The Best of the Decade in Soccer

As the first decade of the new millennium reaches stoppage time, it's time to honor some of the stars and great moments from the past ten years. Here are some of my favorites:

Best Team- 2008-09 FC Barcelona: Great sides are measured by championships, and Barcelona won everything there is to win in 2009. The highlight was a convincing 2-0 win over defending champions Manchester United in the Champions League Final, which followed League and Spanish Cup titles. Spanish and European Super Cups and the World Club Cup completed the six-pack for Lionel Messi and company.

Best Goal- Steven Gerrard, 2006 FA Cup Final: Sure, I'm a little bit biased here, but I challenge you to find a better strike. Trailing West Ham 3-2 in the final minutes of the Final, Captain Fantastic delivered and the Reds ultimately won in a shootout.

Best Tournament- Euro 2008: June in the Alps was a month to remember. The Dutch looked like an unstoppable force in the group stages, until they were dismissed by Guus Hiddink's cagey Russian side. The surprising Turks rode their late-game heroics to the semifinals, before falling to Germany. But in the end, the tournament belonged to Spain, which extinguished decades of disappointment thanks to Fernando Torres' sublime game winner in the Final.

Best Manager- Alex Ferguson: Whether you like ManU or not (and I've made it no secret on here that I don't), you have to admire the accomplishments of Sir Alex at Old Trafford. After capping the '90s with a treble-winning campaign, Ferguson's troops kept on rolling through the decade that followed, capturing six Premier League titles and a Champions League crown in 2008.

Biggest Gag- England's Euro 2008 Qualifying Campaign: Despite all their stumbles along the way, including draws against Israel and Macedonia, England were still in position to qualify for Euro 2008 heading into their final match. Needing only a home draw against a Croatia side that had nothing at stake, England fell behind 2-0, rallied to equalize, but then gave up a late winner and missed the continent's showpiece event.

Best Game- Liverpool over AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final: I may have mentioned this one a time or two before on this blog, but just to show you I'm no homer, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl gave the match similar praise in his end of decade review. Down 3-0 at the half, Liverpool tied the match within a six-minute span in the second half, then defeated favored AC Milan on PKs for their fifth European Cup.

Biggest Shock- Greece wins Euro 2004: While their defensive-minded tactics weren't always crowd-pleasing, the Greeks earned the world's attention with a stunning run to the European title in Portugal. After edging Spain for second in their group on the third tiebreaker, the Greeks netted three straight 1-0 wins in the knockout stages over France, the Czech Republic, and the hosts.

Best Way to Spend a Week- 2006 World Cup: The Germans put on a fantastic tournament for visitors from around the world, including two brothers who had the time of their lives.

Best Source of Comedy- Special 1 TV: The real Jose Mourinho held plenty of entertaining press conferences, but his puppet alter ego and his friends took soccer comedy to new heights.


Biggest Moment- Zidane's World Cup Head Butt: Zinedine Zidane was on the brink of capping his legendary career with a second World Cup title, but instead he went loco and drilled his head into the chest of Italy's Marco Materazzi. Instead of hoisting the trophy, Zidane was in the locker room as Italy triumphed in a shootout.

Sochaux and Milan: A Tale of Two Clubs

AC Milan are one of the most storied sides in Europe, but they could take a lesson in class from mid-table French side Sochaux. The tragic car accident involving rising US star Charlie Davies and the awful injury to defender Oguchi Onyewu during last week's World Cup qualifier revealed the true colors of the two players' domestic sides.

While a fatal car accident put Davies' promising career in jeopardy in the early morning hours last Tuesday, there was concern from France for Davies as a man, not as an individual on a roster. Washington Post soccer writer Steven Goff had the reaction from Sochaux's president Alexandre Lacombe: "We are all in shock. The American federation was exemplary and informed us of all the events. Regrettably, his dream of South Africa has gone away and his career might be in danger. All our thoughts at FC Sochaux are with Charlie." Beyond the thoughts from the team's boss, photos from Sochaux's 2-0 upset of Lyon Saturday show that Charlie was an inspiration to his teammates and fans in victory.

Onyewu tore his patellar tendon on a non-contact play late in the 2-2 draw against Costa Rica. Rather than expressing sympathy for their player, less than 24 hours after his injury, Milan brass were demanding financial reparations. Never mind the fact that Onyewu has barely seen the pitch at the San Siro, Milan's Adriano Galliani wasn't worried about losing a defender as much as he was making a shameful demand for money. It's not the first time an AC Milan player has played for his national side and probably not the first time one has been injured in those matches. The fact that the Rossoneri would act in such a manner is as absurd as it is insulting. They'd do well to follow the lead set by Sochaux.

