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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Penalty to Holland. Should have been a red card too. Poor poor defending. Last man pulled down Robben. 1-0 van Persie.
Thanks lads
That was an easy win for Never Forever
Had a good day today
Put your hand on Robben and he goes down, dirty diving rat then chases the referee to have the player red carded.
praecepta.
Got 7/1, 12/1 for twists horse, hopefully if Twists tip comes in I’ll be in clover for a few days, I may even have a drink to celebrate my win & my birthday.
Praecepta, that’s a good start!
Good Luck Oldtim HH
Good evening friends.
Correct decision would have been a free kick and a red card. Instead it’s a penalty and 1-0 to Holland. Interesting dilemma – if you’re Brazilian would you rather be one down with 11 men or nil nil with a man down? I think I’d rather still have 11 v 11.
Flipin heck forgot about the fitba.
away to see if fred or sleekit Luis playing
usually i wouldnt say this about another person
but i would love someone to tackle robben in such a way that the scream he lets out every time he is touched is a real scream and not his fake number.
Have you heard about the big strong man?
He lived in a caravan.
Have you heard about the Jeffrey Johnson fight?
Oh, Lord what a hell of a fight.
You can take all of the heavyweights you’ve got.
We’ve got a lad that can beat the whole lot.
He used to ring bells in the belfry,
Now he’s gonna fight Jack Demspey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BdN2wIL_qQ
Robben booked, will that curb his tendency to fall over?
oldtim67
6/1 & 12/1 + EW.
Got a few anytime scorers running thanks to the 6/1 single.
Give me a shout at the next BV Huddle!
Hutchybhoy.
Thanks for that, Are you going to Murrayfield for the game in 10 days time,if so, I’ll meet you under the CQN marquee. If it ever materializes
Going to get nasty this game, can’t see it finishing 11 v 11…
Jobo Baldie
21:06 on 12 July, 2014
Good evening friends.
Correct decision would have been a free kick and a red card. Instead it’s a penalty and 1-0 to Holland
____________________________________________________________________
Why just a free kick, he there was still contact inside penalty area.
Thanks muchly for the tip WITS. £20 @6-1. :-)
praecepta.
Could be next Friday,I feel like a drink.
Haven’t seen it again but I thought it was a reckless pull by the Brazilian defender inside the area. Obvious penalty. Should have been a red card too. Defender was last man.
Robben wee cheat but the best defender in Brasil (I know …) Had his mits All over him
Two cheating bassas!
I fear for the home team tonite – urged on to attack by fans
The Oul’ Spanish Netherlands could fillet them – sans regard
oldtim67
Keep me posted – should be OK.
Minceyheidman –
Admittedly I’m unsure of the rule where someone is grabbed outside the box and the offending player keeps a hold till inside the box. Doesn’t the foul occur when the first grab takes place?
Anyway, I have Holland 3-1 so not complaining ;-)
1966 mentioned again, will they ever stop?
2 nil Holland
As ah was saying
2-0. Dead easy for the Dutch. Defending terrible again.
2-0 bad defending again.
Brazil could be on another battering tonight.
2-0
Sideshow Boob.
Haha Sideshow Bob is even worse than thon Brazilian we had!!!
Here we go again. A well deserved lead for the Netherlands.
Side Show Bob is a shockingly bad defender.
How much did PSG pay?
Madness.
Luis was dire there. How much was he transferred for??? Certainly not worth it.
Letter to David Luiz…………………..
learn to play fe@@ing football you twat!
Love Jose x.
well cleared sleekit OOOOOOOPS
Weefrathetim
Cheers pal and yes everything is tiketyboo the noo wae the squad ;))
How’s Dot feeling now the season is about to start for us ?
Hoopy do
Yer a strange wan!
50 million
The world has officially gone mad :))))
FFS
Even the blind are scoring now against Brasil