One to Watch - Xherdan Shaqiri

In the last of our series of “One to watch” at the UEFA U21 Championships, we have decided to feature a prodigious talent who has all the talent to lead Switzerland to glory this summer. The Swiss have consistently made European and World Cup Tournaments. However, there is a new breed of youngsters coming through the ranks and leading the way for the next generation of Swiss footballers to have a big impact at these events. The star of the bunch is undoubtedly, Xherdan Shaqiri.

PROFILE:
Club	FC Basel
Squad No	17
Position	AM L or R
Nationality	Kosovan (Nationalised Swiss)
Age	19
Height	1.68m
Weight	69 kg
Career Record: Club International	89 apps 14 goals 11 apps 1 goal

One to watch - Phil Jones

Phil Jones has been described as a “Rolls-Royce” of a player and has been highlighted as the future captain of Blackburn (if they can hold onto him that is). He is not your typical English centre-half as he is comfortable on the ball, a quality which was aided by his displays in the middle of the park for Rovers. Jones will be marshalling England's defence at the UEFA U21 Championships and if England are to go one better than their runners-up finish in 2009, then this Preston-born lad will have to be on top of his game.

PROFILE:
Club	Blackburn Rovers
Squad No	28
Nationality	English
Age	19
Height	1.80m
Weight	71kg
Career Record: Club U21	37 apps 0 goals 07 apps 0 goals

One to watch - Iker Muniain

Iker Muniain holds the record for the youngest player to appear and then a week later score for Athletic Bilbao from Spain's La Liga. The Spanish Football Association have high hopes for this lad and so do we.

PROFILE:
Club	Athletic Bilboa
Squad No	27
Nationality	Spanish
Age	18
Height	1.69m
Weight	63kg
Career Record: Club U21	91 apps 14 goals  2 apps  0 goals

One to watch - Christian Eriksen

With the UEFA U21 Championships set to commence in Denmark on 11^th June 2011, we will be running a series of features highlighting the players to watch during this tournament. We are kicking it off with the hometown hero hoping to deliver the U21 title to Danish fans. He has been dubbed “the new Michael Laudrup” and plays for the club where the legendary Laudrup ended his career. He is none other than Ajax Amsterdam’s latest wonderkid, Christian Eriksen.

PROFILE:
Club	Ajax Amsterdam
Squad No	8
Position	Attacking Midfielder (RCL)
Nationality	Danish
Age	19
Height	1.75m
Weight	71kg
Career Record: Club International	67 apps 9 goals 11 apps 0 goals

A look ahead......

A lot of you may be feeling that the football season is on a hiatus after the epic Champions League encounter between Barcelona and Manchester United on a night when Barcelona cemented their status in the echelons of great European Footballing teams. There are, however, two major International tournaments happening this off-season.

The Copa America 2011 runs from the 01^st to the 24^th of July. The best teams in Central and South America come together to battle it out to be crowned the best in the West. There are some real heavyweights in this competition including the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Mexico and Colombia. Some of the worlds greatest footballers will also be setting the fields alight including the one and only, Lionel Messi, Neymar the “bad boy” of Brazilian football, Liverpool’s Uruguayan Hitman, Luis Suarez, and the top scorer in European competitions this season Colombia’s, Rademel Falcao.

Messi, Neymar and Suarez are ready to thrill millions around the world this Winter

Before the Copa America commences, the young stars of Europe will get to showcase their talents with eight of the best European teams taking part in the UEFA U21 Championships. Those of you that have seen this tournament will know that there are a host of quality footballers taking part and is a worthwhile glimpse into the future. Spain have already shown their intent by naming World Cup winners Juan Mata and Javi Martinez in their squad for the championships, whereas Switzerland are sure to announce FC Basel’s full Swiss International (who made one substitute appearance in the last World Cup), Xhedran Shaqiri in their final team. However, England have opted to leave their best two Starlets at home in Jack Wilshere and Andy Carroll. Time will tell if Stuart Pearce has made the correct decision. Last years final was a showdown between Germany and England, in which the Germans ran out 4 – 0 winners. The German side consisted of Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, all of whom stared a year later in South Africa and helped German secure a 3^rd place finish. This is just an example of the stature of this tournament.

The stars of the future

The Insider and I have decided to run a feature of the “Ones to watch” in this rendition of the tournament. We will be kicking it off tomorrow with the man dubbed the “new Michael Laudrup”, he is none other than Denmark and Ajax Amsterdam’s young superstar, Christian Eriksen.

