Confederations Cup Profiles: Spain

Simply the best.

It's been 32 games and nearly that many months since the Spaniards lost a football match. In that time, they've won their first international tournament since the 1964 European Cup (which they hosted) and established "La Roja" as a model of attacking, attractive footy. So it's little wonder they enter this spring's Confederations Cup as favorites, and not just speculative or fashion favorites like in the past. Spain in 2009 are the book's pick, the conventional wisdom, currently listed at 6/4 to win a trophy in South Africa.

Fernando Torres, David Villa, Xavi, Sergio Ramos, David Silva, Iker Casillas... what could possibly go wrong??


The Spanish team at Euro 2008 earned its Champagne reputation. They were fun to watch, even as they scratched their way past the killjoy Hun in a tight final. Ask ten fans which player they remember most fondly from that team and five will say Villa (all those early goals), two will pick Xavi (voted best, the maestro), two will say Torres (the cup final winner as a lone striker)... But just one (me!) will say Marcos Senna.


I'm not there.

Yes, Marcos Senna. With a suspect center backs behind him, attack-minded full backs shooting up his flanks, and quick and brilliant but small attacking midfielders playing in his path, Senna was the rock, the guy who let Xavi and Iniesta conjure up their tricks.

How good was he? I mean, Luis Aragones loved him.

But Marcos Senna will not be in South Africa. He's injured, and for that matter, so is Iniesta. Spain have enough playmakers to push on through the Barca man's injury, but one has to wonder if they have the metal to replace Senna. Neither Busquets-- a good ball-winner, but young-- or Xabi Alonso can play "the Senna role."

That said, they don't need to be as good, or play the exact same game to repeat last summer's result. They have some options now. The first possibility is that someone steps up Senna's absence. Not an impossibility, but again, who? Convince me. Another is that they score more goals... kick it around like Barca... the Cruyff Defense. This squad is built to score and with the confidence they're likely to build against the Group A minnows, it could be enough to carry them on their way.

And speaking of.. That draw is of a particular advantage to the Spaniards. Their group includes Iraq, New Zealand, and hosts South Africa, who'll likely be eliminated from a semi-final place by the time the teams meet on June 20, in the final group match.

Managing it all is Vicente del Bosque, a quiet fella who knows how to handle supreme talent, as evidenced by his supreme results with Real Madrid galacticos teams from 1999-2003. Del Bosque has brought his "A" team to Africa, and given Spain's recent run of international success-- the Euros, then Barca-- you have to think they are serious about keeping the streak alive.

Prediction: An easy first round draw sees Spain matched up with the second seed in Group B, which I think will be a surprise Egypt or USMNT. No matter, it will be on to the final and a matchup with... Italia! And like in Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadion a year ago, the Spaniards will prevail.

More predictions from the UF squad later in the day.

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The EPL Weekend Ahead: Life and Death in Stoppage Time

I'm rubbish at predicting scores, and he's rubbish at running a club. Couldn't hurt for us to switch, could it?

Well, I was outright crap last week (4 winners, 0 exact scores), thanks to a slew of 91st and 92nd minute goals that choked any fun out of the rest of the weekend. Stoke daggered my hopes of collecting on a Newcastle win that appeared rock-solid at half-time, Man U needed every last second to steal 3 points that they most definitely deserved, while Hull left it wonderfully late to score their 2 goals and win against 'Boro. Oh, and the Everton/Aston Villa game!

Note to refs: when the wristwatch says 90:00, please just blow the damn whistle. Note to Everton: just because you've equalized late doesn't mean it's full-time. Idiots.

So what awaits this week? Which manager will be canned next, and right before the holidays too (like so many corporations)? It has to be Ince. Yet again they've made headlines in the papers about some meetings they had this week, although if Paul tells us they were routine and par-for-the-course, we should just believe it. Definitely no crisis summit at Ewood Park, nope. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along. After all, they haven't completely bottomed out yet.

One thing he could do before leaving is figure out the Curious Case of Roque Santa Cruz. Does he only score when he feels like it?

Come thinktank with me and my terrible glimpse into the future. It's full of score draws!

