Laudrup on Laudrup

Plenty of rumors out there on where Lars Jacobsen will be playing next year - Everton, Nürnberg... I can't be bothered any more.

But this tiny bit I missed when looking forward to the Celtic game: Brian Laudrup commenting on his brother's son, Mads Laudrup. 17 years old Mads filled in on the midfield vs Lillestrøm when the regulars were given a rest.

"He is a very different player to both my brother and myself," said Laudrup's Uncle Brian last night. "He is obviously very talented but he is more like a holding player with good ability, than a dribbler so I don't think you could compare him to his dad. Technically he is sound, and he is still not the biggest of boys, even though he is only 17. It would be unfair to compare him to his dad but he has good vision and good overall ability, keeps the ball well and has a good passing game."

Sunday Herald / DANISH MAY PITCH IN WITH LAUDRUP

The Herald on FC Copenhagen

A British media has taken not of us.

The Herald / FC Copenhagen: a tale of one city

This bit...

The Danish champions have yet to beat a Scottish club in Europe, losing twice and drawing once.

...is outdated though :)

FC Copenhagen 3 Celtic 1

Just noting a few match articles...


The Sun / FC Copenhagen 3 Celtic 1

THOMAS GRAVESEN took dog’s abuse, his team were howling and they got a hounding.

The midfielder bought to be Celtic’s heartbeat had the homecoming from HELL.

[...]

Copenhagen’s first foray into the group stages may have seen them banished out of Europe without the consolation of a UEFA Cup slot but they bowed out with pride.

Benfica were held here, Sir Alex Ferguson’s mighty Manchester United famously vanquished. Celtic? They were destroyed.

Underneath the Parken Stadion’s space-age retractable roof a new surface had been laid yet it still looked patchy in the gnawing cold of a biting evening.

Elsewhere: UEFA.com match review, BBC / FC Copenhagen 3-1 Celtic, Scotsman.com / Celtic left to count cost of defeat, Eurosport / Strachan disappointed with Celtic show.

Lars Jacobsen interview

Lars Jacobsen is of course our outstanding right back. Since joining I believe he played every game but one. He is currently establishing himself as a national team regular.

At UEFA.com Lars Jacobsen answered questions at a webchat recently. The long transcript is online, and here's my highlights:

Q: Do you think you can beat Celtic at home?
Lars Jacobsen: We have a very good chance against Celtic. We are strong at home. And if we can beat Manchester United at home we can beat Celtic for sure. We are looking forward to it. Celtic were very good against us at Celtic Park though. They have a very good team.

Q: Hi Lars, I read that Dortmund is interested in you. At the moment, do you feel ready to play in Germany or another big league?
Lars Jacobsen: I feel ready for a bigger league if the situation arises. But I am happy focusing on the last few matches of this season and will wait and see what happens.

Q: How influential are the Laudrup brothers in Denmark?
Lars Jacobsen: The Laudrup brothers were influential when they played and are a big part of Danish football. At the moment they are quiet but I hear that Michael is going to coach in Spain. They have meant a lot to Danish football.

Q: Who will win the Champions League this year?
Lars Jacobsen: My tip is maybe Manchester United. Barça if they qualify and possibly Chelsea or Lyon too. Out of those four!

Read the whole thing for him comparing Danish football to Swedish, German and Champions League. Talking computer games, favourite players, who to look out for and much else.

The thing about Borussia Dortmund having an interest in him is no longer just a rumor as their sporting director has publicly stated so (Eurosport.com / Dortmund want Jacobsen, clubcall.com / Dortmund target Copenhagen star). But Paris St. Germain too have him on their wish list (jadransport.org). And who knows what other clubs? That is something Danish football has to put up with - the leagues of the larger European countries are usually more interesting for the players.

Royal League sucks

Well at least it does suck a bit when you're not winning :)

But no, actually it was kind of fun watching 16 year olds take the playing ground in place of the established first team players. Especially, I must admit, it's fun to see the next generation of the Laudrup family.

But the facts are FC København is fourth and last of group 2 with zero points for two games.

Read some more...
Eurosport.com / Laudrup makes bow
International Herald Tribune / Defending champion FC Copenhagen loses again (Guys, the goalie's name is Benny, not Kenny.)

It all means qualification for next round is not at all certain. Lillestrøm have already collected 10 points and Brøndby have stated they will actually try seriously to win the thing. That's because they have been utter shit in every other tournament this year. And in the light of a Champions League game just three days away - even if we have no chance of qualifying for next round in that tournament - it makes sense to give the best players a rest.

Happy New Year!?