And on a personal note, let me add my best wishes to Charlie and Oguchi for speedy recoveries. While Guch's situation is sad, Charlie needs our thoughts and prayers most of all. Get well soon, Charlie!

Champions League Seeds are for the Birds

College football fans love to whine about the BCS rankings, especially the obscure computer rankings that spit out unpredictable results. But the co-efficients that UEFA uses to determine the seeds for the Champions League draw, being held today, might be even goofier.

UEFA uses past European performances to weigh the teams, then splits the 32 squads into four pots of eight teams each. The top eight ranked teams are one seeds, the next eight are two seeds, and so on. Each four-team group is supposedly balanced by including one of each seed. While this system takes away subjectivity, it fails to factor in the current squad. The flaw in this method is shown in the fact that AC Milan is a one seed and Real Madrid is a two seed.

AC Milan have been one of the more successful European sides of late, winning titles in 2003 and 2007 and finishing second in 2005. But the current squad has been lessened by transfers and will struggle to contend in Serie A this year. One of those key transfers? Kaka, who joins Cristiano Ronaldo at star-studded Real Madrid. But Real have been Euro duds since their last title in 2002, so one of the pre-tournament favorites find themselves in a pot with the likes of AZ Alkmaar and CSKA Moscow.

A system that incorporated some judging of the current roster's abilities would no doubt add controversy to the process, but if done in the name of common sense, the end result would enhance the group stages.

Italy: 2009-10 Serie A Preview

In 2003 Italian club football reached its peak when AC Milan and Juventus met in the Champions League Final in Manchester. Six years later, that same Final was held in Rome, but Italian sides were nowhere to be found. All of them had left the competition following the Round of 16. The 2008-09 campaign was a step back for Serie A. A combination of bad economics and aging stars has lead many observers to predict more of the same this season.

Struggles in Europe don't rule out an entertaining league competition, though. Inter Milan are seeking their fourth-straight scudetto, but domestic honors won't be enough for Jose Mourinho in his second season in Italy. The Special One was brought in to succeed where his predecessors could not- in the Champions League. Another early European exit soured an otherwise successful campaign. After the Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Samuel Eto'o swap, the champs will adjust to a new style of play. (Odd photo choice for Jose in that Soccernet piece, no?)

If Inter is to be challenged, the threat will come from Juventus. A mix of veterans and newcomers have the Turin squad poised for success. Fabio Cannavaro is back in black and white and Juve have one of the world's best goaltenders in Gigi Buffon.

Inter's San Siro roommates, AC Milan, have captured only one league crown this decade, and would love to put a stop to their rival's run. But under new Brazilian manager Leonardo, the Rossoneri are a team in transition. Leaders both on the field (Kaka) and in the locker room (Paolo Maldini) are gone, and Milan are among the many teams exercising more fiscal responsibility this year, so it could be a rough go.

Fiorentina have made a habit of earning European berths, but have yet to put together a title run. AS Roma are traditional contenders, but a messy financial situation there undermines their hopes. Teams dead set on making a run in Europe often do so at the expense of the domestic campaign, and if Inter have all eyes on a May date in Madrid, that could open the door for Juventus to take back the scudetto.

Counting Down the Best European Cup Finals

Wednesday's Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona has the potential to be an all-time classic. All season long, ManU and Barca have stood out as the top two teams in Europe, so if you're not a fan of one of the two sides, you have to hope that Wednesday's meeting in Rome joins the list of great finals. Here's my take on the top 10 European Cup finals of all-time.

10) 1994: AC Milan 4, Barcelona 0: A meeting of the winners of three of the last five cups was noteworthy not for the match's close score line, but for the impressive manner in which AC Milan pounded the favored Catalans. Without star defenders Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta, the Rossoneri scored four times within the first hour en route to their fifth title.

9) 2006: Barcelona 2, Arsenal 1: An early red card against goalkeeper Jens Lehmann left Arsenal down to 10 men, but the shorthanded Gunners shockingly took the lead on a 37th minute goal by Sol Campbell and gamely tried to preserve the advantage. But two goals by Barca in the final 15 minutes- a 76th minute equalizer by Samuel Eto'o and the winner from Juliano Belletti four minutes later- gave the Spaniards their second Cup.

