Step aside Pakistan. It appears that the Blackcaps, once considered the most clean team in world cricket, could very well be the darkest swan of them all.
Chris Cairns, back from London to defend charges of match-fixing against him, spoke to press at Auckland Airport naming Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills in the latest match-fixing saga to drag the proud name of New Zealand cricket into the mud.
Indeed, it appears that the whole team at the time could very well have been involved in match-fixing including current captain, Brendon McCullum who didn't respond to the allegations along with the players association.
If the charges against Vettori, Fleming, Mills, McCullum, Vincent and Cairns are proven, it could be a shocking epilogue to a chapter of New Zealand cricket which most of us have grown up with.
For all its reputation of being clean and green, New Zealanders do love a bit of a flutter and a bet - the TAB is highly popular here.
What a sad time for New Zealand cricket's ferverment.
The worst kept secret in football with Mauricio Pochettino agreeing to a 5 year deal to be manager of Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs decided that the Southampton man was the way forward for the club and not former Spurs legend, Tim Sherwood.
Mind you, how many times have we said that about any new Spurs manager since Harry Redknapp?
Much as Mauricio still prefers not to communicate to the press in English - he can speak English with his players albeit not so well - there is no doubt that at Southampton and Espanyol, he has shown that he is a capable manager and his sides play a pleasing brand of energetic, attacking football - this is what Daniel Levy would have wanted in appointing the next Spurs manager.
Plus Pochettino did well with the young kids at Southampton - turning Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez, Luke Shaw into England stars and summer targets. Tottenham have some young stars in the academy and the first team so Pochettino will be quite familiar with this scenario.
On the other hand, the presence of Daniel Levy could still undermine the success of Mauricio Pochettino in the future - Spurs are run like a business and Tottenham have far more expectations than Southampton and Espanyol, i.e. Champions League football season in season out.
Watch this space.
For Southampton, it is a shame to lose a manager after such a good season but they will bounce back - Murat Yakin from Swiss champions, Basel could be a safe signing to keep the Saints in the top flight.
However, it just shows you once again that if you have the money, you have the power in football.
With only 32 countries competing at the World Cup Finals, even if most of the stars will be there, there will be a couple of big names whose countries didn't qualify the Finals, i.e. Wales, Sweden, Poland, Ireland etc. The likes of Gareth Bale, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be putting up their legs and watching the action from their deck chairs while their colleagues slug it out in the Brazilian heat.
Here is the best team out of that lot.
Wojciech Szceszny, Poland (GK)
Vlad Chiriches, Romania
Nemanja Vidic, Serbia
Daniel Agger, Denmark
Arda Turan, Turkey
Aaron Ramsey, Wales
David Alaba, Austria
Christian Eriksen, Denmark
Gareth Bale, Wales
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden
Robert Lewandowski, Poland
La Decima accomplished. With that, Real Madrid are without a shadow of a doubt the greatest and most successful club in Europe ever and quite possibly the best club in the world.
It took 58 long years with a huge 32 year gap between 1966 and 1997 but Real Madrid have finally made it 10 European Cup wins.
From Puskas and di Stefano to Zidane and Raul to Ronaldo and Bale, here is a look back at Real Madrid's 10 triumphs in Europe's premiere club competition.
Saturday final was Cup final day in football. Before the Champions League Final in Lisbon, there was the small matter of playing off for the last spot in the 2014/15 Premier League at Wembley Stadium.
After a season where you have to say they've underperformed - they had easily the most talented squad in the whole division, Queens Park Rangers just about got their Premier League status back with a last minute goal by former England striker, Bobby Zamora.
It was a cruel blow, almost unjust for Derby County who for so long in the season had been superior to QPR and were superior to QPR in this game. Derby had plenty of chances to finish off a QPR side that had been reduced to 10 men early in the game - former England keeper, Robert Green was the scourge in the Rams' side as he made save after save from McClaren's young charges.
Redemption for Green who of course was responsible for that shocking blunder against the USA 4 years ago in South Africa.
It may have been undeserved for QPR but goals do win you games and QPR did score when it mattered. Given the finances put into the club, their location in West London and the players they have, they are a club that should be in the Premier League and now with a second lifeline, one hopes they can finally stay in the top flight when it comes - with Harry Redknapp in charge, that's a good chance of happening and that will please Chelsea fans who will still have two West London derbies to look forward despite Fulham's relegation.
For Derby and Steve McClaren, there's potential to improve for next season although as many sides before them have shown, i.e. Leeds, Preston, Cardiff and Watford, it is often quite hard for a side vanquished in the playoffs to come back and win promotion the following season. Derby do have the depth and will end up strengthening in the summer.
