Sudah Selayaknya Barcelona Masuk Final

Yup, semifinal ke-2 Liga Champions Eropa antara Chelsea melawan Barcelona telah usai digelar dini hari tadi (Kamis, 7 Mei 2009). Hasil akhir, Chelsea 1 - Barcelona 1. Artinya, Barcelona lolos ke final, karena menang agregat 1-1 (pada leg 1 di Stadion Camp Nou, Barcelona ditahan 0-0 oleh Chelsea).

Dan aku pun sepakat kalau ada pengamat sepakbola yang mengatakan pemenang pertandingan Chelsea melawan Barcelona – semifinal leg 2 liga Champion Eropa – adalah “sepakbola” itu sendiri. Dan sepakbola itu dipresentasikan dengan sempurna oleh Barcelona, klub pemuncak La Liga Spanyol sekaligus kandidat kuat juara Liga Champions 2009, selain Manchester United.

Tak pelak, startegi Chelsea untuk tetap menerapkan pola bertahan total – dengan sesekali memanfaatkan serangan balik secara sporadis – makin mengukuhkan bahwa tim besutan Guus Hiddink ini hanya mencari kemenangan semata, tanpa “menghormati” bagaimana sebenarnya bermain bola yang benar dan bisa dinikmati penonton. Tentu sebuah ironi, kalau tim tuan rumah dalam penguasaan bola hanya 39% kalah jauh dari Barcelona (yang sebenarnya adalah tamu) yang mencapai 61% dalam 90 menit pertandingan.

Menurut pandanganku, Barcelona adalah tim “sempurna” dalam memainkan sepakbola modern. Penguasaan teknik individu pemain cukup tinggi, memainkan bola cepat dari kaki ke kaki dengan akurat, kemampuan fisik yang terjaga dalam pertandingan spartan 90 menit, dan punya konsistensi untuk menyerang dan bertahan sama baiknya. Bukti lain, meski sejak menit ke-66 bermain dengan 10 pemain – karena Erick Abidal terkena kartu merah – Barcelona tetap memperagakan sepakbola menyerang.

Kalau Barcelona baru bisa menciptakan gol di menit 93 (injury time) melalui skema serangan yang terorganisir, yang diakhiri tendangan menghunjam Andres Iniesta ke gawang Chelsea, itu hanyalah tinggal menunggu waktu. Strategi Hiddink menjadi begitu kuno dihadapan anak-anak Catalan asuhan Josep Guardiola. Seperti tak terpengaruh oleh absennya sang kapten Carlos Puyol dan striker flamboyan Thierry Henry, pelatih muda asli Spanyol ini tetap menurunkan trisula Iniesta, Messi dan Eto’o. Hasilnya luar biasa, serangan bergelombang dari sayap kiri dan kanan terus menekan pertahanan Chelsea, yang memasang 7 sampai 8 pemain di depan gawang Petr Cech.

Kini, final ideal yang ditunggu-tunggu penikmat bola dunia – antara Barcelona vs Manchester United – yang akan digelar di Stadion Olimpico Roma tanggal 27 Mei 2009, menjadi kenyataan. Bukan hanya pertarungan strategi antara Alex Ferguson melawan Josep Guardiola, tetapi lebih dari itu final ini akan menjadi ajang pembuktian siapa sebenarnya pemain terbaik dunia saat ini, apakah Cristiano Ronaldo (Mancherter United) atau Lionel Messi (Barcelona). Sangat menarik untuk kita tunggu!

Players Profile: John Terry (Chelsea)

John Terry (born 7 December 1980) is an English professional football player. Terry is a strong, hard-tackling centre back, who is currently captain of Chelsea in the English Premier League, and a regular member of the England national team.

Terry was born in Barking, East London and attended Eastbury Comprehensive School. Before being spotted by Chelsea, he played for Sunday League Team Senrab FC. This team featured many future stars including Terry himself, Bobby Zamora, Paul Konchesky, Ledley King and J Lloyd Samuel. He rose through the Chelsea youth system, playing for the club's Youth and Reserve teams before making his Chelsea debut in October 1998. He spent three months with East London rivals West Ham before in March 2000 he joined Nottingham Forest on loan for two months. He wears the number 26 shirt at Chelsea.

