It as another week of unspectacular picks for me in the Bundesliga, where a number of ties make it hard for me to get any traction. The highlight, for me, was hitting the Dortmund-Munich game on the nose, though that’s a bit of a disingenuous boast, as I didn’t anticipate Mark van Bommel getting red carded. I probably should have seen that coming, though. It was the easiest prediction of the week.

Continue Reading »

Bayer Leverkusen, in getting their first win of the season, was one step ahead of Stuttgart all match.

Bundesliga Standings Rank Club GP PTS DIFF 1 Hoffenheim 2 6 4 2 Schalke 04 2 4 3 3 Hertha Berlin 2 4 2 4 Borussia Dortmund 2 4 1 5 Hamburger SV 2 4 1 6 VfL Wolfsburg 2 4 1 7 Bayer Leverkusen 2 3 1 8 VfB Stuttgart 2 3 0 9 Karlsruhe 2 3 0 10 Bayern Munich 2 2 0 11 Werder Bremen 2 2 0 12 Arminia Bielefeld 2 2 0 13 VfL Bochum 2 1 -1 14 1. FC Koln 2 1 -1 15 Frankfurt 2 1 -2 16 Energie Cottbus 2 1 -3 17 Hannover 96 2 1 -3 18 Borussia M’gladbach 2 0 -3 Results August 22, 2008 Hannover 96 0 0 Energie Cottbus August 23, 2008 Hoffenheim 1 0 Borussia M’gladbach VfB Stuttgart 0 2 Bayer Leverkusen Hamburg SV 2 1 Karlsruhe Borussia Dortmund 1 1 Bayern Munich Werder Bremen 1 1 Schalke 04 Hertha Berlin 1 1 Arminia Bielefeld August 24, 2008 1. FC Koln 1 1 Frankfurt VfL Bochum 2 2 VfL Wolfsburg Next Week Home Away August 29, 2008 Karlsruhe 1. FC Koln August 30, 2008 VfL Wolfsburg Frankfurt Borussia M’gladbach Werder Bremen Energie Cottbus Borussia Dortmund Bayer Leverkusen Hoffenheim Arminia Bielefeld Hamburg SV Schalke 04 VfL Bochum August 31, 2008 Bayern Munich Hertha Berlin VfB Stuttgart Hannover 96

The schedule gave us a special weekend in the Bundesliga, but those of us who follow the league will need to savor it. The great match-ups of this weekend are absent in the upcoming, third round schedule, after which the league will be off until September 12.

Horrible.

To bide the time, we will have to sit on what we learned from the Werder-Schalke, Stuttgart-Bayer, and Dortmund-Bayern matches.  Let’s start with the last one.

What we learned from the Borussia Dortmund-Bayern Munich match on Saturday is Mark Van Bommel is an idiot.  Bayern played almost the whole match with ten men because of van Bommel’s thuggery, and although I have read some comments in the days that followed his red card saying he is being singled out, that view is hard to justify.  Van Bommel clubbed a guy in the head.  If he is being singled out, it’s justly so.

Word that Bayern has warned the Dutchman he could lose the captaincy if he doesn’t stay on the field is good news.  It’s about time somebody starts taking his dirty play seriously, particularly the injury-riddled club that needs him.  Bayern got an unfit Luca Toni back, forming a surprisingly ineffective pair with Miroslav Klöse, but they need van Bommel to hold down thei defense.

Van Bommel got kicked out of the match with his team already down 1-0 and staring a five point deficit in the table straight in the face.  Thankfully, some suspect Dortmund defending gave Tim Borowski an easy equalizer in the second half.  Given the circumstances, it was a good point won for Bayern, though Dortmund should regret the lost opportunity to get to six points.

From the Stuttgart-Bayer Leverkusen match we learned that there is still a gap between Stuttgart and the top six clubs in the league, of which Bayer is apart.  Leverkusen came back after a disappointing loss in Round 1 to Dortmund to get a relatively easy win on the road, building on some of the momentum they had at match’s end the week before.

Leverkusen will be fine.  Stuttgart, although they are getting strong play in goal from Jens Lehmann, we can’t be so sure about.

From the Werder Bremen-Schalke 04 match, we learned that Schalke has lost too many players in midfield.  Playing without Jermaine Jones, Jefferson Farfan and Orlando Engelaar was too much to overcome.  The momentum of their wins over Hannover and Atletico Madrid could not overcome losing more than half of their five man middle.  Ivan Rakitic never got going, and Fabian Ernst had too much to manage in his holding position.

If Schalke can not get healthy for Wednesday’s match in Madrid, they will not make the group phase of Champions League, a somewhat unjust result considering how they played the preceding week.

From Werder Bremen, we learned they can get a result without Diego, something I doubted last week.  They did not get the win over Schalke, but without their best player - a player on whom they depend deeply - it was a point worth taking.  Diego will be back as Werder goes on the road to M’gladbach this week, a match which should be a nice re-introduction to domestic play for the Olympian.

Bremen also debuted Claudio Pizarro, who returned to the club on loan from Cheslea.  The team had a noticeable boost in energy, even if Pizarro was not particularly effective.  Still, he and Markus Rosenburg fronted an attack that continuously threatened Schalke.  Were it not for a player of the week-worthy performance from Schalke keeper Mathias Schober, Bremen would have gotten three points.