Hopefully Derby can finish in the top two given that McClaren and Wembley don't seem to like each other.
Congratulations to Tony Fernandes and the Hoops then!
Guess who's back in the Premier League... oh dear.
For your information, the top flight in Europe will welcome the following clubs next season -
EPL - Leicester City, Burnley, Queens Park Rangers
La Liga - (the Segunda will only finish on 8th June but Deportivo la Coruna and SD Eibar are leading the race for automatic promotion)
Bundesliga - FC Koln, Paderborn
Serie A - (2 games left in Serie B but Palermo are already champions, Empoli are in 2nd place)
It took a bit longer for Real Madrid to it. Indeed, the Meringues were just minutes from bitter disappointment as they struggled to break down a determined and resolute Atletico Madrid side.
Up stepped Sergio Ramos, one of the great leaders of this Real Madrid side, to head his 3rd goal in 2 games for Real Madrid in Europe, to make the game level and send a dagger in the hearts and guts of Diego Simeone's men.
At that stage, Real Madrid were dominating La Rojiblancas in possession and territory. The disappointing Sami Khedira and Fabio Coentrao - their futures at the Bernabeu must be in doubt now - were substituted for Isco and Marcelo who changed the game completely as Real Madrid had the impetus in attack.
Atletico Madrid were hanging on nicely and letting Real Madrid have the ball as they defended their 1-0 lead comfortably. But it was clear that as brave as they were, Gabi et al were running on empty, drained from their thrilling 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou last weekend that sealed their La Liga win - really drained from a season where they've played 200% every single game and shocked the European football fraternity.
Their goal itself was fortuitous, coming in the first half from a set-piece which was poorly handled by the usually reliable Iker Casillas, pounced by captain fantastic, Diego Godin. Indeed, you have to wonder how Atletico would score particularly after the gamble to play Diego Costa spectacularly failed.
Diego Simeone has shown to be a great manager but he would have learnt aplenty from this experience. It was amazing that he didn't get sent to the stands after running onto the pitch during extra time. Fiery as a player, Diego has to show that he can be composed as a manager. Oh well, it has been an unforgettable season and he'll be easily forgiven.
As for Real Madrid, La Decima was finally achieved and their status as the greatest club in Europe and the world secure. No. 10 came in most memorable and thrilling fashion for its fans - the experience at times may have been excruciating but Real fans will never forget those last 15 minutes of extra-time.
Angel di Maria was rightfully named man of the match - reward and recognition for an incredible season where he was one of Real's most consistent players. He worked his socks off and was a wonderful foil for Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
Bale could have had a hat-trick in this game but got the winner that mattered. Once it was 2-1, Real Madrid were in control and Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo merely added the icing on the cake. For Bale, it was the perfect ending to a fairytale story - from Southampton trainee to Tottenham reject to most expensive player to European Cup winner.
So a cracking season of European football closes. The finale aptly featured two clubs who have really made the headlines this season. Real Madrid may have the best players in the world but they showed guts and determination that was previously lacking in previous Champions League campaigns.
For Ronaldo, Bale, Ramos, Casillas, di Maria, etc. this was a triumph that just came about at the right time.
Felicitaciones Real Madrid! Commiserations Atletico! What a season!
In what is turning out to be an absolute thriller of a Super Rugby season, the Highlanders and Crusaders played out an absolute belter under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
As a southerly pounded Dunedin outside, the players enjoyed the dry albeit cold conditions under the roof and there was a lot of end to end attacking play.
In the end, it was the side from Canterbury that beat their Southern hosts again, 32-30 the final score but only just as the referees intervened to deny the Highlanders the winning score of the game.
Patrick Osborne looked to have put the Highlanders in front after the hooter had gone, dotting down right in the corner, as Israel Dagg made a desperate last gasp tackle to put him into touch.
The try went up to the TMO and from one angle, it looked as though Osborne seemed to have dotted the ball on the base of the post - touching the ball on the base of the post constitutes a try. Yet somehow the TMO ruled that Osborne has just missed by less than an inch and was in touch.
Give some credit to the referees, it was a very tough call for the TMO to make and from the touchline camera, it looked as though Osborne had just dotted very short. Interpretations of the law are key here and it would be best to consult the IRB head of refs to determine if Vinny Munro had interpreted the definition of "base of the post" correctly.
In a season where the little things matter for the New Zealand sides, perhaps it was apt that the game would come to such a minute detail.
