A Europa double for Antunez

We don't normally peek into Finland, but Inter Turku midfielder Daniel Antunez bagged a double in their Europa League qualifying defeat at Gent last night and it seemed worth a video mention.




- Greg Seltzer

Spain's extended honeymoon

An afternoon in Spain a month since that night in Soweto

Madrid is an odd city in an odd location. A great European capital, but without the sights of Paris or Rome. A grand citadel of fútbol too, but with fewer pro clubs than Buenos Aires, and less than half as many as London.

The Champions League and La Liga trophies do not reside here at present and its grandest arena is not as enthralling as Barcelona's for my money. But as the home of the now José Mourinho-led Real, Europa League winners Atlético and (in nearby Las Rozas) the base of the European and World Champions, Madrid has some claim to be the top dog of football cities right now.

In the centre, 'Campeones del Mundo' souvenirs squat in every tourist shop; for once the city's football image is not Real-led, although you cannot miss the Merengues store plonked prominently on the Calle del Carmen. This shopping street leads off the central square of Puerta del Sol, which became a sangria-drenched sea of red and yellow joy after the World Cup final, ignoring the fact Barcelona supplied most of Spain's players.

'I am Spanish, Spanish, Spanish' was the most popular chant across this patchwork nation of regional identities that night, a cultural puzzle I have read a lot about but never fully come to terms with, until the unthinkable Great Britain XI takes the field in the 2012 Olympics perhaps.

I have found as many good reasons to dislike Real over the years as there are tapas on the menu - the General Franco connection, the daftness of the Galácticos, a cavalier attitude to debt which infected other clubs, the Ultras Sur and their swastika flags, Cristiano Ronaldo... So El Atléti, the Anti-Real, are my Spanish team, although in former owner Jesús Gil they had football's clown of all clowns, a disgraceful oaf who fired managers like bullets from a machine gun and once referred to Ajax as "FC Congo".

Atlético's Vicente Calderón (55,000 cap.), cradled by the Manzanares river like Craven Cottage is by the Thames, is still an atmospheric venue ticking all the right boxes - it faces a brewery in a working-class neighbourhood close to the centre and a metro stop. It is charmingly irregular like all historic grounds are, and its aching stands breathe blue-collar loyalty, a refreshing antidote to the corporate torpor of the Santiago Bernabéu (80,000). But in two years Atlético will move to the 70,000-seat La Peineta, complete with dreaded running track (albeit with removable seating).

Madrid's big two are joined by Alcorcón, who famously tanked Real 4-0 in last year's Copa del Rey, Getafe and Rayo Vallecano, where Kasey Keller and Hugo Sanchez had spells. Rayo have a charming stadium of three stands, absurdly named after the wife of former jailbird and Opus Dei-activist chairman José Maria Ruiz Mateos, another colourful Madrileño soccer boss.

What also strikes the visiting fan is the daily football press, as wonderfully rabid as their Italian equivalents. Marca, like Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy, is the nation's most read newspaper, and devotes its first ten pages to worshipping everything Real (Barça gets one side in Marca, but has the sycophantic Mundo Deportivo to do the reverse to Real).

AS, Marca's main rival, is also an essential read, combing through soccer in such detail it turns me green with envy that my country does not have an equivalent. As Real are Stateside right now, AS devoted page two and three on Wednesday to US soccer (!), with articles on the Cosmos and MLS and an op/ed column by the venerable-looking Alfredo Relaño, who opined that only sports where the coach can intervene meaningfully in the game can be big in America.

Welcome recognition, though AS' proof-reading could do with a kick, having mentioned "New England Revolutions," the "NSAL" and "Ljumberg" of Seattle. I was glad to see Relaño mention the US' shutout of Spain in the Confederations Cup, a scalp with added sheen following Spanish gold in South Africa.

Who will be first to beat the World Cup winners in competitive action? Spain's Euro 2012 qualifiers feature the Czech Republic, Scotland, Lithuania and Lichtenstein...Empires crumble eventually, just ask France, and while the dizzy dream of a World Cup win must be milked, the hangover cannot be far behind. And when it comes it is painful.

But the cava carousal has yet to wear off here. The World Cup was not won with style as tiki-taka stuttered, but the lifting of a historic hoodoo was all that mattered in the end. Now it is up to Mourinho and Atlético coach Quique Sánchez Flores to pick up the baton this season, if Madrid wants to reign on the throne of the game.

-Sean O'Conor, Madrid

A needed break

Got my net back finally, but folks, I need a breather. I really never get one and stuff has gotten a bit heavy. I'll still be doing the usual things at the usual places and I will try to get all the goals up, but I definitely need to scale back for a spell. Sorry to be a drag. I'm sure Johannes and Sean will have bits once league play starts, plus you know I won't be able to keep my trap shut forever.


- Greg Seltzer

Oi vey.

I'm still without net here, but hopped on quickly to pass on Bob Bradley's squad for the Brazil friendly next week. I should be full operational again tomorrow. Let me think about how best to complain about this selection and at which venue.


GK: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton)

D: Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Étienne), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MF: Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus GF), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht)

F: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Pachuca)


- Greg Seltzer

Castillo Cracker

San Luis loan item Edgar Castillo opened his season account today with a picturesque bit of consolation in a 2-1 loss at Puebla. The goal play starts right at the minute mark.






- Greg Seltzer