Soccer: First the World Cup final, now the Champions League showpiece – Arjen Robben proves that he is a big-game choker - by Stefan Coerts

Very few will disagree with the notion that Arjen Robben has been one of the world's best attackers over the past half-decade. The Dutchman has won league titles with PSV, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, while lifting several more trophies at club level.

Additionally, the former Groningen star has been capped 54 times by the Netherlands, and at the age of 28 has already featured at two European Championships and two World Cups.

However, the fleet-footed winger has not enjoyed much luck on the biggest stage. Robben has lost the last four finals he has played in: Inter proved too strong for Bayern in the 2010 Champions League final, Spain beat Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup, Borussia Dortmund defeated FCB in this year's DFB Pokal final, and Chelsea emerged victorious in this season's final of European club football's elite tournament.

The Oranje international has, unfortunately, played a key role in a number of these big-game failures, and the outcome could often have been very different had Robben been more decisive at the critical moments. This has led to the ex-Real Madrid star being labelled by some as a big-game choker. 

For more: First the World Cup final, now the Champions League showpiece – Arjen Robben proves that he is a big-game choker - Goal.com

EU chief Barroso won’t go to Ukraine for the Euro 2012 championships over rights concerns

The chief of the European Union’s head office will not go to Ukraine during the European soccer championships in June unless there is a swift improvement in the human rights situation there.

Several other top officials in Europe joined EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday in piling the pressure on the leadership in Kiev in support of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Barroso announced he will follow the lead of EU’s Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding who also said she would skip the ceremonial Euro2012 opening on June 8.

The tournament, Europe’s most important soccer championship for national teams, is being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine from June 8 until July 1.

For more: EU chief Barroso won’t go to Ukraine for the Euro 2012 championships over rights concerns - The Washington Post

Britain - Soccer: John Terry barred from lifting European Cup if Chelsea win final UEFA European Cup - by Dominic Fifield

John Terry is set to be denied the opportunity to lift the European Cup should Chelsea triumph in Munich next month because Uefa is reluctant to permit a suspended player from joining in the post-match presentation ceremony on the pitch.

The England defender was dismissed for violent conduct 37 minutes into Tuesday's 2-2 draw at Barcelona after kneeing Alexis Sánchez in the back of his legs. Uefa's control and disciplinary body will decide the length of the ban when it meets on 31 May but the offense carries a minimum one-match sanction, meaning the 31-year-old will miss the final against Bayern Munich in their Allianz Arena on 19 May. The governing body has the power to extend the punishment into next season.

Although Chelsea expect Terry to attend the game in Germany, he will not be permitted to sit on the bench and will have to watch from the stands, just as Paul Scholes and Roy Keane did with Manchester United in 1999 when the midfielders were serving one-match bans. The vice-captain, Frank Lampard, if available and selected, will lead out the team in Terry's absence in Germany and Uefa expects the winning side's captain on the night to mount the podium and accept the trophy. Any proposed change to that arrangement would have to be sanctioned by the governing body's disciplinary committee, but Chelsea are currently relaxed on the issue.

For more: John Terry barred from lifting European Cup if Chelsea win final | Football | The Guardian

Soccer - UEFA Champions League: 10-man Chelsea dethrone Barcelona to enter final

 Lionel Messi missed a penalty as holders Barcelona were sent crashing out of the Champions League semi-finals after 10-man Chelsea battled to a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou here on Tuesday.

Chelsea, leading 1-0 from the first leg, snatched a 3-2 aggregate win on a night of extraordinary drama which saw the Premier League side recover from 2-0 down and the dismissal of captain John Terry to reach next month's Munich final.

For more: Champions League: 10-man Chelsea dethrone Barcelona to enter final | News | NDTVSports.com

UEFA Champions League: Soccer Match Preview between Barcelona v Chelsea

Chelsea will step out at Camp Nou in Barcelona on Tuesday evening attempting to eliminate Barcelona and secure what had previously seemed an unlikely place in the UEFA Champions League final. 

The Premier League club only just qualified from Group E after a nervy first half of the campaign, which, along with the managerial reign of Andre Villas-Boas, now seems a lifetime ago.

Interim first-team coach Roberto Di Matteo has overseen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes and following their much-discussed, disciplined and strategic 1-0 semi-final first-leg win over defending kings of Europe, Barcelona, the final is within reach.


Following their weekend defeat to Real Madrid, the Primera Liga title is slipping away from Barcelona and so retaining the Champions League has been a top priority for Guardiola, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer.

For more: Match Preview | Barcelona v Chelsea - 24th April 2012 | Sky Sports | Football News