Nevertheless, questions should have been asked about the Highlanders - with only a penalty/drop goal needed for the Highlanders to win the game, and considering Hayden Parker's ability to drop goals, did the Highlanders need to be so gallant to get the winning score? Should they have just played the phases, tried to win a penalty and then allow Parker to have a crack at goal?
The Canes lapped the Chiefs 7 times in Wellington last night
But alas that is the beauty of Jamie Joseph's Highlanders - a very instinctive side who have a very positive outlook to the game. They deservedly got 2 points from the game and remain in the top 6 but you wonder if those dropped 3 points will matter later on - the Chiefs thrashing to the Hurricanes later last night meant the Crusaders are now leaders of the New Zealand conference but it could so easily have been the Highlanders.
It's a shame we have that break for the internationals meaning a sudden halt to what should be an intriguing finish to the Super Rugby season.
North Shore's massive South African community would have been delighted by the performance and final result of last night's thrilling Super Rugby game which saw the Sharks beat the hosts, Blues 29-23 and maintain their lead on top of the overall Super Rugby ladder.
Despite playing a game more than the rest - they along with the Lions, Cheetahs and Bulls started a week earlier than the rest of the competition, the Sharks have surely secured the South Africa conference and are set for a home semifinal at least after a tour to Australia and New Zealand which finished with a 3-1 record - their only loss was to the Brumbies and one of their wins included a historic first ever win against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
The style of rugby the Sharks play may not be the most attractive, but it is clinical and effective. The Sharks are very much playing in the mould of their coach, Jake White - they may not have the flair of Jake White's previous side, the Brumbies but they have plenty of grit and determination as shown by last night's win and also the win in Christchurch where they won despite playing with a man disadvantage - even two - at times.
It is quite funny how in a season where the rest of the South African conference has been decidedly average while the New Zealand and Australia conferences have been highly competitive, a South African team is the one leading the pack.
But the Sharks definitely deserve to be there and rugby fans from the Kwazulu-Natal area are hoping that after making so many finals - and even hosting one - this will finally be the year that the Sharks are Super Rugby champions. And they would be quite deserved champions in a region that is mad about rugby.
As for the Blues, they are out of the playoff reckoning as a result of this loss and deservedly so after a pre-season where the focus seemed to be on the failed Benji Marshall experiment and what coach John Kirwan had to say, rather than in key flaws like a lack of a proper first five and discipline. There is a lot of talent in the Blues camp but that has been said for so long about the Super Rugby franchise with the biggest population base in New Zealand.
JK still has a bit more work to do and his job should be safe - perhaps solidity and consistency is what the Blues need to be Super Rugby contenders on a more frequent basis, rather than just during World Cup years.
Estadio de Luz, Lisbon - the venue for this Saturday's Champions League Final
Portugal's beautiful capital is set for an invasion from big brother Spain this week with Atletico and Real fans from the capital Madrid set to converge on Praca do Comercio and Lisbon's many other squares in the days leading up to Saturday night's final.
It is the first time that the European Cup will be contested by clubs from the same city and the 2nd time the European Cup will be contested by two Spanish clubs - a testament to Spanish football perhaps. Such is the format of the Champions League nowadays that such situations are very much possible.
Atletico Madrid may be Spanish champions after their tremendous 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou on Saturday night but it is Real Madrid who are the favourites going into this game - Real have more experience at this stage of the competition, while this is the furthest Atletico have been in this competition since their defeat to Bayern Munich in the early 1970s.
Plus they have officially the best player in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo along with several others who would be in the list of top ten players in the world, i.e. Gareth Bale, Angel di Maria, Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Iker Casillas, etc.
At the same time, the pressure is huge on Real Madrid with talk focused on La Decima - victory on Saturday would be Real Madrid's 10th victory of Europe's premier club competition.
That would suit the poorer cousins who have already shown this season that they can beat the favourites - that draw at the Camp Nou and 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge against Jose Mourinho's Chelsea good examples. They do have world class players to boot, i.e. Thibault Courtois, Diego Godin, Koke, David Villa.
It's a shame that they will probably miss their best player this season - Diego Costa's absence along with Turkey international winger, Arda Turan will be keenly felt in a do-or-die game like this.
Not that Real Madrid have major injury doubts - although the club have gone some way in assuring fans that Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will be fit for the Final this Saturday.
What a way to cap off an epic season for Spanish football. This should be a cracking Final.
My tip - 2-0 to Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo getting an early goal.
New Zealand Cricket, once considered a corruption-free bastion, has had its reputation fully under the microscope over the last 2 weeks or so since revelations emerged of Lou Vincent spot-fixing Auckland Aces games during the Twenty20 Champions League in South Africa.