These three matches overshadowed the rest of the fixture list, but of note are the still undefeated Hoffenheim and Hertha Berlin.  Hoffenheim got a result at home against the still pointless M’gladbach while Berlin could only get one at home against Bielefeld.  Neither result is that impressive, and these two clubs have been beneficiaries of easy early schedules.  This weekend that starts to change when Hoffenheim goes to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday and Berlin goes to Munich on Sunday.  My picks column isn’t until later in the week, but here’s a preview:  Berlin and Hoffenheim combine for no points this weekend.

With none of the league’s top clubs facing off against each other, expect this to be the week where the table starts to take shape.  We could see all of Bremen, Dortmund, Bayern, Schalke, Hamburg, and Bayer get three points.  If you’re put out by me not putting Stuttgart in the group, don’t worry.  They’re likely to win, too.

WFP Bundesliga Rankings

	Rank	Last Week	Club
	1	1	Schalke 04 You hate to see either Schalke or Atletico Madrid go out before the group stage, but the Champions League would be better for having Schalke. As is, I expect Schalke to be early favorites to win the UEFA Cup.
	2	2	Bayern Munich They get a little credit for clawing back against Dortmund with only ten men and with two key players still injured. Franck Ribery’s absence has been well reported, but the player they are really missing is Martin Demichelis.
	3	3	Hamburger SV A business-like win over Karlsruhe, who the book is still out on. Although teams below them played better, their resume is solid: a home win and a point at Munich.
	4	4	Borussia Dortmund Ultimately, they should have gotten more from their match with Bayern, being gifted the advantage by van Bommel. Their win over Leverkusen looks better, though, after Bayer showed so well at Stuttgart.
	5	5	Werder Bremen Even with Schalke’s injuries, it was an impressive result, and they showed a confidence without Diego that was absent the week before. They played much better at the back, limiting Schalke’s opportunities and controlling Kevin Kuranyi.
	6	6	Bayer Leverkusen Their ranking is unchanged, but there is a chasm between this spot an Stuttgart at seven how they controlled. They played this weekend as they did in the second half against Dortmund and got the corresponding result.
	7	7	Stuttgart Have the horses to beat up on the weaker clubs of the league, but against Leverkusen were frustrated and overmatched. It will be interesting to see if the return of Khalid Boulahrouz helps them compete for a European spot. They’re close.
	8	10	Hoffenheim The only perfect them in the league, but they have yet to produce a convincing result. They’ll have their chance this week against Leverkusen. They could lose that match and not fall in these rankings.
	9	8	Hertha Berlin Like Hoffenheim, good early results are built on schedule, not performance. Like Hoffenheim, will have a chance to prove otherwise this week. They face Munch.
	10	9	Arminia Bielefeld With Berlin without a loss and Bremen bouncing back, Bielefeld’s first two results look pretty good. It’s only two points out of six, but for a team that looked to battle relegation, points against good clubs are nothing to scoff at.
	11	12	Karlsruhe Lost to Hamburg but played decent enough to move up a little in these rankings. Unlike some of the clubs around them on the list, they have at least been tested, and although they came up short, they produced a decent result.
	12	13	Wolfsburg Were unimpressive against Bochum but still got a point. With their other result a win over Koln, it’s unclear what we have with this Wolfsburg team.
	13	15	VfL Bochum Showed signs of life against Wolfsburg, enough to were I almost dropped Wolfsburg behind them. Ultimately, they weren’t able to get three points despite playing on their home pitch. Looking decent can only count for so much.
	14	11	Hannover 96 Played in the most boring match of the weekend in a goalless drawn at home against Cottbus. I’m sure that’s what the Bundesliga wants from their Friday night matches.
	15	18	Energie Cottbus The other part of that Friday night disappointment. At least they were the road team. They have that excuse.
	16	14	Borussia M’gladbach Their 3-1 opening weekend loss to Stuttgart at home looks a lot worse now, and with their result this week, M’gladbach has little to recommend them thus far.
	17	17	Frankfurt Their only point has come from Koln. Ouch.
	18	16	1. FC Koln Their only point has come from Frankfurt. Ouch!

With the prerequisite Round 1 surprises, the Bundesliga started last weekend. Those few surprises help keep my pick results modest. Still a decent start (not as bad as Ligue 1), with most of the losses coming in matches that featured two teams I did not get to see in the preseason. Continue Reading »

Schalke 04 exhibited a new, powerful approach during their 3-0 victory over Hannover on Saturday.

