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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Jobo
Enjoy yourself, just relaxing , mysellf after a tough week, just fished a drowned wasp from my glass of very strong, premium cider. Poor wee bugger never knew what hit him, half glass left polished off no problem.
Edson Braafheid
braafheid
Not exactly a performance to get excited about this evening but it’s another 90 minutes of fitness under the players belts. That is the priority at the moment.
RWE
re the uniforms……….
……………..Shortbread meets petit-fours.
The ‘flamboyant’ designer’s ain taste should have been a big red ( fuschia?) fleg….
Brigadoon?…….Briga – don’t!
A wee track for Delaneys D.
Not Ronny D music.
It’s always nice to play a team we have never played before.
BRTH –
indeed, I owe you (all) a big apology…..
jmmcormick – a few minutes ago I had a dead fly in my wine. Crazilly, I threw the remaining wine out and poured another!
Oh, and before I sneak off again, playing golf tomorrow and given the special date I think it might be deserving of a second outing for my CQ10 Open outfit from last Friday… ;-)
Gary67 / FrankMarker –
Correct.
Opinion has been expressed in various media since the recent UTT result that HMRC “stuck the knife in” (not sure about the twisting part).
Hypothetically speaking, if we take a few steps into the future and the result of the referendum has been YES would we not be less affected by British tax laws (HMRC).
Wouldn’t it follow then that Rangers fans would be happy to be well rid of HMRC and perhaps their club would be dealt with in a different manner say if Alex Salmond’s tax collectors were on the job ?
A NO result in the referendum would see the exact same tax collectors continue their “program”. That is, Her Majesty’s Revenue Collectors would continue just as normal like before the referendum.
I guess what I’m asking is
Would a YES vote change the tax collector ?
If so, would that appeal to Rangers fans ?
Jobo Baldie
19:55 on 11 July, 2014
BRTH –
indeed, I owe you (all) a big apology…..
jmmcormick – a few minutes ago I had a dead fly in my wine. Crazilly, I threw the remaining wine out and poured another!
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Do you think you done the right thing?
S- Expre$$
TSOAL
You are half man. I am half biscuit.
Missed the 2 nd half, didny fall asleep >}
Dukla played like most spl oppo will this season, we moved the ball about quicker than previous I thot.
The team that started wouldn’t be my starting 11, but thankfully I have nothing to do with it.
Main thing was no injuries, and another 90 mins under the belt, roll on tuesday.
HH
Would Victor come back?
THE EXILED TIM
20:04 on 11 July, 2014
Missed the 2 nd half, didny fall asleep >}
Dukla played like most spl oppo will this season, we moved the ball about quicker than previous I thot.
The team that started wouldn’t be my starting 11, but thankfully I have nothing to do with it.
Main thing was no injuries, and another 90 mins under the belt, roll on tuesday.
HH
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Most Definitely, Roll on Scooby Doos day.
The proof will be in the pudding.
Gary67-just shaded it
well done
like my horse bets
2nd is an old friend
hail hail
winning captains
20:07 on 11 July, 2014
Would Victor come back?
______________________________
No way Celtic would pay that money. No Way.
I maintain he is magnificent as a back 4 shield, definitely up there with Mascherano.
My Son would be over the Moon if Victor came back home so quickly, I’d be even more excited.
Petec
Whit?
Ole Ronny’s trick of playing Boeriggter wide right so we wouldn’t notice his selection nearly worked.
Jobo
I have seen the day when I would have swallowed the fly rather than waste good claret.
Evolution and not revolution will be the course followed by Deila.
He is being hampered by the early CLQs, where he has to go with what is familiar to the squad he has.
He can’t take the risk of making radical changes to the playing style.
Like tonight, he will probably go with the old dogs for the hard road in Iceland, and, gradually ease those who can’t adapt out to be replaced with those who can.
Therefore, in the meantime, it will be as you were, but a bit faster, please.
Nothing wrong with the CG gear.
Every country, with a bit of heritage have a national costume, which are only worn ceremoniously.
England, of course, will be attired in full Morris Dance costume, with the alternative bowler hat, rolled up umbrella and a copy of the Times.
Have= has.
Paddybhoy1888
If you’re lurking. Made it to Palm Springs yesterday, absolutely stunning place. Best place we have visited on our West Coast tour.
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
20:13 on 11 July, 2014
Petec
Whit?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was amalgamating things from the email complaint and because you are definitely frae Blantyre, I was posting a not obvious answer, hence yer good self being mentioned.
Apologies if you feel I offended you.
Winning Captain
Would he come back ? As part of a deal for one of our other players ?
incidentally, more than double the votes to change the Scotland commonwealth kit, than stopping sectarian marches, astounding mentality in this best wee country
WC/Cowiebhoy
Folk on Twitter discussing possibility of Wanyama being swapped for FF.
Cannae see it personally.
Petec
My pals wife was buried today and I am feeling raw.
Sorry for overreacting.
Just logged on and saw my name being mentioned.
Maybe should have read back.
Ktf
Sadly, I think the Vic rumour is just that, and speeded up by cyberspace. Why would Southampton not want, most or all of their money back?
Celtic returning the best part of 10-12 Million is not going to happen.
HT
Do we get any money with the deal ? If so decent for us imho
blantyretim,
You have nothing to apologise to me for.
A Minute prayer for all those affected by the loss.
Cowiebhoy
They’re not discussing details which would suggest it’s all nonsense mate.
Wanyama will never rejoin us.
Minute Prayers are so powerful just like Mustard seeds.
Just another tim
20:32 on 11 July, 2014
Wanyama will never rejoin us.
__________________________
I hope you are wrong although you may be right.
FFM MUSIC
Thomthetim
I look forward to your grand entrance at a CQN hootenanny resplendent in your tablecloth & curtains gear. Broon socks & brogues are mandatory.
Selling tickets would be great fundraiser. :o)
HH
HT
Ma bhoy just texted me that. It is a rumour sweeping T in Balado. I would welcome a FF VW swap.
£75 million for Suarez?puts into perspective the markets we”ll have to deal in and the potential of facing that kind of buying power.I’m not a supporter of EPL clubs but I’d like to see Liverpool win something next season,as long as it’s not at our expense,purely for making a stance.
BT
Sorrow to read about your friends wife.