Is Belgium the New Spain

For years Spain underachieved on the world stage, now they are the best team on the plant. Belgium could soon be following that path. For years, the small country has produce the odd star now they are producing stars by bucket load. During the past couple of years, Michel Sablon changed Belgium into the team that they are today.

The power of TV

There used to a time when I would have to watch the Premier League on an illegal box at my then girlfriend's, current wife, parents house. Fast forward 15 years and you can watch a variety of different leagues on your tv. This week that is what I did.

Friday:
French League: Stade Rennais vs. AS Saint Etienne

Saturday:
FA Cup: Wigan vs. Everton
Premier League: Aston Villas vs. Reading
League Championship: Crystal Palace vs. Leeds United
MLS: New England at Chicago
Spain: Barcelona vs. Deportivo La Coruna
Mexican League: Cruz Azul vs. Jaguares

Sunday
FA Cup: Millwall vs. Blackburn
FA Cup: Manchester United vs Chelsea
Premier League: Spurs vs. Liverpool

Now I'm not saying I watched all of these games in their entirety, but I did flip between all of them. It's amazing to know that soccer fans in this country have more options than people in Europe or even South American. Isn't cable great.

Now this is a debate

Interesting debate. Who would win in a tournament between teams comprised of the top players in the English, German and Spanish leagues. My winner in a surprise would be Germany

Front Page Story: Spain Rule Europe Again

Spain are the champions of Europe again after beating Italy 4-0 on Sunday. The debate will rage on over the next couple months if Spain is the greatest team ever. I will have more on that over the next couple of weeks. Here is how some papers in Spain covered their win.

EURO 2012 Here We Come

With the European Club season ending, its time for soccer fans to shift their attention to Euro 2102. Here are some of the great promos that are running around the world.

Nike's "My Time is Now" ad




ITV (England) has a great ad campaign asking people to dream



ESPN's promo for Euro 2012



Random promo I found on YouTube and its great



Another great promo I found on YouTube, this one takes a look at some of the tournaments great moments

OTWT Starting 11 for 2011

Everyone is doing it, so I thought we would too. Here is the OTWT starting 11 for 2011

• Goalkeeper: Joe Hart, Manchester City
• Left Back: Ashley Cole, Chelsea
• Center back: Vincent Kompany, Manchester City
• Center back: Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United
• Right Back:  Gregory van der Wiel, Ajax
• Left side: Eden Hazard, Lille
• Central Midfielder: Javier Mascherano, Barcelona 
• Central Midfielder: Xavi, Barcelona
• Right side:Mario Goetze, Borussia Dortmund
• Striker: Ronaldo, Real Madrid
• Striker: Lionel Messi, Barcelona

I know everyone does not agree with my starting 11, so let the trashing begin. 

Its so bad that Bieber is going replace Torres at Chelsea

If life at Chelsea can not get any worst for Fernando Torres at Chelsea, now the blues are looking a signing a replacement him, Justin Bieber. Bieber trained at Chelsea with Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres and some people said he does not miss sitters like Torres does.

Professional Tailgating: Wembley Revenge

It might not have been the Champions League Final but Manchester United and Barcelona faced off in Washington DC on Saturday as part of the World Football Challenge. Manchester United won the game, here are some of the sites and sounds from the game. 

The scarfs are hung 

All types of jerseys where on display, even Afellay 

 Game was part of the World Football Challenge

Manchester United and Barcelona take the field

Teams ready for battle

Five Clubs to Watch this Season

Teams are returning to preseason training around Europe and there are ton of story lines. But here are five clubs that I will be keeping on a close eye during this upcoming season.