Bundesliga Standings Rank Club GP PTS DIFF 1 Hoffenheim 1 3 3 2 Schalke 1 3 3 3 Stuttgart 1 3 2 4 Hertha Berlin 1 3 2 5 Borussia Dortmund 1 3 1 6 Wolfsburg 1 3 1 7 Karlsruhe 1 3 1 8 Arminia Bielefeld 1 1 0 9 Bayern Munich 1 1 0 10 Hamburger SV 1 1 0 11 Werder Bremen 1 1 0 12 Bayer Leverkusen 1 0 -1 13 1. FC Koln 1 0 -1 14 VfL Bochum 1 0 -1 15 Borussia M’gladbach 1 0 -2 16 Frankfurt 1 0 -2 17 Energie Cottbus 1 0 -3 18 Hannover 1 0 -3 Results August 15, 2008 Bayern Munich 2 2 Hamburg SV August 16, 2008 Bayer Leverkusen 2 3 Borussia Dortmund Arminia Bielefeld 2 2 Werder Bremen Karlsruhe 1 0 VfL Bochum Schalke 3 0 Hannover Energie Cottbus 0 3 Hoffenheim Wolfsburg 2 1 Koln August 17, 2008 Borussia M’gladbach 1 3 Stuttgart Frankfurt 0 2 Hertha Berlin Next Week Home Away August 22, 2008 Hannover Energie Cottbus August 23, 2008 Hoffenheim Borussia M’gladbach Stuttgart Bayer Leverkusen Hamburger SV Karlsruhe Borussia Dortmund Bayern Munich Werder Bremen Schalke 04 Hertha Berlin Arminia Bielefeld August 24, 2008 1. FC Koln Frankfurt VfL Bochum Wolfsburg

When you stack their lineups against each other, Bayern Munich’s seems better, but it is surprising how much talent Schalke has. Announcing it to Europe in their Champions League challenge to Barcelona last season, Schalke is on the verge of transcending the perception of plucky, over-achieving club to league title contender. In round one of the Bundesliga campaign, they were the league’s best team.

Their 3-0 victory over Hannover did not do them justice.  Playing without high-profile summer acquisitions Jefferson Farfán (winger/forward from PSV Eindhoven) and Orlando Engelaar (holding midfielder from FC Twente) - both of whom were hurt in the middle of the week during the club’s impressive Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid - Schalke still exhibited the firepower that should make Bayern, who could have trouble with Farfán and Kevin Kurayni working together, scared.

Bayern limped to a tie against visiting Hamburg without Luca Toni, Franck Ribery and Martin Demichelis.  In round two, they play at a Borussia Dortmund team that confidently put three goals on Bayer Leverkusen in opening their season with a win.  If Bayern does not get healthy for their second match, they could find themselves four or five points behind a rolling Schalke 04 team that plays at a Diego-less Werder Bremen.

Four or five points may not sound like much, but in a Bundesliga that looks a little top heavy, the elite teams may face fewer teams capable of stealing points.  With four fewer matches in the Bundesliga season (compared to the big three leagues), a four or five point gifted Schalke now could be the type of thing Jurgen Klinsmann rues at season’s send.  And if there’s any club that knows about elite teams piling up points in the Bundesliga, it’s Bayern.

Werder Bremen was a near-elite last season (there was only one true elite last season), but without Diego they are a completely different team.  There may be no single player more important to his club than Diego, who is in Beijing for the Olympics.  Seeing them struggle to tie Arminia Beilefeld this weekend, Bremen’s desire to keep the Brazilian playmaker out of the Olympics suddenly made sense.  They weren’t involved in Champions League qualifying like Schalke or Barcelona, but even one match without Diego is a huge loss for this club, whose whole style of play is predicated on the young star’s ability to distribute.

Markus Rosenburg’s two surgical strikes helped Bremen get a point from a Bielefeld side that used the visitor’s wide-open style of play to their advantage.  Bremen is unlikely to alter their style for their match against Schalke, so expect Ivan Ratikic and company to have a big day.

In addition to Round 2’s Dortmund-Bayern, Bremen-Schalke headliners, Stuttgart hosts Leverkusen in another potentially defining match.  Stuttgart efficiently dealt with a Moenchengladbach team that, while having chances, lacked the firepower to play with Thomas Hitzlsperger and Mario Gomez.  Now Stuttgart hosts Bayer with a chance for a six point start.  If they get their win, Bayer will have gone without a point in their first two matches, an early hole for a team that has European aspirations.

There was bad news on the injury front from Round 1’s action.  Dortmund’s Dede, who gave Leverkusen so much trouble on Saturday, suffered a major knee injury and should be lost until spring.  And although Schalke has looked the league’s best team, their depth will take a major hit of midfielder Jermaine Jones, who missed almost all of last season with injuries, is out for more than just Wednesday’s Germany friendly.  Jones is doubtful for Joachim Low’s team.   The German-American midfielder is proving to be a vital cog in Schalke’s attack, running off of Kurayni and onto Farfán’s crosses, but any injury scare is twice as frightening for Jones, given his recent injury history.

World Football Postulant Bundesliga Rankings

As their result was injury related, there’s only so much I’m willing to drop Bayern, though they have looked poor all preseason. Likewise, I can only drop Werder so far, seeing as Diego is in Beijing.

With so many clubs who should finish in the top half of the table playing each other this weekend, a lot of teams have three points without being very high in my first rankings set. Those clubs have thirty-three more rounds to show me their value.

And just as was the case with the Ligue 1 rankings, this early in the season, the whole endeavor becomes worthless pretty quickly. We just need to have fun with it.

