GREAT VASE, GREAT NIGHT
Eintracht Frankfurt already has a European trophy to its name. They won the Euro Vase in 1980, on away goals, in a two-legged final against Borussia Mönchengladbach, but although The Fiver are not outdoing it in terms of achievement, on these shores and in many other areas outside of the former Bundesrepublik. Deutschland we will be obliged, that is not what they are primarily known for. And what they’re mostly known for is having the temerity to take the lead in 1960 Big (né Li’l) The Cup final in Hampden against Real Madrid, who then scored seven goals and beat Eintracht’s graciously ecstatic goalkeeper and Antony Gormley’s muse, Egon Loy. Ouch Richard Kress! It was hast du getan! Du hast den Käfig der Bestie erschüttert!
Some scholars in Glasgow’s East End may also gleefully recall that the 1960 Frankfurt team gave the Pope’s O’Rangers a terrifying blow to the mouth in the semi-finals, beating them 12-4 on aggregate. But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the German side in the European semi-finals here, as West Ham fans of a certain era will remember. Trevor Brooking was the Hammers’ two-goal hero as they overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit against Eintracht in the 1976 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final with a 3-1 win at Upton Park. They then lost the final, but that’s not the point, and there were two notable things about that victory: Brooking, who never scored with his head, the 1980 FA Cup final being the exception that proves the rule, scored with his head. ; and the Frankfurt goalkeeper that night was called Peter Kunter. Yes, we are that childish. This cannot be a surprise to you.
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West Ham of 2022 are hoping history augurs well, as they host the Eagles again on Thursday, in the Big Vase semi-final. While manager David Moyes showed during his time at Everton that he doesn’t need trophies to be a winner. but he is a winneractually winning one would prove that even more, and now he’s just three games away from glory. His side are favorites to establish a first-leg lead at London Stadium, and while he insists he “hasn’t considered” that status, he must be secretly dreaming of a repeat of the 1976 scoreline at the very least. . By comparison, the Pope’s Newc O’Rangers, who face Leipzig, German opposition in the quarter-finals of European competition, are unlikely to look to historical precedent as much for inspiration.
LIVE ON GREAT WEBSITE
Join Rob Smyth from 8pm BST for MBM’s coverage of West Ham 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt at Big Vase, while Nick Ames will be on hand for Leipzig 2-1 The Pope’s Newc O’Rangers. And at 7.45pm, Scott Murray will be behind the wheel for Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea in Premier League action.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Current health status for those who wonder: [p1ssed] off second time in four months they kill me. They also seem capable of resuscitating [sic]” – Mr. 25% Mino Raiola denies the widespread and premature reports of his passing.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
Get your ears around for the latest weekly soccer extra. And while we’re at it, Max, Barry and the capsule crew are back on tour. Tickets for the June and July live shows are available here – a new Dublin date has even been added – so start shopping.
FIVE LETTERS
“In Wednesday night’s game, the TV showed ‘LIV v VIL,’ which is the only abbreviated palindrome of its kind in professional football. Does any pedant note that Spurs v Dundee, or ‘TOT v DUD’, is vague and doesn’t count? And yes, I was watching the game” – Jeremy Foxon.
“So there’s a new football regulator coming at any moment and Michael Lloyd (Yesterday’s Fiver letters) is looking for names. Well, if it’s run by an authoritarian contingent of white males, he dictates what people can and can’t wear, and has jurisdiction over the importation of Brazilian midfielders, then… Offred? Blessed be the fruit, under his eye, etc., etc.” – James Maltby.
“Re: Fiver from yesterday. Pedantic, I should point out that Pep’s luxury flat is actually in Salford rather than Spinningfields. Although the north is probably a strange land and alien to The Fiver. Now I need to make my tea and feed the greyhound” – Micheal Jacob.
Send your letters to [email protected]. And you can always tweet The Fiver via @guardian_sport. Today’s winner of our no prize letter of the day is… Jeremy Foxon.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Happy days for Liverpool fans and all lovers of heavy metal football and performative cheese: the club has opened talks to extend Jürgen Klopp’s contract beyond 2024.
Happy days to Liverpool fans and all lovers of heavy metal football and performative cheese: the club beat Villarreal 2-0 after the first leg of the Gran Copa semi-finals.
The ever-witty Ralf Rangnick has somehow found time in the arduous task of pointing out his players’ myriad shortcomings and not addressing his own, and reckons Manchester United failing to qualify for Europe under his stewardship could help. to Erik ten Hag. “It may be an advantage”, he exculpates himself, “but that doesn’t mean we’re going to give away any of the remaining four games”.
One to file: PSG’s Mauricio Pochettino insists that both he and Kylian Mbappe will be at the club next season. “100% in both cases,” he touched. “That is what I can tell you today. I can not say anything more. That’s how I feel right now.”
In stark contrast to the men’s team’s recent direction of travel, Barcelona will ascend the world, literally, to Montjuic while the Camp Nou undergoes a makeover in 2023-24.
Rare good news from the Premier League regarding the launch of a scheme to identify players of South Asian origin, who are currently under-represented in club academies. “That should not be the case and we are committed to addressing it,” said Neil Saunders, his director of football. “We recognize that it won’t happen overnight, but we are committed to a long-term plan.”
And there is also long-overdue positive news emanating from Italy, where players from its top division have finally turned pro. “It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally happened,” applauded Elisabetta Vignotto, a celebrated striker who was one of Italy’s first female footballers in the 1970s and 1980s.
STILL WANT MORE?
“Football without punctuation or pause to think” – no, Jonathan Liew isn’t describing The Fiver’s trademark care and attention, but the Liverpool hurricane that Villarreal ran into.
Barney Ronay on Karim Benzema, the incarnation of Real Madrid.
The state of Everton F.C. By Karen Carney.
When Ronald Koeman won a golden boot in the Grand Cup… as a center back.
And if it’s your thing… you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. Y INSTACHAT ALSO!
Admittedly, I WROTE THIS FROM A GLASS HOUSE, BUT WHAT ANOTHER TRIUMPHANT DAY FOR JOURNALISM
Reference-www.theguardian.com