Dukla, the tragedy and opportunity of the east

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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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  1. cliftonville celt from belfast on

    Just in from match

     

     

    Absolutely chucking it down – terrible weather for a dander !!!!

     

     

    Was coming out the club and noticed the Irish league cup & the league trophy lying in a bag beside the door !!! Don’t think you’d see that anywhere else !!!

  2. Delaneys Dunky on

    Weefra

     

     

    Mr Winklepicker phoned me earlier to say that Petec arrived in Bristol, dressed for a Siberian winter. Bristol is in the grip of a heatwave. The Dumbarton bhoy is melting! :))

  3. Neustadt Braw

     

     

    Sorry to hear of the loss of your Da.

     

    May God bless him.

     

    May he rest in peace.

  4. It hiz bin Reported..

     

     

    That..

     

     

    Ronny Dee, favours the Idea..o’

     

     

    Breengin’ .. Efe.. Straight intae his First Team Selection..without Missing a Beat.. fur Celtic’s upcoming..n..

     

    VERY IMPORTANT..

     

     

    Tie.. Agin the Ice-Men.

     

     

    Hmmmmmmmmm

     

     

     

    Did oor dear Departed Ex-Manager..NO Hiv Much the Same Idea of Pitting Efe..

     

     

    Straight Intae a very IMPORTANT Euro Confronto.. Right efter, Efe hid Newly returned from a Strenuous International Game?

     

     

    Yes, Virginia.. Neil.. Did that,awe..well.. Wrang….n.. well..

     

     

    He Regretted it!

     

     

    Ronny Dee.. Ye must Think this oot ,a wee bit Further…

     

     

    Ah wid.. Use a wee bit Mair discretion.. if Ah wur You.

     

     

    in ither Words..

     

     

    “Ronny.. Don’t Dae It…. Remember ..how it Turned oot fur Neil?”

     

     

    We don’t need tae rush the Nigerian.. Gie Him a wee Breather..He his Hid a Tough Tourney.

     

     

    In Ma Opinion…of Course.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin’

  5. Teuchter

     

     

    Mrs Burghbhoy packing the case as I speak brother .

     

    I’m chilling with a wee bottle waiting for the Brazil game to start.

     

    I’m travelling light.

     

    Be great to see u in the old Toronto town.

     

    Will be a long 5 days.

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    Email u / call u during the week bro.

  6. skyisalandfill on

    Kojo

     

     

    When Efe played against Juventus, he was less than 48 hours from having played in the African Nations Cup final and is likely to have been suffering jet lag. Nigeria played their last game against Argentina over a week ago. I think he will be fine for the game.

     

    Also, this is an Icelandic team, not Juventus.

     

     

    I do hope this post does’nt come back to bite me on Tuesday night.

     

     

    HH

  7. skyisalandfill on

    hebcelt

     

     

     

    16:36 on 12 July, 2014

     

     

     

    Kojo where hiz it bin reported? Hail Hail Hebcelt

     

    ……………………………………………………………………….

     

     

    Think it’s in the Scotsman.

     

     

    HH

  8. skyisalandfill the Scotsman!!! I’d be wary of using it as my source. Hail Hail Hebcelt

  9. WeefratheTim on

    DD

     

     

    I know, spoke to both of them about 2 hours ago. Ghod help Bristol tonight. Hahahaha.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  10. Delaneys Dunky on

    Efe Ambrose is a very fit athlete.

     

    He will be tip top to face the Icemen after a fortnight rest.

  11. Hebcelt

     

     

    at 16.36

     

     

    Hiya, Pally..? Pleased tae meet ye,again..

     

     

    It Wiz Reported in the SUN..

     

     

    Ah quote..

     

     

    Deilia Said( Speaking aboot Ambrose.)

     

     

    ” I would have NO HESITATION.. Throwing Him In. He is a Quality Player and we need all the quality we have.”

     

     

    Pretty Clear Intentions.. Ah wid Aver..

     

     

    Widnae You?

     

     

    Nice Chattin’ Pal..as Alwiz..

     

     

    Kojo

     

     

    Still,Laughin’

  12. Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles on

    Sincere condolences Neustadt-Braw on the loss of your father, may he rest in peace.

  13. Delaneys Dunky

     

     

    Hiya, Pal.. Nice tae greet ye.

     

     

    Yes, Ah willingly.. Agree ..wi Thee…

     

     

    Ambrose is a very fit Athlete.

     

     

    Howevahhhhhh..

     

     

    Jet Lag.. SUDDEN change of Environment… kin be an Upset.. that Kin well..

     

     

    cause an UPSET.

     

     

    Ah luv Efe..Ah think that he is Swell..’

     

     

    Howevahhh..

     

     

    He is Prone tae be ..well. Prone, tae Mak a silly.. But.. nevertheless…

     

     

    Fatal defensive Blunder..Oan Occasion..

     

     

    Ah wid .. Haud Ma Hoarses.. in this wan..if Ah wur Ronny. Gie

     

    Efe,a Chance tae catch his Breath.. so tae Speak.

     

     

     

     

    We canny afford wana they.. Fatal.. Defensive Blunders..

     

     

    Ma Opinion..of course..