Since then, a full blown bush fire has started and even current captain, Brendon McCullum has not been spared, feeling the full brunt of the flames after being linked with player X who asked him to fix some cricket games in the IPL.
Player X is widely considered to be Chris Cairns who has already been in the spotlight for match-fixing after it was revealed that he, Daryl Tuffey and Vincent are the former international players being investigated for match-fixing.
As we all know, Cairns has been spending much of his post-playing days fighting the allegations that he has been match-fixing, even winning a court case in the House of Lords against Lalit Modi, former IPL boss for defamation.
However, in scenes not dissimilar to that of a certain Texan cyclist who apparently won a bike race in France 8 times, it seems as though the water around Cairns is not crystal clear at all with the allegations of match-fixing hanging on to him like that annoying piece of chewing gum you stepped on.
Chris and Lance - the similarities are uncanny!
I think when you're guilty, there are clouds always going to be hanging around you from that smoking gun and much as Cairns has chosen to put on the demeanour of being a typical Kiwi bloke albeit one who has played international cricket very successfully, and who has advocated rail safety through his foundation, I believe there is a reason why the clouds are choosing to hang around.
Cairns has spent a lot of time in India with the IPL and ICL and has plenty of connections in the cricket world, some light and some dark as we are starting to see. His outspoken nature as shown on the field and in the commentary box means he can potentially intimidating to his teammates - as Lou Vincent's ex-wife has recently testified.
Watch this space. I think we'll soon find out very soon given how keen New Zealand Cricket and the ICC are to find an end to this cheap who dunnit story.
Rampaging future rugby union/league star and current YouTube hit, Taniela Tupou
It is only natural to expect plenty of new experiences and problems in the early days of rugby union as a professional sport.
One thing that is likely to be talked about over the next couple of years is whether rugby union - and rugby league for that matter - should introduce transfer fees like in football or some other form of compensation over the loss of one player from one club to another - in US sport, franchises trade draft picks to get a player.
This was recently brought up by Blues coach, John Kirwan when asked about the future of Taniela Tupou who has been courted by rugby union and league as a result of his efforts on the rugby field captured on YouTube.
This will become more apparent as more players transfer between clubs, particularly if it involves a player that is highly prized by one club, who is in demand by several other bidders.
Who will rugby's first 100 million dollar man?
Imagine how much the transfer fees would be for someone like Dan Carter or Richie McCaw if we were to apply to rugby the same economics applied to football, i.e. consider the sub-$100 million dollar fees for Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale.
I think transfer fees would be a good way for clubs to gain financially from the loss of players that they have nurtured over time. If say Club A wanted Player 1 who has been nurtured by Club B through the academy or feeder union for 5 years, Club B could value the player for X amount and Club A would have to match or raise that fee to attain Player 1.
In football, transfer fees are the lifeline of "smaller" football clubs as it allows them to strengthen their clubs by using the transfer fees paid to buy new players or invest in the club. Take the Gareth Bale example late last year - the money from the 100 million euro transfer fee was used by Tottenham to buy at least 8 world class players.
On the field, it might not have worked out for Spurs this season but it was a huge win for the club who can build for the future.
The same case applied for Everton who benefited greatly when they sold Wayne Rooney to Manchester United for a then record fee for English football.
Transfer fees could possibly assuage the emotional damage caused by our players going overseas, especially given that the European and Japanese clubs going after our players should be able to afford the transfer fees if we chose to incur them.
So I am all for transfer fees in rugby although they would need to be tinkered a bit slightly to avoid the financial blowout that has taken place in many of Europe's football leagues.
With most of Europe's big leagues wrapped up for the summer, it is time to look back at the continent's big leagues.
France
It was a really case of when not if for Paris St Germain as they pretty much led Ligue 1 for the whole season. Even a late slump in form triggered by their heart-breaking defeat to Chelsea in their Champions League quarterfinal tie, failed to stop the inevitable with PSG winning their 2nd title in a row and looking unbeatable as ever in France on the back of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's incredible form and the contributions of Edinson Cavani.
AS Monaco may have only just earned promotion to the top flight last season but their 2nd place finish and an automatic Champions League spot as reward was what they probably expected given the amount of money they spent in the transfer window. The next task for the Monegasques is the title - whether Radamel Falcao and Claudio Ranieri will be around to see that happens remains to be seen.
Lille took the other Champions League spot after a solid campaign holding off a late charge from AS Saint-Etienne. Les Verts will be in the Europa League along with former champions, Lyon and French Cup winners, Guingamp - the little Breton club again surprising many to stay up fairly comfortably.
