ATHLETIC BILBAO 0-3 REAL MADRID

Real Madrid sealed the La Liga title this week with a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, gaining an unassailable lead over 2nd-place Barcelona with two games remaining. Playing a fixture rescheduled from 22 January, Real got the key win with goals from Higuain (16′), Ozil (20′), and Cristiano Ronaldo (60′).

Coach Jose Mourinho claimed it to be the best league title win in his managerial career (having previously won top-tier leagues in Portugal (FC Porto), England (Chelsea), and Italy (Inter Milan)), and team captain Iker Casillas later said of the season-long success: “Our supporters deserve this, so it’s all for them. We’ve fought very hard in this league championship, but we won.”

Rivals Barcelona (and outgoing coach Pep Guardiola) will at least have something to cheer this week on an individual level, as a 4-1 win over Malaga saw Lionel Messi claim the goals he required to surpass Gerd Muller’s all-time competitive (European) season goals record, with Messi attempting to build on his new total of 68 (70 including semi-competitive fixtures), in Barcelona’s 3 remaining games of 2011-12.

Real Madrid have a more unified glory for the week, though, as they celebrate a league triumph (as well as a similar result for ‘B-team’ Real Madrid Castilla, who won promotion from the 3rd-tier), but will Mourinho’s side manage to carry over their league success into the 2012-13 campaign?

It was widely expected that the England / Great Britain team at this summer’s Olympic Games Football Tournament (in England, Wales, and Scotland) would not be heading straight into the tournament on home turf without some form of match-based preparation, and this was last week confirmed a few days after the official draw, as both the men’s and women’s sides prepare for a double-header in Middlesbrough (England) on 20 July, 7 days before the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, and 6 before the host team’s opening match against Senegal in Manchester (England).

Playing their first fixture as a team in this (Olympic/U23) guise since 1971 (a Qualifier against Bulgaria), England / GB’s men’s team will play at the 34,988-capacity Riverside Stadium against Brazil, who are going into the tournament hoping to end a barren streak for one of the few regular international tournaments that the country has failed to win (their best results are 2 silver medals (’84 & ’88) and 2 bronze medals (’96 & ’08)).

This match (which will serve as the team’s only warm-up fixture for the tournament) will be preceded by a women’s fixture on the same day in the same stadium, as Hope Powell’s women’s team play their counterparts from Sweden, for their first-ever ‘Team GB’ representative fixture. With their status as host Olympic Games broadcaster (along with a large number of warm-up and venue testing events), the BBC is likely to air the double-header live when it occurs.

Pearce said of the opportunity to play a side which is likely to include current big names such as Neymar, Ganso, and possibly Ronaldinho: “In world football they don’t come much bigger than Brazil and it should be a terrific occasion for us. I’ve learned a great deal about the Olympics since I was given the opportunity to lead this team and I realise just how massive an event it is going to be for the whole of Great Britain. Middlesbrough recently hosted an under-21 game and had a tremendous crowd, and I think particularly with the Brazilian connections on Teesside it will be a terrific turnout again come July.”

The fixtures of the double-header can be seen below:

20 July 2012 Olympic Games Football Tournament(s) – Warm-Up Double-Header:

ENG [GBR] WOM v SWE WOM, Middlesbrough, 20 Jul, –:–

ENG [GBR] U23 v BRA U23, Middlesbrough, 20 Jul, –:–

London

The FA yesterday confirmed that the new England coach will be Roy Hodgson, with the 64-year-old agreeing to a 4-year deal in charge of the national team.

The well-traveled manager of West Brom, who will complete the final two games of the season for the Premier League club, has been in charge of no less than 15 clubs around Europe in a 35-year managerial career (notably including Malmo, Inter Milan, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, and Liverpool).

However, a notable mark on his CV is his experience in international football, which lists guiding Switzerland to the Second Round of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, a short tenure with UAE, and coming close to qualifying Finland for UEFA Euro 2008. An articulate, respected, and cultured mind of the game internationally, Hodgson also worked for the Technical Study Group (TSG) at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and has also fulfilled similar roles during UEFA European Championship tournaments.

For England, his (just over) 4-year contract will see him take charge of England during UEFA Euro 2012 (starting with the preceding warm-up friendlies against Norway and Belgium), as well as (on the presumption there are no Capello-style incidents) the qualification and possible tournaments of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016.

He said of his appointment over media-favoured candidate Harry Redknapp (and what the FA noted was ‘a number of candidates’): “It is a very proud day for me, I’m a very happy man to be offered the chance to manage my country. I’m looking forward to the task ahead. Everyone knows it is not an easy one but I’m hoping that everyone, fans and supporters will get behind the team. It’s the team that counts, they go out and win football matches. What I’ll do is try to make sure the team is well prepared for the challenge ahead. I’m really looking forward to it. The most important thing for me is that the whole country gets behind England and gives us the best chance of doing well at the Euros.”