1. Schalke 04
2. Bayern Munich
3. Hamburger SV
4. Borussia Dortmund
5. Werder Bremen
6. Bayer Leverkusen
7. Stuttgart
8. Hertha Berlin
9. Arminia Bielefeld
10. Hoffenheim
11. Hannover
12. Karlsruhe
13. VfL Wolfsburg
14. Borussia M’gladbach
15. VfL Bochum
16. Koln
17. Frankfurt
18. Energie Cottbus

Schalke 04 used the first week of its season to show the club is not only in line to challenge for the Bundesliga’s other automatic Champions League group stage birth (won by finishing second in the league) but also that they are ready to push Bayern Munich for the league title. Whereas a week ago Bayern looked like prohibitive favors to repeat atop the league, an injury-riddled roster could only draw in their home opener against Hamburger SV. That resumé pales in comparison to Schalke’s Champions League victory 1-0 over Atletico Madrid and their 3-1 domination of Hannover on Saturday.

Their victory in their league opener came despite missing two of their better players. Eredivisie import Jefferson Farfán was beaten down against Atlético and was out with a shoulder injury. Likewise, towering midfielder Orlando Engelaar would miss the season opener. If there is one quality that will define Schalke this year, however, it is their depth, particularly in the middle of the field. They were able to give Turk Halil Altintop the start in Farfán’s spot while a second straight eye-opening performance from 20-year-old Croatian Ivan Rakitic (pictured) helped compensate for Engelaar’s loss.

Rakitic has been their best player over the last week, quite an endorsement considering how Farfán, Kevin Kurányi, Jermaine Jones, Fabian Ernst, Christian Pander, Marcelo Bordon and Benedikt Höwedes have played.  The length of that list speaks to how impressive Schalke have been.  Bordon and Höwedes have been unspectacular but solid at the back, adroitly dealing with the few changes they were given. The midfield has made their job easy, with Ernst stifling any attacks attempting to build through the middle. Hannover was unable to transition the ball out of their own end in large part due to Ernst’s efforts. Up top, Kurányi had two goals, and although he could have had many more against Hannover, he also was great in pushing the back line. That has given a healthy Jones and Rakitic room in front of the line to attack.

Rakitic, who is in his second season with Schalke since joining the club from Switzerland’s FC Basel, gave both Atlético and Hannover troubles with his pace and ambition. Against Madrid he made his mark in using his speed to get on the end of frequent Farfán crosses.  But whereas Atlético had a number of talents in midfielder that could at least keep Rakitic occupied, Hannover could not keep up, and the Croat was able to bolt in from the left at will to disrupt the opponent’s back.  He brought an element of excitement (and for Hannover, worry) to ever attack, attacks that were frequent against the visitors.

The end result was the most impressive result of the weekend.  Schalke showed a result that is keeping with the idea that they are a title contender.  Fred Rutten has opened up their attack this season, and thanks to the acqusition of Farfán and Ratikic have the talent to stay with it.  If players like Rakitic and Farfán continue at the levels they have shown over the last week, Schalke could avoid the expected fight for second and set their sights on nipping at Bayern’s heals.

Beyond the Bundelsliga, only Chelsea in England have shown themselves the stronger side, thus far.  Only three of the seven big leagues have started play, but Schalke is not likely to drop far from the top of a Europe’s best teams list until their play falls.

Links
Opening win delights Rutten
Schalke ease to victory over Hannover
Bordon and Kuranyi sink Hannover
Schalke Suffer Engelaar Injury Blow
Three-star Schalke off to perfect start
New stars missing for Schalke
Engelaar missing against Hannover
Engelaar out for Bundesliga opener
Advantage Schalke

The Court of Arbitration for Sport, to which Barcelona, Werder Bremen, and Schalke had appealed FIFA’s ruling compelling the release of U23-eligible players for the Olympics, has sided with the clubs, ruling teams are not required to release their players for participation in the Games.  The CAS said that clubs have no legal obligation to release the players since the Games do not fall within the agreed to International Match Calendar.

The CAS did, however, encourage all parties to continue working towards an amicable solution.  Shortly after the ruling, both Werder Bremen and Schalke granted their players - Diego and Rafinha, respectively - permission to play.  Barcelona has not said whether they intend to follow through on their previous plans to call Lionel Messi back from Beijing.  Argentine coach Sergio Batista has said he anticipates Messi will stay with the team after joining them late last week.

Though it ruled in the clubs favor, the CAS said it will not mandate non-released players be banned from playing in the games.  The court said that their ruling does not effect the eligibility of any players who have already been entered by their national sides.  That interpretation puts the burden for upholding this ruling not on the International Olympic Committee, FIFA, or the country’s federation.  The burden falls upon the players, who would be in breach of contract should they defy their clubs in the face of the CAS ruling.  With Diego and Rafinha having now received permission to play, the only footballer in danger of breaching contract is Messi.

Argentina opens their Olympic tournament tomorrow against the Côte d’Ivoire.  Likewise, Brazil plays tomorrow, against Belgium.  Barcelona wants Messi back for their Wednesday Champions League qualifying match with Wisla Krakow.  Schalke will take on Atlético Madrid without Rafinha.