8) 1987: Porto 2, Bayern Munich 1: Just 12 minutes from time, a sublime back heel touch from Porto's Rabah Madjer erased Bayern's first half lead. Before the Germans could recover, Juary put home the winner two minutes later. It would not be the last time Bayern would be victimized by a pair of late goals.

7) 1967: Celtic 2, Inter Milan 1: Another match highlighted by a second-half rally, Celtic broke the 11-year cup dominance of Mediterranean sides, becoming the first British team to win the title. The Celtic roster, made up entirely of players from within 50 minutes of Glasgow, are still celebrated fondly as the "Lisbon Lions."

6) 1960: Real Madrid 7, Eintracht Frankfurt 3: While many consider this match the greatest final of all-time, the lopsided score keeps it from ranking higher on my list. This was, however, the Real Madrid dynasty at the peak of its power. Ferenc Puskas scored four times and Alfredo Di Stefano added a hat trick as Real captured their record fifth-straight title.

5) 1968: Manchester United 4, Benfica 1, a.e.t.: In front of a pro-ManU crowd at a packed Wembley Stadium, Manchester United found their second wind in extra time, scoring three times in a five-minute span to capture their first title. Bobby Charlton scored the Red Devils' first and last goals, while George Best put home the eventual game winner.

4) 1999: Manchester United 2, Bayern Munich 1: The ultimate late show saw Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both score in stoppage time to give Manchester United the treble. The shock ending lead to one of the all-time great broadcasting quotes from Clive Tyldesle: "What must Lothar Matthäus be thinking? Well, with the greatest respect, who cares?"

3) 1962: Benfica 5, Real Madrid 3: A meeting of the first six cup winners was a back-and-forth affair. Real took first half leads of 2-0 and 3-2, with all three goals coming from Puskas. After Benfica tied the match early in the second half, Eusebio netted a pair of goals to give the Portugese squad back-to-back titles.

2) 1956: Real Madrid 4, Stade de Reims, 3: The first European Cup Final set a lofty standard for future matches. Real rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits, with Marquitos scoring in the 79th minute to send the innaugural title to Madrid.

1) 2005: Liverpool 3, AC Milan 3 (Liverpool wins on PKs): The two games above were the only time a team had rallied from two goals. Never had a team recovered from a three-goal margin. That was the deficit staring Liverpool in the face at halftime of their final against AC Milan. But as fast as you can say Gerrard, Smicer, Alonso, the Reds leveled the match and hung on for PKs. Two years after sealing a shootout win against Juventus, Andrei Shevchenko saw his spot kick saved, giving Liverpool an improbable fifth title. The match was the highest-scoring European final in 33 years.

If you don't like my list, SI.com has its own take on the Top 10.

Italy: A Special War of Words

I have no ties to any teams in Serie A, but I have a feeling I'll be following Inter Milan a lot more closely this season thanks the ongoing brilliance/antics of Jose Mourinho. The Times of London likened the Special One to Barack Obama this week in terms of his status as a media darling.

The war or words between Obama and John McCain may carry more weight this fall, but likely won't be as entertaining as the one brewing between Mourinho and AC Milan boss Carlo Ancellotti. Having dodged rumors all spring that Mourinho would be taking his job, Ancelotti is no doubt already sick of the charismatic Portuguese manager.  It's not like Ancelotti is some chump manager; he has two Champions League crowns to Mourinho's one. The back-and-forth between these two should add plenty to an always-tense Milan derby.

Let the Transfers Begin

With the focus shifting back to club sides, July will be a busy month in the transfer market. It's always a challenge separating truth from rumor, but here's a look at some of the names and possible moves to watch in the coming weeks.

• Deco to Chelsea: Done deal as of today, as the Portuguese midfielder follows Big Phil Scolari to Stamford Bridge


• Frank Lampard to Inter Milan?: Will Frank take all the pies with him as he re-unites with The Special One?


• Didier Drogba to AC Milan?: The Chelsea makeover continues. Drogba could end up with either San Siro squad, but his Champions League Final red card was most likely his final act for the Blues.


• Emmanuel Adebayor leaving Arsenal?: Chelsea, Barcelona and AC Milan have all been mentioned as possible destinations.


• Ronaldinhio to Manchester City?: Manchester's number two team has some cash to throw around, and although the Brazilian seems past his prime, this would elevate the squad's profile immediately.


