OLDEST IRISH AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN USA, ESTABLISHED IN 1928
Category: Archive

Celtic, near last 16, must travel to Lyon’s den

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

While Manchester United and Chelsea qualified for the last 16, Arsenal stole the show with an outrageous 5-1 victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro. It was a great victory for the Gunners, who were firing on all cylinders against the Italians, and a characteristic CL comeback by Arsene Wenger’s team. As sensational as the result was, the London club could not outshine Celtic’s arrival on the doorstep of the CL’s last 16. Arsenal knows all about getting to the last hurdle in CL. We have seen them here before, several times. We have not seen Celtic, not since the old European Cup.
It could be argued that Chelsea is a newer team on the block than Celtic. Chelsea regrouped in the CL and showed they are a great team as well having great individual players. Their 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the weekend was proof. Claudio Rainier and his Blues are looking good these days. The Chelsea story has only begun. But for Celtic it has been a road and a half to get to this point. An away game to Lyon could turn out to be the most attractive CL game to watch as security tightens around Europe.
But Martin O’Neill has done it again. He’s brought his team to another crunch game as he progresses on European soil. Ultimately, last year’s defeat in the UEFA Cup final is going to stand by Celtic. Several teams, such as Galatasaray and FC Porto, have gone through the growing pains of gaining European respect. For Celtic and O’Neill it’s very much about improving. O’Neill made no secret of that when he first joined Celtic. Back then his major goal was to develop in Europe by strengthening his squad.
Chris Sutton and John Hartson were brought in to attack with Henrik Larsson. The backline was bolstered while Neil Lennon was at the top of O’Neill’s list for center midfield. Hard-luck stories will not do for the Hoops manager. His passionate players believe they can hang out with the best, and they already have. The scoreless tie with Bayern Munich will not have gone unnoticed. O’Neill is on the threshhold of making it in Europe. He may remind his Bhoys of how they felt when they lost to FC Porto in the Uefa Cup last year
Group A has a nail-biting finish to its final games. Celtic, Anderlecht and Lyon are all on seven points, while Bayern are on six. Any of the four teams can qualify. With home advantage over Anderlecht, Bayern look favorites. A draw will not do them any good. The Germans must win to stay alive. Anderlecht also turned the table upside down when they beat Lyon 1-0 in Belgium.
Celtic have a better goal difference which gives them the advantage but that can go out the window very rapidly against a team like Lyon. However, the French know they have a very physical and skillful team to beat. It would not come as a surprise to see Celtic sitting in and hitting Lyon on the counterattack. Indeed a tie will do the Hoops; it will not do Lyon. It’s more likely that Celtic’s defensive intensity may overpower the fancy French. Hoops wider player Alan Thompson is also in fine form and capable of hurting Lyon.
Even now there is talk of Celtic joining the G14 group of elite teams in Europe. Celtic’s once-high profile in Europe has been rejuvenated. The Hoops could soon be invited to join the powerful G14. Their recent European performances have raised the club’s profile. Bayern Munich was first to admit that if Celtic continue with consistency in the CL for the next couple of years they could join the cream of the crop. And that’s the kind of influence Celtic is aiming for.
Another cliffhanger is Group B. Arsenal eventually got their CL act together after that fantastic result against Inter. Thierry Henry can make a real claim that he is one of the best in the world, but he can back it up if his Gunners qualify from their group after a shaky start. Henry is the man of the moment. He has also become Arsenal’s leader, as Patrick Vieira has been missing the action. In this group Lokomotiv Moscow is the surprise package on top of the table. Moscow is on eight points, Arsenal and Inter on seven and the very dangerous Kiev, by no means out of the race, on six.
Monaco is set to join the sweet 16 as they top Group C with goal difference getting them to the CL finals. Deportivo La Coruna is level with Monaco on 10 points and look like a strong second. From the five remaining groups Monaco are joined by Juventus, Real Sociedad, VfB Stuttgart, Manchester United, Real Madrid, FC Porto, Chelsea and Milan. Teams who will not be written off are PSV Eindhoven, Besiktas, Sparta Prague, Lazio, Ajax Amsterdam, Celta Vigo and Club Brugge. Other eye-catching games on Dec. 9 are Sparta Prague vs. Lazio and Club Brugge vs. Ajax. On Dec. 10, it’s Arsenal vs. Lokomotiv and Kiev vs. Inter.
The destination of one team was decided yesterday. Galatasaray had to reschedule their game with Juve after the barbaric attacks in the city of Istanbul, killing 56 and injuring hundreds. The soccer world is greatly affected.
UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner said: “It goes without saying that UEFA shares in the sorrow and sympathy for the victims of the bomb attacks and for the people of Turkey. It is necessary to come down a peg or two when it comes to celebrating soccer.”
The soccer world speaks out, but the show does go on. That game was switched to Dortmund. It is wonderful to see the soccer authorities getting it right even if it means switching venues. There has to be an emphasis on authorities making the right decisions when it comes to the safety of all participating. It is imperative from here on in; it’s now a must for the future of such an exciting CL.

Other Articles You Might Like

Sign up to our Daily Newsletter

Click to access the login or register cheese