Barcelona had previously agreed to let Messi join Argentina should Barça have a comfortable lead after the first leg of their qualifying tie.  That compromise solution was offered before the CAS ruling and would have seen Messi join Argentina for the medal round.  It is unclear whether Barcelona would be willing to grant such a release in light of the CAS’s decision.

While Messi’s Olympic hopes remain in the balance, his gold medal dreams have not been the biggest loser of the saga’s denouement; rather, it is the sport’s governing body that has taken the biggest hit.

In attempting to flex his organization’s muscle and force through a U23-policy for the Olympics that defied his own organization’s International Match Calendar, FIFA president Sepp Blatter unwittingly walked into a club-versus-country fight, misjudging his adversary in the process.  All along, it was apparently that FIFA had overreached it power (and the tacit agreement it held with clubs) when it compelled player releases for a tournament that was not taking place in a release period.  It should not have been a surprise that clubs fought the ruling, nor should FIFA have been caught off guard that the CAS upheld a club view that relied on agreed-to timelines over FIFA’s logic of custom and spirit.  While it is disappointing that the Olympics have fallen so far in esteem that individual football clubs feel justified in withholding players from the tournament, the regulations backed club claims.

There was always a chance that the CAS would rule with FIFA and uphold tradition, but FIFA should have known the clubs would balk.  The European Club Association had been itching for a battle ever since it was late showing up to 6+5’s funeral.  The ECA was going to fight to the end, no matter what.  More than for questioning the Olympic ideal or maintaining control over a few players, the ECA saw this issue as one that spoke to the heart of who controls the footballing world.  To the ECA, the clubs have control.  In the fight to affirm that control, a fight the ECA was formed to win, the clubs have won Round 1.

Perhaps Blatter and the similarly inclined UEFA president Michel Platini will tread lightly next time they wish to butt heads with the clubs, seeing that this first battle was never about the players.  Werder Bremen and Schalke’s easy about-faces on Diego and Rafinha showed that.  It was about Blatter overstepping.  The next battle could be about a Platini-pushed debt-plan or one of Blatter’s club-controlling player restrictions.  The next battle could also be waged for Platini or Blatter’s jobs, with the clubs exerting pressure on their home federations to start looking out for the local interests in addition to contemplating which nation gets a major tournament.

The CAS’s ruling not only rebuffed Blatter and FIFA on the Olympics, it rebuffed the whole organization and marginalized it power by backing the clubs.  The clubs now know they have a track to follow in restraining FIFA.  That Blatter would ever let this battle come to this point was a huge tactical error.  Now FIFA’s lack of power is evident, splashed across every football site in the world.  Before it tripped into this fight,  FIFA’s impotence was a topic for message board conversation and football theorists with excessive time on their hands.  Had Blatter not engaged in this beguiling act of hubris and stuck to the letter of the law - or, better yet, worked with and not over the clubs - FIFA would today be stronger for having brokered a solution.

But today they are weaker, their most dangerous adversary is stronger, and the organization is left to fire verbal salvos referencing spirit and custom.  Even in that vein they have ceded the high road to Werder and Schalke, who have magnanimously released their players.  FIFA, in contrast, remains petulant.

Quotes
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld the appeals filed by FC Schalke 04, SV Werder Bremen and FC Barcelona against the decision issued on 30 July 2008 by the Single Judge of the Fifa’s Players’ Status Committee that consequently has been set aside in its entirety.” - CAS
“The Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008 is not included in the Co-ordinated Match Calendar and there is no specific decision of the Fifa Executive Committee establishing the obligation for the clubs to release players under 23 for this tournament.” - CAS
“The requirements to justify a legal obligation of clubs to release their players for the Football Tournament Beijing 2008 on the basis of customary law are not met.” - CAS
“I’m calm and confident about this because I have spoken with the player and know what [Messi] is thinking. The player is going to make it clear to Barcelona that he wants to stay here.” - Batista
“In view of FIFA’s recommendation made to the clubs to release their players as well as of the Olympic spirit, the CAS call upon the goodwill and good sense of FIFA and the clubs to find a reasonable solution with regard to players who wish to represent their country in the Olympic Games.” - CAS
“We are confident and hopeful that [Messi] will remain here with the team for the whole tournament.” - Batista
“Fifa is surprised and disappointed by this decision, but we respect it.” - Blatter
“I regret that the CAS has not taken the Olympic spirit into consideration.” -  Blatter
“The Olympic Football Tournaments are a unique opportunity for a player as they are high-level competitions that give everyone involved - most notably young players - the chance to gain international experience that will stand them in good stead for the future.  It stands to reason, therefore, that it is not only the player and his national team who can benefit from such an experience, but also his club.” - Blatter
“I do not want to go into the legal side of all this, but I do know that [Messi] will be playing with us for the entire championship.” - Batista
“Theoretically the clubs could ask their players to go back to Europe because they would be entitled to do so.  And if the players do not come back there could be a case of a breach of contract.” - Matthieu Reeb, secretary, CAS
“It is now the moment for everyone to sit at the table and find a reasonable solution.  Of course, this could affect the tournament and it’s in the interest of nobody to destroy what could be an extraordinary tournament this year. But this is a matter for clubs, FIFA and the players to decide.” - Reeb
“We could have done with our strongest squad for these matches. We firmly believe, however, that unfortunately there is absolutely no point in bringing Rafinha back one day before our opening game.” - Andreas Muller, general manager, Schalke
“All the frustration and the huge disappointment he would feel, coupled with the exertions of travelling, would not in our opinion have put him in a position to play to the best of his ability.” - Muller