Middlesbrough v. Arsenal (kick-off: 7.45am)
I'm just waiting for the letdown, although does midweek count? Their fondness for winning one week, losing the next, means this could be more dropped points for Wenger. I'll go with that again, just because 'Boro have been unlucky lately and Arsenal aren't dominant away from home. 'Boro 1, Arsenal 1

Aston Villa v. Bolton
Might be tougher than expected, but should still be comfortable for the luckiest side in the Midlands. Aston Villa 3, Bolton 1

Liverpool v. Hull
Ugh, this match has TRAP written all over it in big, bold letters. That said, Hull have fatigued a bit over the last 7 weeks (1 win, 3 draws, 3 defeats) but their away form is still impressive: 2nd in away goals scored with 15 (to Chelsea's 21), and they've scored in every single away game too. Surely that run will continue, but LFC have turned it around after those two momentum-killing draws to Fulham and West Ham. Keane will score. How's that for confidence? Liverpool 2, Hull 1

Manchester City v. Everton
A team that's all-strikers v. a team that has no strikers at all. This should be fun. The Mark Hughes Rollercoaster Fun Ride will continue tomorrow with another win against good opposition that will awaken yet more false hope. Poor Joleon Lescott must be soiling himself considering how many small, fast men he'll have to man-mark.
Man City 2, Everton 0

Stoke v. Fulham
Do I have to choose? Stoke 0, Fulham 0

Sunderland v. West Brom
Do I have to choose (Pt.2: Electric Cisse-aloo)? Sunderland 1, West Brom 0

Wigan v. Blackburn
This is Paul Ince managing for his job yet again, although I'm not exactly confident for him. Perhaps it'd be best to just get the messy break-up over and done with now, instead of that weird half-week workweek between Christmas and New Year's Day. They put up a battle when LFC were in town, but Wigan at home should do better than they did last weekend. Wigan 2, Blackburn 1

Tottenham v. Manchester United (kick-off: 12.30pm)
Berbatov will likely wuss out of this sparkling return trip to his old stomping grounds, which is sad considering Spurs fans really do deserve the satisfaction of hounding him mercilessly. Spurs will give up a lot of space in midfield (because that's what they do!), and Fergie's cult will gladly take the early xmas gift. Let's hope Rooney gifts us with another petulant, violent outburst. Tottenham 0, Manchester United 3

Portsmouth v. Newcastle (Sunday, kick-off: 8.30am)
Do I have to choose (Pt. 3: The Re-Kinnearing)? I'm sure Michael Owen's brace last weekend means he's going to go another month without so much as a sniff at goal. That'll bode well for a trip to Fratton Park and the insane fluky volley stylings of Glen Johnson. Portsmouth 2, Newcastle less than nil

Chelsea v. West Ham (Sunday, kick-off: 11am)
Thankfully there's no Monday game this week, but this one will make you long for the workweek's most wretched day, and frankly, that's a sad thing indeed. It's been a while since Scolari ran up the score on someone. Chelsea 4, West Ham 1

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EPL Score Predictions Generator, and an MLS Cup announcement

We despair for you, Hughesy. So much money and so few points!

The Generator is random at best. Random in its predictions, but random in deciding which weekends it will be operative for. One can only blame the changing weather, the moving back of the clocks (granted, that was weeks ago, but still), and the lackluster run of form at Eastlands that has made The Generator too depressed to get out of bed.

Not only that, but the usual existential crises: does anyone care? If UF failed to do predictions, would anyone notice? And so on. Poor Generator... he's spent all of last week watching the England/West Germany 1990 World Cup semi-final over again while overdosing on Hot Pockets. So sad.

Nevertheless, he's cleaned up and detoxed enough to pump out 10 random sets of numbers that, when applied correctly to the EPL fixture list, will give you wisdom and clarity in your betting.

Oh, and we should mention that we'll be liveblogging the MLS Cup on Sunday, should you be able to find ABC on the channel guide. Wait! That's a major network!


1-1
2-3
2-0
5-1
4-1
1-2
0-0
0-1
2-1
2-2

So there you have it! I hope that 5-1 applies to the team you love.

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The UF Score Predictions Generator went fishin'

The international break can be a real pain for the poor, hard-working UFSPG: EPL Model, so much so that he went on a fishing trip to Alaska. Man, it's beautiful up there, apart from its politicians.

But I digress. 2 weeks is a long time to go without being completely wrong about EPL scores, isn't it? Plus all those annoying, irritating injuries during internationals week (the worst idea this side of a Kath & Kim US remake), and the thought of Emile Heskey returning to Anfield. It's almost enough to make me pine for the days of rugby. But I digress.

