By Alan Geegan (@AlanGeegz)
Tony Britten is a name most football fans may not be familiar with. But he is a man who has set the stage for many epic evenings of football. He has been responsible for us being distracted at work the day of a big game, for bringing us to the edge of our seats, and for giving us a tingling sensation down our spines. We may not know his name, but we most certainly know his work: Tony Britten is the man who composed the UEFA Champions League anthem.
Hearing that music play sets the stage. We have all been there: at home, in a pub or bar, or together at the home of a friend. Drinks and food at the ready, we settle into the moment. The Goliath’s of world football going head-to-head, best on best, star versus star. And for years we have had a front row seat to this amazing spectacle. Many fans consider the UEFA Champions League to be the pinnacle of the sport, with not even the World Cup able to compete in terms of sheer quality.
Or so it used to be.
In UEFA’s attempt to protect big teams from upsets and assure a quarter final filled with the richest, most well-known clubs, the excitement has waned. Television rights money has been the focus of UEFA for a long time, not the action on the pitch. But seeding the eight pots has made sure that the top two teams in each group advance you say? Well that is certainly true. The great sporting show we all love is indeed produced. Clubs in pot 3 occasionally cause an upset, but not often. While clubs in pot 4 are simply cannon fodder, happy to collect their check issued by a fine banking institution in Switzerland. The tournament is not worth watching until the latter stages, which is why I have fallen out of love with the Champions League.
In this year’s edition of the UCL, Napoli, Liverpool, Salzburg, and Genk are the combatants of group E. For a neutral fan, this group has no excitement. It’s quite obvious who will advance and who won’t. As a Liverpool supporter it must be great fun to see your team put four or five goals past these weaker teams. But again, as a neutral it is poor viewing. Wake me up when the final eight rolls around please.
I would never argue that the Europa League is better quality than the Champions League. In fact, I would laugh at anyone who did. But if we put aside the indisputable truth that the best players are in the UCL and are of a higher caliber than their Europa counterparts, an argument could be made that in pure sporting terms, the Big Thursday Cup is better.
The Europa League does have its favourites: Roma, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Porto would be good bets to go all the way. But across the entirety of the groups, I am far more intrigued by this competition than that of Europe’s top table.
Speaking of Porto, what a group they are in! Group G has them along with Feyenoord, Rangers, and Young Boys. Unlike the Champions League, second place in this group, and many others, is totally up for grabs.
As the gap between the haves and have-nots has become greater at the upper echelon of European football, I have found myself tuning in on Thursdays. Will I stop watching the Champions League? Of course I won’t. But I will wait until the games actually mean something. Not even the hair-raising melody of Mr. Tony Britten will make me change my mind.
By Alan Geegan (@AlanGeegz)
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