Links
Court blocks Messi from playing
Clubs win Olympic appeal
Fifa disappointed with CAS decision
FIFA disappointed by CAS decision
Messi wants to stay with Argentina - Batista
Clubs win appeal; Messi wants to play
Barcelona to decide Messi fate
German clubs release players for Olympics
Clubs U-Turn Over Olympic Brazilians
Blatter ‘Surprised & Disappointed’
Olympics: CAS steps in to stop players heading to Beijing
Trio wins Olympics appeal
European clubs win Olympic appeal

The big names in today’s Champions League, third round qualifying draw can breathe a sigh of relief at having avoiding a match-up with Atlético Madrid, but one of the darlings of last year’s tournament was not so lucky.

Atlético, the best of the unseeded teams in today’s draw, stood to be slotted against some of the round’s high profile participants: Barcelona, Juventus, Arsenal, or Liverpool. Those clubs exhaled in avoiding Madrid while Schalke 04 garnered the dubious distinction.

Having made the final eight last season, Schalke had designs on another Champions League run. Now being matched-up against Atlético one step before the group stage, replicating their knock-out round success last season seems far off. They will enter this qualifying round tie as underdogs to the revamped Spanish side.

Still, Schalke has to be given more than a puncher’s chance considering Sergio Agüero, Atlético’s star striker, will be half-way around the world, staring for the Argentina olympic team.  All of Schalke’s complaints about losing Rafinha now ring a little hollow.

The other La Liga side in the draw, third-place finishing Barcelona, got a fortuitous match-up against the winner of the Beitar Jerusalem-Wisla Krakow second round match-up. Jerusalem leads the tie 2-1 after one leg, with the second leg scheduled for Krakow. Barcelona should easily advance into the group stage while being able to use their players judiciously. If their strong preseason form is any indication of how they will perform in two weeks, the Beitar-Wisla winner is in for a long two legs.

Likewise, Juventus looks to be heavy favorites over the winner of the Tampere (Finland)-Artmedia (Slovakia) second round qualifier. Artmedia won the first leg 3-1 in Finland. Like Barcelona, Juventus has looked impressive in preseason, coming off a controlling 3-1 away win in a friendly against Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund. Juve’s return to the Champions League should get off to a successful start.

Although they will be favored, the same is not guaranteed for fellow Serie A-side Fiorentina. La Viola drew Slavia Prague, the tradition-rich club that is the current champion of the Czech Republic’s league (Grambinus liga). Slavia Prague qualified for the group stage of last year’s Champions League by eliminating Eredivisie side Ajax in last season’s third round qualifying. A young team that is a year more matured, Prague should not be taken lightly by Fiorentina.

Liverpool was drawn against Belgian champions Standard Liege, better known as the club of United States center back (and former Newcastle United player) Oguchi Onyewu. Liverpool, like Juventus and Barcelona, should breeze through.

Arsenal should also make it easily into the group stage, but their match-up will likely garner the most press in England. Eredivisie side FC Twente, who qualified for their Champions League spot thanks to the Dutch league’s unique playoff system, was drawn against Arsenal, allowing former Middlesbrough and England national team manager Steve McClaren to match-up against Arsene Wenger once again. There is a not-so-subtle irony to the former England coach being matched-up against a Premiership side that is unlikely start an English player. Add this to the fact that McLaren could not get a job in the Premiership yet finds himself in the Champions League and the papers will have a month’s worth of story lines.

Third round qualifying for the Champions League sees 32 teams paired off for two-legged ties, the winner of each moving on to the group stage of the competition.  Sixteen teams have already qualified for that stage.  Those 32 teams will be draw into eight, four team groups.  Each group then plays a double-round robin format, with the top two finishers  advancing to the competition’s knock-out stage.

The teams which lose in third-round qualifying will be entered into the UEFA Cup first round.

Other notable match-ups from the third qualifying round:

• Spartak Moscow looks destined to match-up with Dinamo Kiev, with the latter currently up 2-1 in their second-round qualifier against Ireland’s Drogheda United.
• Romanian power Steaua Bucharest will take on Galatasaray, last season’s Turcell Super League champions, in a match-up that will feature may players from this summer’s Euro 2008.
• And although each team has to finish-off their lead in second round qualifying, Greek squad Panathinaikos looks destined to meet Czech Republic side Sparta Prague.

This summary will also appear, in a revised form, on American Soccer Reader.

