The critics call it ''the FIFA Virus.'' It is the excuseclub coaches give when their star players are called up for back-to-back FIFAWorld Cup qualifiers, then return distracted or travel-weary for the regularweekend games.
If what happened in England, Germany and Spain was theresult of this virus, bring it on. There were goal rushes in the big leagues.Bayern Munich’s players, who formed the heart of the German team thatastonishingly tied Sweden, 4-4, went on the road and pounded Fortuna Dusseldorfto a 5-0 defeat.
Chelsea and Manchester United each proved insatiable inattack and vulnerable in defence as the top two teams in the English PremierLeague won their games, 4-2.
And then, as so often happens, Barcelona topped them all interms of entertainment and goals, goals, goals. A certain Mr. Messi, one of themost traveled of all players, as he now captains Argentina, scored three goals,hit the inside of a post, danced his way through a breathtaking 5-4 awayvictory at Deportivo La Coruna.
For those who track stats, Messi now has 71 goals for cluband country in 2012. Four more and he will equal the greatest of them all,Pele, who scored 75 in Brazil in 1959. But Barcelona is not the currentchampion of Europe. Chelsea is, and since that May night in Munich when theLondon club stubbornly defended its way to the Champions League trophy, it hasbrought more Brazilian, Belgian and Spanish flair into its attack. Last week,the Blues were prepared to trade goals at Tottenham, coached by AndreVillas-Boas. It led, it fell behind, and it finally shot the Spurs down thanksto Juan Mata, the star creator and two-goal marksman.
What Chelsea did was then replicated by Manchester United,which gave Stoke City a quick lead, an own goal off the head of Wayne Rooneybefore two scores from Rooney and one each by Robin van Persie and DannyWelbeck let it run out a comfortable 4-2 victory. Comfort? Nobody currentlyfinds the winning easier than Bayern Munich. Forced to respond to BorussiaDortmund, the Bundesliga champion of the last two seasons, Bayern has nowbroken all records for the start of a new campaign.
It has played eight and won eight games in Germany’s topleague. It was rampant and ruthless in Dusseldorf. The French winger FranckRibery created three goals, while Mario Mandzukic of Croatia was the firstscorer. Two Brazilians, Luiz Gustavo and Rafinha, notched goals, while ThomasMuller “ born within 50 kilometers, or 30 miles, of Munich “ did them onebetter, with two scores.
The Muncheners are now a whopping 12 points ahead ofDortmund, which lost at home, 2-1, to its neighbor, Schalke. The contest isalmost internecine between clubs whose rivalry runs as deep as their proximityis close. About 200 fanatics, mostly Schalke supporters were in custody after amob attacked officers and destroyed a snack bar. The maniacs at football gameshave to be put away. Messi and Mata and Mandzukic, hopefully, will not be.