Preview of the Champions League Final 2011

FC Barcelona vs Manchester United FC

Wembley Stadium

Saturday 28^th May 2011

20h45

Background:

Irresistible force vs Immovable object. This is how the UEFA Champions League 2011 has been billed. Is this a correct assumption? One can doubt whether Manchester United is an immovable object in this current season as at home, during the English Premier League and in the Champions League, they have been impenetrable, while there away form has not been up to standard. When one considers Manchester United’s away form this season in the premier league, 5 wins, 10 draws in 19 matches, can this team rightly be considered an immovable object. Manchester United teams of the past have dominated home and away when triumphing in the league yet the current version has not had many successes on the road in the league. But when a team has a manager in Sir Alex Ferguson, the players in the team know what they should expect from a man who has practically won it all in domestic and European Football. Sir Alex Ferguson is no doubt one of the greatest British managers of all time, rivaling Bob Paisley, Brian Clough and Jock Stein. It is more difficult than in previous eras to win championships due to the introduction of improved organisation, advanced technology in determining strategies and improved physical conditions of squads and Sir Alex Ferguson has proven over the years that he is the manager to beat in Britain and again this season has proven that. Winning the Premier League and taking this team to the Champions league finals is a great achievement. Three Champions league finals in four years is testament to a great manager.

The irresistible force in this instant is applied to the FC Barcelona. The Catalan giants, who have just wrapped up their 3^rd consecutive title in La Liga, and are currently the world’s best team. A team boasting 7 World Cup winners plus a certain Argentine Legend in the making has swatted aside all opposition before them this season. With a brand of attractive, flowing football, FC Barcelona have enchanted many and gained new fans in the process of delivering football purity to the masses. In the Champions League this term, Barcelona has had a much tougher time than Manchester United on the way to the final. Arsenal, Shahktar Donetsk and Real Madrid were eliminated and not just eliminated, but completely outplayed. Barcelona had the unenviable task of eliminated their perennial title rivals and arch-enemies Real Madrid in the semi-finals. These two matches have certainly polarize opinions about the Spanish league in terms of the unsavory scenes during the match but it does not change the fact that Barcelona beat Real Madrid and beat them convincingly. Pep Guardiola’s team is one of the greatest in the history of the game and winning the Champions league on Saturday will elevate this team even more. 

The Holy Trinity - Stop them and you stop Barcelona?

Statistics for the two teams over the past 3 years in Domestic Competition:

Manchester United: Domestic League

Year	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS	GD	Position
2009	38	28	6	4	68	24	90	+44	1st
2010	38	27	4	7	86	23	85	+58	2nd
2011	38	23	11	4	78	37	80	+41	1st

FC Barcelona: Domestic League

Year	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS	GD	Position
2009	38	27	6	5	105	35	87	+70	1st
2010	38	31	6	1	98	24	99	+74	1st
2011	38	30	6	2	95	21	96	+74	1st

This statistical diagram aims to show that whereas Manchester United have continued to win titles, their defense over the last 3 year period has gradually started to become porous, whether this is down to injuries this term during the season is debatable, because a team of Manchester United’s stature should be able to make up for the injuries and suspensions that occur. Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Wes Brown were all able deputies over the course of the season but more goals have been leaked which suggests that the defense has not been good this season. Wayne Rooney has not produced as many goals as seasons past and with the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, Manchester United lost two proven goalscorers and this has definitely affected the amount of goals scored over the past two years. Therefore the achievements of Javier Hernandez have been phenomenal this season. It is debatable, but without his goals this term, especially in the final stages of the season and his ability to relieve the pressure off Wayne Rooney, Manchester United possibly would not have been Champions this term.

United's "go to" man in the final months of the season. His movement and pace can cause problems for any defense and more importantly he only needs one chance to score. 

 

Barcelona’s statistics are very interesting. This team has been accused in some circles of having defensive weaknesses yet the statistics prove otherwise. Over the three year period, where fewer goals have been scored, the amount of goals conceded has dropped considerably, indicating that manager Pep Guardiola has focused on a more controlled game. This can be attributed to the intense pressing game that Guardiola employs in which opposition teams have less time on the ball and defence starts at the front thereby offering less goalscoring chances to the opposition. With the addition of David Villa up front, Barcelona have not scored more goals this term compared to previous seasons, but they have consistently scored more than 90 goals plus over three seasons, a phenomenal achievement. 

Player to watch:

FC Barcelona: Sergio Busquets – The most important player in the team. It starts with Busquets and ends with Messi. All Barcelona’s attacks begins with Busquets and all opposition attacks ends with Busquets breaking it up. Displaced Yaya Toure in the Barcelona team and since dominating the final in 2009, has gone from strength to strength. At 22 years old, and with 10 honours already to his name, including the World Cup last year, more honours will certainly come his way. Brilliant at reading the game, along with supreme technical ability, his one vice may be to exaggerate his reactions to fouls, but this does not detract from his gifts as a footballer. One of the best defensive midfielders in the world.

