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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Starry, our man had the name and attributes, SSB has the attributes, at least he missing the dodgy name.
Doc
I believe it was some trifling amount like 50 mil!!
Jotters for someone if he even turns up in Paris…
Never mind Murrayfield. Bought 4 tickets today for next Saturday’s big game, EKFC v Celtic 3.00pm at the K-Park. £6 a ticket. But who to support…;-)
Brazil are a very poor side lucky to be fourth.
50millon for Luiz
VvD must be worth what……
500million?
SOAL, :-)
Mourinho will be lighting up another Cuban cigar somewhere…..
Neustadt-Braw
Sad news about your Da.
RIP James Griffin.
YNWA
HH
Brazil’s defenders are making some awful errors, but, just as in the game v Germany, unnecessary pressure is being put on them by their midfielders’ inability to take a pass from them and keep the ball. They are giving the ball away in the worst possible areas. The only player whom they could find with confidence with a pass was Neymar. That’s another reason he’s been such a big miss for them.
Starry, if they kept the receipt they could claim not fit for purpose under distance selling!
Stars
Much obliged for the heads up.
You are indeed a Star.
HH
G’day Celts
Had about 6hrs around Cleveleys today and not a Hun in sight, life in England is naw bad ……. Sometimes!
I’m the kind of human being who can’t understand why those mindless orange numpties walk the roads and put effigies of the pope et al on top of their bonfires, scum!
Ps wee Derryghirl and I were wearing the Green and White lol.
V
Before the world Cup started, Pele told us that Brazil were weak in attack but strong in defence.
He was partly right.
Doc
Kin they no just put him oan E Bay! i’d buy him just to keep my Gnomes company!
PSG
Will be worth watching next season with
Silva and Luiz at the back
Canny Wait
delaneys dunky
21:19 on 12 July, 2014
Hoopy do
Yer a strange wan!
———
i know, but just the once he gets a beauty of a tackle
then we can go back to enjoying his undoubted skill, and ignoring his histrionics
MEMO TO CELTIC
Ge tsleekit sideshow bobs agent in to try and move on some of the players we need moved on. :)))))
In the jail that held ,,,,,,,, The Lord Mayor of County Cork,,,,,,, in that prison where he died.
Lies 2 daughters of old Ireland, and they fill my heart with pride!
V
does thiago silva look like the guy from alphaville in the ‘big in japan’ video, or am i usually pished when i stick the dodgy music channel on?
Arjen Robbing.
Jose during the game
https://twitter.com/Manny_mcfc/status/488057772815437825/photo/1
Oldtim waiting to see if I can get the day after off before I commit to Murrayfield. These 4am starts are no use after a champions league game :-(…… Hopefully tho, might even try and tempt Jamesgang along too HH
2 Dutchmen should have been yellowcarded for cynical defending.
Vmhan – YNWA Wee Oscar
I spent all morning in Coatbrige today and only seen one and she was about 10floors up in a tower block waving a butchers apron oooot the windae while trying to hide :)))))))))))))).
It may still take a while but their days of intimidation in the Brig are well over:))
Right who is the boy I spoke to in Paisley today and what price did you get never forever, seeing as you never put it on with me ;-)))
Every ball into the Dutch box elicits a Brazilian dive.
The Dutch going to have to cut out the crosses or the ref is going to give a penalty.
Neustadt-Braw
I’ve not been on today and so have only read of your father’s sad passing.
My sincere condolences and may perpetual light shine upon him.
RIP Jim Griffin.
de Guzman should be off. Pulling and hauling on Oscar. Cynical isn’t the word.
Brazil should be down to 9 men
Dirk Cut.
Parkheadcumsalford
The word’s ‘cheating’, but it’s only forwards who get accused of it, apparently.
Only Maicon playing in back 4 will not be playing for PSG next year…..oh dear.
jobo baldie
21:20 on 12 July, 2014
Never mind Murrayfield.
Bought 4 tickets today for next Saturday’s big game, EKFC v Celtic 3.00pm at the K-Park. £6 a ticket.
But who to support…;-)
——-”
Jobo, as a guy who was born in EK and has lived here all my days, i understand your dilema.
But once them green and white hoops appear on the pitch im sure you will know the answer ;-)
oh happy birthday…….. Wilko Johnson
http://youtu.be/BlZ1KLkKh0g
Hoopy do
He is a wee Robbing bandit. Agreed :)
After his disappointment in the Wold Cup, I will be putting my dosh on Will I An to put things right in this year’s X Factor.
Michelle McManus CSC
Starry, starting bid of a penny.
She was a beauty