Poland and Russia played out a 1-1 draw in Group A on Tuesday night, but the game was slightly overshadowed by serious disturbances in the lead up to kick-off.
In-form Russian attacker Alan Dzagoev opened the scoring for Dick Advocaat’s men, but a sensational Jakub Blaszczykowski equaliser saw the spoils shared.
However, clashes between rival fans in the build up to the game drew attention away from an intense game, as a number of separate incidents led to 100 arrests.
Ten people were injured in the violent clashes, with seven Poles, two Russians and a German taken to hospital, but none of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening.
Violence has been apparent in the tournament to date, and along with racist incidents have marred an exciting competition so far.
A Warsaw spokesperson has admitted that local police were investigating the circumstances of last night’s disruption.
“We are still monitoring the situation and trying to identify the supporters involved. The operation is not over from our side as we continue in our attempts to catch those who are causing trouble,” a statement reads.
Meanwhile, in the other Group B game Czech Republic beat Greece 2-1 to salvage their campaign.
Two goals in the opening six minutes from Vaclav Pilar and Petr Jiracek put the Czechs into a dominant position, and although Theofanis Gekas pulled one back for the Greeks, the three points went to Michal Bilek’s men.
Bilek was happy with the nature of the team’s win but bemoaned the loss of Tomas Rosicky to injury.
“The changes (to the starting line-up) proved useful, we played a great first half, controlled the game, we soon scored twice, the first half was great,” Bilek told Sky Sports.
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“Tomas Rosicky picked up an injury and we missed his creative skills, we found it hard to create, we conceded a terribly stupid goal and then got under pressure.
“While its hard to tell the exact nature of it (Rosicky’s injury) at the moment it’s unpleasant, we have to hope he’ll be all right.”
“We missed him in the second half as he is a key player for us in attack as he can add tempo our game.”
Change can do you good, apparently. Daniel Levy probably wasn’t listening to Sheryl Crow when he was appointing Andre Villas Boas, but the crux of that song could hold a fair bit of meaning at White Hart Lane next season. Could a dashing of new players and an injection of youth into this Tottenham squad be just what’s needed to propel them to headier heights?
A brief look at this current Tottenham squad offers some interesting analysis. On paper, Spurs’ strongest staring XI, set up in the preferred 4-4-1-1 formation, isn’t particularly easy to pick holes in.
Of course, football is a lot more complex than how the players look on the team sheet. But a steady, if not spectacular goalkeeper in Brad Friedel, was supplemented by a back four that picked itself all season (with the obvious exception of Ledley King at centre-half).
The attributes of Scott Parker and Luka Modric speak for themselves and whilst Gareth Bale is unswappable, supporters value Aaron Lennon’s balance in high esteem- he was certainly missed when out injured. Rafael van der Vaart had another successful season in front of goal and Emmanuel Adebayor hit a fantastic 17 league goals.
This isn’t to say that there aren’t faults in that side. But if we shelve the issues of rotation and tactical set up away from home momentarily, there aren’t any obvious players in that side which you would instantly want to pluck out and replace. However you feel about Harry Redknapp, if he had that exact team for another league campaign, does it really seem that unfeasible that another challenge for third place couldn’t be on the cards? You would think they’d be there or there abouts.
Yet the last few weeks have brought with them something of a mini-revolution in N17. Whilst not quite a coup d’état, the replacement of Harry Redknapp brings with it a change in ideas and a new philosophy. And consequently, Spurs are facing perhaps the busiest summer of activity at White Hart Lane in several seasons.
Emmanuel Adebayor has returned to Manchester City and may or may not return. Luka Modric looks more than likely to cut his ties with Spurs in an off-season which may finally spell the end of club legend Ledley King’s time at the club; as a player, at least. Add to that the chance that Villas Boas might look to replace the veteran Brad Friedel and Tottenham are suddenly staring at a new-look spine to the team.
Superficially, this seems like something of an upheaval. But the mood at White Hart Lane feels drenched in cautious optimism and dare you say it, even relatively buoyant. Supporters aren’t afraid of the impending changes.
