Today’s showcase: the Ballon d’Or has a Czech imprint, Neymar on trial

The Golden Ball, the most prestigious individual football trophy in the world, has a significant Czech representative, but not on the pitch. On the European stage, Slovácko was the one to take the honours, still holding up the club’s flagging coefficient. Baník Ostrava has a new coach and a victory. Brazilian legend Neymar is on trial.

The golden ball with the Czech imprint

French goal scorer Karim Benzema of the White Ballet and Catalan noblewoman Alexia Putellas of FC Barcelona – these are the football rulers of the planet for the 2021/2022 competition year, the winners of the Golden Ball in the men’s and women’s categories. Benzema won by the biggest margin in the 66-year history of the poll, with Putellas the first to defend her trophy.

Finding a Czech representative in any of the categories – and what else were they: best goalkeeper (Trophy Yashin), youngster (Trophy Kopa), goal scorer (Trophy Müller), club and now also for contribution to football (Trophy Sócrates), would be one of the tasks for a suitor of Zlatovlaska.

And yet the imprint is there and strong! Czech voter Karolína Hrůzová from Ruik.cz was a member of the jury (together with the editorial staff of the French magazine France Football) that selected the 20 nominees for the women’s category.

In journalistic terms, more than the Champions League.

Slovácko held the coefficient

The dismal performances of the Czech representatives in European competitions continue. Slavia lost for the second time to Cluj of Romania in the Conference League without scoring a goal (although they were better again), Viktoria Plzen clearly lost again to Bayern Munich in the Champions League (they were definitely not better).

Czech ambitions to improve their position in the UEFA club rankings were surprisingly supported by 1. FC Slovácko, who won at the ground of the group favourite OGC Nice.

Pulling down your pants prematurely is not advisable even at the Mediterranean Sea.

Hapal came, Baník rose

Baník Ostrava has replaced its coach with the longed-for and soon to be sacked Pavel Vrba with the already proven Pavel Hapal. And look what a transformation. A refreshed Baník defeated Slovácko convincingly, with the scalp of French Nice still dangling by his waist.

Sigh – it’s a pity Baník doesn’t play European competition, but it’s still very premature.

Brazilian legend also on trial

It is not only Pilsen legend David Limberský who is facing a heavy sentence for threatening. Or rather, a share in it. The Brazilian idol Neymar is also on trial for fraud and tax evasion in his transfer from Santos to Barcelona.

Certainly he is not the instigator of the (possibly criminal) act, but ignorance of the law does not excuse the Brazilian megastar. He faces five years in prison and a hefty fine. His stay behind bars, however, would serve no one or nothing.

Source: France Football, UEFA, FC Baník Ostrava