Think about that for a moment. Since Jurgen Klopp and Dortmund last broke Bayern’s hegemony in 2012, a generation of children has started and finished primary school.
Great Britain has had three Prime Ministers and SIX different governments. Marcus Rashford has gone from eating school meals to campaigning for them.
As a demonstration of sporting excellence, it is clearly impressive. But from a competitive standpoint, Bayern’s dominance is, frankly, depressing.
Sport – especially team sport – is not ballet, or opera, where the brilliance of the performer is the raison d’être. Brilliance is to be admired and cherished. Nobody wants to see less of Robert Lewandowski or Thomas Muller. Nobody will ever forget Maradona.
But the true soul of the game is the contest; the agony, ecstasy, and glorious unpredictability of the chase.
It is Kevin Keegan slumped over the advertising hoardings, Michael Thomas waltzing through at Anfield, Leeds United blowing promotion with an inexplicable loss to ten-man Wigan.
For me, nothing will ever top a League One match between Brentford and Doncaster on the final day of 2012-13, when a missed penalty and a breakaway goal – both in the final 30 seconds – sent Donny up at Brentford’s expense and changed the destination of the title.
Without brilliance, football can still thrill. Without competition, it grows boring. And that, as the ongoing mess in Scotland illustrates, is a serious problem.
Denne historien er fra June 21, 2020-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 21, 2020-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
CRAIG'S BOOSTS
MANAGERIAL stalwart Craig Edwards is back in charge of Barking – 23 years after he left!
LENNIE GETS THE LOVE
VETERAN caretaker chief Lennie Lawrence says he is “excited” to be handed the reins at Hartlepool United permanently – just a few weeks before his 77th birthday!
MOTORS FEELS LIKE HOLMES!
WHEN he was younger, Danny Holmes played video games that simulated being a football manager.
REES HITS FAB FOUR AS TOWN ROMP IT
RICARDO REES struck four times to help Merthyr Town maintain their spot at the top of the table with a dominant home win against play-off chasing Havant & Waterlooville.
DULWICH DISPLAY DELIGHTS COACHES
GOALS from Danny Mills, Luke Wanadio and Lorenzo’s stoppage-time finish fired Dulwich Hamlet to a comfortable win over fellow play-off hopefuls Potters Bar Town, though the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story.
ANCHORS A RAPID
ASHTON UNITED hit two goals in two minutes to come from behind to win at Stockton Town.
SEAGULLS KEEP THE HEAT ON ROMANS
BATH City were made to pay for their mistakes by high-flying Weston-super-Mare.
CLINICAL COLEMAN KEEN AS MUSTARD
CIAN COLEMAN’S hat-trick lifted Buxton to their highest league position of the season as they became the latest side to frustrate Scunthorpe.
KEV SEES RED IN REE PANT!
SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher hit out at referee Abigail Byrne following his side’s defeat to Yeovil Town at Roots Hall.
MARVEL MATTY DENIES MOORS
BOTH managers insisted their teams deserved more after Altrincham came from behind to steal a point in a six-goal thriller at Solihull Moors.