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin

  14. Kojo ach well if it was in the SUN in quotes then it must be true, a good reliable source for all things relating to the ‘Tic!!! I fear your credibility will take a hit relying on the SUN as your source. Maybe right but don’t mention the SUN. Hail Hail Hebcelt

  15. Delaneys Dunky on

    Kojo

     

     

    Gonnae no quote the Sun here!

     

    Just gonnae no pal. Thanks.

     

    Widnae wipe ma bahookie wi that Murdoch scum rag.

  16. Hebcelt

     

     

    Pal..You are Correct.. the Sun ..Kin.. Squeeze the Trewth Nickel.. wi the Best..

     

     

     

    Howevah..

     

     

    If Ah See that whit Ronny Said.. is being Printed..

     

     

    Within.,.

     

     

    QUOTATION MARKS.. in a Newspaper.. Even, by the Sun..

     

     

    Ah Wull Tak that Utterance..as Gospel.

     

     

    Fur.. Nae Newspaper wull tak the Chance of being Accused of ..

     

     

    Misquotation.

     

     

    Na..Pal..Ah kin Assure ye..that Ronny did say whit ..well… He said..

     

     

    Nice chatting Pally…as evah..

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still Laughin’

  17. Delaney’s Dunky

     

     

    Hiya ,Pally

     

     

    Well . Ah am sorry tae hiv wounded yer sensibilities ,pal.

     

     

    Ah hiv learned ma Lesson..

     

     

    Ah wull Not ever Quote the Sun.. Again…oan Here..

     

     

    Nice chattin’ Pal… as evah..

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin’

  18. Neustadt braw

     

    Sincere condolences, wee prayer will be said tonight in St Augustines Carlisle for your Dad, and all your family.

  19. McDowellcelt god bless wee oscar on

    Sittin in the pub here debating the loss of broony to us for these qualifiers!

     

    2 fellas think broonys a headless chicken and kayal is a more than adequate replacement!

     

    Il have a smoke of whatever it is yous two are smoking boys!

  20. Delaney’s Dunky

     

     

    at 17.14

     

     

    Thanks fur the well.. Thanks,palomine.

     

     

    By the way..

     

     

    Ah hid a beloved, Uncle.. who Passed Away a few years ago..

     

     

    n…Who… wiz an auld Indjah Haun..

     

     

    N… who, married an Indian Physician.

     

     

    n..She told me.. that ma Uncle Tony.. wiz Introduced tae Her.. as a

     

     

    MR.JIMMY DELANEY!

     

     

    n..Ma Uncle Tony.. kept up that Pretence ,fur weeks, wi Her..

     

     

    Eventually…He Admitted that He wiz, Indeed.. No a Jimmy Delaney..

     

     

    Howevah….His Admiration fur.. J.D. wiz well Known .. Amongst the Ex-Patriate

     

    Scottish Community,at that time… in New Delhi..

     

     

    Ah never saw J.D. but.. Ah hiv bin Curious Aboot your Nomme de Blog, fur some Time..

     

     

    Are Your Connected in a Familial way.. or… Indeed..in Any ither way ..

     

     

    Wi..the Great Jimmy Delaney?

     

     

    Nice chatting,Pal..

     

     

    as Alwiz..

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin’

  21. I met one of my first CQNrs today,never had any introductions,but I just hope he got a good price on Never Forever tonight.

     

    Twists tip for tomorrow Colebrooke is available in ladbrokes now at 12s

  22. All the best to The BarcaMole who’s leaving the glorious environment of the Haufway

     

    for the Far East ….take care mhate ,life will be good even though yir miles from Paradise.hh

  23. Delaneys Dunky on

    Kojo

     

     

    The great man was my Grandfather Thomas Delaney’s cousin. We are all Jock Tamson’s bairns though. Aff oot tae mass. Nice chatting. :)

  24. McDowellCelt

     

     

    at 17.26

     

     

    Hiya,Pal.. Pleased tae Mak yer Acquantaince..

     

     

     

    Broonie is… whit.. Broonie.. well…. is.

     

     

    n..

     

     

    Whit THAT IS .. is.. A Guy who his as Many Admirers as He his.. Critics.

     

     

    Some Guys ur jist like that..’

     

     

     

    Sammi,is/wiz.. Anither of that Ilk.

     

     

    Ah hiv Alwiz..

     

     

    No Cottoned tae Broonie’s Brand of Fitba’ Skill or Soccer Terpsichore..

     

     

    Ah think he is a Hasher n a Basher..

     

     

    A Bluffer.. A wid be.. wid Be…

     

     

    That is Ma Opinion..

     

     

    Obviously, Yer two Pals carry a similar Opinion, as Ah dae ,re Master Broonie..

     

     

    Anyway…

     

     

    Ah believe that.. Nir Biton , wid be the Very Man.. tae Mak us

     

     

    quickly .. Ask the question.

     

     

    “Broonie… Who?”

     

     

    I Hope Ronny gies Nir a Fair Do ..n .. Plays him in Broonie’s Place..

     

     

    Kayal, is an O.K. replacement fur Broonie.. but..

     

     

    In Ma Opinion

     

     

    Nir Biton , will Mak an Excellent replacement fur the absent Captain.

     

     

     

    Nice Chattin.. Pally.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin’

  25. Delaney’s Dunky

     

     

    Noo, Ah Know..

     

     

    Thanks,Pal..

     

     

    Enjoy, Mass.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin

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