Because as good as brand of football that Spurs employed last season, they began to feel like the sort of film churned out on ITV2 every evening for a fortnight- decent entertainment, but pretty repetitive after the hundredth time. You always know how it’s going to end. For all the talk of Redknapp’s missing Plan B, sometimes you just felt even the players knew their endless spells of possession and domination were going to end fruitless. A completely unfounded hunch of course, but maybe it’s a good thing that those XI players are going to be shaken up a bit.
And already, it feels like just the right sort of players are making their way to North London. We can wax lyrical all day about Gylfi Sigurdsson’s abundant potential. But it’s his youth, his determination. He’s not afraid to shoot, to have a pop and try something different. Sigurdsson won’t bring with him a default Tottenham mode, if such a thing exists.
The impending arrival of Manchester United youngster, Ezekiel Fryers, is another that can make a subtle, yet real difference to Spurs next season. No one is saying he is going to come in and tell Benoit Assou-Ekotto to sit in the boot room. But he should be coming with the hunger and passion to make his mark on this team. If he offers genuine competition for ‘Disco Benny’ at left-back, then that is something which is only going to enhance this Tottenham team.
Jan Vertonghen’s exhaustive move to Spurs might be made into a three-hour biopic one day. But when he does arrive, he’ll bring something new to the team and can hopefully finally begin a period of stability in the continuously yo-yoing defence at White Hart Lane. As already mentioned within these columns, the Ajax skipper’s move can invigorate Michael Dawson again. This can only serve to galvanise the club.
This isn’t a call to ignore the potentially hazardous future that may await Tottenham. Villas Boas must get off the ground running quickly and if Modric does leave, then the premise of ‘change’ seems nothing more than a diversion tactic.
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But a change can help Tottenham Hotspur. It may have always been on the cards, but it’s time we embraced it for what it is. This is a chance for new players to come in and bring with them more competition for places, different ideas and a hunger and drive for success.
Is your glass half full or half empty this summer? Is change a positive at White Hart Lane or a potential negative? Let me know how you feel, tell me how you view it on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus
Redemption; the act of saving or being saved from sin, error or evil.
Whilst the words’ biblical connotations are perhaps rather ostentatious, its general definition can draw comparisons with Andre Villas-Boas and his attempt at redefining his career at Tottenham. His much maligned spell at Chelsea will, unfairly or not, be forever remembered as an unmitigated disaster. However, time is a healer, and it appears that with a new job at one of the most exciting vacancies in the Premier League, the Portuguese may well be on the right path to reignite his managerial career. Nonetheless, thoughtless comments made to the media last week may indicate the naivety that was shown in glimpses at Stamford Bridge. Throughout a press conference, the 34-year old implied that in his time at Chelsea, he was unfairly treated and given false promises. Whilst there may be some legitimacy in AVB’s comments, his focus should solely be about his new club. By artfully criticising his previous employers, the pressure builds at his new position. If circumstances turn awry at White Hart Lane, his comments will seem irrational and false. While it may have relived some of the aggravation from the former Porto man, was his outburst really worth piling unnecessary pressure on himself?
“Words did not meet the actions of what we were doing (at Chelsea) in terms of the project, so I think I was cut short, Tottenham is much more important than me and what I have to do is try to take them to success and not make it a personal issue”.
“I met the (Spurs) chairman (Daniel Levy), and saw the way he goes about his business at the club,”
“He knows what he is doing, approaching the market in a different way. He is a person of great football understanding and he had the effect of giving me the assurances I wanted in terms of building something.”
Whilst these remarks made by Villas-Boas in the aforementioned press conference may have been an attempt to try and explain his early exit at Chelsea, there is no question that the frustration of his time at Stamford Bridge played a vital role in his comments. By criticizing his former employers and then distancing himself from any troublesome issues should they arise at Spurs, he is covering his own back. The 34-year old needn’t dig his own grave yet though. He is still untested in the league over a full season. He wasn’t given enough time at Chelsea yet will be watched closely to attain whether similar disasters could unfold at White Hart Lane. With pressure on his back already from the relentless media, his accusations that churned out like an erupting volcano added fuel to the fire. His explanation of a healthy relationship with Daniel Levy is an obvious taunt at Roman Abramovich, with whom he did not have the most productive of relationships with. However, this may have been down to the extortionate amount of money that the Russian had to spend in tearing up Villas-Boas’ contract at Porto, while Levy had no such compensation to deal with. The Portuguese speaks of assurances that Levy has given him as some form of guarantee that his job is safeguarded. However, previous comments indicate that Abramovich may have also given assurances. Who’s to say that if Spurs are performing below par after Christmas, the chairman will have no alternative but to change manager?
