The Final

The Final

                I hope I don’t have to say which final it is that I am discussing as there is only one 'big' game that matters in sports in the month of May.  I am excited to say that this Saturday brings us a European Cup Final that I have personally been waiting for since my exchange experience in Germany back in the 1999-2000 school year.  On exchange, I was sent to Dortmund on my exchange, and my interest in soccer/football went up tenfold.  The fans there are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, maybe outside of the Dortmund-Galatasaray (gala fans) fixture I went to that season.  It’s usually 75,000 strong, and it’s loud and passionate and just an absolutely fantastic atmosphere.  It was the first time in my life that I recognized that being a fan of your favorite team meant more than the simple pleasure of enjoying the sport.  It was a lifestyle.

                That being said, I can still look at this game from beyond my yellow tinted glasses.  Living in Dortmund it was only natural to dislike Bayern Munich.  For everything that they stood for, and beyond that.  Coming back to the states and not experiencing that disgust on a weekly basis though, I really learned to appreciate how Bayern plays and how they manage and react to organizational success.  They don’t care how fans and the media view their club, and they always do what’s in their clubs own best interests.  They have no concern for the league, or the country, and certainly not the fan base.  For better or worse, it’s what makes them so successful.  And it’s what has put them in this position today; a third Champions League Final appearance in four seasons.

                This clash is probably one of the biggest matches in the history of German football.  Dortmund will be hard pressed to get back to this summit with their current squad; many of the players are expected to be leaving over the next couple of seasons.  Mario Götze is already leaving for Bayern Munich after the game.  Dortmund have changed their brand significantly over the last couple of seasons; they used to challenge with Bayern style money.  Once their club’s finances hit the skids and they were close to bankruptcy, did they decide to build from the ground up and create one of the great youth academies on the entire continent.  Bayern’s legacy will also be challenged during this affair.  They haven’t won a Champions League Final since 2001; in fact they have lost in three of their last four final appearances.  A lot of their players have made Bayern their summit, and with their philosophical change after the hire of Pep Guardiola, the former great Barcelona manager, a number of these current players could be gone after the season.  Arjen Robben is viewed in most circles as a rather selfish player, and it appears that Götze will be his direct replacement.  Boateng, Gomez and Pizarro could all be replaced as well.  This has been a dominant domestic side this year, but they wouldn’t have brought in Guardiola if they weren’t prepared for some change.

                I see the game playing out one of two ways.  The first way is how most domestic clubs continental matchups go, which is boring and unconnected.  No team wants to lose to a big rival, and no player (or manager) wants to take it upon himself to be the hero.  A la 2003 European final between Juventus and Milan which was a bore 0-0 draw.  In 2000, Madrid was just superior to Valencia in every way, and the game was almost an afterthought beyond halftime.  The 2008 match between Manchester United and Chelsea had its moments, but outside of Cristiano Ronaldo’s sensational header, and Drogba’s casual slap, it rather lacked creativity and passion.  The other direction this game could go is a barn burner in which both teams attempt to attack the same way they decided to against the Spanish sides in the semi-finals, and we get a 4-3 classic.  I believe that the game will attempt to begin in this fashion as both teams sense their own confidence in being capable of winning the match.  Bayern went this route last year, and just couldn’t get the goals to finish off Chelsea.  But no fan doubted who was the better side that day.  I can't remember specifically, but I think they outshot Chelsea 28-5 on the day. Dortmund knows that their legacy with these kids is going to soon end, as there is too much money in the sport now to keep this group of talented players intact.  Bayern’s overall dominance is reason enough to give Dortmund all they can handle.  I think that with Götze officially out of the game, and with Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger playing magnificently during these last few weeks, that Bayern will get the best of Dortmund in an open match, 3-1.

 

Borusssia Dortmund player to watch: Robert Lewandowski.  Stud. Scored 4 goals in the home leg against Real Madrid in the semi, and will be in different colors next season.  Ideally in Rooney’s #10 shirt.

Bayern Munich player to watch: Javi Martinez.  I would’ve picked Philip Lahm, but I have every round, so it’s time for someone new.  Javi is the defensive-midfield version of Zidane.  Elegant on the ball and a great, all-around understanding of the game. 

Probable Lineups:

Dortmund 4-2-3-1

GK –Weidenfeller
LB – Schmelzer
CB – Hummels (if he’s healthy)
CB – Subotic (if he’s healthy)
RB – Piszczek
DM – Gündogan
DM – Bender
LM – Großkruetz
CM – Reus
RM – Blaszczykowski
ST – Lewandowski

Bayern 4-2-3-1
GK – Neuer
LB – Alaba
CB – Boateng
CB – Dante
RB – Lahm
DM – Martinez
DM – Schweinsteiger
LM – Ribery
CF – Müller
RM – Robben
ST – Mandzukic

It would’ve been interesting to see if Toni Kroos would’ve had a place in the final before his season ending injury.  I think this is their best line-up even though I rate Kroos very highly.  Mario Gomez will be brought on if they are down, as will Schieber if Dortmund is in the same situation.  Should be pretty straight forward.  Dortmund did pass the animal test for those of you that know the history of Paul and the German obsession with his success. Enjoy the match, and until next season, goodbye readership!