DFB Pokal - Aftermath - Voices and Analysis

Borussia Dortmund made the double perfect.  After winning the Bundesliga last year convincingly, the young Dortumund team secured this year's Bundesliga and German championship on Matchday 33.  With vigour they defeated Bayern Muenchen yesterday in the DFB Pokal, making the double perfect.

Dortmund demonstrated that they were no fluke last year and that the team will be a force to reckon with for some time to come.  With a convincing win in the Olympiastadion in Berlin, they not only defeated Bayern, but scored no less than five goals against the record champion and Champions League finalist.  It was a fitting finish for this year's season and soccer in Germany.

No less than 13 players of the German national side represented the two teams.  Soccer scouts from all over Europe were at the game, including German national side coach Jogi Loew and Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson.

Jupp Heyncke, Bayern's trainer, had to admit that the better team deserved to win.

"We can't complain.  Our whole defensive play was catastrophic.  One has to make the sober analysis that we did not deserve to win."

Dortmund's Captain, Sebastian Kehl, who was lifting the DFB Pokal "The Pot", was full of joy, stating that Dortmund deserved to win.

We have proven that we rightly won the Championship and the Pokal.  We were always present.  It was undescribable to score five goals against Bayer, sensational," Kehl said. 

 The downfall of the Bayern empire started when Luiz Gustavo failed to get a pass back to Manuel Neuer,  Kuba Blaszczykowski sprinted into the pass just under three minutes into the game and put Dortmund ahead.  Arjen Robben got the equalizer via a penalty kick and it looked as if there would be a game.  Matt Hummels put Dortmund into the lead in the 41st minute with a penalty kick.  It was still game on.

During injury time Robert Lewandowski put the Borussen ahead 3-1, the first of his three goals.  There were times when it was almost clear that Bayern had its eye already on next week's Champions League final against Chelsea.  Grosskreutz pushed out of his own half and delivered a perfect pass to Lewandowski, who put Dortmund ahead 4-1 in the 58th minute.   Frank Ribery who seemed to be one of the only Bayern players engaged, narrowed the score to 4-2 in the 75th minute.

Robert Lewandowski put the game totally out reach of Bayern when he scored his third goal of the night in the 81st minute.

Jupp Heyncke, naturally disappointed with his teams performance, especially defensively, said that the loss was unbelievable.  He has vowed not to repeat those mistakes in next week's Champions League final.

For not particular explainable reason we were  scored on early, Heyncke explained.  Although it was a convincing defeat, he says that he also sees the positive.  He said that the Bayern played well in the first half, was well organized and have demonstrated soccer culture.  After getting scored on with a penalty kick and then taking another goal shortly before the break, it was hard to come back with a 3-1 deficit.

Heyncke said that while he doesn't want to lay blame on anyone in particular, that he thinks that the three players, which are suspended against Chelsea did not play to their optimal potential, especially in the defence. He thought it obvious that they were pre-occupied with their situation. He said that he understood their disappointment, however it shouldn't have affected how they normally play.

What appeared to be an enormous advantage for next week's Champions League final, is turning into a major demoralizer.  The question now is whether or not Bayern can pick up the pieces and put on a first class performance in the Allianz Arena.


Consistency has one of the biggest detractors of the Bayern side this season, although normally they have been able to come out big for important matches.  In yesterday's Cup final the team collapsed.  On Saturday they have an opportunity to redeem themselves.  One can rest assured that Chelsea studied the Bayern's play yesterday.  Of course next weekend it will be a totally revamped defence.

DFB Pokal - Dortmund overruns Bayern with 5 - 2 Goals

After initial pressure by Bayern on Dortmunds target, the Borussen countered quickly and a mistake by the Bayern defence left the net wide open for Kagawa who put the ball into the net in the third minute for the 1-0 lead for Bayern.  

In the 25th minute a long pass intended for Mario Gomez hit its mark.  Weidenfeller left the net and without touching the ball brought Gomez to the ground.  The referee awarded a penalty kick, which Arjen Robben converted to the 1-1 draw. 

