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Zenit-Rangers Uefa Cup final promises exciting fare

Tomorrow, in Manchester, Rangers meet Zenit St Petersburg in the final of the largely (alas) devalued Uefa Cup.

  • By Brian Glanville, Special to Gulf News
  • Published: 00:03 May 13, 2008
  • Gulf News

Tomorrow, in Manchester, Rangers meet Zenit St Petersburg in the final of the largely (alas) devalued Uefa Cup. Devalued because of the Uefa decision to allow into the tournament teams eliminated from the European Champions League - which more than once has resulted in the final being contested by two Champions League dropouts.

Yet, this match has engendered colossal interest, both in the former Russian capital and in Glasgow. I must say I'd like to see Zenit, who overwhelmed supposedly powerful Bayern Munich 4-1 in Russia, win against a Rangers team whose performance in the second goalless leg against Fiorentina in Florence was an exhibition of anti football. A disgrace to the tradition of a great club.

Their former manager, Dick Advocaat, that wily coach who is now running Zenit, has fashioned a team which can play scintillating football. And while it is a disgrace that Zenit, intimidated by their biased fans, won't use black footballers, what of the notorious anti Catholic bigotry of Rangers the fans?

And while it is a shame that the incisive Zenit striker, Pognebryak, scorer of 10 goals in the tournament and two against Bayern, is suspended, back comes Zenit's outstanding playmaker Andrei Arshavin.

Meanwhile, Saturday's FA Cup final looks potentially a dull game in prospect between Portsmouth and Cardiff City. Pompey, playing their fourth FA Cup final at Wembley, made heavy weather of beating another championship side in the semifinals in West Bromwich Albion - thanks to a single goal marred by an evident handball. Albion looked the better team.

I saw Cardiff edge out Barnsley - another championship side, previously giant killers of Liverpool and Chelsea - in a medicore affair. They will be the underdogs, but that need not necessarily matter.

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