• PSG: I have highlighted them in the past, but they are the team to watch in France this year. They are closing in on QPR's Adel Taarabt, that should be the first of many big money signings at the capital city club. 
• Maluga: They are turning into the Manchester City of Spain. Sheikh Al Thani purchased the club on June 11, 2010 and became president on July 28. Jesualdo Ferreira was brought in as coach but was sacked after a series of bad results. Chilean Manuel Pellegrini, who had previously been in charge of Villarreal and Real Madrid, took the reins while the club was in the relegation zone. He oversaw a revival thanks to five consecutive wins later in the season, a historic first for the club. With several new signings, which included Maresca, Martin Demichelis, Ruud van Nisterlrooy (above) and Julio Baptista, the club managed to finish in 11th place.
• Manchester City: It's one thing to make it to the Champions League, it's another to deal with the demand. They have a big enough squad, now the fan base is going demand that they contend for the league title and not just qualify for Champions League.
• QPR: Once the richest club in the world, now the club is going to face a tough return to the Premier League. Will the owners spend enough to keep them there and how much is the pending loss of Taarabt going to effect them. 
• Bayern Munich: Last years was a disaster in the league finishing third. How does the big spending club bounce back. 

This sums it up

Barca are the kings of Europe again and maybe a team of a generation.This is the front page of a Spanish delay and its sums it up.

Will Sir Alex go 4-4-1-1

The countdown is on until Saturday epic battle between Manchester United and Barcelona in the Champions League Final. While Barcelona formation appears to be set, Manchester United's formation appears to be up for debate. Will United play two up front, will Giggs make the starting 11. So here is what I would do if I was Sir Alex

Van de Sar

Rafeal                    Vidic                             Rio         Evra

Valencia             Carrick                      Fletcher             Park

Rooney

Hernandez

By going with this formation, Carrick and Fletcher could be supported in the middle by Park Ji Sung if its need and Rooney could then move out the wing. The bench would feature: Berba, Smalling, Giggs, O'Shea, Nani, Scholes, and Kuszcak. I would go with 4-4-1-1. This would be the formation that gives United the best chance to lift Mr. Big Ears again.

Please be nice to your trophies

As the European soccer season winds to a close, people are collecting trophies all over the place and some players are having a hard time handling the trophies.

Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenberg drops Dutch title trophy


Sergio Ramos drops the Copa del Rey


While its not a soccer trophy, the Spokane Chiefs break the Memorial Cup in 2008, classic, one of my favorites

Soccer's real kung fu kid?

The World Cup Final is over and it was not the most entertaining game with Spain winning in extra time 1-0. But the one incident that stood out was dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong kung fu kick on Alonso, which got me to thinking, who is soccer real Kung Fu Kick: de Jong or Eric Cantona?

Nigel de Jong on Alonso during the 2010 World Cup Final


Manchester United Eric Cantona kung fu kicks a Crystal Palace fan

Is the Premier League Coming to ESPN3.com?

During halftime of the Netherlands vs. Uruguay World Cup semifinal yesterday, I was looking at the ESPN3.com schedule for soccer during the upcoming months and one thing that I found surprised me. Listed on Aug. 14 at 7:30 a.m. is the Barclays Premier League, there were no teams listed but same type listing was also scheduled for Aug. 21. Last year, ESPN3.com, then ESPN360 was not able to show the games on their Internet network because of an agreement with FSC, but if they worked this out, it would be a great service for fans. With the Barclays Premier League on board, the streaming network now features the German League, Italian League, Spanish League, Dutch League, and Portuguese League. Now that is a network for soccer.

I don't know if this is a misprint or something like that, but bringing the Premier League would be great for people who don't have access to a tv during the game and have to be by a computer. I was wondering if anyone out there had any further information about this.

Champions League Final = Main Stream Media Love

So Inter Milan showed yesterday that they were the best team in Europe with a beat down of Bayern Munich, but there was another winner beside Inter, main stream media love of the Champions League on twitter.

All during the final various media members and athletes were tweeting about how much the enjoyed the Super Bowl of European Soccer.

• TonyBrunoShow: (Tony Bruno Radio Show) getting some sun in Arizona on a breezy and beautifuy day and watching my boys from Inter Milan win the UEFA... http://fb.me/wTWzlUSN.
• OGOchoCinco (Chad Johnson) Wwwwwwooooowwwww #DIEGOMILITO again with 20 minutes to go, [gggggggggooooooooaaaaaallll
• Andreahoops (NBA TV guy Andre Aldridge): Good to see Mario Balotelli celebrating with his Inter Milan teammates and the Trophy. He's seen and done a lot, but he's only 19.

