PSG Fail To Flatter

With all of Europe's major leagues now up and running for the 2012/13 campaign I felt I should have a look at the league that has caught my eye the most over the sports packed summer, thanks primarily to one team. 

A financially crippled Spanish La Liga has seen a large amount of players depart the league, with very few coming in the opposite direction. Italy's Serie A is yet again recovering from another match fixing educed hangover. Turin's Old Lady have spent the biggest compared to their Italian rivals, as they look to cement their position back at the helm of the Scudetto. A rather conservative close season in the Bundesliga in terms of expenditure, has seen less than €150 million spent on new arrivals. And the English Premiership has been dominated by the European Champions, who have spent large sums of money on rising talents from across the globe, as they look to cut the enormous gap that separated them and their two Manchester rivals in the league last season.

That just leaves Le Championnat. France's premier football division has lay in the shadow of Europe's other elite leagues for the last few decades. Lyon's dominance between 2002 and 2008, which saw them win seven consecutive titles, had an almost 'Old Firm' effect on French football. Just as Celtic and Rangers had created an ominous two horse race in Scottish football, resulting in other clubs finding success in what others may view as mediocrity, Lyon created the same effect in France. It ultimately took the competitiveness out of French football, making it less attractive for Europe's finest players. Like Celtic and Rangers, the situation was made worse by their inability to compete on the European stage.

However in 2011, Nasser Al-Khelaifi joined the ever increasing list of Qatari prominents to invest in a European football club, when he bought a major stake in Paris Saint-Germain. It came at the perfect time for French football. Coinsiding with Lyon's demise, it meant that a new era for French football was brewing, an era led by PSG, who with a seemingly unlimited transfer budget, could potentially compete with Europe's big guns.

Since the dizzying highs of the mid 90s, when PSG flirted with European success in the 1996 Cup Winners Cup and their second league title in 1994, they have struggled to compete not only abroad but also at home. Lowly 15th and 16th league finishes were not uncommon and the managerial merry-go-round was in full force.They lacked stability, backing and direction. So when Al-Khelaifi vowed to make the club the best in Europe, the Kop of Boulogne stood up with anticipation and excitement.

Last season, PSG splashed almost €100 million on new recruits such as Javier Pastore, Jeremy Menez and Thiago Motta. Accompanied by new manager Carlo Ancelotti, the men from Paris were expected to romp to a third French league title. However much to everyone's surprise, Montpellier failed to read the script, as they sealed their first league title.

The disappointment of last season did, however, give PSG a platform on which to build from. It was apparent that they were a couple of players away from success, which led to another €100 million being spent on four more new commodities this close season. Mr Ancelotti turned to his native Italy for players. Much sought after Marco Verratti was brought in from Pescara for a modest €12 million. He was followed by the three musketeers: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi for a combined total of €92 million. It mean that for the first time in a long time, the eyes of Europe's top football enthusiasts would be on France.

As the fixture list was drawn gifting PSG fixtures against Lorient, Ajaccio and Bordeaux in their first three games, many were expecting to see the floodgates open. But the second coming of PSG seems to have started even worse than the first.

In all honesty, Lorient and Ajaccio should have been cannon fodder for PSG. However, after two games the Parisians found themselves with just two points and two goals. Against Lorient they were 2-0 down at half time, and had to rely on new boy Ibrahimovic to save them with a last minute penalty that ensured a 2-2 draw. Matchday two saw them play out a dour 0-0 draw with potential strugglers Ajaccio. Other new boy Ezequiel Lavezzi saw red after a two footed tackle and was soon followed off the pitch by his manager who was dismissed for kicking a water bottle. Just two games in, and the pressure was starting to become to much for Europe's most talked about club of the last year.

This weekend they faced a Bordeaux side enviable of PSG's riches. Bordeaux coach Francis Gillot raised a few eyebrows by resting several first team players, most likely with key European ties on the horizon. However, PSG found it to be another hard day at the office. Again their multi-million euro marksmen were firing blanks and PSG were made to settle for another draw.

Three games in and PSG, with an embarrassment of riches at their disposal, sit 12th in the league table, six points off leaders Marseille. Ancelotti may argue that they are still undefeated and that the season is a marathon and not a race, but it is clear to all that PSG have had a somewhat false start.

Their next task comes in the shape of Lille, who themselves have not exactly started as expected. They lost the instrumental Eden Hazard, who I'm surprised slipped under the radar of Barcelona, as his style of play would fit right into their blueprint. The importance of Hazard to Lille has been highlighted by the fact that he has took to the English Premier League like a duck to water. Although, they must move on and have done so with the additions of Salomon Kalou and Marvin Martin. They will be looking to challenge for the title this year, making the clash between Lille and PSG all the more important for both sides, as neither will want to slip further off the pace.