Ultimately, the comments made by Villas-Boas will probably fade into the background of the constant rigmarole that surrounds all Premier League clubs. However, it does seem naïve of the Portuguese to make these statements, as if totally passing the blame for his Chelsea faults whilst displaying sincerity for a club where he may meet similar redundancy issues should he not live up to expectation.
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Let me know what you think. Was AVB naive to fuel a war between himself and his previous employers? Let me know on twitter @mattpegg1
The new season kicks off in unusual fashion this year with the Football League’s opening games being in the newly named Capital One Cup, last year’s Carling Cup.
Two Championship clubs made the semi-finals of the competition last season, with Liverpool edging out Cardiff City in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley to decide the destination of the trophy.
This time around the competition kicks off before the league campaign and so it is the fans’ first glimpse of competitive football after the long summer months.
Fleetwood Town hosting Nottingham Forest seems the tie of the round along with a touchline battle between Paolo Di Canio and Gus Poyet as Swindon Town entertain fancied Brighton also one to watch.
Capital One Cup round one:
Saturday, August 11 2012
15.00
Wolverhampton Wanderers
–
Aldershot Town
15.00
Walsall
–
Brentford
15.00
Cheltenham Town
–
Milton Keynes Dons
15.00
Leeds United
–
Shrewsbury Town
15.00
Watford
–
Wycombe Wanderers
15.00
Sheffield United
–
Burton Albion
15.00
Crewe Alexandra
–
Hartlepool United
15.00
Doncaster Rovers
–
York City
15.00
Rochdale
–
Barnsley
15.00
Bury
–
Middlesbrough
15.00
Notts County
–
Bradford City
15.00
Carlisle United
–
Accrington Stanley
15.00
Hull City
–
Rotherham United
Sunday, August 12 2012
15.00
Blackpool
–
Morecambe
Monday, August 13 2012
19.45
Fleetwood Town
–
Nottingham Forest
19.45
Oldham Athletic
–
Sheffield Wednesday
19.45
Preston North End
–
Huddersfield Town
Tuesday, August 14 2012
19.45
Birmingham City
–
Barnet
19.45
Bristol City
–
Gillingham
19.45
Charlton Athletic
–
Leyton Orient
19.45
Chesterfield
–
Tranmere Rovers
19.45
Dagenham and Redbridge
–
Coventry City
19.45
Derby County
–
Scunthorpe United
19.45
Exeter City
–
Crystal Palace
19.45
Ipswich Town
–
Bristol Rovers
19.45
Millwall
–
Crawley Town
19.45
Northampton Town
–
Cardiff City
19.45
Oxford United
–
AFC Bournemouth
19.45
Peterborough United
–
Southend United
19.45
Plymouth Argyle
–
Portsmouth
19.45
Port Vale
–
Burnley
19.45
Stevenage
–
AFC Wimbledon
19.45
Swindon Town
–
Brighton and Hove Albion
19.45
Torquay United
–
Leicester City
19.45
Yeovil Town
–
Colchester United
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Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas will attempt to complete a £6m deal for Manchester City’s Emmanuel Adebayor this week.
After a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle at the weekend, Villas-Boas admitted he is a striker short in his attacking options. A fee has been agreed for the 28-year-old Togo striker, who scored 18 goals whilst on loan at White Hart Lane last season, and the former Arsenal forward is on the verge of accepting a wage cut after accepting that his Manchester City career is over.
Meanwhile, Villas-Boas has assured Jermain Defoe that he has a future at Spurs, despite interest from Sunderland and Aston Villa and the impending arrival of Adebayor at White Hart Lane. The 29-year-old England international scored 17 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions last season, with these statistics taking a blow due to Adebayor being picked ahead of Defoe in a lone-striker role. Villas-Boas was full of praise for Defoe, after scoring for Tottenham in pre-season, against Italy in an International friendly for England, and again against Newcastle to cancel out Demba Ba’s opener.