The position is also said to now entail a role based at the upcoming new ‘St George’s Park’ Official FA Training base in Burton (with the development of English football in mind), but the more focused challenge for the time being will be this summer’s tournament in Ukraine and Poland, as Hodgson added his belief that England can go all the way and win the tournament, stating: “It’s going to be difficult of course but hopefully I’ve got time. England always have to go in tournaments to win them because we are a major football nation. I certainly think the players would be very disappointed if we expected anything less of them than to win the tournament.”

While he may not have been the first choice of ‘major media outlets’, Roy Hodgson is undoubtedly a popular choice for the role, with glowing reviews from a number of players, former colleagues, and critics already. Claiming that his work starts properly on 14 May, will Hodgson be able to help deliver positive results for England?

MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED

Manchester City have returned to the top of the English Premier League, following a 1-0 win over Manchester United at home last night.

On a night that Sky Sports would repeatedly describe as an ‘unmissable’ potential title decider, it was City who controlled almost all of the attacking play, with their sole reward coming when team captain Vincent Kompany powered in a header from a corner from close-range (45+1′). A heated game saw no further goals, and Manchester City now lead the table from their biggest rivals on goal difference with two games remaining in the Premier League season for each contender, with the Blues now on the hunt for their first top-flight league crown since 1967-68.

LYON 1-0 US QUEVILLY

Olympique Lyonnais have snatched away the dreams of 3rd-tier club US Quevilly (who currently sit 14th in their league, and were aiming to become the lowest-ranked side to ever win the competition), with a narrow 1-0 triumph in the final of this season’s Coupe de France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis (France).

The only goal of the game came from Lisandro Lopez, who slotted in a tap-back from the byline (28′) to give the Ligue 1 club the lead, and while they would have a number of wasted chances (along with Quevilly hitting the post, amongst the opportinities for the underdogs), 1-0 was the way the game ended, allowing Lyon captain Cris to go up and lift the famed trophy, the club’s first for four years, while the minnows, like 4th-tier Calais in 1999-00, miss the chance to be the first semi-professional or amatuer side to win the cup in its history.

As a consolation prize, Quevilly, along with Lyon’s semi-final opponents Gazalec Ajacco (who also play in the National league) were co-awarded the ‘Petit Poucet Plaque’, a seasonal award for the best-performing non-professional club in the Coupe de France. To win again, the teams will have to be amongst the front-runners of a field of what now averages nearly 7,500 entrants, starting from at least the 5th round, meaning that Quevilly’s run to the final (which can also be classed as the 14th round), was no mean feat.

Barring a major collapse by either PSG or Lille in Ligue 1 (relating to Lyon’s efforts to qualify for the Champions League), the result also halts any dreams that that giant-killing Quevilly may have had for European football next season, as Lyon secure a berth in the UEFA Europa League by virtue of their cup success. However, the current run for Quevilly in this competition has seen them reach a semi-final in 2010, and the final in 2012, so what are the odds of the small-town side claiming the trophy in the 2013-14 season?

ATHLETIC BILBAO (4)3-1(3) SPORTING LISBON

Athletic Bilbao sealed a late berth in the UEFA Europa League final in Bucharest (Romania) next month, following a winner by Fernando Llorente to prevent extra-time against Sporting Lisbon in another close European encounter this week.

Like two previous games this week, it was the Spanish club trailing into the second leg who took the initiative, with a thumping short-range volley from Susaeta (17′) giving Bilbao the lead, though Ricky van Wolfswinkel hit back (44′), before Ibai Gomez (45+1′) benefited from a smart pass by Llorente to bring the aggregate scores completely level.

In the second half, Bilbao continued to do most of the attacking (despite a number of big opportunities for their opponents), but to little avail, until Llorente semi-wittingly turned in a square ball to the back of the net (88′) for a late and emotional winner, which, following an oddity of Athletic Bilbao calling all three of their substitutions in injury time (generally as a time-wasting measure) would confirm a night and overall win.

Athletic Bilbao manager Marcelo Bielsa said of the victory: “The prospect of the final makes us all happy. The key was the individual level of every player and the maturity and knowhow shown by these young footballers. With respect to our style, I don’t think it has anything to do with age but with a conviction to follow a determined way of playing.”

With Atletico Madrid winning against Valencia to seal their place, it will mark the second time in two seasons that the showpiece match will be played between two clubs from the same nation (that finished just one place apart in the previous season’s league campaign) in a stadium less than a year old. For Atletico, the chance is there for them to win the Europa League for a second time in just three editions of the competition’s history, while Athletic are looking for their first regular season trophy since 1984. Who will emerge with the prize on 9 May?

