forget, the win also meant that the miracle of winning the unprecedented Quadruple was still alive!

PS. While writing this, Manchester City have just dropped points against a valient West Ham team to give Liverpool FC a marginal bit of hope in the Premier League!

After 2 exhilarating ties played over a week, we finally know the two teams who will be battling out for Europe’s premier club competition at the Stade de France stadium on May 28th!

Each of the 4 teams involved in the semifinals played their part to put up 2 spectacular semifinal ties and we are here to give you a round up of the action!

REAL MADRID VS MANCHESTER CITY ( Real Madrid win 6-5 agg)

In a titanic clash between 2 heavyweights of the modern club football era, one an established European giant in Real Madrid and the other searching for its first in Manchester City, it promised to be a spectacular clash and it delivered in the most dramatic fashion possible! Real Madrid and Manchester City played out a wild match in the first leg. They traded multiple blows as the first leg at the Ethiad ended 4-3, with Benzema having the audacity to score a Paneka from the spot with his side 2-4 down, in Man City’s favour however with City left to rue multiple missed chances to further strengthen their hold and that came back to bite them at Madrid as despite leading 0-1 on the night and 3-5 on aggregate till the 90th minute, Read Madrid’s European Monster Mentality came to the fore as 2 goals in injury time by 21 year old Rodrigo sent the game unbelievably to Extra Time and an early penalty by Benzema in ET sent Real Madrid to Paris with a 3-1 win on the night and a 6-5 agg win!

LIVERPOOL FC VS VILLARREAL FC (Liverpool FC win 5-2 agg)

It was a clash between a club going for the quadruple in Liverpool FC and a club which was on a giant killing spree in the form of Villarreal. Villarreal headed into the semifinals with confidence having dispatched Juventus and Bayern Munich in the previous rounds, however the first leg at Anfield saw them use defensive tactics and it played into the hands of the mighty Reds as they flew to Spain with a useful 2-0 advantage. Liverpool were expecting a rousing fightback from Villarreal and that is just what happened as the Unai Emery’s Yellow Submarines played some stunning football to head into half time 2-0 up and level the tie 2-2! But that’s when Liverpool flexed their muscles and by bring Luis Diaz on along with some tactical tweaks, Klopp’s men showed who’s boss as they fought back to win on the night 2-3 and head to Paris for their 3rd Final in 5 years!

And so after all that high octane drama, it is going to be a clash between 2 European Heavyweights in Liverpool FC and Real Madrid! Real Madrid will be playing in their record 17th final and hoping for a 14th win while Liverpool will be playing their 10th final and hoping for a 7th win! Talk about European Dominance! This will Carlo Ancelotti’s 5th UCL Final while it will be a 4th UCL Final for Jurgen Klopp! On paper, this clash promises to be a mouth watering one! Add all the drama and the storylines heading into this clash after what happened in the Champions League 2018 Final between the same two sides and the various “Scores to Settle” and this one has all the ingredients for an absolute blockbuster epic battle between these 2 European Royalties!

Save your dates for this monumental clash – May 28th, 2022 in Paris :

Liverpool FC vs Real Madrid!

And then there were 4.

2 teams each from Spain and England made it through to the semi finals of Europe’s premier club tournament with Real Madrid ,Villarreal , Liverpool FC and Manchester City being the representatives. But this was not before all the drama that took place in all 4 wonderful quarterfinal matches . We’re here to bring you a round up of all the action that took place across the 2 legged knock out stage of the Champions League 21/22 season!

Chelsea vs Real Madrid – Winner : Real Madrid ( 5-4 agg)

Current holders Chelsea faced a stern test in the form of a resurgent Real Madrid and it proved to be a fine battle between the two European giants. The first leg played at Stamford Bridge saw Karim Benzema continue to age like fine wine as he bagged yet another hattrick to secure a 1-3 win in London and leaving Thomas Tuchel’s men all to play for at Madrid. And that is exactly what they did as a resilient Chelsea team seemed like they were heading onto a memorable fightback as they went 0-3 up on the night to even lead the tie 4-3 on aggregate. However a late goal by Rodrygo sent the tie into extra time and it was Benzema yet again who scored the winner to oust the London side and unsure Real Madrid’s unlikely run deep into the competition continue!

Villarreal vs Bayern Munich – Winner : Villarreal (2-1 agg)

Bayern Munich went into the tie as heavy favourites and many were expecting a completely one sided affair. However, the Yellow Submarines from Spain who got into the Quarter Finals by beating Juventus had other ideas. Led by astute tactics from Unai Emery, the Spanish side produced a stellar display of football but only had one goal to show for their efforts and so they headed to Germany with a slender 1-0 lead with many expecting Bayern to overturn the deficit with ease. However, another tactical masterclass saw the Yellow Submarines defend resolutely as despite Lewandowski scoring a goal, they had one chance on the counter attack late in the game which was wonderfully worked and effectively used as S. Chukwueze slotted the ball home to give Unai Emery’s men a stunning win over the German giants and help continue their fairytale run in the competition! The best stat to emerge from the tie was that Villarreal had only 2 attempts on target in the 180 mins of football and both resulted in goals!

Manchester City vs Atletico Madrid – Winner : Manchester City (1-0 agg)

In what was expected to be a spicy tie between Pep Guardiola and Diego Simone, it proved to be just that as a robust brand of football was played across the 180 mins. The first leg saw Atleti visit the Ethiad and they made Manchester City huff and puff as they resorted to a 5-5-0 formation to completely shut shop, so much so that the Spanish side failed to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 mins. After multiple attempts of trying to push the Atleti door down, a moment of brilliance by Phil Foden saw him beautifully weigh a pass beyond the defensive line only for Kevin De Bruyne to duly slot the ball home to give the English Champions a 1-0 lead to hold on to heading to the Spanish capital. And hold they did. The return leg as expected boiled over as Simone’s men resorted to their infamous Dark arts to set up a fiery end and completely ridiculous scenes as Manchester City were able to hold onto everything thrown at them to win the heavy duty tie 1-0 and progress to yet another semi final in the Champions League!

