Football Daily | It?s Bilbao or bust for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur

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With more than 80,000 English football fans expected to descend on Bilbao for the Bigger Vase final, it?s safe to assume that approximately half of them will return home in despair, while almost all of them will be seriously out of pocket. But despite its status as a fine location with a proud football heritage, Bilbao doesn?t have the infrastructure to cope with the myriad demands that come with hosting a game between the 16th and 17th best teams in England. With ?budget? flights costing well north of a grand and even the most low-rent accommodation priced up at ?500-plus a night, one can but hope for the sake of those Spurs and Manchester United fans who use plane, train, automobile or boat to arrive in northern Spain for this season-defining match that Bilbao has no shortage of doorways and park benches. Expect plenty to be occupied on Tuesday evening by green-around-the-gills landlubbers who set off on Sunday evening?s Portsmouth ferry, a vessel which docked in Bilbao earlier.
A very beautiful career is coming to an end, a very full life. I feel very fortunate for what I?ve experienced. I didn?t expect it, but I think the time has come and I feel like bringing it to a close here? ? former Barcelona, Liverpool and Spain vibes-man, Pepe Reina, is hanging up his gloves aged 7842 after Como?s final game of the season on Friday. He might have a busy last day at the office given Inter will be desperately fighting for the title. Look out for any loose beachballs, Pepe!
Trust the Germans to have a word to describe every situation or feeling. Liverpool?s current performance (or lack of) can be defined as Erf?llungsleere? ? Krishna Moorthy.
Given this appears to be the year of the underdog in cup finals, Tottenham and Manchester United must be really optimistic? ? Martyn Shapter.
Re: Memory Lane (yesterday?s Football Daily, full email edition) ? that mascot got a bit more than they bargained for? ? Jim Hearson.
I?d question the wisdom of publishing both of Michael Glogower?s pun-laden Eredivisie missives in recent letters sections. Remember, two De Jongs don?t make a right ?? ? Derek McGee.
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