Manchester United: Javier Hernandez – Player of the season for Manchester United. Speed, athleticism and ability to know when to attack the penalty area and score goals. That ability is priceless in big finals. In the Spanish Press, he is certainly regarded as Manchester United’s main threat, and the question is will he start the final? If Manchester United have any aspirations of winning the final, they certainly should start him. “Chicarito”, as he is known, has certainly endured himself to the Manchester United fans and he should be a mainstay in the frontline for years to come. 

Road to the Final:

Manchester United:

Match	Opposition	Venue	Result
Group Stage: 1st Matchday	Rangers	Old Trafford	0-0
Group Stage: 2nd Matchday	Valencia	Mestalla	0-1
Group Stage: 3rd Matchday	Bursapor	Old Trafford	1-0
Group Stage: 4th Matchday	Bursapor	Bursa Ataturk	0-3
Group Stage: 5th Matchday	Rangers	Ibrox	0-1
Group Stage: 6th Matchday	Valencia	Old Trafford	1-1
1st Knock-out Round: 1st Leg	Marseille	Stade Velodrome	0-0
1st Knock-out Round: 2nd Leg	Marseille	Old Trafford	2-1
Quarter-Finals: 1st Leg	Chelsea	Stamford Bridge	0-1
Quarter-Finals: 2nd Leg	Chelsea	Old Trafford	2-1
Semi-Finals: 1st Leg	Schalke	Veltins Arena	0-2
Semi-Finals: 2nd Leg	Schalke	Old Trafford	4-1

FC Barcelona:

Match	Opposition	Venue	Result
Group Stage: 1st Matchday	Panathinaikos	Nou Camp	5-1
Group Stage: 2nd Matchday	Rubin Kazan	Centralni	1-1
Group Stage: 3rd Matchday	Kobenhavn	Nou Camp	2-0
Group Stage: 4th Matchday	Kobenhavn	Parken Stadion	1-1
Group Stage: 5th Matchday	Panathinaikos	OACA Spiros Louis	0-3
Group Stage: 6th Matchday	Rubin Kazan	Nou Camp	2-0
1st Knock-out Round: 1st Leg	Arsenal	Emirates	2-1
1st Knock-out Round: 2nd Leg	Arsenal	Nou Camp	3-1
Quarter-Finals: 1st Leg	Shahktar Donetsk	Nou Camp	5-1
Quarter-Finals: 2nd Leg	Shahktar Donetsk	Donbass Arena	0-1
Semi-Finals: 1st Leg	Real Madrid	Santiago Bernabeu	0-2
Semi-Finals: 2nd Leg	Real Madrid	Nou Camp	1-1

Lionel Messi is the top goalscorer in the competition with 11 goals in 12 matches as well as suffering the most fouls, 30 in the competition.

Manchester United have conceded the least amount of goals in the Champions League this term, with 4 goals conceded.

Possible Team lineups:

FC Barcelona: Valdes-Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal-Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta-Messi, Villa, Pedro (4-3-3)

Manchester United FC: Van Der Sar-Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra-Park, Giggs, Carrick, Valencia, Rooney -Hernandez (4-3-2-1)

Prediction:

FC Barcelona are certainly the favorites having had an extremely tough road to the final and playing football which has become nearly unstoppable. However, Sir Alex Ferguson is one coach who is certainly not one to shy away from the challenge. The Rome final in 2009 left many scars and it has culminated with the chance to exact revenge at Wembley. Manchester United certainly has on paper the better defense, but the other departments such as Midfield and Forwards, they do trail by a distance. Planning to stop Lionel Messi is one of the hardest tasks in football and this should not be the sole focus of Sir Alex as there are many more players that can hurt Manchester United and therein lays the problem. More match winners on the pitch allied with possibly 60% plus possession in the final will mean that Manchester United have to work so hard and be so organised that over 90 minutes it is certainly nearby impossible to stop the Catalans. Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta were the midfield triumvirate, which tormented United in Rome and they are back again. Stop them and you have a chance of winning. Rooney and certainly Hernandez are the biggest threats to Barcelona but the question is how much ball these two will be able to get in order to hurt Barcelona. Real Madrid paid Barcelona the biggest compliment by changing their style of play and still it did not pay off. Does Sir Alex have enough options in order to win?  In Rome, he altered his side to four different strategies and still could not halt Barcelona domination.  Let’s hope that Sir Alex has something in the bag, the best way to play Barcelona is 3-3-3-1, the tactic employed by Chile’s Marcelo Bielsa. This allows only one defender to mark Lionel Messi and this formation protects the flanks from any overlapping from the opposition, which is Barcelona’s critical weapon. But changing formations at this stage of the season is too risky and could possibly create instability.

Score prediction: 2-0 to Barcelona. It is nearly impossible to beat Barcelona these days and Manchester United are one of the few teams that can provide the energy to match Barcelona and defensive organisation for 90 minutes. But energy is not enough to win a football match and a repeat scoreline of the 2009 final is on the cards.

Feel free to share your thoughts and predictions on tomorrow's final.