Which way will the wheel spin this time? Magic 8-ball on PCP, do your worst.

2-1
0-0
0-0
0-1
1-0
3-2
1-2
0-2
1-1
5-1

There, that should do it. At least you know which scenarios to avoid when setting up your betting.

Read more on "The UF Score Predictions Generator went fishin'"...

Monday's News Today

Check back after the weekend, we might likely have a story along the lines of "Unruly Fans Riot at Bolton."

"But Bolton doesn't have any fans" you say. Right, but officials have figured out how to bribe Boltonians to turn out to see the Wanderers take on Blackburn anyway.

Free Beer. Ah, pandering, you never fail, do you?

It's only for the first 1000 people, and it's only one pint. That's why people are likely to riot; not because they'll be drunk and unruly, but because they'll be sober and realize they've been duped to watching Stupid Fucking Bolton play soccer.

Read more on "Monday's News Today"...

We did good this week

Our predictions machine appears to be fully functioning again. I can't remember the last week we had that went this well. Did it have something to do with Geovanni? Or Cesc Fabregas? Or Dirk Kuyt?

Probably all of the above, and also the fact that we rewired it to predict games with the same ferocity that Joe Kinnear speaks. It's high time the predictions racket used a few more swear words.



BANG ON THE MONEY
Man City 2, Liverpool 3
Blackburn 0, Man United 2
Tottenham 0, Hull 1
West Brom 1, Fulham 0
Sunderland 1, Arsenal 1

ALMOST KINDA RIGHT
Everton 2, Newcastle 2 (1-1)
Portsmouth 2, Stoke 1 (3-1)
Wigan 0, Middlesbrough 1 (0-0)

NOT EVEN CLOSE
Chelsea 2, Aston Villa 0 (4-1)
West Ham 1, Bolton 3 (5-1)

Read more on "We did good this week"...

The triumphant return of the slightly-soiled UF Score Predictions Generator, EPL model

Due to some technical difficulties with the hardware (and the lingering malcontent of ex-Newcastle manager Kelvin Koogan loitering about), we shut down the UF Score Predictions Generator for a while, but, thanks to the unexpected surprise that was Koogan's wiring and welding skills, it appears to be fixed.

Thus, we can generate scores again, and marvel at just how wrong we are. Of course, in true UF fashion, we will hide the team names from the scores, so we can take all the glory if even a single one is correct.

I blame Koogan, but then again, who hasn't lately? One thing's for certain: if you see a comfortable home win anywhere in our predictions, it's probably Newcastle on the wrong end of it this weekend.

Take it away, UFSPG, EPL model!



1-1
2-3
4-1
0-0
0-2
3-1
1-1
0-1
5-1
1-0

There. Let's hope you're not betting on any of these.

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How'd We Do?

Once again, the UF randomizer has provided the scores for the upcoming EPL games.

Last week's randomizer had a pretty good showing for the first weekend. Generally, it takes a little bit for the randomizer to warm up. It hit spot on in three matches, pretty damn close in six matches, and totally off the mark in one. I think The Likely Lad was influencing the randomizer last week. We'll make sure to keep his grubby little hands away from the randomizer this week.

Predicted scores on the left, actual scores in bold.

Damn we're good
3-1 Bolton v. Stoke (3-1)
0-1 Sunderland v. Liverpool (0-1)
1-1 Manchester United v. Newcastle (1-1)

Pretty damn close

2-0 Hull v. Fulham (2-1)
2-4 Everton v. Blackburn (2-3)
1-1 West Ham v. Wigan (2-1)
2-0 Arsenal v. West Brom (1-0)
3-1 Aston Villa v. Man City (4-2)
2-0 Chelsea v. Portsmouth (4-0)

What the hell were we thinking?
0-3 Middlesbrough v. Tottenham (2-1)

After the jump, the results you should be gambling 1/4 of your life savings on...



This week there are going to be a lot of reverses, lots of scoring and very few draws.

3-1
1-1
0-2
2-1
1-2
3-1
0-3
0-2
2-2
1-2

Read more on "How'd We Do?"...

Results You Can Use

First weekends are tough to predict. If this were a 38 part trilogy, this installment would be called A New Hope. Every team has a shot. Everybody is tied for first. Although, everybody is tied for last. Given a little luck in the opening match, the faith and hope of the underdogs are buoyed enough to carry them to a result in the first match. Then they dream of going to Europe, only to have reality crash down upon them the next weekend.

