The 2006 World Cup kicks off in just under a month now – June 9 in Berlin – but before we get there, there’s important unfinished business being concluded in the regular seasons around the world. This past week saw a couple of big results; this coming week features the two biggest games on the European calendar:
Arsenal passed north London rival Tottenham to claim fourth place in England and a spot in next year’s Champions League with a dramatic win on the final weekend of the season – and their last game in venerable Highbury stadium, which goes under the wrecking ball this summer.
Spain’s Sevilla hoisted the UEFA Cup on Wednesday, dominating England’s Middlesbrough, 4-0 to claim Europe’s second-biggest title.
The biggest prize, of course, is the European Champions League title. That final pits Arsenal and Barcelona, playing in Paris next Wednesday, May 17. It’s being shown live on ESPN2 at 1:30pm; for those of you who have day jobs, it’s also being rebroadcast that evening at 11:30pm.
Before that is the FA Cup final, this Saturday, May 13: a showdown between Liverpool and West Ham United, being shown in the U.S. on closed-circuit only, 8am Saturday, May 13. Should be a rousing game between two of England’s most popular clubs. I highly recommend breakfast at Fadó, always a fun atmosphere for British fixtures.
This article appears in May 12 • 2006.