Ajaccio were the first side to be relegated, joined by Valenciennes and Sochaux who were thrashed 3-0 in their virtual relegation playoff on the final weekend at home to Evian TG.
While France's Ligue 1 is definitely improving, possibly benefiting from the attention on clubs like PSG and Monaco, questions remain about whether the league can make the leap and challenge the big 3. It will be down to PSG and Monaco to perform in the Champions League next season and perhaps even contemplate moving ahead of Italy's ailing Serie A.
Portugal
It was the story of the quadruple that might have been. Benfica were champions again in a very tight race ahead of city rivals, Sporting Lisbon and big rivals, Porto. They then won the Portuguese League and FA Cups but were to be denied a first European trophy since the 1960s in a heart-breaking penalty shootout loss to Spanish side Sevilla in the Europa League Final in Turin. The curse continues for Benfica in Europe.
Nevertheless, it was a season of triumph for Portugal's little Primeira Liga which moved ahead of Italy's Serie A in UEFA's rankings, thanks to Benfica making the Europa League Final - boosting its European participation for now.
The big 3 will be in the Champions League, while surprise package, Estoril will play in the Europa League along with Nacional and Portuguese Cup finalists, Rio Ave. Olhanese were relegated while last season's surprise Champions League qualifiers, Pacos de Ferreira must playoff to stay in the top flight.
Russia
Amidst the political furore surrounding Russia, the football continued and CSKA Moscow pipped Andre Villas-Boas' Zenit St Petersburg at the death to retain their title as champions of Russia. Both sides will be in the Champions League, while Lokomotiv and Dynamo Moscow, Krasnodar and Russian Cup winners, Rostov will play in the Europa League.
Volga and former free-spenders, Anzhi Makhachkala were relegated while Tom Tomsk and Krylia Sovetov Samara must play off to keep their place in the Russian Premier League.
Netherlands
Ajax Amsterdam were champions again under Frank de Boer as speculation looms that the former Dutch captain will be off to take a job in the big 3 leagues. They missed out on the double after a shock turnaround by PEC Zwolle in the KNVB Cup. Feyenoord will be in the Champions League while Twente, PSV and playoff winners, Groningen will play in the Europa League. RKC Waalwjik, NEC Breda and Roda were relegated.
Focus will be on Dutch football this summer with national manager and new Manchester United boss, Louis van Gaal picking plenty of local talent to go to Brazil. An impressive summer will see plenty of those players head overseas to join the likes of Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder plying their trade in the big leagues.
Belgium
Anderlecht broke Standard Liege hearts by snatching the title right at the end of the playoffs - Standard Liege at least are in the Champions League. Club Brugge, Zulte Waregem and Lokeren are in the Europa League while Mons were relegated. While Belgian football is soaring internationally, the Belgian league remains very much a poor cousin, a good breeding ground for the big clubs to loan their young players out and hone their skills for the big time.
Switzerland
Basel were champions again. Grasshopper will be in the Champions League with them, while Young Boys, Luzern and Zurich will be in the Europa League. Lausanne-Sport were relegated.
Greece
Olympiakos were runaway champions after a long unbeaten start to the season. They were clearly number 1 in cash-strapped Greece. Pananthinaikos will join them in the Champions League while PAOK, Atromitos and Asteras Tripoli will be in the Europa League. Apollon and Aris were relegated while Skoda Xanthi must playoff for their Superleague place.
The last of England's World Cup heroes from 2003 will call it quits at the end of this season.
Jonny Wilkinson will finish his illustrious rugby career at the end of the Top 14 season which finishes on the last day of May. Wilkinson will have two more chances to add to his bulging trophy cabinet as his club, Toulon are in the Heineken Cup and Top 14 Finals, taking on Saracens and Castres respectively.
Victory in at least one of them will cap off a career that went on much longer than we expected, considering the multitude of injuries that plagued the early part of the career of the 2nd most prolific points scorer in international rugby history behind Dan Carter.
Wilkinson may not have the talent, flair and all-round abilities of New Zealand's Dan the Man, but he had the intelligence and knowledge to guide the England team at its key playmaker position. He was a demon tackler and of course, it was his ability to kick goals that made him such a match-winner for England early on.
Indeed, it was that drop goal that earned English rugby its proudest moment in its history yet.
Wilkinson retired from international rugby after the 2011 Rugby World Cup to concentrate on his career with Toulon who he has helped return to glory days - a Heineken Cup win in 2013 and two Top 14 finals.