Once the luster of the new season is off, we can expect more predictable results. As it is, look for the new Derby County to make its mark in this weekend only to epically fail afterwards.

As always, here the weekend's scores ahead of schedule. Go ahead and lay some coin down on them. We'll let you know next week how we did.

Scores:
3-1
0-1
2-0
1-1
2-4
1-1
0-3
2-0
3-1
2-0

Read more on "Results You Can Use"...

Christmas Eve Wish List

Tomorrow marks the beginning of our 9 month footie wonderland known as the EPL season. Opening day is like Christmas morning for all involved. Everybody has dreams of grandeur, expecting every item on your Christmas wish-list to be crossed-off by Santa Claus. Unfortunately, as in life, the EPL season doesn't grant all wishes and the Grinch (Sir Alex, Arsene Wenger, Scolari, Rafa, O'neil, whomever you like) sometimes kicks your teeth in and ruins the day for you.

That said, today is Christmas Eve and my wish list (read predictions) is below. It is based in some actual analysis and much hopefulness. Feel free to add your Christmas Eve Wish List in the comments.


My far fetched dreams are at the top of the table, much of the rest is how I think it will play out, although I hope Bolton goes down and Fulham stays up. If pressed, I would say the top 3 will play out in this order Chelsea, Man U, Liverthird.

1. Liverpool
2. Chelsea
3. Manchester United
4. Tottenham
--------------------
5. Arsenal
6. Aston Villa
--------------------
7. Portsmouth
8. Man City
9. Everton
10. Newcastle
11. West Ham
12. Sunderland
13. Middlesbrough
14. Wigan
15. Bolton
16. Blackburn
17. West Brom
---------------------
18. Fulham
19. Hull
20. Stoke City

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Another still kinda-drunk post about today's final

So, still in the grip of two solid, sustained days of drinking, we have made it to today's final. And my Spain pick (trendy, but justified) is still there! Wunderbar.

Even though we're all losing in the UF Pick 'Em League to you commenters, we still felt like we couldn't let the Big Kahuna pass by without offering our final predictions for the final. After some back and forth and a firm grip on the definition of irony, we present a sampling of our guesswork after the jump.

If you're in the NYC area, traipse on up to the Kinsale Tavern (3rd Avenue between 93rd and 94th) to join the UF contingent and friends for a drinking binge in the back corner.

But first.... our wildest and most comical guesses!

Ian: Spain 2-1

A howler from Jens at the death dooms the Krauts.

u75: 3-1 Spain. 'Cause that's what I have in my pick'em.

Spectator: 2-1 der Germans, because I predicted Germany would win at the start of the tournament (also correctly predicted Germany v. Spain -- I am so
very talented at picking the favorites!!).

Precious Roy: Spain 2-2 (Win on PKs 5-3).

Cesc and Guiza for Espana. Klose x2 for die Germans.

Clueless of the overtime periods, some ABC producer throw switch to a WNBA game after the end of 90 minutes.

Moonshine Mike: 1-1 with spain winning 4-3 on PKs. of course Cesc nails the clincher, then falls down, twists his knee and is out for the entire Arsenal season.

The NY Kid: 1-1 after full time (Klose v. Torres). Germany wins on PK 3-2.

The Likely Lad: I picked spain 2-1 in le juge euro 2008 (don't ask), so I'm sticking with 'em!

Lingering Bursitis: My thought: 3-1 Spain.

Torres 1-0
Bastian 1-1
Xavi 2-1
late breakaway tap-in at the death to seal it from Silva 3-1

The Fan's Attic: Spain 3 (Torres x2, Silva)

Germany 2 (Ballack, Klose)

It's who I picked prior to the tournament.

Read more on "Another still kinda-drunk post about today's final"...

Euro Speculation

Euro 2008 kicks off tomorrow and I'm sure these two...fellas?...will be ubiquitous over the next 3 weeks. So, UF is going on record with its wildly inaccurate predictions. Although, it seems many of us have a serious mancrush on Fernando Torres.

Don't forget to join the UF Euro '08 Pick 'Em group -- "UF Callups".

After the jump our predictions. Feel free to predict away in the comments.


Spectator

Group A winners: Portugal and Czech Republic
Group B winners: Germany and Croatia
Group C winners: Italy and France
Group D winners: Spain and Russia

Finalists: Germany and Spain
Winner: Germany

Golden Boot: Torres
Golden Gloves: Cech
Player of the Tournament: Podolski

Darkhorse Team: Russia

Biggest Controversy of the Tournament: Someone getting a penalty when they TOTALLY shouldn't have.


