Celtic went into the home first leg of their European Cup semi-final against Dukla Prague at 1-1. Two second half goals from Willie Wallace added to Jimmy Johnstone’s opener were enough to ensure a British team would eventually reach the final of Europe’s premier tournament. The return leg finished goalless.
The clubs met 14 years later in the Feyenoord Tournament, when two first half goals from Murdo McLeod secured a 2-1 win. Since then, European football has been robbed of its meritocratic principles, which allowed talented clubs a route to the top, no matter how rich or poor their domestic TV contract was. Nowhere has been so brutally robbed as east/central Europe.
The 1960s-through-80s saw teams from Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia and Poland regularly dominate clubs from Scandinavia, south-eastern Europe, France, and occasionally, all comers. Eastern Europe remains one of the world’s most productive areas for developing talented footballers, but even the average ones are stolen for a pittance while still in their teens.
In the 60s, Dukla were a genuine leading light in the game, producing seven of the Czech team who collected runners-up medals to Pele’s Brazil in the 1962 World Cup, with peerless midfielder, Josef Masopust, picking up the European Player of the Year award that year. They would have fancied their chances against Celtic in ’67.
Where great tradition and sporting affection exists, so too does commercial opportunity. The people of east/central Europe just need to figure out how to harness it. Uefa are Europe’s maker of competitions. Their job is to establish the structures which allows great and successful sport to take place. A modern-day Jules Rimet is needed.
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COYBIG
cfc
B-)
traditionalist88
pass OFF.
FAVOURITE UNCLE
?
Good afternoon
braw …..thanks for all the well wishes ,Dads a wee bit better ….asked to get his paper and meals on wheels cancelled ….so thats something to smile aboot …
Bhoylo83
11:56 on 11 July, 2014
‘Was this not supposed to set a precedent to go after other clubs who tried tax avoidance schemes?’
####
It’s more general than that. They’ll want to go after all schemes that pushed the envelope to deter others from doing the same.
traditionalist88 na!! well done but is it tainted as everyone seems to be on their hols.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aGlcUK_GkM
My friends in Celtic,
With respect I think we are missing or avoiding the “fallout” from the decision.
They will be back uglier than ever, with a perceived sense of injustice. Nothing we say or do now will change that. It is too late, we ( and others ) have allowed them to reach this point.
We have collectively put our heads in the sand.
That is the reality we will soon face. Bitterness and bigotry will be the dominent theme when they return.
There is ony one feasible preferable alternative. We must leave.
We as a club have “kept our powder dry” I hope we have been active with an alternative.
HH.
FAVOURITE UNCLE
12:14 on
11 July, 2014
traditionalist88 na!! well done but is it tainted as everyone seems to be on their hols.
===============
They don’t have t’imternet in those funny countries naw?! ;)
You can only beat whats put in front of you:)
HH
Greenpinata
I think deep down we all knew they would be back, but they will NEVER live down what they have done, for a start they are to thick to educate, even if they had lost the tax case they would still be playing the blame game, don’t kid. Yourself they know they are in a mess, Ffs they still think the clubs the same club, how the feck can you educate people like that, let them hang as they grow, no threat to us, well to me any way;)
Paul,
“A modern-day Jules Rimet is needed.” wouldn’t get passed first base in UEFA or FIFA sadly…
with the likes of Derek Johnstone demanding apologies with regards Rangers…I agree… the sooner they apologise to everyone the better!
Having seen the Daily Record headline now how does this tie in with the club was saved mantra?
Anyhow finish today for two weeks…will enjoy the final two games in the World Cup knowing that the works preditor has done a liitle to help Marie Curie then a couple of Celtic games to look forward to.
HH
greenpinata
12:14 on 11 July, 2014
They are deed……bottom line …….
There will be a circus the first time we have to face Sevco but lets be honest here – the international interest will be pretty huge.
That is our chance to get a message or two out.
HH
tonydonnelly67
12:22 on 11 July, 2014
Greenpinata
I think deep down we all knew they would be back, but they will NEVER live down what they have done, for a start they are to thick to educate, even if they had lost the tax case they would still be playing the blame game, don’t kid. Yourself they know they are in a mess, Ffs they still think the clubs the same club, how the feck can you educate people like that, let them hang as they grow, no threat to us, well to me any way;)
………………………….
Ho, ho,ho! My aching sides. It’s comedy hour on CQN.
Greenpinata
“With respect I think we are missing or avoiding the “fallout” from the decision.
They will be back uglier than ever, with a perceived sense of injustice.”
This is what telling the lie often enough does to right minded people.
They will never be back. Rangers 1872 are in the process of being liquidated.
Now more facts:
There is a NEW club playing at Ibrox Stadium wearing the same colours and has the same set of supporters, but they are a NEW club, hence why they had to re-apply for membership of the SFA.
Their supporters, the new club, will probably bring the same baggage that they carried for a great number of years following Rangers 1872 (IL). This is where the challenge now lies. To report this and try and eradicate the reasons behind it, if we continue to believe, wrongly, that this is the same club, then the one is as bad as the other excuse comes into play every time por cierto.
Ho, ho,ho! My aching sides. It’s comedy hour on CQN.
Usually is when your on, anyway I’m off to Marbella for a week, off to the brazen for a couple of Carlings with the lads then avanti, we are outa here, HH
It doesn’t matter what we think or what we want.
They will be back, and they will get stronger, the establishment will ensure their passage will be without hindrance. The refs will give them everything next year, especially against Hibs, or any club that dares to step up to the plate against them.
