Sunday, October 30, 2016

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Whatever the championship was, the Cup tournament brought everything to what was associated with Swedish football: equal teams, no favourites. Kalmar FF and IF Elfsborg reached the final, the teams almost relegated this year. The final was played in Stockholm in front of only 2.245 – the lowest attendance in recent years and perhaps one of the lowest ever gathering at the cup final. Kalmar FF, which ended bellow its opponent in the league, simply destroyed Elfsborg – 4-0.
A heroic effort, reaching the final, but IF Elsfborg was hardly a winning team. But all depends on size – for a club like Elfsborg playing at the Cup final and keeping a place in the top division amounted to excellent season.
Of course, winning the Cup was a success – and Kalmar FF was rarely successful. In fact, this was their very real success – the first trophy they ever won. The heroes were largely unknown and remained unknown – save for Benno Magnusson, now in his last playing years. At the end of the year Kalmar FF was happy again, after winning the promotion/relegation play-off against IFK Eskilstuna and preserving first division place.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Monday, October 17, 2016

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Monday, October 3, 2016

The Scottish cups presented familiar finalists – Rangers and Dundee United played at the previous year finals. Now they clashed at the Scottish FA Cup final and were unable to overcome each other – 0-0. The replay was another story: Rangers destroyed Dundee United 4-1.
Rangers may not have been at its best, but still it was Rangers – plenty of experience and ambition. If anything, they saved the season by winning the FA Cup. At the end, it was great, for they lost the same final a year ago.
The Scottish League Cup final was a Dundee clash: reigning cup holders Dundee United vs second-division city rivals Dundee. Of course, both teams wanted to win. But no matter how ambitious and good Dundee were, they were not match to one of most talented and improving Scottish sides at the moment – Dundee United simply won the final 3-0.
Good season for Dundee, but let face it: they were a second-division team, and although going up, they were not spectacular. Well done, but truly they were second-best this season.
Strong season for Dundee United, crowned with the League Cup. Two League Cups in a row was wonderful, confirming the real class of the team and also warning the others that this team was going to stay, perhaps getting ready for even stronger performances.

Saturday, October 1, 2016