• Samuel Eto'o leaving Barcelona?: With Deco gone, the likelihood that either Eto'o or Ronaldinhio stay put seems greater.


• Gareth Barry to Liverpool?: This one's been in the works for awhile. Let's get it done, please.


• Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid?: How will the soap opera play out? If ManU stick to their word, Ronaldo will be back in red this year.

England: Chelsea's Search Continues

Another day, another rumor as the search for the new Chelsea coach continues. The latest name to emerge is AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti. The endless parade of candidates is the apparent result of differing wishes inside Stamford Bride; Ancellotti is the reported choice of owner Roman Abramovich, while chief executive Peter Kenyon has his eyes set on Blackburn's Mark Hughes among others.

A move to London makes sense for Ancelotti. During his seven seasons at the San Siro, he's captured all the major titles, including two Champions League crowns, and could be looking for a new challenge. Coming off a fifth-place Serie A finish, a jump to a squad that will be playing in the Champions League next year makes the timing logical.

Italy: Inter Hold on to Scudetto

Despite some late-season struggles, Inter Milan held on to win their third-straight Serie A title with a 2-0 win over Parma.  A pair of second-half goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic were enough to give the Nerazzuri their 16th title.

Their pursuers, AS Roma, applied the pressure by taking a 1-0 lead at Catania Calcio in the 8th minute.  A Roma win and an Inter draw would have sent the crown to the capital city, but with their title hopes dashed once Inter took a 2-0 lead, Roma surrendered a late equalizer to draw 1-1.

The day's other significant result saw Fiorentina hold off AC Milan for fourth place and a spot in next year's Champions League.  Milan trailed Udinese 1-0 at the half, but four second-half goals sparked a 4-1 rout.  That put the pressure on Fiorentina to get a win at Torino, and Pablo Osvaldo's 76th minute strike was all the Viola needed to secure fourth.   

Managerial Shuffle

With the summer approaching, the speculation as to which top managerial positions will become available is in full swing. While much will be decided between now and the Champions League Final in Moscow, there are no shortage of rumors and possibilities.

Barcelona's Frank Rijkaard appears to be a prime candidate to depart after the season. The Catalans La Liga season never really got off the ground and with a great deal of unrest on the Barcelona roster, the Dutchman's days seem to be numbered. It's hard to imagine Rijkaard being fired if Barcelona win the Champions League for the second time in three seasons, but anything less likely means he'll be ousted.

Barcelona may not be the only elite La Liga job opening at the end of the season. Another disappointing European campaign may cost Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster his job. While Real are all but assured of a second-straight league title, that wasn't enough to keep Fabio Capello around last year, and Madrid fans expect the team to make a bigger splash on Europe's biggest stage.

An elite opening in Spain could be very enticing to Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez. Although he has repeatedly expressed his desire to remain at Anfield, there's no telling what will come of chaos with Liverpool's ownership group. Benitez's stock will be extremely high if he leads Liverpool to another European crown and a top spot back in his home land may be tough to pass up.

It's tough to tell if Chelsea's Avram Grant will be back in charge at Stamford Bridge next season; the next eight days will go a long way in deciding his fate. Chelsea remain alive for a Champions League-Premier League double, but could also end the season empty handed. Grant has had a tough act to follow on the heels of the extremely popular Jose Mourinhio, but deserves a full season in charge to prove his abilities.

And then there's the matter of Alex Ferguson. Obviously the Old Trafford legend will be heading out on his own terms, but the team is already dealing with rumors about his possible retirement. If ManU were to capture a second Champions League title under Ferguson, he may find it's the perfect time to call it a career. If he does, former Ferguson charges Steve Bruce and Roy Keane, currently at Wigan and Sunderland respectively, may be among the candidates.

Finally there's Milan where rumors have surrounded both AC Milan and Inter Milan all season. On Monday, Inter decided they had had enough of the talk of Mourinhio replacing Roberto Mancini next season. If Mancini does return (he quit following Inter's Champions League loss to Liverpool, only to be talked back into his job later that week), he'll be under extreme pressure to improve upon Inter's recent run of poor showings in Europe.

Carlo Ancelotti has also been fighting the shadow of Mourinhio much of the season. The 2007-08 campaign has been a disaster for the Rossoneri, crashing out of the Champions League early and never contending in Serie A. Currently in fifth, Milan are in serious danger of missing out on Champions League football in 2009. But despite the downturn, Ancelotti remains poplar with Milan brass, and his departure seems unlikely.