2012 In Review - Football

With only days to go to Christmas, it's once again that time of the year to look back on the year of sport that has been.

In this issue - football.

2012 was quite a big year in football - we had EURO 2012, the Africa Cup of Nations, Olympics and of course, the start of qualifiers for the World Cup in 2014 and of course, the usual club football competitions.

The most talked about football moment in 2012 was undoubtedly the last five minutes of the 2011/12 Premier League which saw Manchester United lose the title they thought they had won to their bitter crosstown rivals, Manchester City who had to battle back from 2-1 down against relegation battling QPR to snatch the win they needed to seal their first title since 1968.

Aguero's 93rd minute goal sent emotions worldwide flying whether they belonged to City fans or not. It was made of stuff Hollywood could only dream of. It might very well be the most significant and memorable goal in Premier League history - never has a goal been as important, and as dramatic in turning the destination of the title. It was also the finish that a terrific Premier League season deserved - one that ebbed and flowed from start to finish as the two Manchester clubs battled it out for the title. And judging from the current trend  of the 2012-13 season, it appears that the power in the Premier League rests firmly in the big city in the north.

While the Premier League title remained in Manchester, it wasn't all doom and gloom for the rest of England. In fact, Chelsea finally ended London's drought in Europe by winning the city's first ever Champions League title in an unbelievable upset against Bayern Munich on their home turf - it was also unbelievable given that Chelsea had sacked their manager, Andre Villas-Boas mid-season after results didn't quite go the way of their oligarch, Roman Abramovich. Ironically almost a year later, Roberto di Matteo would go in similar fashion - again illustrating that Roman probably has too much money to match his power.

However, it appears that all power in the north has been diverted to Manchester, as two of Lancashire's traditional big clubs got relegated - Blackburn after a year of total chaos which doesn't look like abating at this point and Bolton who have had a year they'd rather forget - a year which saw the near-death experience of Fabrice Muamba in an FA Cup tie against Tottenham, relegation from the Premier League and then the sacking of likeable manager, Owen Coyle - harsh but probably warranted given the results at the time.

Of course, football isn't just limited to England. There was plenty of big news elsewhere although none as dramatic and sad as the shock demise of Scottish giants, Rangers, who were forced into administration then liquidated and reformed into a new club now playing in the Scottish Third Division. It is likely to be 4 years before we will see an Old Firm derby in the top flight of Scottish football now but it will ultimately serve as a reminder to the football world to get their finances sorted especially during these times of economic austerity in Europe.

One club setting a good example for the rest of Europe is Borussia Dortmund - a club that have come very close to financial oblivion are now setting Germany and Europe alight with their energetic and exciting attacking football thanks to having to rely fully on their youth programme. The result of their recent revival is two Bundesliga titles and the departure of Shinji Kagawa to Manchester United. It is likely that a few more of their rising stars like Mario Goetze and Marco Reus may head to Spain or England - even their manager, Jurgen Klopp has been mentioned as a future manager in the Premier League, possibly with Chelsea if Guardiola doesn't go there.

Speaking of Guardiola, there was shock amongst some quarters of football fans when the successful Barca manager announced his resignation from the post following Barcelona's exit from the Champions League semifinal in the hands of eventual winners, Chelsea. Yet for me, it was probably less of a surprise - he had been very successful and taken the club as far as he could - which is a lot further than what most club managers and coaches would dream of. The transition to Tito has gone almost seamlessly, unnoticed really, with Barcelona unbeaten in La Liga this season at this point, and their only defeat in the season at the hands of Celtic in Glasgow. Barcelona appear to be back to their best just as champions Real Madrid appear to be floundering amidst reports of unrest and discontent amongst the Portuguese contingent at the Bernabeu.

In fact, it is Real's other maligned rivals across town, Atletico who have been chasing Barca for the 2012-13 La Liga title so far. Atletico's rise has been remarkable, fuelled by the goals of Colombian Radamel Falcao, undoubtedly the form striker in the world at the moment this side of Lionel Messi. Whether Atletico can convince Falcao to stay and help the club become a real title contender remains to be seen, but one thing's for certain is that Falcao will not go cheap and if he wanted to progress his career and appease the Atletico fans , he would be wise to go to England and Chelsea or Manchester City could be his next port of call given the likely high price of his transfer fee.

Away from the club scene, Zambia shocked perennial bridesmaids, Cote d'Ivoire in the African Cup of Nations to win their first title since the tragic plane crash which killed their entire national football team in 1993 - a result for the football romantics naturally.

Another result for the football romantics was Spain's successful defence of their European crown, courtesy of a marvellous 4-0 thumping of a very good Italy side. Del Bosque's Spain had been slightly underwhelming in the early part of EURO 2012, and should have been eliminated in the semifinals by their Iberian rivals, Portugal but for their brilliant, effervescent keeper, Iker Casillas. Injuries to Carles Puyol and David Villa had forced Del Bosque to shuffle his lineup, converting Sergio Ramos into a centre back - and a World XI one too - and recycling his massive arsenal of talented midfielders into strikers when Fernando Torres couldn't quite find his top form early on - the fact that Cesc Fabregas and David Silva were playing up front probably ignited Torres' campaign late on as he finished as the top scorer of the tournament.

Is this Spanish side the greatest international football team that we've ever seen? Perhaps - at least they're definitely worthy of being considered one of the greatest ever. If they did retain their title in Brazil in 2 year time, they would be the greatest team ever without dispute and Vincente del Bosque should be considered one of the greatest coaches of all time. What is certain is that the potential is there with the likes of David De Gea, Juan Mata and Isco still yet to really break into a Spanish side set to feature the likes of Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, David Silva, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos for a while yet.

Anyway who makes my World XI for 2012?
Iker Casillas (GK), Spain
Marcelo, Brazil
Sergio Ramos, Spain
Pepe, Brazil
Phillipp Lahm, Germany
Xavi, Spain
Andres Iniesta, Spain
Mezut Ozil, Germany
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
Lionel Messi, Argentina
Radamel Falcao, Colombia

Game of the Year - Manchester City 3-2 QPR - undoubtedly the most memorable game of the year although there were plenty of thrashings to remember - like Manchester United's 8-2 mauling of Arsenal or Manchester City's 6-1 mauling of Man United at Old Trafford. For sheer drama and excitement, no other game has ever had so much of both and ever will.

Goal of the Year - Hatem ben Arfa v Blackburn Rovers - Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo are often mentioned as contenders for best player in the world, but Newcastle and France's ben Arfa is definitely one of the elite players in the world and this dribbling mazy run through the Blackburn defence to win this FA Cup tie should go down as one of the best ever goals seen in the FA Cup, and probably the goal of the season.

Player of the Year - Lionel Messi, Barcelona - To break Gerd Muller's record for goalscoring in one year is quite astonishing even if Messi only had the Copa del Rey in his hands this year.

Coach of the Year - Vincente del Bosque, Spain - Mastermind of Spain's Euro success. He played Fabregas, Iniesta and David Silva up front and they were still practically unstoppable. Real Madrid quietly regret letting him go all those years ago.

Surprise of the Year - Swansea's rise. It took many generations for the South Wales team to return to the first division of English football but it looks like they will stay there for a while yet as the team appears to go from strength to strength with their Barcelona like football. Michael Laudrup has slotted in perfectly courtesy of the likes of bargain of the season, Michu.