Champions League Rematches

If you like rematches, no, sorry, redemolitions, then this Champions League draw is for you. At first glance, Barca vs. Arsenal is an intriguing encounter. Sure, the two sides will provide beautiful football and Barca is likely to provide the joy they did when hosting Real Madrid but is there any question of who will win this tie? Now, if Arsenal pull off a shock, I'll look like an idiot for saying this, but, they should provide the Catalans with the least trouble of anyone Barca could have faced. An AC Milan fixture, for example, would have left Barca trying break down one of Europe's best defenses. Arsenal, though will try to beat the Spaniards at they're own game. Unless Arsene Wenger decides to make a shocking change of tactics, his side has no hope. Here are my grades and predictions for these fixtures:

Valencia vs. Schalke 04

Grade: B-

Prediction: Valencia 2-1 Schalke 04

Neither of these sides interest me with their quality but the talent levels here are very similar. They should provide an even encounter but the Spanish side will look to start well at the Mestalla.

AC Milan vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Grade: A

Prediction: Tottenham 5-4 AC Milan

These sides are so different yet so similar in quality. Spurs will need to keep up with Milan at the San Siro and get at least a draw or else the Italians will pack it in during the return. However, if Spurs can keep up in Italy, Milan will be susceptible to the speed of Bale and Lennon on the flanks if they go for the win.

AS Roma vs. Shakhtar Donetsk

Grade: C+

Prediction: Roma 4-0 Donetsk

Shakhtar had a nice group stage but this is where luck runs out for the Ukrainians. Roma is far better as they showed against Bayern Munich. A 3-0 win at home will put this one to bed before half-time of leg 1.

Arsenal vs. Barcelona

Grade: A-

Prediction: Barca 7-1 Arsenal

This will be beautiful but not competitive. Arsenal will be edged at the Emirates before being horribly exposed in Spain.

Copenhagen vs. Chelsea

Grade: B

Prediction: Chelsea 4-1 Copenhagen

The Blues should have no trouble here unless their poor form is permanent. The Danes could keep it close at the Parkon Stadion but Ancelotti's triple threat should do them in at the bridge.

Lyon vs. Real Madrid

Grade: B

Prediction: Madrid 4-2 Lyon

Lyon is a good side and Madrid have 2nd round issues but the new class of Whites should do away with the side that disposed of them a year ago. 2-1 in both legs.

Marseille vs. Manchester United

Grade: A

Prediction: Marseille 2-1 Man United

This is my upset pick. The French side is very talented and could take a lead to Old Trafford. If they do, they can hold out.

Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich

Grade: A+

Prediction: Bayern 4-3 Inter

Munich will not pass up this chance for revenge. They might fall behind in Italy but they should make everything right in Germany by putting Inter back in their place at the Allianz.

Now that you've read my predictions, make yours!

A Disgrace to Football

Before I start my rant about you-know-where, I will congratulate Russia. They put in a very good bid and are an increasingly football-crazy country (or continent, if you prefer). They went to the semis of Euro 2008 and are creating a wealth of new talent. This shows by the fact that they actually had a FOOTBALLER (Andrey Arshavin) representing their FOOTBALL World Cup bid in Zurich on Thursday.

Well, come to think of it, every country in 2022 did too--Lucas Neill (Australia), Landon Donovan (US), Ji-Sung Park (South Korea), and Keisuke Honda (Japan). That is, except for you-know-where. If the 10 reasons that I'm about to list for why you-know-where shouldn't host the World Cup, this one should be good enough. An obscenely fat oil-rich guy with a hideous mustache and crooked, yellow teeth who pays under the table bribes to another obscenely fat rich guy from Switzerland (Sepp Blatter) does not, in any way, represent the beautiful game.

Oh, and here are the 10 other reasons: 120-degree weather, ridiculous promises (see edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/12/02/qatar.world.cup.stadiums/), a country that has badminton on their TVs instead of Holland vs. Denmark in the World Cup (I was there), a football team ranked 113th that has never come close to qualifying for a world cup, the worst striker in the history of football (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfWJdjUvonU&feature=related), no real domestic league, the country is a dust bowl, it's the size of Connecticut, the airport has no hope of handling 1 million tourists, and the people are surly.

Sure, the US probably wouldn't have been that great of a choice, but how can you pick Qatar over the Aussies (hint: bribes)? Look out for a failure in 2022.