In season 2003/04, his strong, committed and inspiring displays led to him being handed the captain's armband by manager Claudio Ranieri when Marcel Desailly was out of the side. He played very well in the absence of the French legend, establishing himself as a genuine contender for a first team slot. Following Desailly's retirement, new Chelsea manager José Mourinho wanted Terry as his club captain - a choice which was justified throughout the 2004/5 season. Terry scored eight goals and was voted Player of the Year by his fellow professionals in England. In September 2005 he was selected as a member of the World XI at the FIFPro awards. The team was chosen by a vote of professional footballers in 40 countries. In the match between Manchester United and Chelsea (2005/2006), Wayne Rooney tackled him and when he went down, commentators said that John Terry was really in pain, because he was on the ground and did not stand back up immediately, proving that he has projected himself as a no-nonsense defender.

Terry is a regular in the England national team, having earned 21 caps as of 14 November 2005. He made his debut in June 2003 against Serbia and Montenegro. He played for his country at Euro 2004, and England Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said recently he believed Terry to be his first-choice centre back, ahead of the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell. In a game against Poland, he had the honour of wearing England's captain armband, replacing Michael Owen as captain after the latter was taken off. He was the heart of the Chelsea defence that was the most well-marshalled in Football league history in the 2004/05 season, conceding only 15 League goals. In 2005 Terry was voted best defender of the UEFA Champions League tournament, after not only defending and organising his team effectively, but scoring four goals in the tournament including the winning goal against Barcelona in the second round.

Early in his career, Terry was involved in an unsavoury incident in a West London nightclub with fellow players Jody Morris and Des Byrne. He was charged with assault and affray but later cleared. During the affair, he received a temporary ban from the national side, which cost him a place in England's 2002 World Cup squad. However, he is now praised as a professional. Along with Frank Lampard, Claude Makélélé and Petr Cech, Terry is regarded as a part of the "spine" of the Chelsea team. Being a Londoner who came through the club's youth system, he is especially popular with Chelsea fans. He has cemented his place in the England squad by being selected for the 2006 World Cup.

History of Chelsea FC

Chelsea were formed and entered the league in 1905. Their early years were uneventful and it wasn't until 1955 when they won their first honour, the league title. However, the late sixties and early seventies were Chelsea's heyday as the popularity of the Kings Road grew and the club became the most stylish team in England.

In 1970, Chelsea met their northern antithesis, Leeds Utd in the FA Cup final and after a 2-2 draw at Wembley, the replay became known as the dirtiest post war cup final. Chelsea went on to win 2-1 and the following season, they added the European Cup Winners Cup.

However, as the area became less trendy, the team suffered decline and spent a few seasons in the second division, finally regaining their division 1 place in 1989. Chelsea added to their haul of silverware in 97/98 season, by winning the League Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup. The club had shocked the football world by the sacking of Ruud Gullit in February 1998, however that was soon forgotten as Gianluca Vialli was appointed the new coach and soon proved his capabillity in this role.

When Vialli was replaced by fellow Italian Claudio Ranieri, Chelsea began to try and move away from their tag as constant under-achievers, and got a huge boost in that respect in the summer of 2003. Few had heard of Russian billionnaire Roman Abramovich before he bought Chelsea, but his name was on everyone's lips soon afterwards as he financed a huge spending spree - the like of which the game has never seen - and put Chelsea well and truly up with the big boys.

When Jose Mourinho arrived in 2004, his self-confidence quickly spread through the club and they soon started to really live up to expectations, first winning the Carling Cup and then the Barclays Premiership at a canter. They didn't have to wait too long for another title either, reclaiming the trophy a year later, though had to make do with the FA Cup and Carling Cup in 2006/07.

In September 2007, Mourinho left the club in shock circumstances, to be replaced by Avram Grant, who led Chelsea to their first ever Champions League Final, but was sacked after they lost on penalties to Manchester United. His replacement was announced as World Cup winning Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Marcos Senna, Gelandang Bertahan “Duplikat” Makelele

Perhelatan Euro 2008 – sebagai pesta empat tahunan sepakbola ranah Eropa – memang sudah usai. Tetapi pernik yang ditinggalkan tetap menarik untuk disimak. Seperti yang ditulis Corriere dello Sport, sebelum Euro 2008 berlangsung misalnya. Corriere menulis “Marcos Senna, Makelele di Spanyol”.

Nyatanya, Senna menunjukkan kualitas sepandan dengan Makelele saat masih hebat, selama kejuaraan berlangsung. Dan inilah yang membuat banyak klub-klub besar Eropa memburu anggota tim juara Euro 2008. Memang, pemain yang stereotype dengan Claude Makelele – gelandang bertahan asal Perancis yang sempat menjadi salah satu icon di Real Madrid dan Chelsea – sangat konsisten menjaga kesimbangan permainan tim nasional Spanyol selama kejuaran berlangsung.