Roman Weidenfeller who was hurt in the 8th minute in a collision with Mario Gomez, finally bit the bullet in the 34th minute and had to be replaced by the Australian Mitch Langarak.  His first test came just a few minutes later when he took a courageous dive at Mario Gomez.  He certainly passed that test.

With end to end action throughout the match, Dortmund was attacking the Munich end.  Schmelzer shot was blocked and then Grosskreutz was taken down by Jerome Boateng in the penalty area.  Clear decision, penalty for Dortmunds which Matt Hummels converted for the 2-1 lead for Dortmund.,

While just seconds into injury time, Kagawa  makes a brilliant delivery to Robert Lewandowski who defeats the three Bayern defenders and put the ball into the net for a 3-1 lead for Borussia Dortmund.

Near the end of the first half Dortmund was very much in control.  The teams hit the cabin with a 3-1 lead for Dortmund.  Bayern had a big task ahead, if they were to safe the game.  While Bayern had more ball possession in the first half, Dortmund convinced in their ability to switch to offense quickly and for the most part were able to make something out of their chances.

In the second half Dortmund continued its tight defence with counters.  The tactic paid off in the 58th minute when Grosskerutz passed to  Kagawa, who saw Lewandowski on the right in the penalty box.  Lewandowski picked up the ball and fired it from 12 meters into the left corner of the net for a 4-1 Dortmund lead.

Bayern finally came back into match when Ribery go the ball through a tight defence, defeating Schmelzer in the process.  He let go with the left foot and sank the ball into the left side of the net.

The Bayern goal, which gave some hope, didn't last long when Gundogans passed to Pisczek and Manuel Neuer, who had the ball dropped it.  Piscek passed to Lewandowski who headed the ball into the net in the 81st minute, giving Dortmund a 5-2 lead.

That is how it ended on this night and Dortmund is the German Cup champion.  The victory is well deserved and for the second time this season Bayern goes empty handed  Borussia Dortmund is the undisputed best team in German football.  They should be a force to be reckoned with in the Champions League in the coming season. 

FC Bayern:  Manuel Neuer - Philipp Lahm,  Jerome Boateng, Holger Badstuber, David Alaba(Contendo (69th) , Luiz Gustavo Thomas Mueller 46th),   Bastian Schweinsteiger - Arjen Robben, Toni Kroos, Franck Ribery -Mario Gomez

Borussia Dortmund:   Roman Weidenfeller (Mitch Langarak 34th) - Lukas Piszczek, Neven Subotic, Mats Hummels, Marcel Schmelzer- Ilkay Gundogan, Kuba (Piresec 84th)  - Jakub Blaszczykowski, Shinji Kagawa (Bender), Kevin Großkreutz - Robert Lewandowski

Three Western Premiers Speak Up Against Mulcair Remarks

Premiers of three Western Provinces have spoken out about remarks made by the Leader of the Official Opposition regarding the Alberta Oilsands.  Premiers Christy Clark, B.C, Alison Redford, AB and Premier Brad Wall, Sask,

Mulcair, speaking on a CBC radio program last weekend said that the oilsands are artificially inflated the Canadian dollar and hollowing out the country’s manufacturing sector, a similar comment made by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty earlier this year.  He compared  Canada's economic realities to "Dutch disease," referring to the collapse of the Dutch manufacturing sector in the 1960s after oil-industry development raised the country's currency.

The three Western Premiers see the results as divisive, remarks that have no place in today's reality of Canada.

 Mulcair's remarks drew angry remarks from Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.  Wall called the comments divisive for one that aspires to lead the country and said if Mulcair thinks the oilsands are a disease, he wants to know what the NDP thinks the cure is.  Saskatchewan has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country with the help of resource development of potash, uranium and oil.

 "It's a concern for people out West.  I think his economics are wrong. And there's a lack of recognition there that the resource strength for Western Canada is a strength for the whole country,"  Wall said.


