Why I fancy Harry's Spurs to pass their Real test
One English team can be pleased with their Champions League draw: Harry Redknapp's Tottenham.
Neither Chelsea nor Manchester United will be happy to be paired with each other but I fancy Spurs to get something out of their quarter-final with Real Madrid.
When you mention Real, it conjures up images of strength, glamour and near invincibility. The reality is different, though.
I don't think the current side are as good as the famous name suggests.
They are certainly not as good as Barcelona and nothing like the great Madrid teams from the past.
It is even debatable whether they are the best team Spurs have faced so far, given that they have already beaten the current holders (Inter Milan) and runaway leaders in Serie A (AC Milan).
Good draw: Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp
The Jose Mourinho factor will be talked up but I don't think Redknapp will be fazed by the Special One.
He can always point out that Jose has a lot to thank him for - developing Frank Lampard and Joe Cole at West Ham, players who helped Jose win the Premier League title at Chelsea.
Obviously, Real have great talents like Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Mesut Ozil, but they are not as strong as a team as they are individually.
The draw has worked kindly for Spurs in playing the first leg away.
I really fancy them to get a goal in the Bernabeu and then finish the job off at White Hart Lane.
Harry is just about old enough to remember the legendary Real team who won the European Cup in 1960.
But it's not that team Spurs will be facing, so I think we'll see Harry, not Jose, in the semis.
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Cities & Stadiums
The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments
Year | Winners | Runner-up | Third place |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | Spain | Germany | Russia / Turkey |
2004 | Greece | Portugal | Netherlands / Czech Republic |
2000 | France | Italy | Netherlands / Portugal |
1996 | Germany | Czech Republic | France / England |
1992 | Denmark | Germany | Netherlands / Sweden |
1988 | Netherlands | Soviet Union | Italy / West Germany |
1984 | France | Spain | Denmark / Portugal |
1980 | West Germany | Belgium | Czechoslovakia |
1976 | Czechoslovakia | West Germany | Netherlands |
1972 | West Germany | Soviet Union | Belgium |
1968 | Italy | Yugoslavia | England |
1964 | Spain | Soviet Union | Hungary |
1960 | Soviet Union | Yugoslavia | Czechoslovakia |