Quotes

“Every team is tough and when there’s a draw you have to pit yourself against the rival that fate gives you and that’s that.” - Enrique Cerezo, president, Atlético Madrid
“We’ve been drawn against a strong side, a German side, but in any case we’re going to give it everything because Atletico Madrid are going to push on from this round.” - Cerezo
“It was strange, because as soon as I joined (Twente) I knew we had the draw coming up.” - McClaren
“I expected one of the English teams. I think fate deals you certain cards and it has dealt us this draw.” - McClaren
‘I think of all the teams we could have had, that is the toughest - or one of the toughest. Obviously we looked at Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus, Schalke and we got one of the most difficult.” - McLaren
“We will go to Krakow to watch the game. We honestly don’t mind which team we face.” - Txiki Bergiristain, sporting director, Barcelona
“Of course it’s always important for us to be in the group stage of the competition. We want to be there and of course we are working hard to be there.” - Bergiristain
“They will also be worried, knowing that return game is in Madrid and that we are a team that is improving and working hard. We have signed well and we have spent two years on this plan.” - Javier Aguirre, coach, Atlético Madrid
“Schalke are on a similar level to us and I think the tie is 50-50. I am very optimistic though and home advantage could prove to be very important over.” - Aguirre
“The draw could have gone better for us.  Atletico Madrid are a good side that finished fourth in a very strong Spanish league last season.” Fred Rutten, trainer, Schalke
“It’s a hammer blow- the most difficult opponents for us.  But I’m sure that Madrid would also have wished for a different opponent.” - Andreas Müller, general manager, Schalke
“For us the game against Atletico is a super game and will a high-point for our fans at the start of the season.” - Marcelo Bordon, captain, Schalke

Links

UCL: McClaren back as Twente draw Arsenal
Good draws for Serie A pair
Liverpool faces Standard Liege in Champions League
Cerezo expecting Atletico to ‘push on’
McClaren’s Twente to meet Arsenal
Aguirre:  Schalke Will Be Worried Too
Mac ready for Gunners test
Arsenal face McClaren in Champions League
Schalke Face Up To Tough Atleti Challenge
McClaren’s men coming to Emirates
Reds handed Standard test

After FIFA ruled today that clubs must release their U23 eligible players, Barcelona striker Lionel Messi will leave his club to join the Argentina Olympic team. In the interim, Barcelona will join in Schalke and Werder Bremen’s appeal of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, hoping FIFA’s ruling will be overturned. If that happens, Barça expects Messi to return. The striker has indicated he would, if such a ruling came down.

What the clubs are seeking is a ruling from the CAS that the players are in breach of their contracts by not reporting to the clubs.  Say the ruling goes their way.  Then what?  The ball goes into the player’s court, and while Messi seems willing to return to Barcelona should their claim be upheld, Schalke’s Rafinha and Bremen’s Diego have been willing to defy their clubs throughout the month.  Having gone absent without their release when the Brazil Olympic team went to Asia, what’s to say they will just return if the CAS says so in light of FIFA’s decision?

The clubs could cancel their contracts, but what good would that do?  Players as young as Diego and Rafinha are undoubtedly slightly underpaid in their deals.  Having proved themselves capable players in the Bundesliga, a small, profitable bidding war will start should the players hit the market.  Neither Schalke nor Bremen should want to let them go.

They could fine the players for being in breach of contract, but will that affect any kind  of remedy or change?

The clubs should be less concerned with the individual players and more with FIFA and the remedies at their disposal.  To their knowledge, they are only obligated to release players during the international match calendar’s release periods.  The Olympics fall outside one of those periods, yet clubs are still having players taken from them.  Instead of seeking to punish the players, let them play in the Olympics and instead start acting to limit the power of FIFA to unilaterally change these rules.

There is a  fine line between fighting the ruling, changing the system and aggravating your players.  The clubs have done a precarious  job of walking that line throughout this ordeal.  As this fight reaches its climax, clubs much be careful not to reach too far.  In the end, they need to let the players go and never let FIFA forget that they did.  In the four year between now and London, start pushing back against FIFA’s  ability to capriciously make similar decisions.

Quotes

“I hope [Diego] comes back to Bremen immediately because he has an agreement with Werder.  If he does not stick to it, then there will be consequences from the club.” - Torsten Frings, midfielder, Werder Bremen

Links

Messi heads to China after FIFA ruling
Barcelona may appeal Messi Olympic ruling
Frings Urges Diego To Return
CAS called in to settle Olympic dispute
Bremen and Schalke in new Olympics appeal
Bremen,  Schalke to fight FIFA’s Olympics ruling

FIFA ruled today that clubs must release their U23-eligible players for the Olympics in one of the most anticlimactic, predictable, and redundant pieces of news this summer.  This marked the third time that FIFA, in some form, had reiterated the stance that it had always held.  FIFA’s sanctioning the Olympics and, of course, is going to maintain its value.

Their reiteration does nothing to change the minds of Bundesliga clubs like Werder Bremen and Schalke who continue to maintain players need not be released.  The next step for them is to back-up their threat to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.  The clubs had already filed an appeal, but the CAS put it aside to wait for FIFA’s final decision.  It’s an appeal that seems unlikely to work, as the CAS is likely to nod towards FIFA and the stature of the Olympics, never mind that the clubs technically have a point.  The Olympics are not part of the International Match Calendar.