Senna, yang saat ini bermain sebagai gelandang di tim Villarreal, berperan baik sebagai salah satu perancang serangan dan menjadi pertahanan pertama La Seleccion. Kini Senna, yang dilahirkan di Brasil dan memperoleh kewarganegaraan Spanyol pada awal tahun 2006, diminati Arsenal dan Juventus. Namun, sulit buat mereka untuk mendapatkan pemain berusia 31 tahun itu. Villarreal mematok harga 36 euro (520 miliar rupiah) dan Senna tak mau pergi dari klub yang dibela sejak tahun 2002 itu.

Memang, bintang Euro 2008 yang berperan sebagai holding midfielder yang diminati klub-klub ternama Eropa tak hanya Senna. Masih ada pemain Turki, Mehmet Aurelio, yang diburu Everton, Newcastle United, dan Real Betis. Everton dan Newcastle juga mengejar gelandang bertahan Belanda, Orlando Engelaar.

Namun, setidaknya “kasus” Senna ini bisa membuka ingatan kita kembali ke masa 5 tahun silam, saat musim 2003/2004 Real Madrid langsung sempoyongan setelah Claude Makelele hijrah ke Chelsea. Pemain gelandang bertahan Perancis ini sulit dicari penggantinya. Karena itu, ketika Senna bersinar di Euro 2008, maka ingatan akan Makelele muncul kembali di komunitas sepakbola Eropa.

Dua gol Drogba hempaskan Liverpool

Dini hari menyedihkan! Klub favoritku, Liverpool FC akhirnya harus membuang jauh-jauh mimpi untuk mengulang masuk final Liga Champions Eropa, seperti tahun 2007 lalu. Secara dramatis, Liverpool harus takluk dari Chelsea dengan skor 3-2, melalui pertandingan melelahkan 120 menit, setelah pada pertandingan normal 2 x 45 menit bermain imbang 1-1.

Secara permainan, memang Chelsea sebagai tuan rumah – bermain di Stadion Stamford Bridge – agak unggul dari segi penguasaan bola maupun shoot on goal. Apalagi Chelsea punya obsesi untuk menggulingkan Liverpool di semi final champions 2008 ini, setelah di dua pertemuan semifinal liga champions 2005 dan 2007 secara berturut-turut tumbang di tangan pasukan merah asuhan Rafael Benitez.

Gol Drogba di menit 33 babak pertama seakan menjadi pertanda bahwa the blues akan menggulung the red lebih dari satu gol. Tetapi kepiawaian Fernando Torres melepaskan dari kepungan pemain belakang Chelsea, berbuah hasil di menit 68 babak 2 melalui gol cantiknya. Sayang, Torres masih belum fit benar karena cedera hamstring, sehingga kurang begitu maksimal dalam bermain.

Dua babak penuh 90 mejit, hasil tetap 1-1, sehingga agregat dari 2 pertandingan menjadi 2-2, dan perlu ditambah dengan perpanjangan waktu 2 x 15 menit. Bayang-bayang kekalahan adu penalty di semifinal tahun 2007 nampaknya membuat Chelsea begitu ngotot untuk terus menyerang. Dan, kejadian pelanggaran di menit 103 yang dilakukan Sammy Hyppia di kotak penalti, membuat malapetaka bagi Liverpool. Apalagi dengan jitu Frank Lampard mampu memperdayai Jose Reina, kiper Liverpool yang dalam pertandingan tadi lumayan bagus. Skor 2-1 untuk Chelsea.

Liverpool makin terpuruk ketika menit 108 lagi-lagi Drobga menunjukkan taringnya, dengan menjebol gawang Reina untuk kedua kalinya. 3-1 untuk Chelsea. Untungnya, masuknya Ryan Babbel menggantikan Torres membuahkan hasil. Tendangan geledek dari jarak 36 meter diluar kotak penalti membuat Petr Check – kiper Chelsea – mati langkah di menit 108. Sayang, sisa waktu 2 menit tak dapat menolong Liverpool dari kekalahan, dengan kedudukan akhir 3-2.

Kesal juga ngelihatnya. Tetapi, melihat Chelsea yang saat ini memang berperingkat lebih bagus dari Liverpool di Liga Primer (urutan ke 2, sedang Liverpool ke-4), sudah sepantasnya memenangkan pertandingan ini. Dan, lawan di final adalah Manchester United (peringkat 1 di Liga Primer) yang mengkandaskan wakil Spanyol, Barcelona. Mudah-mudahan di final akhir Mei 2008 kedua kesebelasan benar-benar menunjukkan kualitas tim terbaik Liga Inggris !