ü75

Group A: 1. Portugal 2. Czech Republic
Group B: 1. Germany 2. Poland
Group C: 1. France 2. Netherlands
Group D: 1. Spain 2. Greece

Finalists: Poland v. Spain
Winner: Spain

Golden Boot: Torres
Golden Gloves: Cech
PotT: Fabregas

Darkhorse Team: Switzerland

Controversy: Russia will need a Spain result against Greece to
advance. Greece will dominate the game and win easily. Foul play will be cried.


Being Sven

Group A winners: Portugal, then Czech Rep
Group B winners: Germany, then Croatia
Group C winners: Italy, then the Netherregions
Group D winners: Spain, then Sweden

Finalists: Germany & Italy
Winner: Germany

Golden Boot: Klose
Golden Gloves: Buffon
Player of the Tournament: Ballack (*laugh* no, seriously... or at least, half-seriously)

Darkhorse Team: Croatia

Biggest Controversy of the Tournament: Karma rears its ugly head when C Ronaldo gets sent off after an opponent dupes the ref... costing his team dearly, he gives the crowd a ill-advised salute as he departs, then fucks off to Madrid... just like Goldenballs. (as an aside, I'd LOVE to see the Glazers stick by their guns and let that motherfucking cunt rot in the reserves after he demands a move to Spain... unlikely, but...)


The NY Kid

Group A: Czech (1), Portugal (2)
Group B: Germany (1), Croatia (2)
Group C: France (1), Italy (2) - did you really think I would pick anything else?
Group D: Spain (1), Sweden (2)

Finalists: Germany - France
Winner: France

Golden Boot: Karim Benzema
Golden Gloves: Lehmann (no, seriously, I think he's out to prove something to Wenger)
Player of the Tournament: Ribery

Darkhorse Team: Spain

Biggest Controversy: The rampant Nazism present at the Germany-Croatia match on June 12th leads FIFA to impose record fines on the governing footballing agencies of both countries.


Lingering Bursitis

Group A: Portugal and Turkey
Group B: Germany and Croatia
Group C: Italy and Netherlands
Group D: Spain and Greece

Final: Spain v. Germany
Winner: Spain, 2-1

Golden Boot: Fernando Torres, SPA
Golden Gloves: Rustu Recber, TUR
Player of the Tournament: C. Ronaldo, POR

Darkhorse Team: Turkey [they're set up like Greece. Their national team is pretty much taken from 2 domestic league teams, so they all play together an awful lot. Hard-working, they have the on-field chemistry.... could be a shocker here]

Biggest Controversy: the fact that this damn tournament is in Switzerland/Austria in the first place


Precious Roy

Group A: Portugal, Czech
Group B: Germany, Croatia
Group C: Italy, France
Group D: Spain, Russia

Final: Italy v. Croatia
Winner: Italy 1-1 (5-3 on PKs)

Golden Boot: Cristiano Ronaldo
Golden Gloves: Gigi Buffon
Player of the Tournament: C. Ronaldo

Darkhorse Team: Is Croatia a darkhorse? Maybe Russia makes a run into the semis behind Guus.

Biggest Controversy: Millions of kegs of beer go spoiled as pre-tourney orders made 7 months in advance were overly large on the assumption that hoards of drunken British louts would be in Austria and Switzerland.


The Fan's Attic

Group A: Czech, Portugal
Group B: Germany, Croatia
Group C: Netherlands, France
Group D: Spain, Russia

Final: Germany v. Spain
Winner: Spain

Golden Boot: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Golden Gloves: Iker Casillas
Player of the Tournament: Torres

Darkhorse Team: Russia...solely because of Guus Hiddink.
Biggest Controversy: Antonio Cassano tackles a ref in the opening match.


Ian

Group A: Czech, Portugal
Group B: Germany, Poland
Group C: Italy, Dutch
Group D: Spain, Russia

Final: Portugal-Germany
Winner: Zie Germans 0-0 (5-4 on pks)

Golden Boot: Luca Toni
Golden Gloves (they really give this out?): Van der Saar
POT: C Ronny Ron Ron

Darkhorse: The Dutch, upsetting Les Blues and getting out of their group.

