Footy Speak

It’s been a busy week for goalkeepers in the Champions League – but at the other end of the pitch. Following Hans Jorg Butt’s swaggering spot-kick that sent the world’s most expensive goalie the wrong way, another keeper has been in the goals – but this time in good-old fashioned last-minute desperation drama.

Standard Liege were rooted to the bottom of the Champions League group table with seconds remaining in their home encounter with the team just above them, AZ Alkmaar. The Belgians trailed 1-0 and needed a goal to lift themselves above the Dutch champions to secure Europa League qualification with a 3rd-place finish.

One last throw of the dice…. seconds remaining…. a free-kick is swung to the back post and rising to the occasion above everyone else is Standard’s Turkish goalkeeper Sinan Bolat to bullet home a header that Sandor Kocsis and John Toshack would have been proud of.

Cue epic celebrations. We’re not Rafael Benitez is this chuffed to be in the Europa League…. but it’s time to embrace it, Liverpool fans.

For those who fancy a flutter, tonight’s value rests in Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz where in-form Benfica take on depleted Everton.

Lining up against players such as Paraguay’s Oscar Cardozo, the Argentine trio of Javier Saviola, Angel Di Maria and Pablo Aimar, and the Brazilian international Ramires will be an Everton team deprived of 10 players by injury and ineligibility, after head and foot injuries ruled out Joseph Yobo and Leon Osman, respectively.

With John Heitinga and Lucas Neill not registered, and Phil Jagielka and Phil Neville six weeks away from fitness, Everton have a threadbare look.

Conversely, Benfica are flying and currently possess the second-most potent attack in European football at present. They have scored 36 goals in nine domestic games, second only to Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb this season.

Probable teams

Benfica (4-1-4-1): Julio Cesar; Pereira, Luisao, David Luiz, Peixoto; Javi Garcia; Ramires, Di Maria; Aimar; Saviola, Cardozo.

Everton (4-4-2): Howard; Gosling, Hibbert, Distin, Baines; Cahill, Fellaini, Rodwell, Bilyaletdinov; Saha, Jo.

Tap-in: Back Benfica to win – 5/6

Long-shot: Back Luisao to score anytime – 13/1

Over are the days of diving! Or so thinks Michel Platini, the president of UEFA. UEFA plans on introducing two extra officials to all games. These two officials will patrol the penalty area, from behind the goals. The aim, is to make sure a few things don’t occur.

Firstly, penalties. Everyone wants to make sure that players don’t dive, to win their team an unfair advantage. This, SHOULD give the referee another couple of sets of eyes and help to make the decisions much more accurate. I think this is a horendous decision by UEFA. I’ll predict, and again bet my life savings on this happening. Watch and learn gamblers! My first problem with it, is that the players, managers etc don’t know much about this new rule. Currently, we have a situation in footy, where by the defenders pull the shirts of the attackers, and no foul, penalty etc is given. If it occurs vise versa (currently) – a free kick IS given. We are going to have a few outrageous penalties given for tugging of shirts. There I said it. Infact, I guarantee it. THERE WILL BE TEARS SHED OVER THIS NEW RULE!!!

UEFA’s plan, is to introduce these new rules to the up and coming Europa league (the lower quality version of the Champions League). If all goes well, as they are expecting, much to my humor, they plan to add this rule to the Champions League – and finally to the European (international) Championships. The next one being in 2012. The only good to come out of this – is there is still plenty of time for testing, BEFORE it gets introduced to a proper league.