It’s not quite the £30 million prize for finishing in 4th place in a major European league, but the Europa League playoff is a financially lucrative tie to Villarreal CF (if not the matches themselves). Hope the weather holds out and that fans come to the first official match of the season at El Madrigal. I doubt our rather unknown opponents from the Transmash region will be a big draw, but the show must go on.

With the return leg only three days before the La Liga opener at the Anoeta, Juan Carlos Garrido would like to take a sizable advantage to Belarus and thereby rest some key players. Expect a strong starting XI on Thursday, similar to the squad that started Saturday’s tune-up against Segunda B side Alzira. No Marco Ruben, but Jozy Altidore and Gonzalo Rodríguez are set to keep their squad numbers.

After the infamous 2006 defeat to Slovenia’s NK Maribor that knocked Villarreal out of the Intertoto Cup and Europe altogether, the club is on notice not to underestimate inferior (on paper) opposition. I think this tie will proceed more along the lines of last season’s 1-3, 6-1 drubbings of Dutch side NAC Breda at the same stage.

Expected starting XI: 4-4-2

Diego López

Capdevila            Musacchio          Marchena           Ángel López

Cazorla                 Bruno                    Senna                   Cani

Nilmar                   Rossi

Prediction: 5-1 to Villarreal. Goals by Cazorla (2), Rossi (2), and Cani. ¡Endavant!

Part 3/4 in our player personnel series. Previously featured were the goalkeepers and midfielders. I’m labeling Fuster as a striker and Montero a midfielder based on the preseason, but that designation is subject to change.

Likely starters:

Giuseppe Rossi: Il Bambino has achieved a lot at the tender age of 23. The object of many American fans’ ire (not mine), he was left out of the Italian World Cup squad due to a Serie A-only selection policy. Silly, but it’s just a blip on the radar. With 13, 15, and 17 goals in his 3 seasons at Villarreal, Rossi will shoot for 20 in 2010-11. A versatile player with the ability to both run at defenders and play with his back to them.

Nilmar: A disappointing World Cup (for player and country) did not tarnish a successful return to European football. The canarinha led Villarreal with 11 goals in La Liga, though he scored just once in 11 appearances in the Copa del Rey and Europa League. A slow start was not surprising, considering the acclimatization period; Nilmar really took off as a winger in the 4-3-3. He paired well up front with Rossi, but the other strikers may not be a natural fit.

Likely bench players:

David Fuster: He was a revelation in 2009, not to mention that he ruined Barcelona’s perfect season at home. But with Valverde’s departure and the shift to a 4-3-3, his playing time diminished. He slots in well as a support striker behind Rossi, but no other role has worked. I’d like to see a diamond midfield formation with Fuster behind Rossi and Nilmar, but the local boy from Oliva has only featured as a striker in the preseason. A big season for his future.

Jozy Altidore: Will he stay? If so, how much will he play? Anywhere from a starter in the Copa del Rey and Europa League to a spot in Garrido’s doghouse is possible. I think he and Nilmar could work well, but that partnership will take time to develop. Talent and skill, yes. But is he committed to making things work in Villarreal? Time will tell. If not, he might be off to Turkey, Holland, or England in the winter transfer window.

Marco Ruben: The Argentine was too good for the Segunda, scoring 17 times in 31 appearances. This eye-popping success made him the object of EPL side Wigan Athletic’s desire, but a deal fell through at the last minute. At age 23, it’s time for Ruben to get a real shot with Villarreal. A poacher who relies on positioning and timing, he seems perfect as a late-game substitute (forward to 3:45). He is in line for a bigger role if Nilmar or Rossi leaves after this season.

The return of Group E means that I am watching only one full match today. Can Australia put Group D on level terms going into the final matchday?

Netherlands 1-0 Japan: If Japan are to stand a chance, they will need a one-man show from talented midfielder Keisuke Honda. But the Dutch should be too much in the end, and that’s with Arjen Robben on the bench.

Ghana 1-1 Australia: Intriguing matchup in a group blown wide open. Expect the Socceroos to score, but Ghana may be able to gash the Australian defense like the Germans did. Fingers crossed that both Oceania sides make the last 16.

Cameroon 1-2 Denmark: Loser goes home. The Samuel Eto’o saga continues. The Danes are tough, so expect Africa to lose another knockout stage possibility. Can Nicklas Bendtner play and, if he does, get out of his own way to score?