A model professional, even with the fame after winning the Rugby World Cup, Wilkinson never really flirted with celebrity status as much as his compatriot footballers and gained much respect from the media and peers as a result.
The most decorated footballer in British football history has retired.
After 672 appearances for Manchester United, the 24-year playing career of Ryan Giggs has come to an end. Giggs will now assume the role as assistant to newly appointed manager, Louis van Gaal - with a look at taking the top job in a couple of years time.
Not many players spend their whole careers at one club - Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Tony Adams come to mind. Not many players achieve as much as Ryan Giggs did in his career. And not many become assistant manager at the same club straight after retirement.
Ryan Giggs is Mr Manchester United. While Sir Alex Ferguson was the manager off the field, Ryan Giggs was the heart and soul on the field and for so long, integral to Manchester United's rise to become the most successful club ever in English football and the most followed club in the world.
Whether he was out on the wing bamboozling defenders or reverting to central midfield in his older years, Giggs was a player who managed to stretch out his career and gain the respect of his peers.
Moreoever, Giggs was a model professional on and off the field - he was never sent off once in his Manchester United career - and unlike teammates, Rooney and Beckham, preferred to be associated with football rather than the tabloids.
Giggsy, what a legend. Good luck with being gaffer.
This was by far the best La Liga season for some time.
How often do you see a genuine three-way race for the title in any of Europe's top leagues, let alone have the scenario of the final game featuring the two remaining title protagonists and the situation of winner - or draw-specialist in the case of Atletico - takes all?
For all of the talk of Spain's La Liga being the best domestic club football league in the world, there was always that nagging criticism that it is just a glorifed Scottish Premier League when Rangers were still in it, i.e. only Real Madrid and Barcelona had a realistic chance of being champion.
People will still argue that Atletico Madrid are like Valencia and Deportivo la Coruna, former champions in the last millenium so far and that their challenge will eventually fade as Europe's big clubs buy the best players from the team - indeed, if it is to be believed, Chelsea might already have Atletico's key lynchpin, Diego Costa for next season.
But that's for another day. Right now, it is time to just relish and celebrate a stupendous achievement by Diego Simeone and the Rojiblancas in a simply unforgettable season of Spanish football. Their football may not have the flair and beauty of Barcelona, but one cannot dispute the courage and guts Diego Costa, Diego Godin, Koke, Arda Turan, etc. showed from matchday 1 until 38.
Atletico Madrid's title triumph is a triumph for football and a lesson that a star team can still win the title even in this day of age of billionaire sheikhs playing fantasy football with the likes of Man City, PSG, Monaco, etc.
As for Barcelona and Real Madrid, there is no doubt that they will be back - they still have the best players and the best finances and will rebuild for next season. Barcelona will be rejuvenated under whoever comes in - it's thought that Martino's replacement will be current Celta Vigo boss, Luis Enrique - and Real Madrid will be Real Madrid as usual.
Down the table after Athletic Bilbao who took the 4th Champions League spot quite comfortably - and deservedly after being so dominant in their new home - it was close as usual with nothing really separating the 5th placed side with the 19th placed side for much of the season.
Osasuna's relegation was confirmed on the final day in tragic circumstances
Ultimately, relegation was decided in dramatic fashion with Osasuna and Real Valladolid joining absolute no-hopers, Real Betis in the Segunda Division next season after results went with Granada, Almeria and Getafe on the final day of the season. Osasuna's relegation is a bit of a surprise given that they are often considered one of Spanish football's better run sides - a bit like Villarreal two seasons ago.
Sevilla, Real Sociedad and returning Primera side, Villarreal, all sealed Europa League football for next season with Sevilla winning this year's competition after a penalty shootout win over Portuguese treble winners, Benfica in Turin.
Anyway, here is a look at the season just completed!
Surprise of the Season - Elche
- expected to struggle in their first Primera season since 1989, Los Franjiverdes made a bright start to this season and eventually sealed their survival with a gutsy 0-0 draw with title chasing Barcelona on the penultimate weekend at home. Their home stadium witnessed the biggest World Cup hiding in history - Hungary 10-1 El Salvador - but there was none of that with the home team and they can look forward to a second season in the top flight.
Disappointment of the Season - Real Betis - from Europa League qualifiers and quarterfinalists to absolute rock bottom side, Sevilla's other team never looked like surviving the financial struggles that have mired the club and their fate was sealed early in April despite some encouraging wins late in the season. Pepe Mel was sacked and headed to the Black Country - where he left the West Brom job after an underwhelming performance there. Perhaps a stint in the Segunda Division will clear the trash from this once proud club and a new generation will emerge to return Real Betis back to the top flight.