Newly elected Alberta Premier Alison Redford also reacted stating that she is not sure if Mulcair's comments were well informed or just his opinion. She continued that she hopes he explains his motivation because she says someone looking to lead the country one day needs to understand just how important the oilsands are to the entire country.

British Columbia's Premier Christy Clark called Mulcair's remarks goofy.

 "I really thought that type of thinking was discredited and it had been discredited for a long time. It's so backwards," Clark said. "I think that's just goofy."

She continued as to his remarks regarding "Dutch Disease" and said they just weren't accurate, calling NDP remarks as gobbledygook.

 "The NDP talk their gobbledygook, but really they want less economic development," she said. "We all know it's a recipe for disaster."

Manitoba has an NDP government so naturally the remarks by its Premier would have to be guarded.  Suffice to say that former Manitoba NDP Premier Gary Doer and presently Canada's Ambassador to the United States is pragmatic enough to support the oilsands. 

Mulcair seems to be stuck on ideology and really hasn't put forward an alternative vision for Canada, at least not one that is all inclusive.  A former Member of Quebec's National Assembly, it certainly looks as if Mulcair has not made the transition yet to the national stage.  While he has to protect his party's turf in Quebec, he also needs to realize that he has to make some inroads in Western Canada. His approach isn't going to cut it.  Remember the National Energy Program.  How did that work for you?

Oilsands Industry Backed Education

To say that the Alberta Oilsands are controversial would be an understatements.  If you listen to arguments of environmentalists the "doom and gloom" scenario comes to mind.  Their position, despite evidence to the contrary, is that the development of the oilsands would be the end of the planet.

Proponents of oilsands developments maintain that you can develop the oilsands, take care of the environment and provide the engine for economic growth in Canada.  This is also the position of the Federal and Alberta government. 

A story published in The Province questions the involvement of industry in an industry-funded program that offers high school teachers a six-day trip to Fort McMurray to "experience Alberta's oilsands" is being expanded across the country.

Operators inside the education system say that they are trying to present a balanced program, some anti-oil sands activists maintain that informing educators about controversial developments shouldn't be left to those with most to gain from them.

 

"It's always billed as being free, but what's being sold is a positive image of an industry that's controversial," said Andrew Hodgkins, a University of Alberta researcher who has published on the issue of corporate involvement in education.

While there may be some reason for concern, the public, including teachers, are bombarded daily with anti-oil sands propaganda.   You can hardly switch to CBC Newsworld or open a newspaper that doesn't  have anything negative to say about Oilsands development.

With the controversy over the past few months with the Northern Gateway Pipeline, which would move Alberta crude from Alberta to Kitimat, British Columbia and the XL Keystone Pipeline from Alberta to Port Arthur, Texas, there have been plenty opposition and negative media reports on this issue. 

Teachers getting exposure to both sides of this controversial issue can only be applauded.  One has to give enough credit to the intelligence of our teachers to be capable to find a balanced approach to the curriculum. 

The web is a great source to find the different views on oilsands production.  One can say with confidence that the cons much outweigh the pros on this issue.  While there may be some propaganda in favour of the industry in this program, at the least it gives teachers a first hand look at what is going on in Fort McMurray.  In fact, it is highly recommended that the Leader of the Official Opposition, Thomas Mulcair attend one of these sessions. 

German Cup Final - FC Bayern Muenchen vs Borussia Dortmund Preview

The top two German teams square off for the German Cup (DFB Pokal) today.  One is already the German Champion 2012, the other is the finalist for the Champions League.  Dortmund has the coveted "Meisterschale" silverware, while Bayern has the opportunity to collect the German Cup and the silverware for the Champions League.

While Bayern had an excellent run in the Bundesliga prior to the winter break, Dortmund had an excellent run during the second leg of the season, securing the championship on matchday 33.  Dortmund's run in the Champions League was disastrous, while Bayern fought its way into the final, which will be played in the Allianz Arena in Munich.   Their victory over Real Madrid was one of the finest soccer matches ever. 

