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The feedback received from the response UEFA Cup semi-final match between the local "AZ" and Lisbon's "Sporting" didn't just become a tragic accent of the week for Dutch football, but also made us think about the beauty of football, or in other words, the attractiveness of football to the viewer. Indeed, after the somewhat unexpected results of last year, people quickly declared the impending collapse of football, its transformation into just a test of discipline and physical endurance. Just shortly after the UEFA Champions League final, where by no means the favorites, "Porto" and "Monaco," met, football fans received another blow to their face - Greece's defensive triumph at the European Championship in Portugal. So it's no wonder that the majority of football fans were disappointed in football, expressed their fear that the triumph of defensive football in Europe would cause a kind of epidemic, as undoubtedly teams like “Porto” or Greece could become role models for weaker teams in the most powerful European leagues. Time has shown that such talks were somewhat emotional - an expression of anger at the failures of beloved teams. I cannot unequivocally say that the work methods of Otto Rehhagel or Jose Mourinho (true, these coaches have significant differences) have not been adopted by teams like "Numancia" or "Crystal Palace," however, recent events in European club football in recent weeks have given hope that football is far from losing its beauty. Of course, the hooliganism at "San Siro" or Moscow's "Lokomotiv" stadiums certainly doesn't adorn the game demonstrated by the teams, but this week we also had completely opposite football spectacles - two football shows in the Netherlands and a high-level match at Liverpool's "Anfield" stadium. However, I would like to divide these three matches into two (really not big) groups: one would be the UEFA Champions League match in England between "Liverpool" and "Chelsea," and the other would be the response UEFA Cup semi-final match between "AZ" and "Sporting" and the UEFA Champions League match between Eindhoven's "PSV" and "Milan." The reasons for this decision are quite simple - these groups highlight two somewhat different tendencies in European football. The football match at Liverpool's "Anfield" stadium, which received a lot of attention, was in a way a football miracle for football gourmets. To summarize this match, we can also include the first match at London's "Stamford Bridge" stadium. This semi-final clash, in which "Liverpool" and "Chelsea" fought, became a duel between two English football giants, a battle between history and money, a battle between football elite and contenders for it. These two matches, although the overall result was 1-0, were of an exceptionally high level, received a lot of attention, created an impressive atmosphere, attracted millions of football fans from around the world to their television screens. Even though they didn't agree on the only goal by Luis Garcia that opened the door to the final, football fans in both England and on this portal agreed on one thing - the match featured impressive games between two equal teams. Meanwhile, two days in a row in the Netherlands saw very important matches of European club tournaments, which revealed a somewhat different tendency in European football. Football experts often agree that teams overloaded with stars do not demonstrate the kind of play that fans expect from them. The most frequently mentioned example is the Royal Madrid "Real," where there are indeed very strong European football mohicans who earn millions, pillars of national teams, but "Real" has not won trophies for years. The same football experts identify the main reason for this fiasco as the fact that the stars simply no longer have anything to strive for, they are "burned out," they prioritize health over victories, unlike young talents thirsty for wins. It is not in vain that I speak of Real, since events in the Netherlands recently, and the triumph of Porto and the Greek team last year, are a kind of proof not so much of a new, but rather a time-tested rule that the most talented and strongest do not always win. Visitors to this portal have compassion for Dutch clubs due to a very unsuccessful week during which two Dutch clubs fell out of elite tournaments due to missed goals at the very end of the matches. I would like to note a completely different fact - namely, that two Dutch clubs - Alkmaar's "AZ" and Eindhoven's "PSV" - gave football fans the opportunity to watch possibly the most beautiful matches of the season (or even of several seasons). It is probably undeniable that "Milan" surpasses "PSV" not only in financial resources but also in the level of players, and that the composition of "Sporting" looks stronger than that of "AZ," but these clubs, not being favorites, provided the opportunity to watch impressive football shows. The trend I am talking about is this: football becomes unpredictable. Examples to support this statement need not be sought far: London's "Chelsea" this year defeated the champions of Spain and Germany, but in the semifinals, they lost to a team that occupies the fifth place in the national championship and may not even play in the prestigious European club tournament next year; we can also remember the phenomenon of South Korea in the 2002 World Cup, or the "Greek miracle" in Portugal. Even last year's UEFA Champions League final is a characteristic example of this trend - hardly anyone would have predicted before the season that "Porto" and "Monaco" would meet in the final. However, time has shown that anything is possible, and once again confirmed that hard work, the desire to win, and relentless pursuit of victory bear fruit. Football fans, I dare to say, are already tired of the apathetic behavior of stars on the field, the fear of attacking, and getting injured. It is precisely for this reason that I believe the response UEFA Cup match that took place last Thursday at the "Alkmaarderhout" stadium became a true dessert for football fans. These were the matches in which, I can confidently say, there was everything: drama, intrigue, persistent battles for every inch of the field, amazing passes, incredible raids, self-sacrifice for the sake of the team, impressive goalkeeper miracles, excitement, cheers of fans, euphoria, and crying fans and players. If I were required to try to make a person fall in love with that great game that drives hundreds of millions of people insane worldwide, I would most likely show them just one game. Those matches would be the duel in Alkmaar. Not because of the fewer than ten thousand fans in a crowded stadium, where the "Rangers" players who trained there asked, "Where is your stadium?" created an atmosphere no worse than that of "Anfield" stadium. Not because the scales of the match turned upside down in less than fifteen minutes. Not because the "AZ" goalkeeper, who suffered a painful shin injury, refused to be substituted and, enduring the pain, continued to demonstrate impressive saves. And not because the players fought for more than two hours in pouring rain and in temperatures barely above five degrees Celsius. It was because these were the matches in which the players fought, teams in the truest sense of the word, eager for titles, seeking to prove on the field that they are worthy of competing in the UEFA Cup final, seeking to glorify their teams (in the case of "AZ") in Europe, eager not to disappoint their fans, giving their all, deeply experiencing the success and failure of each team. As regrettable as it is that these matches were not broadcasted on Lithuanian television, I am firmly convinced that it is precisely such football shows that can do what no one else can in Lithuania: arouse interest in football, significantly increase its popularity, and give hope that if a small Dutch city team, with a stadium half the size of Vilnius's "Žalgiris," can reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, why couldn't Lithuanian clubs do the same? The tendency that weaker clubs fight more clearly reflected in the matches in the Netherlands. It is difficult not to admire the game of a team that is not afraid to attack, demonstrates a very attractive game to the spectators, surprises football fans, and makes them remember the legendary "total football." Although in the UEFA Champions League final, much more titled European football giants "Liverpool" and "Milan" will clash, we have to bow our heads low before the not-so-famous Dutch clubs, which gave fans in Alkmaar and Eindhoven amazing football desserts.
