Underdogs

Carling Cup Round 3

It seems that only Arsenal can play the kids & still win. They proved it last season when they reached the League Cup final. This week they did it again, beating a nearly full-strength Newcastle side. Meanwhile, on Wednesday night a largely youth United side lost to Coventry despite bringing starting with first-teamers O'Shea, Nani & Anderson; Carrick & Brown came on as subs.

In recent years some Premiership sides, especially the 'Big Four' clubs, have treated the Carling Cup as almost an unwelcome distraction, & used it as an opportunity to play some of their fringe players. No doubt the teams still involved in the Champions League will continue this policy.

RWC Upsets

In the Rugby World Cup there seems to be far less chance of a big upset than in the equivalent football tournament. South Korea reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2002. (Also Greece won Euro 2004 as hugely unfancied underdogs) Japan's draw against Canada was hailed as a fantastic result for them. Fiji did beat Wales, but generally, Rugby Union has so many set plays that the stronger side can keep up constant pressure, and it’s much harder to prevent a score. The weaker side has to compete at every scrum, line-out, ruck & maul. In football, the defending goalie can play a blinder &/or the strikers have an off day, & the minnows can get a draw or even sneak a win. So it seems unlikely that Fiji, for example, can make the semis of the current RWC.