Player - Diego Costa, Atletico Madrid - What can I say. There's a reason why Liverpool and Chelsea want him so badly after the season he's had. Many thought that Atletico would slip back into mid table mediocrity after the sale of Radamel Falcao to Monaco but few would have taken into account how much the Brazilian born striker has stepped up to take the great Colombian striker's place as head of the attack. Costa is now considered one of the best strikers in Europe - a mantle he wouldn't have expected after years of jumping between clubs.
Young Player of the Season - Aymeric Laporte, Athletic Bilbao - had to fill the big shoes of now-Fulham defender, Fernando Amorebieta, Laporte - only the 2nd Frenchman after Bixente Lizarazu to play for the red and whites - became a French international at the end of a season after a strong defensive performance at the new San Mames. Results at home helped Bilbao become the rising force of Spanish football and they earned the right to play in the Champions League for the first time.
and not forgetting...
Gareth Bale- He was never going to justify his outrageous $100 million dollar price tag in a club featuring the best player in the world. But you definitely cannot say that Bale didn't try his hardest to, chipping in with some goals on his own in his first season in white. Real fans will never forget his incredible solo goal to beat Barcelona at Valencia and win the Copa del Rey. Expect to see far more next season with one full pre-season under his belt.
Game of the Season - Real Madrid 3-4 Barcelona - nuff said. Watch now.
Goal of the Season -
Team of the Season (3-4-3) -
Thibault Courtois, Atletico (GK)
Diego Godin, Atletico Madrid
Aymeric Laporte, Athletic Bilbao
Gerard Pique, Barcelona
Angel di Maria, Real Madrid
Ivan Rakitic, Sevilla
Gabi, Atletico Madrid
Antoine Greizmann, Real Sociedad
Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
Diego Costa, Atletico Madrid
Lionel Messi, Barcelona
It was a dramatic 4 hours for Super Rugby on Saturday night with two red cards shown in two games.
While Jean Deysel's red card was clearly deserved, there was some controversy over Ed O'Donoghue's red card which was shown following video footage showed O'Donoghue's hands on Scott Higginbotham's face - possibly an eye gouge which is an automatic red.
However, Scott Higginbotham later claimed that he was surprised with the decision which came from the TMO and said that there were no scratch marks and he didn't think that O'Donoghue was eye gouging him.
This resulted in the most emotional outpouring of opinion by a captain in a press conference. Watch this interview by James Horwill - what are your thoughts?
Is James Horwill right? Is Steve Walsh still a dick? Do I look fat in this shirt?
It took a bit longer than their fans would have liked but Atletico Madrid finally confirmed their status as Spanish champions on Saturday evening after a gutsy comeback at the Camp Nou saw them get a 1-1 draw and clinch the point they needed to be champion.
In a thrilling game, Alexis Sanchez scored a wonder goal from a tight angle to give Barca a 1-0 lead going into half-time. Most sides would have faded away after that but Diego Simeone's side showed why they have been so good in Spain and in Europe this season, fighting back to end the 1st half strongly, and start the 2nd half on fire.
Kapitan Fantastico Diego Godin scored the most important goal for Atletico Madrid in 10 years with his head from a set piece to put Atleti back on level terms and that's where it finished.
Despite the expected onslaught from Barcelona led by substitute Neymar, Atletico were calm and cool at the back with Thibault Courtois impressing with some magnificent saves and stops as usual, and the right team ultimately became confirmed their status as Spain's newest champions.
I am a Barca fan normally but I think Barcelona winning the title at the death with victory at home would have been a travesty - La Rojiblanca over the campaign have been so much more consistent and showed more guts even when they didn't quite have the form. After hanging on for so long with a squad costing less than a quarter of Neymar's transfer fee, Rojiblanca are morally and rightfully champions - a lesson to the rest of the world that you still need an awesome team to win - Barca will be back next season with their new coach (more on that shortly).
It is the first time in ten years that a side other than Real Madrid or Barcelona has won Spain's La Liga - Valencia were the last side outside the duopoly to win the league back in 2004 - and it is a welcome relief for the rest of Spain and world football that even with all of the duopoly's money, there is still hope for the rest to compete with them.
In the wake of Barca's title loss, coach Gerardo Martino announced that he would step down as Barca coach immediately. The departure is not really surprising given Barca haven't had the best of seasons although he might not have been helped by injuries to Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes in the run-in as well as an aging squad. While his ethos to expand Barcelona's variety of play was admirable, his inexperience with the tactics of European football ultimately cost him the job - he does deserve another chance in Europe albeit with a club without the pressures of having to deliver the league and in Europe.