Dortmund has defeated Bayern this year in both the home and away matches in the Bundesliga and that would give Dortmund a slight advantage for the Berlin final.  Bayern, however, is the more experienced side when it comes to important games, and Berlin will be no different. 

Today's game will be fought in the midfield, with counters. Each team will heavily depend on its defence.  For Bayern that means that its defence has to be immaculate today.  Despite having arguable the best goalie in Europe between the posts, Manuel Neuer is human and beatable. 

Based on recent German domestic soccer statistics, Dortmund certainly has the advantage.  Bayern's strength in defence and midfield, will make it difficult for Lewandowski, Kagaw and Mario Goetze to penetrate and beat Manuel Neuer. 

Jupp Heyncke's, who has most of his players available, will certainly have one eye on the Champions League final, but he won't have the novelty of sparing some of his stars against Dortmund.  In order to defeat the Borussen Bayern has to be on its top game performance.  That includes immaculate performances by Arjen Robben, Frank Ribery, Mario Gomez, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller and Toni Kroos, while Bayern's defence must be solid.

Dortmund has a  solid defence, which will be difficult to penetrate by the Bayern stars.  In Matt Hummels you have a defender, capable of pushing forward and scoring.  Kagawa, Lewandowski will create some turmoil in the Bayern box. 

It is hard to pick winners or losers in this match.  The biggest winners should be the fans, who should see fantastic soccer.  As long as the Bayern focus is on the cup final and not next week's Champions League final next weekend, this outing should be a delight for fans in Berlin and those watching the event in 150 countries around the world.  It can only add to the rising prestige of the Bundesliga and German soccer. 

May the best team win.

DOD US Military Casualties in Afghanistan as of 11 May 2012

As the American election campaign takes up steam, another ten US soldiers paid the ultimate price in Afghanistan during the past week. Nine died of combat related deaths, while one death was of other causes.  72 soldiers were wounded.   This brings the total number of deaths this year to 125 with  680 wounded soldiers.

While the U.S. media concentrated on the campaign, President Obama went on fundraisers, one of them at George Clooney's residence in California that raised $15 Million for the President, Afghanistan continues to be a volatile place.  

Meanwhile Greece is still struggling with forming a government, France has a new President, which has promised growth rather than austerity measures.   The UK had a 24 hour public sector strike, protesting David Cameron's austerity measures, which involve raising the pension age and asking that public sector employees to contribute more to their pensions.

The U.S. is approaching a $16 Trillion deficit, the economy is sluggish at best and millions of Americans remain unemployed.  The election campaign has turned to name calling, digging up dirt on irrelevant events that happened in the 60s. 

This week President Obama announced that he was in favour of gay marriage, a position he has flip flopped on several  times, dating back to at least 1996. 

Obama's Evolution:

1996 - To the Chicago LBGT newspaper - "I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.”

2004 - "I don't think Marriage is a Civil Right" - See Video

2008 - At Saddleback Church  he said hat he believed marriage is a union of one man and one woman.

2012 - He says in an interview with ABC that he personally supports gay marriage, but would leave it to states to decide.    

“At a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” Obama said in an interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts.

The announcement came on the heels of North Carolina's electorate voting  with 60%  against gay marriage.

Vladimir Putin is once again the Captain of the ship in Russia and has scuttled his invitation to attend the G8 Summit in Camp David, stating that he had to work on selecting his Cabinet.  There is widespread belief though, that Putin is skipping the summit to protest NATO's intention to instal the missile defence stystem.   Russia's Foreign Minister has said that the Russia would station rockets close to the Polish border and if necessary destroy the infrastructure of the missile defense system.