PSG aside, French activity in the transfer market has been almost none existent. With UEFA's proposed caps on spending imminent and the economic financial crisis, clubs have opted to put faith in their existing squads. The only problem with this noble but risky tactic, is that the existing squads of those challenging PSG are undoubtedly weak, none more so than current champions Montpellier, who look like they could be struggling to maintain a top half league position.

Given this I still believe that the Ancelotti ensemble will go on to lift the league crown come May. They will sit and wait in anticipation for Thursdays Champions League draw, which surely cannot come quick enough for Ancelotti. He will use Europe's maiden competition as evidence that PSG are indeed becoming one of Europe's elite and are not just a gathering of once successful misfits. Indeed, Ancelotti may turn to compatriot Roberto Mancini who has masterminded a similar job at Manchester City, as he seeks to find the formula for success.

Mexico and Olympic Shocks

As Brazil spend the next four years preparing to host the 31st Olympic games, they will surely be trying to workout a formula that will see their golden medal tally increase from the unimpressive three obtained at London 2012. The women's volleyball team lived up to their reputation, crushing USA 3-1 in the final. Their male counterparts could only manage silver, losing the final to the Russians 3-2. Judoka prodigy Sarah Menezes won the countries first gold in female Judo and the third Brazil gold came from Arthur Zanetti in the Mens Rings, the first gold in this discipline for Brazil, or indeed Latin America.

Gold Medals were expected in Beach Volleyball, Sailing and Athletics, although they all failed to deliver. Brazil's greatest chance at a gold medal, however, lay with the male football team. Brimming with young talent such as Neymar, Oscar and Pato, complete with experience in Marcelo, Thiago Silva and Hulk, the gold medal was almost a certainty. Rivals and defending champions Argentina were pipped at the qualifying stage by Uruguay, meaning the only real challenge to Brazil would come from newly crowned European champions Spain.

The tournament began well for the South Americans with a three goal lead after half an hour against Egypt. A lacklustre second half performance saw the Samba boys hold out for a 3-2 win. Their second match saw a Brazilian open the scoring. Unfortunately it was Belarus midfielder Bressan. The Brazil born midfielder, now with a Belarussian passport, opted to represent his adopted nation at international level, and looked rather embarrassed as he gave Belarus an early lead. However goals from Pato, Neymar and Oscar ensured Brazil won 3-1 and progressed to the knockout phase. After routing 3-0 against New Zealand and South Korea, with a nervy 3-2 win against Honduras in the middle, Brazil found themselves in the final.

Much to the surprise of everyone, Brazil's opponents would not be the much favoured Spain, but rather a vibrant and exciting Mexican outfit. Spain fell at the group stage after two 1-0 defeats and a 0-0 draw. Mexico, like Brazil, were undefeated on route to the final, but were not expected to stand in the way of a first Olympic title for footballs most successful nation. Or so we thought...

Mexico sprung out of the traps quicker than Usain Bolt, opening the scoring in the first minute thanks to Obie Peralta. The Brazilians looked stunned, but not defeated. They huffed and puffed, but their effort was all in vain. Santos Laguna striker Peralta doubled Mexico's lead with 15 minutes to play, all but ending the encounter. Porto striker Hulk replied for Brazil in injury time and after a Leandro Damiao sitter in the last minute, Mexico were crowned Olympic champions. Just as in 84 and 88, Brazil had to settle for a silver medal, and look on to Rio, where they will be hoping home advantage will aid their bid for a first Olympic title.

Mexico's win was a shock, their is no doubt about that. But this is not the first time there has been a surprise gold medallist at the Olympic games. In fact Mexico will be well aware of one such event. The 1996 games in USA saw Nigeria triumph against all odds.

Their first match saw them scrape a rather fortuitous 1-0 win against lowly Hungary. Goals from Babingida and Jay-Jay Okocha in the last eight minutes saw them dispose of Japan in their second game, before losing to Brazil 1-0 in the final group game. Nevertheless, they had qualified as group runners-up and faced 2012 champions Mexico in the quarter final.

Mexico, themselves, were having an unconvincing tournament and struggled against Nigeria. Goals from Okocha and once Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro saw the Africans advance to the semi final, where they would once again face Brazil. The previous day saw Argentina defeat Portugal 2-0 in the first semi final, and everyone was expecting a South American dual in the final. However, Nigeria had obviously failed to read the script.