Benfica vs Liverpool FC – Winner : Liverpool FC (6-4 agg)

Liverpool were expected to romp home against their Portuguese opponents and they did just that barring a late hiccup in the tie. Liverpool travelled to Portugal and duly dispatched the side from Lisbon with goals from Konate, Mane and Diaz giving Liverpool a handy 1-3 lead heading back to Anfield. With one foot into the semi finals, Jurgen Klopp opted to heavily rotate his side in view of the hectic schedule and despite doing so saw his Red men score 3 goals on the night thanks to a couple of wonderful assists from Kostas Tsimikas and a brace from Bobby Firmino as despite Benfica doing well late in the match to make it 3-3, the damage done in the first leg was too much to overcome and so the Red men from Merseyside progressed to their third semi finals under Jurgen Klopp!

And so, the semi final line up looks like this :

Manchester City vs Real Madrid

Liverpool FC vs Villarreal

On paper, it definitely looks like a title showdown between Liverpool and Manchester City in Paris . However, stranger things have happened in football and one can’t wait to find out what is in store in the semi finals of the Champions League 21/22!

If there ever was a wizard who played the game of cricket , that would be Shane Kieth Warne. An absolute master of his trade, a magician who cast a spell on every batsmen with the ball in place of a wand. He made leg spin look magical, beautiful and mesmerizing.

At the age of just 52, the Wizard of Spin left us all today which has shocked every person who loves sports, both athletes and fans alike. He wasnt just a known figure in the cricketing circle. He was known across the globe. A Sports Icon. Regardless of whether you knew or didn’t know cricket ,if someone said Shane Warne, you knew who they were talking about. Such was his aura in the Sports World and this awful void is never going to be filled.

Shane Warne, Glen McGrath, Shaun Pollock and Javagal Srinath were one of the first cricket bowlers I recall ever watching on the TV when I was a small kid. Like most children in India, I grew up loving and playing the sport and whenever we used to play cricket in the building and I had to bowl, one of my first ever actions that I could properly imitate was that of SK Warne. And I’m sure that this was not only the case for me, but for many kids across from my generation. His bowling action was as simple as it gets. But the magic he performed with his wrists and the ball was one that could not be replicated. Never. I remember playing Cricket 1998 and Cricket 2004 on my Playstation and PC respectively, and all the leg spinners in those games had just one action, that of SK Warne.

His battles with Sachin Tendulkar in Sharjah and also with Brian Lara in the late 1990’s were some of the best duals between bat and ball that one could ever ask for. Their battles kept elevating the level of class and skill needed to play the game of cricket.

Watching Shane Warne bowl was just majestic. His trademark messy blonde hair with the White powder he applied on his lips and nose and coming into bowl were all features that you noticed. He always had this “Larger than Life” persona of him which made him an entertaining personality both on and off the field. The way he would set up batsmen and deliver some outrageous vicious leg spinners would always leave you dumbstruck. There was an air of expectation for something magical to happen with each ball that was released and he delivered that pretty much all the time. He was block buster stuff! His slow run into the crease with the ball first in the left hand and then in the right and then a twist of movement especially at his waist and the magic of his fingers with the ball in hand. WHAT A SIGHT.

I fondly recall the memorable Ashes 2005 series as that was the first Ashes series I actually followed right through. I remember, my family and I were having dinner at a Pizza Hut outlet and the tele there was showing the Ashes and SK Warne bowled that absolute ripper , which spun nearly 90 deg to clean up Andrew Strauss and I just gaped in awe and the replays of it just seemed unbelievable that something like that could actually be done!

Youtube has been a wonderful platform that has been introduced to us , particularly someone who loves sports like me as when you listen to stories of all the great sporting events, you wish to see them as well, which Youtube has helped me out in massively. So of course, I was watched The Best of Shane Warne. That “Ball of the Century” in 1993, his first ball ever on English soil to Mike Gatting, one which drifted and pitched outside leg stump only to turn and hit the top of off. Are you kidding me?? You sometimes think if that was a fluke but Shane Warne would repeat such wizardry pretty much every ball! His performance in “the Greatest ODI of all Time” between Australia and South Africa in 1999 semifinals of the Cricket World Cup or his 40 wickets in the 2005 Ashes Test Series or even his heroics in the Adelaide Test match in 2006 and countless other moments when he left batsmen absolutely flummoxed, it was a treat to watch his bowl.

Yes there were controversies and scandals. But the odd extreme behaviour was just him being him.

And what about that 2008 IPL inaugural season win in an absolute fairytale with Rajasthan Royals ? That achievement can never be ignored as well! Was he the best captain that Australia never had? One can only think.

Post retirement as well, Shane Warne had plenty to offer in cricket. Listening to his insights on the game in commentary and his tips and advice was always brilliant to listen. Very honest and straightforward opinions. No nonsense. Which is what I absolutely love when a person is asked to give his or her opinion or advice.

A career of 17 years, 708 test wickets, 1001 international wickets, a dubious record with the bat as well as being the highest run scorer in test cricket to not score a ton. What a legendary career. And I haven’t even mentioned his accolades, such as being one of only five Wisden Cricketers of the Century. He revolutionized leg spin and its variations. He rejuvenated a dying art.

Absolute heart break to lose such a soul who was still offering a lot to the game even at the age of 52. Gone too soon. Rest easy Warnie. Your legendary status will NEVER EVER be forgotten. Thank you for all that you have contributed and for being an inspiration to kids and adults of my generation.