Official UEFA.com match report: Miccoli goals keep Benfica alive.

Extinguishing our hopes I might add.

Google search comes up with...

Miccoli brace keeps Benfica's hopes alive
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 5 hours ago
FABRIZIO Miccoli grabbed two goals to lead Benfica to a 3-1 win over FC Copenhagen in Group F of the Champions League. Benfica scored early. ...

Benfica 3 FC Copenhagen 1
Sportinglife.com, UK - 8 hours ago
Two goals from Fabrizio Miccoli ensured Benfica kept alive their hopes of a place in the last 16 of the Champions League, but ended FC Copenhagen's run in the ...

Benfica 3 FC Copenhagen 1
ITV.com, UK - 8 hours ago
Benfica kept their Champions League dream alive in Group F with a comfortable home victory over FC Copenhagen. The hosts ran riot ...

Miccoli strikes twice as Benfica beat FC Copenhagen 3-1
Reuters.uk, UK - 9 hours ago
LISBON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Italian winger Fabrizio Miccoli scored twice as Benfica defeated FC Copenhagen 3-1, to stay in the race to qualify for the knockout ...

Champions League Group F Report: Benfica Breathe As Copenhagen ...
Goal.com, Switzerland - 9 hours ago
Group F Report: Benfica Breathe As Copenhagen Crash Benfica made good on their home edge at the Da Luz stadium, beating their Danish guests to be granted a ...

Benfica down Danes
Eurosport, France - 9 hours ago
Benfica blew away Copenhagen 3-1 at the Estádio da Luz to boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages. Brazilian full-back ...

Benfica 3 - 1 FC Copenhagen
The Herald, UK - 6 hours ago
Fabrizio Miccoli scored two goals last night to lead Benfica to a 3-1 win in Group F of the Champions League. Benfica now have seven ...

Only relevant number now is the zero chance of more European games for us this year.

Pimpong has caught the flu

But since he hasn't been a starting eleven regular, I fail to see it as a "blow". He'd be a really nice sub but having Grønkjær back is more important.

"I had this terrible flu since I returned from the Australia game and this has kept me away from training. It is a shame that I could not travel for the game Lisbon but I hope to return to training by next week."

BBC / Pimpong blow for FC Copenhagen

Of course, they could be referring to him blowing his nose :)

Benfica away is tomorrow

Benfica defender Luisão was injured in Brazil's friendly against Switzerland.

UEFA.com / Benfica wait on Luisão fitness

We on the other hand have Jesper Grønkjær back. And Benfica just lost a league game 1-3. Read more at the UEFA.com match preview.

There's a general summary of all the Champions League groups and the respective chances of the clubs at noticias.info / CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Contenders vie for vacant spots. It basically all boils down to:

Defeat for either Benfica or København would extinguish their knockout hopes, while a draw would do the same to both should Celtic win.

According to the experts the probability of a home win, a draw and an away win are approximately 67%, 23% and 10,00% respectively.

Most likely FC København starting formation is about as follows:

Marcus Allbäck
Jesper Grønkjær
Atiba Hutchinson - Hjalte Nørregaard - Michael Silberbauer
Tobias Linderoth
Oscar Wendt - Michael Gravgaard - Brede Hangeland - Lars Jacobsen
Jesper Christiansen

We'll see.

Linderoth & Allbäck honoured

The Swedes just had their annual awards handed out.

[...] Swedish internationals Tobias Linderoth and Marcus Allbäck, who are playing in the UEFA Champions League with Danish side FC København, were named as best midfielder and best striker [...]

From UEFA.com / Ljungberg lifts Swedish accolade

Denmark too handed out this year's awards yesterday. Former Copenhagen hero Christian Poulsen now of Sevilla FC was awarded Player of the Year. Defenders Michael Gravgaard and Lars Jacobsen were among the nominees. Tobias Linderoth was awarded the Superliga Player of the Year trophy.

See Laudrup crowned king of Danish football.

"Fucking miles away": Brøndby IF

"If Brøndby did like FC København Danish football would be fucking miles away." Quote, Brøndby coach René Meulensteen (curiously, René is former youth squad coach at Champions League opponent Manchester United). He was talking about growing talents as opposed to buying foreign players. But he did so for a season in which Brøndby has signed numerous questionable players. And even at UEFA.com, they have noticed that indeed Brøndby is "fucking miles away".

UEFA.com / Bitter winter descends at Brøndby

While Danish fans have been thrilled to see FC København and Odense BK fly the flag in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup respectively, they have been equally fascinated by goings-on at Brøndby IF. [...] while the rest of Denmark is celebrating a headline-grabbing season for København and OB, Brøndby are feeling horribly left out.

