The 'European' Final

Tonight the world will see the two best sides in Europe and the English Premier League go face to face as fans from both sides descend upon the Russian Capital to cheer on and hope to see their clubs to glory. Some go with a glimmer of hope of being able to see anything but all in all particpating in the whole event.

There is immense talk in the Chelsea camp with Key players either distracted or injured such as Lampard, Drogba and Ashley Cole. On the other side the only worry for Alex's men is withstanding the pressure of being the favourites and sweating over Prince Ronaldo's next destination. Should he succeed, there is every chance the winger will be elevated to the higher echelons of footballing legends, it would be hard to see him bettering his phenomenal season which could see him amass a goal tally unsurpassed by any wingers after him.

However, tonight as the majority of the worlds population watch the events unfolding, think back a couple of months and Richard Scudamore's proposal for a 39th game to be played abroad. The main aspects of the plans were :

1) An additional round of Premier League fixtures, extending the season to 39 games, from January 2011
2) Four clubs to travel to one of five host cities, with two games taking place in each venue over a weekend
3) Cities would bid for the right to become a host, not for individual matches
4) Points earned from the games would count towards the final Premier League table

Although tonights game would be attended by fans from Lancashire and Chelsea, this is probably as close to 'The Scuds' dream. Two English Premier sides competing for a prize on the last day of their season in a foreign country. Russia bid to host the competitions final with the FIFA and UEFA Board which is probably the same format he would like to use so that countries could engage in old school bidding to attract the Premier Leagues best. All the rhetoric aside of the months after the proposal was announced and nearly every fan accusing the FA of being run by 'Money Hungry' Executives, tonight is a chance to imagine what football could be evolving into.

According to experts, the growth of the Premier League has been impressive in the last 15 years thanks to the sale of television rights in this country,but now the market in the United Kingdom is becoming saturated and it is the overseas market which is now the big target area."
This is a chance for the Premier League to showcase its product around the world, the Premier League's income from the sale of overseas TV rights has already increased from £178m in 2001 to £625m for the current deal that runs until 2010. "Globalisation is a challenge for all sports because the whole world seems to be interested in the very best of sport wherever it comes from," added Scudamore.

The idea may be completely offensive to die hard fans and the issue of footballs soul being sold may be questioned but the final is a big reminder that football is beginning to evolve this season, from outscoring wingers to ever changing managers and the legacy of ever present chairmen to foreign owners that oversee tactics and see football as great business sense. Maybe after the final whistle tonight and the curtain falls on another season, fans will not look back with regret but look forward to the future with open arms but others will be worried.