Biggest controversy: allegations of ref bribery and teams throwing games

Read more on "Euro Speculation"...

A really quick and rushed attempt at a CL Final preview

Today's programming should be fun, if not a little ire-inducing: after all, the two teams fighting for this mighty honour are two of the three teams I hate the most in the world. Manchester United, and Chelsea. [There's no danger of Everton ever reaching a prestigious game like this, really]

On one side, you have a team run by a drunk Scot, hell-bent on infecting the world with Cristiano fever. He's got a deep, talented squad, and he's smug about it.

The Russian, before he became old and evil

On the other side, the blue menace from London, a team owned by an unscrupulous Russian oil merchant who is intent on ruining the transfer structure by paying top dollar for damaged goods.

Lesser of two evils? Is there such a thing in this one?

Putting personal hatred aside for just a moment, there are enough juicy storylines to keep us entertained.

FAREWELL, SWEET DIVING PRINCE:
Could this be Drogba's last game for Chelsea? Or, as I indulge in the most ridiculous of weekend gossip, Cristiano Ronaldo's? He'd really love a move to Spain, you know... as would Frank Lampard.

Furthermore, could this be the end of Sir Alex Ferguson? He's won just about everything there is to win, and while his retirement would be a serious shocker, it could happen. After all, he's got enough cash in the bank to inhabit a bar stool for the rest of his days. The temptation is pretty strong, I'd imagine.

THE BIG CHEATING PAYBACK:
It's been less than a fortnight since Man U won the title from right under Chelsea's nose. Avram Grant, passive and morose as he might seem, would love a bit of revenge. Not only would this be Chelsea's first CL win [remember, there was a time when Liverpool would simply knock them out in the semis... alas, that duck is broken], but it would prevent SAF from winning the silverware that's eluded him the longest. They did win it in 1999, but nary a sniff since then. Racking up EPL titles is one thing, but what good does it do when you can't win Europe's biggest prize?

LET'S HOPE THE REFEREE IS CARD-HAPPY:
Nothing spices up a big game like an early red card [just ask Richard Dunne]. Today's referee is Lubos Michel, the guy who awarded Luis Garcia's goal in that cagey 2005 semi-final against Liverpool. You know the one: just over the line, Terry and co. protesting vigorously [some things never change], the one that put LFC in the final where they had that comeback you might have seen.

Well, he's the man in charge today, and if the last Chelsea/Man U encounter wasn't violent or contentious enough, I expect nothing less than bloodshed and late tackles from both sides today.

Evra better keep a lid on it this evening.

In true prognosticating spirit, I took a quick poll of UF brethren to see what they think will happen today.

I swear: if it ends up being 1-0, I will murder someone.*

The Fan's Attic:
Since Ronaldo never comes up big in the big matches. I can't go with him for MoM. I think United wins. 3-1. Terry is injured. Drogba flops 14 times only to be outdone by Ronaldo with 16 flops. Tevez scores a brace and is MotM. Ballack scores for Chelsea, and Ferdinand finishes the job. Ferdinand plays out his mind and permanently takes the armband from Terry. Van Der Sar saves a Lampard PK that would have put Chelsea up 2-0 to send him off to Italy.

Precious Roy:
Chelski wins 2-1. Ballack and Malouda for Chelsea, Rooney for Man U.

ü75:
Chelsea after PKs. 1-1. Tevez and Ballack to score. Ronaldo misses his spot kick. Brave John Terry MotM.

Ian:
You guys are such optimists. I'm voting for Ronaldo to score in the first half, followed by a very questionable awarded to Chelsea deep into second half injury time. Chelsea then manage to scrape through in penalties. 1-1 (Chels wins on PKs)

Moonshine Mike:
As much as i hate to say it, 1-0 in favor of ManU. I feel dirty now.

Lingering Bursitis:
I will be optimistic in saying that there will be many goals.
3-2 Man U
Man U: Ronaldo, Vidic, Scholes
Chelsea: Drogba 2

---
So there you have it folks. We've reached the end of the European football season, barring some minor former Soviet bloc countries who are wrapping up their domestic leagues. We have 90 minutes of potentially good football left before the tidal wave of average football at Euro '08 [why yes, of course I'm still bitter that we didn't qualify].

Let's hope we get what we all deserve: some good goals, and one set of players crying openly for the cameras after the final whistle.

*A figurative "someone"

Read more on "A really quick and rushed attempt at a CL Final preview"...