The Fight in Football Becomes a Battle for Peace

There is a tournament this summer that awaits us all. No, it wasn't the Confederations Cup, and certainly not the Gold Cup, not even the Emirates Cup. The Peace Cup. The Peace Cup 2009 raises awareness and promotes peace and harmony around the globe. The tournament contains 12 clubs from 10 different countries featuring 4 groups of 3. Eventually the winner of each group will play another winner to launch the semi-final and the winner of those clashes will eventually grace the final to be held in Sevilla's La Cartuja. This cup may be meant to promote peace but the sides and players involved seem to be predicting a healthy display of football to go along with the sentimenals. Many clubs are busy with their preseason tours of foreign lands such as Manchester United in Asia and Chelsea in the United States, but other sizely clubs still made this tournament a priority. Not only does it deliver a message but helps the sides involved prepare for their seasons ahead. Sure the whole idea is sweet but the teams want to win. With monumental clubs like Juventus, Real Madrid, Lyon and others in the mix, they will be looking to send a message considering they could meet each other down the road this season in the Champions League. Of course smaller sides will be looking to the opposition's pride and what they can take away from it. Yes, the Peace Cup 2009 trophy is at stake but so are the reputations of well known clubs. Will the cup be so peaceful after all? Here are the groups.

1. Group A
   Sevilla (Spain)
   Juventus (Italy)
   Seongnam (South Korea)
   


2. Group B
   Real Madrid (Spain)
   Liga Universitaria Quito (Ecuador)
   Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
   


3. Group C
   Malaga (Spain)
   Aston Villa (England)
   Atlante (Mexico)
   
   
4. Group D
   Lyon (France)
   Besiktas (Turkey)
   Porto (Portugal)

Format: Each team plays each team in their group once. The winner of Group A plays the winner of Group B; the winner of Group C plays the winner of Group D. The winner of AvB plays the winner of CvD. The winner of that game is the champion of Peace Cup 2009. Just to clarify.

Prediction: Group A would be the "Group of Death" but since it's the Peace Cup, let's call it the "Group of Likely Tournament Exit." The key to Group A, with all due respect of Seongnam, is Sevilla vs Juventus. The winner of that game will surely win the group. Most people would shove Juventus over Sevilla but they are the hosts of the tournament, and history shows how much of an advantage that can be. If the host side can hang on to Luis Fabiano until then, I like their chances. Sevilla wins Group A for me. Group B has to be won by Real Madrid. Call me biased, but I believe with the quality in their squad even if they rest players, if they take it seriously (and as professionals, the should), they should not come across any problem with a team from Saudi Arabia or Ecuador, not disrespect to the footballing abilities of their clubs. I will be extremely disappointed otherwise. Group C has a couple contenders. Atlante is a good side from Mexico but based on the seasons their two group members, Malaga and Aston Villa, they stand a little chance of progressing. Malaga who finished 8th in La Liga last term played better football than we are used to seeing from them, but Aston Villa despite the loss of Gareth Barry are a player-for-player better side and should win the group. In Group D, Besiktas will always be the squad that was slaughtered by Liverpool in the Champions League group stages two years ago 8-0 in my memory. Though they have improved, they don't match oppositions like Porto or Lyon quite yet. Based on last seasons performances I would go with Porto, but this is not last season and Porto have lost key goals scorers in their line-up as Lyon look to get back on track this season and would love to recapture the French title they have one close to a billion times (exageration). Lyon wins Group D. In the first semi-final, Sevilla vs Real Madrid, the hosts will be looking to take the scalp of the new Galacticos in order to perform at home in front of their own supporters in the final, but this will be the first big test for the new era in white and they will be looking to make their mark for La Liga and to send a message to Spanish sides around the league. With all eyes on this match, I expect that Real Madrid will play stars and shoot for them as well. Madrid through to the final. Lyon vs Aston Villa, probably a tie we wont see anytime soon in a legit competition but a pretty well balanced match. At this stage of the tournament against an English back line, without Karim Benzema, I would expect Lyon to struggle. If Aston Villa play the brand of football we saw from them last season (besides the last couple weeks), they have the capabilities to break down Lyon and move on. I almost feel kinda bad having my favorite club in the final. However, I think that the test will be more difficult than the match against Sevilla. The final will create a tense atmosphere. Real Madrid haven't been strong against English oppositions in recent past but those matches were against a solid Arsenal and a Liverpool that dismantled them last season, not Aston Villa. Real have the power to beat them on Spanish soil. Peace Cup 2009 belongs to the Merengue.

Now I'm sure there are many protest and everyone has their own view, but that's what I want. I want your side of it. Anytime someone makes a prediction and has their favorite team winning deserves to be corrected. However I stand by my decision and look forward to this tournament to promote peace through football and to enjoy the beautiful game in matches you would not regularly see. The game is unpredictable to those who aren't a higher power. Anything can happen. The best of luck to all the clubs that compete. Action kicks off Friday, July 24th with Sevilla taking on Juventus. For tournament information visit http://www.peacecup.com/ .

Viva el futbol y Hala Madird,

Bobby