Villarreal watch: Jozy Altidore didn’t do much in the first half against Slovenia, but his knockdown put the ball on a platter for Michael Bradley to bang in the equalizer. He’s the USA’s best threat going forward and has learned from his time in the EPL. Could he be the fifth striker in the rotation if Garrido sticks with a 4-3-3 (Altidore, Montero, Nilmar, Rossi, and Ruben)? But the club may cash in on his play, at least with a loan deal.

And Villarreal B close out the season at home to Salamanca at 12 noon Eastern time.  All of the matches are taking place simultaneously, so don’t expect a stream. The squad:

Four C teamers selected: Fran García, Joselu, Nico, and Óscar Prats. Montero, Musacchio, and Ruben already are on vacation, while Mario and Robert Flores are injured.

3 matches today. My thoughts on each:

South Korea 2-0 Greece: Promises to be a very boring game, if Greece has its way. Looking forward to the debut of the young Koreans.

Argentina 1-0 Nigeria: The debut of Messi+Maradona in this World Cup. Will there be any logic to Maradona’s team selection? And how will the home continent edge affect the other African teams?

USA 1-1 England: Promises to be the most watched soccer match in American history. Hope the spirit of 1950 is with us. Will Obama be there?

On a side note, Villarreal B plays at Numancia in a meaningless match at 12 noon Eastern Time. Paco Herrera has called up Fran, Joselu, Modrego, and Nico from the C team to replace the absences of Montero, Musacchio, and Ruben (all on vacation to start the preseason with the A team) and Robert Flores (injury). I’ll post a stream if I find one.

This is an open thread for your comments, just as it will be every day during the World Cup. Feel free to chime in.

UEFA has confirmed that Villarreal’s 7th-place finish in La Liga does not merit a Europe League berth. Our faint European dreams now depend on Mallorca’s insolvency. The Spanish league (LFP) already affirmed Mallorca’s presence in Europe, financial difficulties and all, but we know how much such promises are worth. Stay tuned.

The B team put up a valiant effort but lost 2-1 away to leaders Real Sociedad. Sociedad took the lead, completely against the run of play, on an awful penalty call against Catala. Though Marco Ruben leveled the score from the spot, we never fully recovered. And Montero wreaked havoc again for the 6th-place team in Segunda. Not bad.

Other news and notes:

• Cristobal still thinks the B team can win the Segunda. Right. That has the same odds as Castellon avoiding relegation.
• Jozy Altidore (where have you been?) scored the tying goal in the USA’s 2-1 victory over Turkey. He could hardly have missed.
• Add another reason to root against Spain: Joan Capdevila may not be in Vicente del Bosque’s starting XI. His replacement: Real Madrid center back Alvaro Arbeloa. Hopefully Mati Fernandez will give him fits.

Juan Carlos Garrido, having secured at least one more year at the helm of Villarreal, has announced that he will be pulling nine players up into the first team for Villarreal. This will reshape the face of the club, and could write our future for many years to come.

Goalkeeper: Juan Carlos;
Defenders: Mario, Joan Oriol, Catalá and Musacchio;
Midfielders: Matilla and Cristobal;
Strikers: Marco Ruben and Jefferson Montero.

That is most of a team right there. Throw in a few seasoned veterans, including the likes of Capdevila, Gonzalo, Cazorla, Cani, and Llorente, and the club should be in good shape. A lot more to come on the new additions as we head into the summer.

And in related news, José Manuel Catalá has signed a three year renewal with the first team, so his call-up should be permanent. He will be a long-term replacement for Capdevila.

Villarreal is not wholly out of Europe just yet. Mallorca’s money troubles are still chasing them, and they could yet be denied European competition in the fall if they fall into bankruptcy, as UEFA has the right to cancel their license. That would open up the position for Villarreal coming in from seventh. Not that we would have really deserved it, but I’ll take it!

Former Villarreal hard man Guillermo Franco is moving on from West Ham after helping them avoid relegation this past term. He made 23 appearances, scoring 5 goals, which is his best year in a while. I hope he is rewarded with a quality contract either somewhere he will enjoy in Europe, or back in Mexico. He has the opportunity this summer with the national side to improve his worth even more.

A couple of interesting rumors have been in this press. And these are mentioned not because they will actually happen, but they are still fun to think about.

- Villarreal’s star Giuseppe Rossi is in the headlights of Liverpool. First of all, I really don’t like Liverpool. But seriously – can you imagine putting him and Fernando Torres together? That would be a pretty amazing duo.

- And the second part of the rumor is that Liverpool would offer Albert Riera in return. This is of course highly unlikely, as Villarreal need money, and do not want to take on high salaries such as Riera would demand.

- Villarreal have been linked to Barcelona’s Rafa Marquez. a) Why would we want him anyway? b) Again, no chance of us taking on that kind of salary.