The best case scenario out of all this would have been for FIFA to not mandate the clubs but the clubs release their players.  That way, the issue doesn’t turn into a power play while those players who are selected to play get to participate.  The clubs and FIFA could then start working to ensure a potential confrontation is avoided for the Great Britian games in 2012.  As is, that confrontation is happening now.

The only club who may change their plans to withhold a player release is Barcelona, who seemed to be putting more weight in FIFA’s decision than the German clubs were.  Still, if Barça was so differential towards FIFA, Lionel Messi would be in Beijing now.  As is, he trains with Barcelona.

With the ruling today, FIFA risks looking more inept that they have throughout this process, remarkable considering the brashness with which the Bundesliga clubs and Barcelona have disregarded their rulings.  If, after taking this extra time to consider the issue and issue a dramatic, ultimate declaration, the clubs still defy FIFA, what does that say about the governing body?

The ball is now in the Barcelona’s court, as well as the European Club Association’s.  Expect them to persist in their views.  Barcelona seems willing to let Messi leave temporarily with the expectation he will return if a CAS appeal goes in their favor.

Quotes

“The single judge of the Players’ Status Committee, Slim Aloulou (Tunisia), decided today, 30 July 2008, that the release of players under the age of 23 for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008 is mandatory for all clubs. Previously, on 29 July 2008, the FIFA Emergency Committee also took a decision in the same sense.” - FIFA
“The single judge determined that the international match calendar is not of relevance in establishing whether clubs are obliged to release players for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament.” - FIFA
“The single judge stated that taking part in the Olympic Games is a unique opportunity for all athletes of any sporting discipline, and that it would not be justifiable to prevent any player younger than 23 from participating in such an event if his representative team had qualified.” - FIFA
“I am waiting to see what FIFA says and, if it says I don’t have to go, I won’t go.  If it says I have to go, I will go without awaiting the decision of the CAS, because that would be too long for my teammates and squad management to have to wait.” - Messi
“Barcelona continues with its stance of not wanting to let me go and I understand it.  But I also think they have to understand that my dream is to take part in the Olympic Games with the national team.” - Messi
“FC Barcelona will shortly present before the CAS, or Court of Arbitration for Sport, an appeal against this decision in which it will request the ruling be rescinded and that proceedings be completed with the maximum speed possible.” - Barcelona
“At this stage we are at an impasse. We are going to meet with Messi to take the most convenient decision for both sides.” - Joan Laporta, president, Barcelona
“We understand it is very complex to retain a player. Messi will do what the rules say and I understand these will be interpreted in favor of Barcelona by CAS.” - Laporta
“From the beginning I’ve said that I want to play for my national team and I’ve never had problems until now.” - Messi

Links

FIFA rule clubs mist release U23 Olympic stars
Barcelona must release Messi for Beijing
Barcelona must release Messi for Beijing
Clubs must release U-23s for Olympics, says Fifa
Barca may contest Olympics ruling
FIFA demand Messi released for Olympics
Fifa rules against clubs for Olympics

Tomorrow, FIFA will make a ruling as to whether clubs will be compelled to release under-23 players for the Beijing Olympics in two weeks.  The ruling will from 20 days after FIFA ruled on whether clubs will be compelled to release under-23 players for the Beijing Olympics.

If you felt those two sentences redundant, consider it a comment on FIFA’s approach to this issue.  The governing body has already ruled once.  Last week, the body’s president, Sepp Blatter, reiterated the ruling via a statement, effectively ruling for a second time on the same issue.  Now, FIFA is set to make a third declaration on the matter, and unless the organization says something different, tomorrow’s statement will be as ineffectual as last week’s stance.

Whether you think FIFA will rule differently tomorrow than it did on July 10 depends on how important you think the events of the last week have been.  Clubs continue to fight some player released - most notably, Werder Bremen with Diego, Schalke with Rafinha, and Barcelona with Lionel Messi.  Diego and Rafinha have left their clubs without permission, prompting the clubs to threaten an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.  The European Club Association has issued as statement in support of clubs withholding permission, leaving FIFA’s rulings in a precarious position.  What good are an organization’s rulings if there is no means of enforcement?

That may be te reason why FIFA changes its tune.  With one week of the scenario having played out since Rafinha and Diego left their teams, FIFA may have read the writing on the wall.  Rather than make an unenforceable ruling that starts a fight it may not want with the clubs, FIFA may need to soften its stance.  FIFA may wish to advise clubs to release players while allowing for squads to retain players who are regulars in teams that will have competitions.  It’s a ruling that would ceded the issue to the clubs while maintaining FIFA’s view on what should be happening.

It is weak, but this may not be a fight FIFA wants right now.  They are getting a bit blind-sided by the clubs making such a big deal of these releases.  FIFA anticipated the releases to be a formality.  Not having done the due process of properly amending the international match calendar to include the Olympics, FIFA does not have a leg to stand on.

That this announcement has been delayed by a day may indicate some reconsideration on FIFA’s part.  There is a good chance there will be some kind of placating measure taken.  FIFA is not in a position to win this battle and needs to realize it, preparing itself better for future confrontations with the clubs.

Links

FIFA to announce final club decision on Wednesday
FIFA delay announcing Games release decision
FIFA delay announcing Games release decision