Speaks Scottish, apparently...

There’s nothing like a good loser…and Gennaro Gattuso is nothing like a good loser! Following his AC Milan side’s 1-0 ‘shock’ defeat to Tottenham Hotspur he had an altercation with Spurs coach Joe Jordan in which he appeared to attempt to headbutt the Scot.

Gattuso had previously clashed with Jordan during the second half when a horrific challenge from former Arsenal midfielder Flamini on Vedran Corluka resulted in just a yellow card. You’d think Gattuso would know he’d picked on the wrong guy after his time in Scotland, but no, he steamed right in. Take a look at the post-match incident:

Gattuso has since apologised for his actions, of course, with the rather amusing line:

I was nervous. We were both speaking Scottish, something that I learned when I played in his home city of Glasgow, but I can’t tell you what we said. I didn’t want to argue with players and I did it with him, but I was wrong to do what I have done. I will have to await what they decide.

Spurs recorded this famous win in the San Siro with an 80th minute winner from Peter Crouch, by the way. It sets them up nicely for the home leg at White Hart Lane and will go down as one of Redknapp’s best ever victories as a manager.

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For Chelsea and Manchester United fans, however, it’s a bit of a damp squib. Chelsea face FC Copenhagen, a match which many will view as a virtual bye. Will that prove to be the case given the London club’s recent Premier League form, however? There’s potential for a shock in there, perhaps.

Meanwhile, United face Marseille which is at least a new enough fixture, but another French team in what has been a long line of them since the Old Trafford outfit began their long love affair with the competition. It also sees Gabriel Heinze return to Manchester. Wonder what reception he will get? Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt be pleased with the draw.

Arsene Wenger, however, will not. He’d have been hoping for a slightly easier tie than the current best team in Europe (according to some…most?), while Harry Redknapp and Spurs will just be glad they were in the draw and will, no doubt, be relishing the challenge of AC Milan.

Other notable ties are Lyon versus Real Madrid and Inter Milan versus Bayern Munich. Lyon knocked Real out of the competition at this stage last year and will be dying to do the same again. Current holders Inter Milan will be feeling a sense of déja vu when they face the German side as it is a repeat of last year’s final. The same result Jose Mourinho enjoyed will no doubt suit Rafa Bernitez.

Here’s the full Champions League Draw:

Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk
AC Milan v Tottenham Hotspur
Valencia v Schalke
Inter Milan v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Real Madrid
Arsenal v Barcelona
Marseille v Manchester United
FC Copenhagen v Chelsea

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It is, without doubt, a personal blow of epic proportions for Beckham. His loan spell to AC Milan during the MLS off season was specifically geared to staying fit, continuing to play and keeping himself at the forefront of England manager Fabio Capello’s mind.

As a self confessed Beckham fan, I feel sorry for Beckham. But what does it really mean for England?

We’ve read a few blogs and opinion pieces on the matter and they all seem to agree that it just isn’t THAT big a blow to England’s chances of winning the World Cup.

Well, we disagree. Not because Beckham is at the peak of his powers (he isn’t), or because there are no better options on the right (there are) but because Beckham IS still Beckham and having that presence in the dressing room and those albeit waning talents on the bench would have been invaluable to Capello.

Let’s look at that right wing. Beckham would not and should not have started a game at the World Cup. That’s fair enough to say. That berth should right go to Aaron Lennon of Spurs – except he continues to struggle with a groin injury and it’s not known if he’ll be fit for the World Cup.

Next in line would appear to be either Theo Walcott of Arsenal or Shaun Wright-Phillips of Manchester City. We’re sorry, but neither of these two exactly fill us with confidence.

Walcott has pace and, so far at least this season (one game aside), very little else. Wright-Phillips has a bit more to offer but his season hasn’t set the Premiership alight either.

Bubbling under is James Milner who, by comparison, has had a brilliant season for an ambitious Aston Villa side. But brilliant only by his standards, which aren’t and never will be “world class”.

The names Stewart Downing, also of Villa, and Adam Johnson of Man City have also been mentioned. Please, let’s be serious. One has failed to live up to his promise (though we’ll admit he’s getting better) and the other is a kid – the Theo Walcott of this World Cup if you like.

Which leaves just one name unmentioned. Joe Cole of Chelsea. Now here we have a player who can arguably be called “world class”, at least on his day. Here is a player that has done it for England before. Here is a player Sporting Fare could believe in and trust.

Capello, on the other hand, does not. A season interrupted by injury and then sporadic appearances appear to have put him at the back of the queue for South Africa in the manager’s mind.

Far be it for us to question the great Capello, but in this instance we think he’s wrong. If Joe Cole is fit he should go to the World Cup, especially now Beckham is out. Be it as a starter ahead of any of the names mentioned above or as back up to a fully fit Lennon, we don’t mind. But go he should.