Their list of Brøndby troubles is far from complete:

There has been plenty of unrest in the ranks. Defender Joseph Elanga refused to play in a reserve-team fixture, while former Danish international Thomas Rytter left the stadium at half-time of one game, apparently furious at having been substituted, and was also involved in a training-ground row with team-mate Adam Eckersley.

I may or may not bother to put down a shit list on Brøndby some time.

Champions League Group F forecast

10 days to next game and I can't wait. After winning at home vs Manchester, the group has opened up for a number of interesting outcomes. But how open is it really? I've taken a look at experts and bookmakers assessments.


Probabilities of number of final points for each team. Note: The graph could imply 5^4 = 625 outcomes. Of course there is only 3^4 = 81. Meaning each of four games have three different possible outcomes.

And a quick assessment of each team's probablity of winning the group and ending up second place.

1. Manchester United 86%/8%


2. Celtic 9%/46%


3. Benfica 4%/34%


4. FC København 1%/13%

Who ends up third place will be exciting.

What are people saying? Billy McNeill has spoken on Celtics chances:

vitalfootball.co.uk / McNeill backs Celtic's Euro bid

"I still think Celtic have a very good chance of progressing. If you had said at the start they would have had six points by this stage you would have been happy. Celtic know they'll get no favours from Sir Alex. United will feel they have to come here and take something but my old club rise to the challenge on nights like these. It was disappointing to see them lose against Benfica but the big blow came when Copenhagen beat Manchester United."

stv.tv / McNeill hopeful Rangers can reach UEFA Cup final

I still think Celtic have a great chance. At the start of the league you'd have been happy with Celtic having six points at this stage. It will be difficult as Manchester United are a magnificent team and FC Copenhagen away will be tough. It will be difficult but not impossible for Celtic and I think they'll get enough points. The fans can play their part as they were magnificent against Benfica and the team will respond to that.

Appears to be the same interview, just different journalists typing. BBC got it and there's yet another one at teamtalk.com / Gers can reach Euro final - McNeill.

Finally, the Benfica vs København match background article is ready at UEFA.com.

Hello World

This here blog thingy will log news about the sublime FC Copenhagen (København, that is).

We'll see what happens. So far, here's a dump of my latest Google News Alert on FCK:

Champions League: FC Copenhagen beats Manchester United 1-0 in ...
International Herald Tribune - France
AP. COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Marcus Allback scored in the 73rd minute Wednesday to give FC Copenhagen a 1-0 win over Manchester United in Group F of the Champions ...

FCK steamrolled its way past cross-town rival Brøndby Sunday ...
The Copenhagen Post - Copenhagen,Sealand,Denmark
The cross-town rivalry between FCK and Brøndby had one of its less spectacular editions Sunday. But with the two powerhouses headed ...

Champions League Minute-by-minute Report - Fc Copenhagen v Man Utd
Buzzle - Costa Mesa,CA,USA
... FC Copenhagen/Ka¸benhavn: 1-Jesper Christiansen; 2-Lars Jacobsen, 5-Brede P. Hangeland, 14-Michael Gravgaard, 17-Ozcar Wendt; 8-Michael Silberbauer, 6-Tobias ...

Benfica roll, FCK stun United
Soccerway - Den Haag,Zuid Holland,Netherlands
... F win over Celtic while a lackluster Manchester United side were taken down by FC København. ... and it proved to be their downfall as they were stunned by FCK. ...

FC Copenhagen v Man Utd
BBC Sport - UK
... group. Manchester United and FC Copenhagen met each other for the first time in the reverse fixture, United winning 3-0. Copenhagen ...

FC Copenhagen 1 Man Utd 0
ITV.com - UK
Marcus Allback's 73rd minute strike was enough to secure FC Copenhagen a surprise win over Manchester. The defeat was United's first ...

FCK president does things his way
Danmark.dk - Denmark
Claims that Østergaard suffers from a major case of hubris surely did not diminish when he prophesied an August in the near future when FCK qualifies for the ...

FC Copenhagen 1-0 Man Utd: Allback stuns United
ESPN - USA
Aston Villa flop Marcus Allback came good at just the wrong time to halt Manchester United's charge towards the Champions League knockout stage. ...

FC Copenhagen 1 Manchester United 0
Sportinglife.com - UK
By Simon Stone, PA Sport, Copenhagen. Aston Villa flop Marcus Allback came good at just the wrong time to halt Manchester United's ...

You see, I don't claim to be reinventing the wheel here ;)