REAL MADRID (3)2-1(3)p BAYERN MUNICH

Bayern Munich have set themselves up for a dream Champions League final in their home stadium of the Allianz Arena, after a tight game against Real Madrid was settled on penalties.

Real would themselves have a dream start to the second leg, as Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice, the first coming from a penalty (6′) conceded by yellow-card victim David Alaba (who, like many potential players involved, will miss the final through suspension), and the second a cool finish (14′). However, Pepe would concede a foul in the opposite penalty area later in the half, and it was left to former Real Madrid player Arjen Robben to convert from the spot (27′) to create an exact reversal of the German club’s 2-1 win a week earlier.

That scoreline meant extra-time beckoned, followed by a penalty shoot-out, where it appeared at first to be going all Bayern’s way, with Manuel Neuer saving from both Ronaldo and Kaka, but with the score at 2-0, the tables turned with Casillas saving shots by Kroos and Lahm, but at 2-1, Sergio Ramos could not equalise in the shoot-out, leaving it to Bastian Schweinsteiger to net the winner for Bayern Munich.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said of what was another semi-final defeat for him personally: “Today I want to congratulate Bayern. They will play the final against Chelsea and I hope it will be a great match. We have to react with pride. These players wanted to win the trophy. Reaching two consecutive semi-finals is not bad, but we want more. The club is growing. If the club and the players want to continue, I’ll follow.”

Bayern’s opponents in Munich (Germany) on 19 May will be Chelsea, who in a similarly close and dramatic game saw off Barcelona on aggregate, with Roberto di Matteo’s final challenge of his short managerial season set to be one game against Jupp Heynckes’ Bayern in their own stadium. Given the most likely team selection situations at this current point, will it be Phillip Lahm or Frank Lampard that lifts the trophy on that Saturday night?

London

Yesterday saw the official draw made for the 2012 Olympic Games Football Tournament (to be hosted by England, Wales, and Scotland (collectively as Great Britain (or United Kingdom))), with the host team in the men’s and women’s tournament, now, like the rest of their competitors, aware of their fate.

In a ceremony held yesterday morning at the Sir Bobby Moore Room at Wembley Stadium in London (England), presenter Gary Lineker was joined by FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke, OFTOC Chairman Zhang Jilong, and draw guests Robbie Savage, Kevin Gallacher, Ronaldo, Kelly Smith, and Mel C.

The women’s draw was first up, and saw the England / GB women’s team learn that they will be taking part in the 2012 Olympic Games’ first sporting event, as they face New Zealand in Cardiff (Wales) 2 days before the opening ceremony on 25 July. In a draw format with group titling making it more complicated than it needed to be, they are joined in ‘Group E (/A)’ by Cameroon and Brazil, while ‘Group F (/B)’ of the 12-team tournament sees Japan play Canada, Sweden, and South Africa, while ‘G’ consists of USA, France, Colombia, and North Korea.

The main attraction of the morning, though, was the men’s draw, with Stuart Pearce’s England / GB pitted against Senegal for their first Group A encounter, followed by fixtures against UAE and Uruguay (involved in their first Olympic Games Football Tournament since winning gold in 1928).

Group B sees one of the closest groups based on the FIFA World ranking of their senior teams, as seeded side Mexico were pitted against South Korea, Gabon, and Switzerland.

Group C will feature Brazil (who have never taken the biggest prize at this tournament) alongside Egypt, Belarus, and New Zealand.

Finally, Group D will play host to the tournament’s opening game, as Spain face Japan in Glasgow (Scotland), while Honduras and Morocco round out the group.

From the Group Stage, 16 hopefuls (in 18-man squads) will be whittled down to 8, with a Knockout Round deciding who claims the prestigious Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals for football in August. Who will be standing on the podium this summer at Wembley?

The men’s draw in full and fixtures can be seen below:

2012 Olympic Games Football Tournament – Official Draw
Teams sorted by status and current FIFA World Ranking (Senior Team)

Group A
ENG [GBR] (h)
URU
SEN
UAE

Group B
SUI
MEX
KOR
GAB

Group C
BRA (bp)
EGY
BLR
NZL

Group D
ESP (wc)
JPN
HON
MAR

2012 Olympic Games Football Tournament – Fixture List:
Host Cities in England (ENG) unless stated
All dates are for July unless stated
All times are BST (UTC+01:00)

Group A
URU v UAE, Manchester, 26, 17:00
ENG v SEN, Manchester, 26, 19:45
URU v SEN, London, 29, 17:00
ENG v UAE, London, 29, 19:45
SEN v UAE, Coventry, 1 Aug, 19:45
ENG v URU, Cardiff (WAL), 1 Aug, 19:45

Group B
MEX v KOR, Newcastle, 26, 14:30
SUI v GAB, Newcastle, 26, 17:15
MEX v GAB, Coventry, 29, 14:30
SUI v KOR, Coventry, 29, 17:15
SUI v MEX, Cardiff (WAL), 1 Aug, 17:00
KOR v GAB, London, 1 Aug, 17:00