Luis Enrique looks set to take over the reins at the Camp Nou having left his post at Celta Vigo. The former Barca legend - and fans - will be hoping to emulate his former team-mate in bringing winning tikka-takka football back to the Camp Nou.
Serie A closes on Sunday evening with the championship, Champions League spots, and relegated clubs decided by last weekend.
There remains the issue of the last Europa League spot which is up for grabs between Torino, Parma, Hellas Verona and AC Milan - all four will be in action on Sunday night.
Juventus clinched their third Scudetto in a row with the sort of ease that we've gotten used to seeing from Turin's Old Lady in the last couple of seasons.
With Italy pretty much conquered and the likes of AS Roma and Napoli leading the chase with their young, developing squads, one wonders what challenge is left to motivate Antonio Conte - the Champions League could be a start and boy does Italian football need a club to win the Champions League in order to get back into the top 3 leagues in Europe - and a 4th Champions League spot which it held for so long.
Indeed, Italy's Serie A is now behind Portugal's Primeira Liga in the UEFA rankings following Juventus' failure to beat Benfica and make the Europa League Final in their own stadium.
Despite the rankings pointing otherwise, Italy's Serie A remains a top quality league and the action and interest is as great as ever - but there are problems evident, i.e. racism by fans, stadia no longer suited for the modern football fan, etc.
Bologna were relegated in matchday 37 along with Catania and Livorno
Here is a look back at the season gone by - Surprise of the Season - Tough call between Sassuolo whose first ever season in the top flight ended in survival despite the odds and Torino who have made a strong push for European football but my surprise of the season goes to Hellas Verona.
For so long a club on the periphery and used to fighting relegation whether it's in Serie A or B, Hellas' first season in Serie A in 11 years was one that didn't follow their history. They started quickly out of the blocks and even though they naturally faded away against the more experienced and fancied sides, they were never out of the top ten and are guaranteed a top ten finish this season. Ok, they were helped by the goals of experienced Italian international, Luca Toni but there is more to a team than one player, and the rest of the team chipped in as Hellas became Verona's number one team.
Disappointment of the Season - AC Milan - while it was definitely a year of rebuilding for the Rossoneri, they were expected to at least to feature in the top ten, let alone challenge for European football, with Mario Balotelli, Stephan el-Sharaawy and Kaka, returning from Real Madrid on a free. It was a season that Liverpool fans will probably be familiar with in recent times - Milan did win their games against the bottom half clubs at home but were dreadful against stronger sides and away from home.
Balotelli spent a lot of the season down on his feet
Massimiliano Allegri was sacked after the owners had enough of Milan's dreadful run and brought in former player Clarence Seedorf as coach came in halfway through the season - Seedorf's influence did turn Milan around and they have an outside chance of European football. But even if they somehow end up in the Europa League, it doesn't really make up for what has been a terribly disappointing season for the red and black half of Milan.
Player of the Season - Arturo Vidal, Juventus - possibly the best midfielder in Italy right now, world football fans can look forward to seeing Vidal's performances for Chile at the World Cup after yet another stellar season guiding Juve to the Scudetto. Vidal's versatility means he is a threat anywhere and even with Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente and Paul Pogba popping up with goals, he still contributes a fair few pearlers to watch.
Emerging Player of the Season - Domenico Berardi, Sassuolo - the young forward from the South made a huge impact at the club he was loaned out to by Juventus, including 4 goals in a memorable 4-3 home win over former European champions, AC Milan. The Neroverdi will find it hard to keep the young forward at the club with Juventus certain to ask him back. One to watch for the future.
Game of the Season - Sampdoria 3-4 Sassuolo, Nov 3, 2013 - Sassuolo have had a memorable first ever season in Serie A with some incredible results away from home. There was the win at Europa League chasing Fiorentina where Berardi scored 4 goals but this result at Luigi Ferraris was the game of the season for me. In a game that twisted and turned, Sassuolo took a 3-1 lead before Sampdoria clawed back to 3-3 with 9 minutes to go, only for Berardi to complete his hat-trick from the spot and seal a win that helped fire Sassuolo's survival quest.
Goal of the Season - Freddy Guarin, Inter v Torino
Team of the Season -
Mattia Perrin, Genoa (GK)
Mehdi Benatia, Roma
Leonardo Bonucci, Juventus
Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus
Gervinho, Roma
Arturo Vidal, Juventus
Borja Valero, Fiorentina
Alessio Cerci, Torino
Carlos Tevez, Juventus
Ciro Immobile, Torino
Luca Toni, Hellas Verona
