THE TOPSY-TURVY RIDE

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The 2024-25 football season is over. Liverpool have been crowned as the champions of the Premier League for the 20th time, equaling Manchester United, whereas Crystal Palace won their first F.A. Cup title in 120 years. On the other hand, Newcastle United, too, won the Carabao Cup after defeating Liverpool in the finals. Apart from them, Tottenham and Chelsea, too, ended their season with silverware, as Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League and Chelsea won the UEFA Conference League. However, one major missing is Manchester City. A club that used to win silverware for fun has ended trophyless after 8 long years. Yes, they were close to winning one, but they lost to Crystal Palace in the finals of the FA Cup by the barest of margins. 

However, despite having a season that no City fan would like to remember, they have ended 3rd in the league and are entitled to take part in next season's Champions League. Hence, one can say it was not too bad a campaign, especially when we look at the conditions of the other side of Manchester. However, we all know Manchester City is a champion side that will surely fight strong next season. The team is in a transition phase as the old guard is stepping down and making way for the new. However, they have a manager at the helm who is truly the best in the world. 

So, one can truly expect a strong comeback from the men in blue. The Champions are down and hurt, but they will definitely put up a fight next season. 

THE EAGLES HAVE WON IT

 

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On 17th May 2025, Crystal Palace F.C. scripted history when they defeated Manchester City in the final of the F.A. Cup. Interestingly, it was their major trophy in their 120-year-old history. Hence the silverware was special, very special. Winger Eberechi Eze's goal in the first half and goalie Dean Henderson's penalty save gave the Eagles a 1-0 victory. 

Interestingly, City dominated the first few minutes of play after Pep Guardiola selected a potent attacking squad. When he struck a deep cross to the far post in the sixth minute, Erling Haaland had the first clear-cut opportunity, but Palace keeper Dean Henderson stopped it for a corner. Henderson saved headers from Gvardiol and Akanji as City continued their dominance and had multiple corners. 

Crystal Palace, however, counterattacked City against the flow of play after defender Chris Richards cleared the ball up-field to Jean-Philippe Mateta, who then released Daniel Muñoz to race up the wing and cross in from the right for Eberechi Eze to first-time volley and score in the 16th minute after a neat one-two with Daichi Kamada. However, City was given a penalty in the 36th minute after Tyrick Mitchell of Palace was deemed to have fouled Bernardo Silva of City, who had already begun to fall when Mitchell made a sliding challenge. Henderson, however, stopped Omar Marmoush's penalty attempt down to his right and stopped Haaland's subsequent attempt. At the end of the first half, the Eagles had a 1-0 lead over the heavyweights. 

In the second half, Manchester City attacked like anything. However, the Crystal Palace defense stood strong and resisted every attack. Echeverri had two excellent chances to score in the 95th minute, but Palace keeper Henderson saved the first one, and Palace defenders blocked his second attempt to stop a certain goal. Prior to the referee ultimately blowing his whistle to end the match and award Crystal Palace their first-ever FA Cup on the third try, Palace managed to hold out reasonably comfortably for the final five minutes. It was truly a game that no Eagle fan will ever forget. After all, the team gave their blood on the pitch.

Joel Ward, the final remaining Palace player from the 2016 FA Cup Final, who was leaving at the end of the season after 13 years, was given the honor of lifting the Cup with captain Marc Guehi as Palace won their first major trophy in 120 years.

THE INDIAN TRAGEDY

 

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The Indian National Football Team was facing Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. After drawing the first game against Bangladesh, it was important for us to win this tie. Unfortunately, we lost it by the barest of margins. A penalty in the dying minutes of the game turned out to be the difference between the two sides. However, it is quite shameful that we struggled to score a single goal. Even against Bangladesh, the scorecard was 0-0. Moreover, one cannot forget the fact that we went winless for the entire 2024. 

We are in such terrible shape right now that it seems impossible for us to win any games at all. Right now, our team needs a lot of reorganization and rebuilding. We must replace the underperforming players with new ones. Therefore, it's critical that management make some difficult choices before it's too late. The Indian football team is currently in a state of regret. Before it's too late, we must take immediate action.   

THE LEGEND OF CRISTIANO RONALDO

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of our generation. The rivalry that he shared with Lionel Messi divided the footballing world into two. Both of them have broken record after record and have brought laurels for whichever team they played. However, in the past 4 years things have been completely different for the two greats. Messi, on the one hand, won a couple of Ligue 1 titles and the Copa America trophy, whereas Ronaldo hasn't won a title since he left Turin. Moreover, Lionel Messi won the coveted FIFA World Cup in 2022 and completed his trophy cabinet. On the other hand, Ronaldo was struggling at both the club and national levels. It is pertinent to note that Ronaldo did play well in the last 4 years, but his team failed to win any silverware.

