QUE SERA SERA, WE’RE GOING TO WEMBLEY, TWICE
There are a couple of huge matches taking place at Wembley this weekend. First up, it’s the Women’s FA Cup final, to be contested at the home of English football for the very first time in the tournament’s 44-year history. Some older readers may recall that a similar fixture in a similar competition at the same stadium used to be a big thing with the men, too, but the women’s game hasn’t become utterly riddled with cynicism yet. Indeed, it’s positively thriving, and Saturday’s clash between Chelsea and Notts County is certain to capture the imagination, partly because of the grand setting, partly because both teams are looking for their first-ever major trophy, but mainly because Arsenal aren’t cluttering up the place for once.
Chelsea are the hot favourites. They’ve already won away at County in the league this season, and are in the hunt for the league, having been narrowly pipped to the post in last year’s championship race by Liverpool. (Some older readers may recall, etc). Their tricky midfielder Ji So-yun is the 2015 player of the year, while Eni Aluko and Katie Chapman are two of the biggest stars in the English game. County, by comparison, are just off the pace in the WSL title race, haven’t faced a top-flight side in their cup run yet, and are in the midst of a thundering goalkeeping crisis, with their only realistic option Carly Telford still suffering the effects of shoulder-knack after a recent dislocation.
You’d think all Chelsea need to do, then, is fling a few high balls into the box and give it the full Nat Lofthouse. Maybe. Perhaps. Yet they might be perturbed by the presence in County colours of one Laura Bassett. The England defender is now principally famous for heroically taking one for the team in the semi-final of the World Cup last month, steering the ball into her own net to ensure it was Japan’s players who would suffer the indignity of going four goals down in 16 minutes against USA! USA!! USA!!! instead. But she also lifted the 2012 FA Women’s Cup as captain of the Birmingham City side who denied glory to, yes, Chelsea, winning on penalties after equalising in injury-time. Bassett’s since spent time at Chelsea, so seeing she’s also due a fairly large slice of good fortune this summer, this does begin to look like one of those stories, doesn’t it.
Then on Sunday, at the same venue, the lads of Chelsea and Arsenal compete for the trophy everyone still calls the Charity Shield. And once they’ve done that, they can all toddle off back home to being FA-approved daddies, partners and sons.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I’m sure that if I was in their team they would love me because I am one of those players who gives everything to the cause … anyone who has not met me shouldn’t be judging me and questioning my character” – Plain Old John Terry reckons he’s the committed but cuddly type, if only the #haterz could see it.
FIVER LETTERS
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“First of all, mind my bad English since it’s my third language. The Fiver is free to correct my spelling or actually adding misspelled words. From a sunny Croatia, on my holiday, drinking the water of life, I read Patrick J Carr’s letter (yesterday’s Fiver letters). Felt sorry for his kids. I follow HNK Hajduk, but at least I know they are [Snip – Fiver Lawyers] and don’t hide it behind multi-zillonaries or oil empires, makes it so much easier and you know what’s coming” – Roger A Pehar.
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PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEWS
Our season guides have nipped across the East Lancs Road to Manchester. Today it’s Paul Wilson on City and Jamie Jackson on United, plus videos of Jamie in full effect while he assesses both City’s and United’s chances of bothering Chelsea.
BITS AND BOBS
Theo Walcott has signed a £140,000-a-week four-year deal at Arsenal. Let that sink in. Now, cue the music … Oh, and Santi Cazorla has inked a new contract too.
Gillingham and their chairman Paul Scally have each been fined £75,000 for “race victimisation” relating to the departure of the striker Mark McCammon in 2011. “I am shocked, stunned and angered by this decision, as are my staff at the club,” fumed Scally. “The club and I will be appealing against this decision and, if necessary, we will take the matter beyond the FA.”
Fenerbahce have complained to Uefa over Fred’s inclusion in the Shakhtar line-up for their Big Cup qualifier, despite allegations of doping hanging over him like a cartoon cloud.
Steve McClaren has signed a player who’s apparently twice what the Queen could ever be, with Newcastle splurting £8m on Anderlecht’s Chancel Mbemba.
Having qualified for Big Vase through the Fair Play League, West Ham’s third red card in as many qualifiers didn’t best please Slaven Bilic. “If we get another red card, we have to stay here,” he sniffed after the 2-2 draw with Astra Giurgiu.
Jordy Clasie could miss Southampton’s Premier League opener after twanging a hamstring in the 3-0 Big Vase qualifying win against Vitesse.
Meanwhile, Saints keeper Marten Stekelenburg has been giving some hot chat about his time at Fulham and on loan in the south of France, whether you want to hear about it or not. “Monaco was not frustrating. No, it was my escape from Fulham. The loan was my only way out. I knew the situation when I signed for Monaco … I knew the situation but I didn’t want to have one more year like that,” he trilled, making his spell at Craven Cottage sound like Frank Morris-style time served in the big house.
And Aston Villa will sign up for some annoying payment app, only to find that the £6m they need to send to Blackeye Rovers for Rudy Gestede is above the threshold said rubbish technological offering will cater for. Then they’ll just find a more traditional means.
STILL WANT MORE?
It’s hard to walk around a German city without tripping over an exceptional goalkeeper. They’re everywhere, warns Jason Humphreys.
Everyone knows the Queen’s Celtic will canter to another title but despite Scottish fitba being in a sorry state, there’s still optimism about the coming season, cheers Ewan Murray.
Is Asier Illarramendi off to Liverpool? Your fun-size Rumour Mill reveals all. Well actually, it doesn’t.
Richard Whittall on what to look out for in MLS this weekend, including the possibility for a rare sighting of Frank Lampard in New York City blue.
Sports. Quiz. Of. The. Week. Sportsquizoftheweek.
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