There are less than six months before the U.S. election.   Many issues need to be resolved, including the future of Europe, Afghanistan and the U.S. and global economy.  Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Palestinian/Israel issues are still very much unsolved.  Meanwhile the pettiness in the U.S. election campaign continues, without the most important global and domestic issues being addressed.  Instead social issues seem to be front and centre, issues that should have or have been resolved decades ago.  Instead both sides try to get votes with soundbytes. 

While soldiers continue to die and are burdened with disabilities, neither side is engaging in a serious debate about the future of America.  It's time to let the rubber hit the road, get into the serious issues, present a vision for the future of America and the world.   Take a moment this week to think about the men and women who are still fighting a nasty battle in Afghanistan.  They deserve our support, Lest We Forget.

Roll of Casualties

Below are this week’s updated DoD casualty figures:

Op Enduring Freedom                  Total Deaths       KIA   Non Hostile              WIA

Afghanistan Only                                   1845               1529        316                     15858
Other Locations                                        111                   12          99
DoD Civ Casualties                                      3                     1            2
Worldwide Total                                     1959                1542        417                    15858

Accumulated 2012 Casualties:

KIA            Non Combat Deaths             WIA

  77                            48                               680

NDP Edges Ahead of CPC Amid Oilsands Bashing - Poll

A Harris Decima poll has he New Democrats edging ahead of the Conservatives 34% to 30%, while the Liberals are steady at 20%.  With a 2.2% error margin this is nearly a statistical tie between the Opposition NDP and the governing Conservatives.

The Conservative Party has lost some political capital with its botched figures on F35 fighter jet procurement, the omnibus budget bill, which includes significant change to environmental laws and regulations and the recent privacy bill.  The apparent lack of respect, demonstrated by some members of the Conservative party, of taxpayers money has been perfect fodder for the opposition.

Add to this the unreported real cost of the war in Libya and the NDP is in perfect position to cash in on the fears and  doubts of Canadians.

There is also considerable opposition by environmental groups to oilsands development and Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the Official Opposition jumped right in to condemn the success of resource development.

Although Mulcair said in March that he would never be heard speaking against oilsands development,  he has jumped fully into condemning Harper's resource based policies on the economy as the "Dutch disease," referencing the Netherlands find of natural gas, which caused a decline in that countries economy.

Mulcair, speaking on a CBC radio program last weekend said that the oilsands are artificially inflated the Canadian dollar and hollowing out the country’s manufacturing sector, a similar comment made by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty earlier this year.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  One only needs to look south of the border, where the manufacturing industry has declined in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, despite a lower valued U.S. dollar.  A lot of it has to do with the business environment, burdening regulation and lower labour cost in Asian countries.

Regardless of how one views the oilsands development the remarks were inappropriate from a leader of  a party that aspires to gouvern Canada.   Mulcair, a former liberal member of the Quebec National Assembly should be well aware of federal transfer payments that assure Quebec can afford $7 a day daycare and the lowest tuition fees in the country.  With the ongoing student strikes in Quebec, the Charest government has given in to the students, with the solution being to ask for more transfer payments, funded by revenues from the oilsands.

Mulcair's remarks drew angry remarks from Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.  Wall called the comments divisive for one that aspires to lead the country and said if Mulcair thinks the oilsands are a disease, he wants to know what the NDP thinks the cure is.  Saskatchewan has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country with the help of resource development of potash, uranium and oil.

Newly elected Alberta Premier Alison Redford also reacted stating that she is not sure if Mulcair's comments were well informed or just his opinion. She continued that she hopes he explains his motivation because she says someone looking to lead the country one day needs to understand just how important the oilsands are to the entire country.

Mulcair's remarks will fare well in southern Ontario, Quebec and probably in British Columbia.  So one has to ask if this is a calculated move that Mulcair made in order to get the edge on the Conservative government.

Mulcair, however, would do well to come out with a vision for the Canadian economy, rather than pitting one part of the country against the other.  It is no secret that the oilsands have played a big part in the recovery from the 2008 recession.  Maybe the NDP leader should rethink his position, after all his party only holds one seat in the prairies.  This is not the way to make friends or influence people.