Group C
BLR v NZL, Coventry, 26, 19:45
BRA v EGY, Cardiff (WAL), 26, 12:00
BRA v BLR, Manchester, 29, 14:45
EGY v NZL, Manchester, 29, 14:30
BRA v NZL, Newcastle, 1 Aug, 14:30
EGY v BLR, Glasgow (SCO), 1 Aug, 14:30

Group D
ESP v JPN, Glasgow (SCO), 26, 12:00 (Opening Match)
HON v MAR, Glasgow (SCO), 26, 14:45
ESP v HON, Newcastle, 29, 17:00
JPN v MAR, Newcastle, 29, 19:45
JPN v HON, Coventry, 1 Aug, 17:00
ESP v MAR, Manchester, 1 Aug, 17:00

Quarter-Finals
GD1 v GC2, Manchester, 4 Aug, 12:00
GB1 v GA2, London, 4 Aug, 14:30
GC1 v GD2, Newcastle, 4 Aug, 17:00
GA1 v GB2, Cardiff (WAL), 4 Aug, 19:30

Semi-Finals
WQ2 v WQ1, London, 7 Aug, 17:00
WQ4 v WQ3, Manchester, 7 Aug, 19:45

Bronze Medal Match / 3rd-Place Play-Off
LS1 v LS2, Cardiff (WAL), 10 Aug, 13:00

Gold Medal Match / Final
WS1 v WS2, London, 11 Aug, 19:45

SEN U23 2-0 OMA U23

Coventry

Senegal have joined the 16-strong pack of Olympic Games Football Tournament competitors for today’s draw in London (England), after winning the Inter-Continental Play-Off match against Oman in Coventry (England), becoming Africa’s 4th team at the finals.

In a match refereed by Howard Webb in front of a crowd of just over 11,600, Senegal struck early and late on to dash the dreams of their Asian opponents, with efforts coming by a header from Ibrahima Balde (2′) and a placed strike from Abdoulaye Sane (87′).

The result from Karim Sega Diouf’s side ensures that they will make their debut appearance at the Olympic Games Football Tournament, though their celebrations will be in contrast to that of the Omani team, as well as some of the locals, who learned over the weekend that local club Coventry City (who play in the stadium) have been confirmed as relegated from the nPower Championship.

Regardless of their local club’s performance, though, people from Coventry will have a summer to look forward to in international football, as the world’s best U23 teams descend on England, Wales, and Scotland for the tournament, featuring nations from all 6 continents in both the men’s and simultaneous women’s tournaments.

In the draw being made at Wembley Stadium this morning (at 11:00), the region-based pots have also been decided, with each group consisting of one each from Pot A (Europe (England/GB (A), Spain (D), Switzerland, Belarus)), Pot B (South America & North America (Brazil (C), Uruguay, Mexico (B), Honduras)), Pot C (Asia & Oceania (South Korea, Japan, UAE, New Zealand)), and Pot D (Africa (Gabon, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal)). Who will play where?

Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines

Saturday saw the official draw made for the 2012 Coupe de l’Outre-Mer, a tournament organised by the French Football Federation (FFF) for their official affiliate associations of French territories around the world, bringing them together for a bi-annual tournament, a model which has been partially copied by The FA (England), who have helped organise a mini-tournament in Gibraltar in June .

The 3rd edition of the tournament will be staged, like the previous two (2008 & 2010) in France, and again with matches hosted in and around the city of Paris in the ‘Ile-de-France’ region, and while the exact venues and fixtures have not yet been decided, it will probably be similar to before, and organisers now know exactly who will be descending on France in September, while the participating nations themselves are now aware of their opponents.

The draw at the Clairefontaine National Academy in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines confirmed the participation of 8 teams for the tournament (from a current FFF list of 11 eligible participants), meaning a simple split of two groups of four.

Group A will see 2008 winners Reunion head the pre-tournament listings as the seeded team in the group (following their 2nd-place performance in 2010), where they will take on North American sides Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the smallest nation taking part (with a population of 6,000), and hoping to improve on their 2010 international football debut, which saw them lose all 3 matches without scoring (while conceding a total of 28).

Meanwhile, Group B saw holders Martinique drawn as the seeded side, as they got pitted against Oceanian nations New Caledonia and Tahiti (the only two full FIFA members involved), and the African island of Mayotte. Current eligible nations not taking part in this tournament are Saint-Martin, Wallis and Futuna, and Saint Barthelemy.

The draw in full can be seen below:

2012 Coupe de l’Outre-Mer – Official Draw
Teams sorted by status and size (population)

Group A
REU (s)
GPE
GYF
SPM

Group B
MTQ (c)
NCL
TAH
MYT