At half time Brazil led 3-1. Nigeria were struggling and found goalscoring opportunities hard to come by. However, they were gifted an opportunity from the penalty spot. Okocha stepped up with confidence, but saw his effort saved by Dida in the Brazil goal. Many though Nigeria had blown their chance. In actual fact the penalty miss only spurred them on. With 12 minutes left they were given hope when Victor Ikpeba scored a fine goal to make it 3-2. Brazil began to look nervy, and with just minutes remaining ex-Arsenal man Kanu sent the game into extra time.

As extra time loomed, Brazil looked shell shocked. The new format of golden goal was being trialed at the games, meaning the first team to score would win. Yes, the rule was a little childish and has since been abandoned by FIFA, but try telling Nigeria that. Just four minutes in Kanu scored his second of the game sending the Africans into raptures and the Brazilians into tears. The world champions were out and Nigeria were into the final to face Argentina.

Many people admired Nigeria's achievement in reaching the final, however saw the gold medal match as a step to far. And their thoughts seemed to be justified when Claudio Lopez put Argentina in front after three minutes. However, Nigeria once again rallied and went in level at half time. The match was 2-2 heading into the final minutes and golden goal loomed again. However, Nigeria pulled off the upset when Barcelona midfielder Emmanuel Amuneke scored in injury time to give Nigeria their second gold medal of the 1996 games. It was the biggest shock in Olympic footballing history, although it was arguably eclipsed just four years later.

This time Sydney played host to the Olympic games and the world again were expecting Brazil to win the gold medal. However, they would once again be stopped in the knockout stages by another African team. And if you thought Nigeria did it the hard way...

Cameroon had a talented side, with players such as Geremi, Eto'o and M'boma. However no one expected them to win the gold medal, especially after an unconvincing group stage, which saw them scrape a win against Kuwait, draw with USA and draw with a poor Czech side. But they did enough to qualify for the quarter finals, where they would face none other than, Brazil.

The Indomitable Lions started the match well and went ahead through M'Boma. They continued to create chances, but could not find a decisive second. Much of the second half was backs against the wall for Cameroon and their resistance was made harder with the sending off of not one, but two players. They were made to rue their missed chances when Ronaldinho broke Cameroonian hearts with a 94th minute equaliser. The game went into extra time, where the golden goal format would be used once again. And once again Brazil were beaten by a golden goal. Cameroon had amazingly beaten Brazil with just nine men.

Cameroon advanced to face another South American side in the shape of Chile. Defending Olympic champions Nigeria fell to Chile 4-1 in the previous round and the South Americans were the tournaments leading scorers. However the game was a tense affair, with neither side looking like scoring. But it was Chile who made the breakthrough thanks to an own goal by Patrice Abanda. The lead would only last for six minutes, as M'Boma grabbed his second goal in two games. Yet again golden goal loomed, but in a moment of madness, Chile conceded a devastating penalty that was coolly converted by Arsenal defender Lauren. For the second Olympic games in a row an African team would compete in the final.

The 2000 final started in similar circumstances to the 1996 final, with the African underdogs conceding an early goal. Barcelona midfielder Xavi opened the scoring, with team mate Gabri doubling the lead on the stroke of half time. Cameroon looked dead and buried.

Although the luck of the Africans struck once again. Atletico Madrid defender Amaya scored an own goal to make it 2-1 and Real Madrid striker Samuel Eto'o made it 2-2 just five minutes later. Spain, just like Argentina four years prior, were stunned. Frustration began to kick in, literally, when Gabri was sent off for kicking Cameroon's Alnoudji. The African champions could not find a break through, even when Spain had a second man sent off. But Cameroon had their golden goal card to turn too. They could beat Brazil's eleven with just nine men, surely they could beat Spain's nine with eleven of their own. However, Cameroon struggled to break down a resolute Spanish defence and the game went to the lottery that is penalties.

In front of 104,000 Australian punters, Cameroon scored their first four spot kicks. Spain scored their first two, but once again it was Amaya that was the Spanish villain, missing their third spot kick. Albelda scored Spain's fourth, but it was not enough to beat Cameroon who scored all five spot kicks, ultimately winning their nations first ever Olympic gold medal. Just as the gold medal match of 2000 had started similar to that of 1996, it ended similarly, with the African underdogs jubilantly celebrating and their defeated opponents in tears. The Sydney games would become a showcase for many of Cameroons talents, none other than Samuel Eto'o.

Spain and Argentina recovered from their Olympic final defeats and have since gone on to greater things. I'm sure Brazil will do the same with their immensely talented squad peaking just in time for the World Cup they will host in two years time. Nigeria and Cameroon failed to match expectations on the international stage, but maybe Mexico will break the mold of underachieving Olympic champions.