However, after 4 long years, Ronaldo has won yet another title, and this one is very special because it has come for Portugal. Furthermore, no one expected them to win because they were facing Germany in their backyard, which was then followed by a final against European champions Spain. However, defying all odds, first they defeated the Germans in the semi-final and then the Spanish in the finals. Moreover, in both the games, Portugal came from behind and shocked everyone. Interestingly, on both occasions it was Cristiano Ronaldo who led from the front like a true leader. 

In the semi-final tie against Germany, it was Ronaldo who scored the winning goal, whereas against the Spanish, he scored the equalizer. It was truly a very special moment for a footballer who is indeed one of the greats but was under constant criticism. However, this silverware has proved one thing yet again, and that is form is temporary. Class is permanent. 

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER

 

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Harry Kane joined Bayern Munich in their pursuit of trophies in the summer of 2023. Although he is referred to as the unlucky one, Kane is undoubtedly one of the best attackers of our times. It was unfortunate that despite his goal-scoring ability, he never brought home a trophy for the team he played for. Kane advanced to the finals and lost, whether it was with Tottenham or England. 

It was therefore anticipated that his trophy drought would soon end when he joined FC Bayern Munich. What followed, though, is genuinely unbelievable. Throughout the season, FC Bayern Munich failed to win any trophies. First they lost the Super Cup. This was then followed by an elimination from the DFB-Pokal. A few months later, not only did they fail to defend their Bundesliga title, but they also failed in the semi-final stage of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League. As a result, it was a trophyless season for the men in red after 12 long years. The football fans were shocked. No one could believe that Munich went trophyless in an entire season. 

As a result, everyone in the Munich camp was fired up and determined to win a silverware again. And boy! They did it in style. F.C. Bayern Munich have been crowned the champions of the 2024-25 Bundesliga season. Defying all odds, they came on strong this season and knocked out Leverkusen and thus claimed the German crown. The thing that made it even more special was that the title win gave Harry Kane his first silverware. Something that he has desired for so long. Something for which he has waited so long. His efforts finally paid off as the Bavarians lifted the Bundesliga title in front of their home crowd. It was indeed a joyous moment for everyone. However, there were also emotions all over the Allianz Arena because their charismatic midfielder, Thomas Muller, bid farewell. 

WELL PLAYED BOYS

 

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The Super Cup is done. F.C. Goa have emerged as this year's champion as they knocked out Jamshedpur in the Super Cup Final. It was very much a one-sided affair, as the men in orange and blue got past the Jamshedpur net 3 times in 90 minutes. It was truly a dominant performance by the champion side. 

However, one cannot ignore the hardships and efforts of the runners-up, Jamshedpur FC. Yes, the final didn't go their way, but they did fight hard in the quarterfinal as well as the semifinal of the Super Cup. Jamshedpur in the quarterfinals knocked out the dark horse North East United FC, whereas in the semifinals they knocked out the Giant Killers Mumbai City FC.

It was quite sad that we failed to win the Super Cup. Nonetheless, we have faith and confidence in our manager, Khalid Jamil, and we are proud of our boys. We will undoubtedly reach the highest level of Indian football someday, even if not this season. 

#JamKeKhelo. 

THE I-LEAGUE CONTROVERSY

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The All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Appeals Committee declared Churchill Brothers, the interim I-League leaders, the 2024–25 season winners on April 19, 2025, following weeks of drama and ambiguity. However, given that Inter Kashi, the other contender for the second-tier title, announced their intention to appeal the Appeals Committee's ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the AIFF's confirmation of the Goan club's title victory is unlikely to end one of the most turbulent seasons in Indian domestic football.

In order to look into the situation, the AIFF first established a disciplinary committee. The first decision gave Inter Kashi a 3-0 victory, which would have put them two points ahead of Churchill Brothers and guaranteed them the championship. But after Namdhari filed an appeal against the decision, an appeal panel decided in his favour on Saturday, solidifying Churchill Brothers' victory. As anticipated, the resentful party stated it will appeal to a higher adjudicating authority in an attempt to advance to the prestigious Indian Super League (ISL).

After the AIFF Appeals Committee ruled that Churchill Brothers were the I-League 2024–25 winners, ending the protracted title dispute, at least domestically, Inter Kashi has chosen to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Inter Kashi said in a formal statement issued on Saturday that they "welcome the order" of the AIFF Appeals Committee since it ends all internal dispute resolution procedures and gives them the opportunity to apply to CAS for a "truly free and fair hearing". Inter Kashi has made it apparent from the start that the lawsuit is about a straightforward interpretation of laws and regulations based on certain undeniable facts. The statement said, "Inter Kashi will do everything in its power to ensure justice."

Who will end as the final winner? The answer lies in the womb of time. However, this season has truly been a season which no Indian fan will ever forget. It is quite unfortunate that the winner of the league is being decided in the courts rather than on the fields. One can only hope that this tragedy is not repeated ever again.