In the meantime, our sincerest commiserations are with David Beckham. Three years of hard work dashed by misfortune only 90 days before his target would have been reached. Heartbreaking, really.

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Hits

RUBIN KAZAN: The current Russian Champions have been a breath of fresh air this year. Combining a resolute defensive stability with the occasional creative foray they have already beaten Barcelona at the Camp Nou and held them to a 0-0 stalemate back in frozen Kazan just last night. Rubin won their first ever League title last year to qualify and now sit joint second with the Spanish giants in Group F, topped by Inter Milan. Unbeaten in four matches going back a month at home and in Europe, the Russian side could yet qualify for the knockout stages.

ARSENAL: Yes, Arsenal. Despite having the leanest squad in the Premiership Top Four, the English club boasts attacking talent so good that they are defying the odds and virtually secured their progression with a 4-1 hammering of AZ Alkmaar. Ok, the opposition isn’t all that but Arsenal’s style of play is a joy to watch in the domestic league and in Europe. They warrant a hit for that alone, but doing it with, in our opinion, a wafer thin squad and questionable defence (the wonderful Vermaelen aside) cements it.

CRISTIANO RONALDO: Despite being injured for the last few weeks he still tops the Champions League scoring charts with four goals, just ahead of Wolfsburg’s brilliantly named Grafite, and since his injury Real Madrid have suffered a dramatic dip in form and results. Losing to AC Milan 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabéu two weeks ago and then only managing a draw in Milan this week, Real are in danger of failing to qualify with Marseille closing fast in Group C. Sporting Fare puts this down to the continuing absence of Ronaldo, whose form pre-injury was the best in Europe by far. With the likes of Rooney, Messi and Gilardino in the competition it is testament to his quality that he remains top scorer.

Misses

RAFAEL BENITEZ: The Liverpool manager, who has proven on more than one occasion that he is capable of pulling his club’s proverbial fat out of the fire, has this time failed to do so. The reasons for this are many and cannot all be placed at his door. Gerrard’s absence, Torres’ injuries and Carragher’s loss of form are not his fault. But the sale of Alonso, the failure to have enough striking options in his squad and the failed signings he has made are definitely his fault. It seems that Rafa has lost the plot in his now overdue five year plan for Liverpool. Lyons’ last gasp equaliser last night, which virtually puts the English club out of the competition, may not be the final nail in the Spaniard’s coffin, but it will have Liverpool’s squabbling board thinking hard about his future. There is still a chance the escapologist could pull the club through – but Sporting Fare won’t be betting on it.

BAYERN MUNICH: This former European giant has not been having a good time of it lately. Third in Group A, four points off second placed Juventus and six off leaders Bordeaux – and with Juventus still to play in Turin – things look bleak for the German side. Yet a look at their squad suggests they should be qualifying from this group with ease. Butt, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Van Bommel, Toni, Klose – all big, big players. It only suggests the team is letting itself down and they are possibly the biggest miss so far in the Champions League.

BARCELONA: Managing only a point against Russian champions and big hits Rubin Kazan is one thing. Well, it’s the only thing really. But, like Bayern Munich, boasting a squad as talented as they do and failing to deliver on Europe’s biggest stage is criminal. We’re sure it’s as big a mystery to Josep Guardiola as it is to us. They are far from out of it and the group is a tight one, led by Inter who only recorded their first win in the competition in over a year this week yet a team of Barcelona’s quality should be gracing the Champions League with goals galore from the likes of Messi, Henry et al. Shape up, boys, it’s not good enough.

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Having overseen the sale of Kaka to Real Madrid for £59.9m and NOT buying too many replacements to help balance the Rossoneri books, it’s a fair question to ask if he would ever sell. There are interested parties, not least the Albanian Rezart Taci, but Berlusconi has always said never. In fact, what he said was:

I would make the sacrifice to sell Milan only to someone who would benefit the club more than me. Up to now, no one has come forward who fits the bill.

This is Silvio Berlusconi talking, so presumable until the Pope, Jesus Christ or God Almighty himself steps forward…

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If it works out just as well then it’s almost nailed on that he will be on the plane to South Africa, Fabio Capello clearly keen to take him if he stays fit.

But should he? The contentious issue continues to keep pubs and papers in business. Sporting Fare is clear on the issue, however – yes, he should go. As an impact substitute and / or back up to one of his as yet unproven heirs there is no better option. Taking two or three from the Walcott / Young / Milner group and leaving Becks behind would be, in our opinion, A. Bad. Idea.

So good luck to him in Milan. Because England are going to need him at some point.

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