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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Leftclick….
…good to hear that the preparations for Coatbridge have progressed well ;)
hh big man
bj
Putting the kettle oan, any you 2 want a cup of Tea :-)
Leftie.
Funny as.,,,,
Thanks!
HH jamesgang
Seen a couple of rockets being fired from the army range across the road.Don’t know why they’re firing them but a bit concerned about possible Israeli air strikes on the hooose.
Cowiebhoy
Loughinisland massacre rememberance
Watching boggy clyro thrash the subtlety of their songs to bu&&ergy on t in the park on telly.
Too noisy says mrs jamesgang. And she’s music connoisseur too….
OldFartsCSC
HH jamesgang
By the way, that Biffy Clyro chap’s a bit mad, is he not?
And am I the only one who thought he’d finally traced down Kojo in last night’s Question Time audience?
Biffy Clyro are immense!
Biffy rather!
Pesky iPhone thingie!
La Ralston looking magnificent tonight
tapsaffCSC
Good night all.
Jobo
He needs more tats – biffy, not Kojo! – there’s def a wee morsel of torso he’s missed!
That could be the next thing – CQN tats. I’ll get one if you do! If mrs jamesgang allows me!
HH jamesgang
Night Leftie.
Peace and love
HH jamesgang
Janice says
X
leftclicktic we are all neil lennon
22:33 on 11 July, 2014
Is that 20th anniversary not next weekend ? (18th)
tatsfreeeCSC
jamesgang
Hugs tae the gang fae sunny ML5
Thon Janice is not just a looker she has brains aswell and excellent taste for picking you my friend.
Good night all honestCSC:)))
Cowiebhoy
The 20th anniversary was on the 18th June .
Talk soon
My Email is oooooot the game with hacking so if anything comes delete it without opening it
Jobo
Go on, go on, go on
A wee Michael Fish lookalike as an homage to a fellow weather observer. Or a Judith Ralston tribute?
Mrs Jobo would love it!
HH jamesgang
Yip,
Night Night
&
Hail Hail
OT
I’ve had a shocking day on the horses
25/1.. FFS
midfield maestro
20:21 on
11 July, 2014
Paddybhoy1888
If you’re lurking. Made it to Palm Springs yesterday, absolutely stunning place. Best place we have visited on our West Coast tour.
*was there at a conference a couple of years back, in June tae. Effin warm but cool through the night. Did you see the “Celtic Shop”.
Santa Barbara for me was better.
A wee Strandsky Tale about a remarkable man who triumphed in the face of adversity.
The boy from the Streets, the man with the moustache and the King of the Court jesters
http://wp.me/p1G95H-1jy
PFayr.
I didn’t do too well myself.
Pity Richie is laid low in his pad in Spain, if he had been fine,we would all have had a good lift of the gee-gees today,I’ve bet Kano’s Girl every time it’s ran except today.
For some reason I never looked at the Irish runners today which is unusual as I always look out for any O’Brian runners.
Nags. Scroll on if no interest.
Dan Skelton runs Colebrooke on Sunday at Southwell. Good prize money, £25k. Colebrooke has been revitalised under Dan. He is a very good trainer and I was lucky enough to catch up with someone from his yard earlier tonight. Colebrooke has been geared towards this race for some time. The step up in trip shouldn’t hurt. The ground is ok as of today. He is off a mark of 118 carrying 10 st 5lbs. He could well go off at a price because on the face of it he won’t be guaranteed to stay the trip, but the yard have no concerns on that front. Master Malt, Shubaat, Tornado Bob all run, so I suspect Colebrooke will be decent odds. Also in the line up are Monetary fund and On the bridge.
All of those are handy on their day, so as I say, Colebrooke may be overpriced. He is certainly worth an interest. Each way may be the way to go given I suspect he’ll open at decent odds.
I will be abroad from tomorrow but will update if I get the chance. Good luck if you have a go.
Oldtim
Just texted ya.
Hi there oldtim67
Are you on a winning run?
Hope your in good form
HH
BRTH
That was a bit amazing. Thanks!
HH jamesgang
TnTs
cheers for the horsey advice,will have a wee dabble on it
hope you enjoy your holiday if that’s where you are off too
Gordy
Good luck. 3 45 pm btw.
I was given word for Goldies horse Never Forever in the 8.45 at Hamilton tomorrow
Good late evening from a pleasant day in Playa Blanca. The rollercoaster family been up since 2:30 this morn.
3 of us still going strong.
We decided to come back to same hotel as last year, where we met a lovely family from Coatbridge. The Dad was assistant head master of John Paul Academy were the kids took Wee Oscar to their hearts and were great fundraisers.
Well as fate has it, they also arrived today. Think Wee Oscar set this up :-)
HH
CRC
CRC
Hope you all – including Stella – have a brill holiday.
I think wee Oscar will spread his magic dust far and wide in the years to come.
Have a brilliant holiday mhate.
HH jamesgang
An Tearmann
Did you get the bracelet from ACGR ?
HH
CRC
hope you enjoy your break,
at least you are in good company
Stars
15/2 on Betvictor and 7/1 on Paddy Power at present. Will avail myself of the early odds. Cheers.
An Tearmann.
Bad day at the Horses, could have been a good day if I had looked at the two Irish meetings that were on. Plenty to watch tomorrow Ch4 has ten races tomorrow.
I’m fine at this moment in time, but that can change very quickly. Trying to behave, important game a week on Tuesday,must get to that one.