Be in no doubt that they will be coming straight up, no play off, nothing.
We need to be ready for them, we need to spend wisely, but most importantly we need to improve – over the last few years we have not progressed, we have rested on our laurels, and that cost Neil his job.
We should’ve have been going for our 3rd treble this year, and no matter what you say, that’s what I expected. The lack of a treble cost Neil his job.
Progress and readiness is the order of the time, we’ll not only be fighting the teams on the park, it’s the establishments wish that we become also rans.
Lets not let it happen.
Guys,
We know they are deid. Is that enough.? Not for me. Somebody posted their list of unpaid debt earlier but generally it has been ignored. It seems the only people remembering is us, and of course the affected parties.
As TD stated we will never convince the uneducated but it seems nobody bar a select few have been convinced. Maybe we need a few ” debaters” from a previous article.
Normal service will resume one year from now, the “Old Firm” will be back open for business. Is this what we have to look forward ?
I reiterate we must move and leave the cheats behind. Time is now of the essence
HH.
BBC Sport – ‘Van Gaal wil not be afraid of United’
Phew!!
There’s me thinking he managed Ajax and Barcelona and led his country to a World Cup semi-final
F me
traditionalist88 12:28 on 11 July, 2014
There will be a circus the first time we have to face Sevco but lets be honest here – the international interest will be pretty huge.
That is our chance to get a message or two out.
—————————————————————-I sincerely hope I am proved wrong but I suspect the club will fo nothing that might rock the boat. The club has made some jocular side comments about their demise which were amusing at the time but don’t exactly constitute our official attitude to their demise. I expect the club to continue to drop the “Old Firm” brand but will badge the first home match against Sevco as the “Glasgow Derby” as though they had never been away. I can understand the international interest in this match but it will be like two old foes meeting again rather than our first match against this new club which ofcourse it will be. If this bears out then the game’s a bogey and I will be looking for something else to do on match days.
Greenpinta
I agree with much that you say . But ‘move’ where? Nobody else needs or wants us.’
Jimbo67 praying to Oscar Knox and for Thomas Worth
m6bhoy
Agreed but then technically it will be a ‘Glasgow derby’, they are coming from Govan!
Its a simple one for the club – no ‘Old Firm’ patter, joint sponsorship, old rivals rubbish.
I’m sure the Green Brigade will have a message for them too.
4HorsemenCSC
Interesting article from Paul on east European football and damaging effects of money.
Campbell Ogilvie to make the revolutionary changes when he joins the UEFA gravy train? What’s Polish for Employee Benefit Trust?
jimbo67
Yep, we can only overcome the obstacles thrown in our path where we are until there is structural change, which may or may not be in our lifetime.
We have had to overcome more hurdles than any other club on the planet but it has made us stronger and will continue to do so.
The Sevco affair will not have surprised generations of Celtic supporters who went before us. They may or may not arrive next year and will be cannon fodder for us as we march to towards 10.
HH
The story of Masopust (what a player he was) , Willie Wallace and Masopust’s sportmanship and dignity is all in the Willie Wallace bio Heart of a Lion ( Plug Plug ).
However, it is a great story and his behaviour and antics in the 1962 world cup speak volumes for the man and the way he viewed the game.
One of the best stories I have ever told in my opinion — and I like a good story!
Auldheid
Thank you :))))
Kitalba
Great to see you posting again :)))
Ps anyone else think Ray Whelan yon fella on the run in World cup tickets case looks like Roy Hodgsons long lost brother?
traditionalist88
12:59 on 11 July, 2014
There is no doubt oldco had no class, just as there is no doubt sevco will not survive……the spivs are not managing sevco towards building a longterm football club…..they are managing sevco towards ‘filling their pockets’ and then disappearing, just as murray did with oldco ….
Luis Suarez to Barcelona for £75m according to BBC.
Great if you can afford it – I presume Barca have £75m cash lying about.
67Heaven
True, but what if, like some on our side, they think structural change is coming and that they could benefit through the share price rocketing if such a change was to occur?
Just trying to think why they haven’t already made their move?
What are they waiting for?
Prominent Celtic bloggers have also toned down the language about their impending doom(except James Forrest!).
Who to believe…
HH
Hrvatski jim,
Maybe they’re paying him via a Scottish tax efficient bank account, administered by the SFA.
leftclick
I thought it was long lost Roy Hodgson when I first looked at it never mind his brother
Thanks to Art of War and Zbyszek for translating those strange posts. I am truly none the wiser but now I know you care 0;-)
a nice town
http://vimeo.com/98123388
Trad88/west end of east end
Apologies I had chores to do.
I do have concerns about Tuesday but let’s be honest if we can’t beat an Icelandic side then we shouldn’t be competing at a higher level.
Personally I’d like to see Ronny start tonight’s game with his favoured 11 and give them the first half together.
Any idea when our WC stars are joining the squad?
traditionalist88
13:11 on 11 July, 2014
They couldn’t move until the tax case, and other legal scenarios were concluded …..they are simply keeping them afloat until the ‘right moment’ (maximum ‘return’ can be gained ) …… ming has been trying to oust them, but they are currently standing firm / struggling on……one can understand why when you consider the profit to be made for selling the assets alone even….
cadizzy-an honour to be mentioned in he same post as Zbyszek.
Was just `off oot’ there at lunchtime to Buchanan Bus Station to remind the young ladies going to T’ int Park to cover up a bit as the sun is at it’s fiercest just now.
Hope they heed my advice. ;-)
nice’n’sleazycsc