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.
1,546 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- ...
- 41
- »
delaneys dunky
00:10 on 13 July, 2014
TCR
Naw, we are coming over to visit the Bisley Bhoy. :))
………
Anytime pal,anytime.
00:30 – is it too early for a beer?
Bognorbhoy
Yeah, sorry about that. Obviously a bit confused masel’ the night!
Watched a couple of old Ramones gigs today. . . . In football terms, no holding midfield players, and always played with 4 strikers!
tricoloured ribbon
That would be great mate , really appreciate that.
Whatever’s easier for you .
Take care and hopefully meet up again soon .
HH
Weefra
God bless your wee ma.
Take care buddy
Jobo
I’m having one more.
Please do join me.
HH jamesgang
delaneys dunky
Would love to make it over with you , will see what I can do .
If that’s OK ?
Weefra
If you see this, God bless you Fhriend and know your Mum’s in my prayers as are you and all yours.
HH jamesgang
UN calls for a ceasefire in the Middle East..
A ceasefire ffs.168 Palestinians slaughtered.
Jamesgang
TCR and I know all about the Clydebank gangster Duncan Bannatyne. Dirty hypocritical wrong wan. Ice Cream van war competitor. Nae smack in Clydebank Duncan. Scum
FGF,
Going to Donegal town in three weeks for a couple of of days.
Taking a run into Bundoran on the Saturday.Haven’t been for about 4 years.Looking forward to it.
FGF
The mair the merrier bro. :)
DD
Thanks for putting me right and educating me there.
Nothing really surprises me in truth.
HH jamesgang
tricoloured ribbon
Sickening the silence from the rest of the world with regards to the slaughter of innocents in Gaza .
Hipocritical b#####ds.
tricoloured ribbon
Hope you have a great time in Bundoran .
HT,
the Brit Legion?!!!.
From the pubs of the gallowgate to the British legion, you do get around dont you! :)
Jobo
Never to early, as it is a weekend as well :-)
HH
CRC
burghbhoy and jamesgang
Thanks ghuys, love you all on this blog. Cot time defo now. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
thebhoyfromoz
I’m not a patch on the Judith Chalmers CSC from here :-)
Enjoy your evening mate.
2-1 Argentina :-)
DD,
I had a look at Bannatyne’s wiki page there.Read it ffs.
Hahahaha.
This charlatan makes the Easdales look like angels
Ht and the legion, a marriage made in heaven. Bet he doesnt just stand for lizzies anthem, he probably leads them onto the 3rd verse. Teachers eh…love em I do
TCR
It’s amazing what being a mason done for Bannatyne. Smack dealing lowlife.
Tricoloured Ribbon
00:39 on
13 July, 2014
FGF,
Going to Donegal town in three weeks for a couple of of days.
Taking a run into Bundoran on the Saturday.Haven’t been for about 4 years.Looking forward to it.
TCR,
I lived in Grange for a year a few years ago. If you’re going to the Bundoran area, give O’Donnells in Cliffoney a try. Excellent pub, where generations drink together. Many a night spent in there.
The Zombies aw in bed after aw that marching,seems we may have a stray..
Thanks Gincher,
It’s a wee bit out but the missus will be driving so I’ll bear it in mind;-)
I’m also sick to my back teeth about the Palestine situation.
In other news, just finished Tommy Gemmell’s CQN book. Good read. As a 1973 vintage, great to get a bit more colour about the black and white days. Cairney is a friend of the family, so great to hear Tommy’s praise for the big man. Having squired the fasted man I’ve ever seen in a Scotland rugby shirt, delighted to hear that Cairney was a tremendous athlete, if nothing else.
Off to my pit now bhoys , hail hail to one and all .
TRC
5 minutes drive from Bundoran.
Good night friends. More from me in a few hours time… ;-)
delaneys dunky
00:54 on 13 July, 2014
TCR
It’s amazing what being a mason done for Bannatyne. Smack dealing lowlife.
…………….
His family thought they ruled the roost in Dalmuir..
Till a lot of Tims moved from the other end of Clydebank down there and demoted them…
S&M
Go home to FF ya wrong wan.
Hopefully a weather forecast, Jobo!
gincher67
01:01 on 13 July, 2014
TRC
5 minutes drive from Bundoran.
………..
Ok mate thanks.I’ll deffo try it.
Night Jobo.
Dark n wet here. Not worth your attention!
Bedtime for me.
Night Timdom.
KTF. Always.
HH jamesgang
Never mind petitions.
Evidence.
2 mins. : Still ” up to the knees.”
4 and 5mins in : F.T.P.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylr_lAtw7vU
fourgreenfields
01:00 on 13 July, 2014
Off to my pit now bhoys , hail hail to one and all .
………….
Sleep well comrade.
Gincher67 –
a weather WHAT? Grrrrrr. I’ve never given a forecast in ma puff. I deal in facts and merely REPORT the weather. Tut tut…..
Jobo
PS ;-) sleep well…
TCR
Aye The proud Gallagher clan ;)