I know that soccer has not topped the big four sports yet, but with showings like this its starting to make a big jump and with this World Cup its only going to get bigger.

OTWT Champions League Predictions

The business end of the season is here and the Champions League last eight kicks off today. The slate is littered with good match ups including the rematch of the 1999 Final between United and Munich. Here is how the OTWT Scouting Department sees the ties breaking down.

Lyon (France) vs. Bordeaux (France): Lyon has the feeling of a team that is built better for Europe then the league. I know Bordeaux has taken over as the force in France, but for some reason I can not turn my back on Lyon. So Lyon it is.
Bayern Munich (Germany) vs. Manchester United (England): The '99 Final rematch. As a United fans, this is a tie that worries me. Robben and Ribery worry me to no end, but in the end United are the more complete team and therefor head to the semi-finals.
Arsenal (England) vs. Barcelona (Spain): Barca and it will not even be easy. Arsenal are doing what they do best implode at the end of the season.
Inter Milan (Italy) vs. CSKA Moscow (Russia): Inter Milan. CSKA has had a nice run and shown that Russian soccer is nothing to mess with in the coming years. Inter stay on course for the final.

Money can't buy you.....

A ton of money can not buy you happiness or win you the Champions League title. Real Madrid learned that yesterday as they were dumped up of the Big Ears Cup by Lyon and the Spanish newspapers are not happy.

The money making power of soccer

This has been a big year for soccer in the United States. First the US Men's National team beats Spain at the Confed Cup, then ESPN starts to show La Liga and the Premier League and finally Dicks Sporting Good decides to dedicate a section of their stores to soccer gear and not just balls and shin guards but jerseys and jackets to. Having leagues on ESPN is a big deal but having their merchandise in stores might be bigger because it shows that money making power of soccer in the United States.

Liverpool Jacket at the Dick's Sporting Goods in Stafford

Champions League Ball at the Dick's Sporting Goods in Mays Landing
Barcelona ball at the Dick's Sporting Goods in Mays Landing

Arsenal ball at the Dick's Sporting Goods in Mays Landing

Manchester United ball at the Dick's Sporting Goods in Mays Landing

And you thought soccer was not growing

On Wednesday the home office of OTWT received a shocking call from Endy in Outfield. At first I could not believe what I was hearing, it sounded like something tragic had happened. After talking to him, I try to figure out what was going on.

Endy called me to let me know that my father, who is 60 and home recovering after being sick for two months, watched the first half of the Barcelona/Racing Santander match on ESPN. I know what people are thinking, so what is the big deal with this, everything is. My dad hated the beautiful game, even going as far as making fun of my brother and I for spending so many hours on the weekend watching, but now maybe that is changing.

So after hearing the astonishing news, I called my father to see how he was doing and all he wanted to do is talking about "the big white guy with the big nose'' or as everyone knows him Zlatan Ibrahimovic (pictured right). He said he really liked him and thought he was fun to watch, he also expressed great love for the slick passing midfield duo of Xavi and Iniesta or as he called them ""the two short guys that look alike.'' Then my dad went on to tell to me about Barcelona and wanted to talk about how entertaining they were. It was almost cool to hear.

Maybe ESPN is the key to making soccer successful in this country, if my father can watch the first half of a game and express interest, who knows what is possible.

Professional Tailgating: On the Road Again

The Only Time Will Tell hit the road again on Sunday to go to see the most expensive team in the world, Real Madrid. So the crew loaded up the car and headed to DC to see Madrid take on DC United. Here are some of the sites and sounds of the game that drew approximately 72,000 people to FedEx Field.

The grill was cooking some fresh meatsThe most expensive team in the world, Real Madrid, arrives at the stadium

FedEx Field would make a classic World Cup venue in the future

Real Madrid take the field to warm up

Both teams take the field




A moment of silence for Daniel Jarque, the Espanyol captain, who passed away late last week

Our seats were really high up, but were really not that bad