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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Hail Hail
the barcamole see u soon
be good and God
bless
Auldheid
Thanks for putting that up mate.
Butsybhoy
seems I was on holiday when you where in club..
Taped Paolo, catching up now, brilliant.
HamiltonTim, Like to think we are friends but don’t think we are Facebook friends so can’t check you. I can check you all right BT.
and you too Doc
Doc
He’s like a young doc armed and dangerous with looks, talent and a gee-tar!
His halo’s rubbish compared to yours though!
Mrs jamesgang just said, look there’s one of the Hoops. My perfect day is complete. Despite the date!
HH jamesgang
Corkcelt
just checked, im sure I signed it last week..
blantyretim
sorry i missed u and the gang
was in town and found a Magners tree’
next time
HH
Butsy
plenty of magners in cqn, or is that plenty in cqn oot their tree….?
Hope it pissed down on the 6 counties today !
Feck it was an orchard i found .
Corkcelt you will find me on BT’s friends list, think are already?
Jamesgang, he not as good looking as a young Doc, but I could never sing.
Corkcelt
Indeed we are mo chara! Pretty sure I’ve signed that one too.
butsybhoy
23:40 on
12 July, 2014
Feck it was an orchard i found .
and i bet you left no apples on the tree…
how you going …?
Doc
Every night he bends the knee and says, please when I grow up/old(!) can I be Doc.
HH jamesgang
Nah, he just wants to be in James Gang!
bognor
Pat i am fine and u
got to the stage Snow White was on the granny smiths’
He has a halo, we really do adore him.
Sharleen Spiteri saw you coming ages ago!
HH jamesgang
Very good:-)
Auldheid
23:26 on
12 July, 2014
The meek shall inherit the earth.
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.
.
.
.
Oh,yeah? :-)
At this point,I`m always reminded of Christ huckling the money lenders out of the Temple.
Much more like a Black Eyed Bhoy.
butsybhoy
im good.. nice to see you posting again you must have been busy
just been chatting to patrick he was asking after you …
http://www.rotherhamtheatres.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Freddy-Parrott-Face-Davies-website-620-x-348.jpg
An example of yer average bowler hatted Hun in the North today..
Adeus, Tommy Erdelyi!
Years before the Simpsons, South Park and Family Guy, Da Bruddas provided us with an alternative view of the American Family from the one on Waltons mountain, with the help of the great Johnny’s formula 1 chord changes.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=goicoechea%20tackle%20on%20maradona&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CCQQtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D08SI2DWnfL4&ei=JRTAU7OGBK2y7AbZ-IGIAw&usg=AFQjCNFP5uSbbg6w7x2PyPkCdZSMBxjJ8w&bvm=bv.70810081,d.ZGU
Highlights of day 3 at the Scottish Open now on BBC1. What a fine Saturday evening I’m having!
TCR
Petec and I have a plan and it involves Doire in Autumn. Clydebank will forever be Green&White. :)
bognerbhoy
give him my regards.
is he still in the big Smoke.
jobo baldie
You look for tips for next years CQN Open :-)
Last report on petition before bed. 7,390 signed 110 more needed. Goodnight all & God Bless. HH
Sunday Morning up with the lark
Look = looking
Got through 12th July unscathed by bitterness by hingin oot with mrs jamesgang and the westie.
Not a bowler hat or plastic suit in sight.
Only walk I went on was on the beach at St. Andrews.
Met lots of furrin’ folks from all over the world and gloried in the diversity of humanity.
Then this evening watched a young Tim captivate balado.
And now it’s 1 minute into the 13th.
As a good man once kinda said, my open mind and open heart will be my revenge on them.
HH Timdom
Jamesgang
corkcelt
I signed the petition earlier on today, but I don’t do facebook. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Macjay
We both know the money lenders are the very antithesis of meekness, then and noo :-)
delaneys dunky
00:00 on 13 July, 2014
TCR
Petec and I have a plan and it involves Doire in Autumn. Clydebank will forever be Green&White. :)
……………..
Yer both joining the Apprentice Boys?
Weefra!!!
Weefra , Weefra. Where for art thou Weefra I was thinking earlier.
Say you said you’d been busy. Hope you’re in grand form mhate.
ShakespeareCSC
HH jamesgang
Night Night Timland.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.