The Portuguese manager told The Mail Online “It is a different situation for him now. I have nothing to do with anything that happened in the past. He is our striker, is playing extremely well, is full of confidence and has been deadly in front of goal.”
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The transfer window may be done and dusted now the August deadline has been and gone and teams are unable to spend money until January, but that doesn’t mean they can’t bring in any reinforcements if necessary. Those individuals still available on a free transfer, whose contracts have expired and are yet to find a club, are free to keep talking to clubs until they sort out a new deal.
For example, Michael Owen finally bagged himself a new Premier League club, joining Stoke City this week having been released by Manchester United earlier in the summer. A move never materialised for Owen on deadline day itself, but he stayed calm and secured a deal after the window had shut. Liverpool are so short in the striking department, they may have to turn to the free transfer market and see who’s available, so we’ve compiled our own list of the ten players still out there without a club.
Click on Harry Kewell to unveil the 10 freebies
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Tottenham are Liverpool are set to go head to head in January to sign up Spanish starlet Isco in a cut price deal, according to the Daily Mirror.
The Malaga ace is highly sought after and both Premier League clubs sent scouts to watch the 20-year old who scored a brace against Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League.
Isco still has four years remaining on his current deal; however with the Spanish side reported financial problems it is believed that should a club meet the player’s £16m buyout clause that Malaga may well be tempted to cash in.
Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini is under no illusions that it will be difficult to keep hold of Isco; a player who has been described as having limitless potential:
“He is a player who has a great future. Nobody knows what his limit is.”
Both Tottenham and Liverpool are desperate for a new striker in January, given that both clubs only have two recognised strikers within their respective squads.
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Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes is confident he will be given a chance to turn things around at Loftus Road after a miserable start to the season.
Just two points in six games leaves Rangers rock bottom of the Premier League, despite the London club being the most active, in the summer transfer window.
Hughes is confident he’ll be given time to get things right and has the backing of his owners he said to SkySports: “I would think so. We have had a big investment and we’re looking to improve this year and will.
“It is very, very early days, but until we get positive results on the board ten obviously everything is up for debate and a focus begins to come as a whole.
“We just need to start winning football matches. If we do that, it goes away.”
Hughes was brought in as manager when Neil Warnock was dismissed by the club in January. The Welshman conjured up a last day escape from relegation, despite his side bowing down famously to Premier League champions Manchester City that day. Following a host of summer arrivals Rangers ambition’s this term were expected to be more than just surviving.
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Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis believes other Premier League clubs should use the Gunners as the perfect model as they prepare for financial regulation.
As of next season, UEFA want clubs to start balancing their books in an attempt to minimise deficits by 2018 and Gazidis believes Arsenal is the perfect club for others to take inspiration from.
He told Sky Sports: “Arsenal
were operating this way a long time before football looked at it and decided it would be a good path for football to move into.
“I think people believe money can be spent without consequence and if we learnt anything from the financial crisis the world has had over the last few years it has to be unsustainable spending and unsustainable environments don’t last forever.
“I think football is in a fantastic position to address this because we are in a position where I am very optimistic for the future of football. The revenues the game generates, particularly the Premier League’s position, is fantastic.
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“The Premier League owners are coming together: I think there is a developing consensus around the fact we need some form of tighter financial regulations to make sure as we look forward that the interest of the Premier League, its clubs and the fans are well protected.”
The Gunners recently announced a healthy pre-tax profit and have a reputation of making large profits from player transfers.
The Premier League is arguably the greatest league in the world. Not many leagues has been blessed with such incredible talents such as, Thierry Henry, Gianfranco Zola, Eric Cantona, the list goes on. Even today, some of the world’s greatest such as Sergio Aguero and Robin van Persie all congregate to play in England’s elite league. Unfortunately, you won’t find any of those players on this list.
These are the players that have been accustomed to warming the substitute’s bench, playing in pre-season friendlies with no realistic expectation of playing in the league opener, and getting the dreaded inclusion in the early rounds of the League Cup.
Yes it is those players who have either fallen from glory or are not good enough to make their first eleven. Either way, here are the guys who are ultimately surplus to requirements and wasting their careers in remaining at their clubs.
Click on Simon Davies to unveil the top 15
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