For a great comeback, maybe you have to defend poorly first. Cazorla took over the match after the opening half-hour (hope Vicente del Bosque was watching), while Godin was the most culpable for the deficit. And what a pass by Ibagaza on the first goal! Villarreal goal of the year, in my book.

As Garrido said, the match was a microcosm of the season. If Sevilla do us a favor on Wednesday, I will be content with the year.

News and notes:

• As noted, a Sevilla win in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey final gets us into Europe.
• The players’ final day of training is Thursday, but our 9 internationals are gone.
• A team recaps from the club website, Marca, and AS.
• And the B team pulled another point out of the fire, drawing 2-2 in Murcia. A Marco Ruben PK and late Joan Tomas header earned them a share of the points.

Now all that’s left is to watch the battle for relegation and the La Liga title. Can Xerez somehow beat the drop? I say yes.

Not sure you can call these “highlights.” Unfortunately, we learned that: (1) Angel Lopez is not very good (the proximate cause of the first goal, in my opinion); and (2) throwing on all of your attacking options at once does not create chances. Rossi, in his short time on the pitch, was the best we had, but that’s not saying much.

I had hoped this sort of performance was dead and buried with Valverde, but I think it’s clear by now that the players are not up to snuff. A great chance wasted to catch the fading teams above us. Game recaps from the club website, Marca, and AS.

And the B team continues its magical run in the Segunda. After Real Union saw 2 red cards in short order to start the 2nd half, Villarreal B scored 3 times in 15 minutes. Montero had a goal and an assist, and Marco Ruben now is tied for the pichichi with 12 goals. Game recaps from the club website and Marca.

Deportivo La Coruna and Villarreal always have struck me as sister clubs. “Super” Depor set the bar extremely high for smaller Spanish clubs in the 1990s and early 2000s, winning La Liga in 1999-2000 and finishing as runners-up 4 times in a 10-year span. This period also included a Champions League semifinal appearance, 2 Copas del Rey, and 3 Spanish Super Cups. Remarkable, really.

Then along came little Villarreal CF from Castellon de la Plana. Villarreal has finished above Depor in the league table in each of the last 5 seasons, also reaching the Champions League semifinals in 2005-06 and finishing as runners-up in La Liga in 2007-08. Also quite remarkable. To keep this streak alive, Sunday’s match at El Madrigal is a must-win for the Yellow Submarine.

Depor are built in the mold of recent Villarreal sides: a frugal budget, top-class manager in Miguel Ángel Lotina, and stars from the Americas, including Brazilians Filipe Luis (out for the year with a nasty leg break) and Juca and Mexican international Andres Guardado (center backs, keep an eye on him). The “first leg” in Galicia finished 1-0 to Depor on a cracker of a free kick from Juca.

Here is the 18-man squad for tomorrow’s match:

GKs: Diego López and Xavi Oliva.
Ds: Ángel, Javi Venta, Gonzalo, Catalá, Godin, and Capdevila.
MFs: Marcos Senna, Bruno, David Fuster, Escudero, Ibagaza, Cani, and Pires.
Fs: Llorente, Nilmar, and Marco Ruben.

Escudero is back in the squad (or out of the doghouse, as some here might say); hope he gets some minutes. Marco Ruben is in the squad; let’s see if his call-up is permanent once Rossi returns. The big news is the call-up of José Manuel Catalá, who started the year with the C(!) team. Congratulations to him; that is quite an achievement (but what does it say about our defense?). Catalá is in the squad in place of Musacchio, out with a muscle injury. Let’s hope it’s not serious, as Musacchio has acquitted himself well so far.

The match will be on ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com at 10:55 am Eastern time. We need these 3 points, and I think we will get them. 2-1 to Villarreal on goals from Nilmar and Fuster. Endavant Villarreal!

Villarreal’s road to redemption does not get any easier, as they travel the few hours west to Real Madrid and the Santiago Bernabeu. Both clubs are coming off European disappointment, and will have to attempt to rebound with Liga points to regain momentum. It will be a decidedly tough match for the Yellow Submarine, short on first team defenders and arriving in a stadium in which they have never won.

Juan Carlos Garrido’s infinitesimally brief chance for a honeymoon with the A team is long gone after a few winnable matches. His first shot at victory came understandably short, as the club fell away to Mallorca, a team that had not dropped (as of then) a point on the island all season. The next match, against Athletic Bilbao, the club began to demonstrate his style of play and took all the points in a hard fought (and costly) match. Midweek, Garrido had the opportunity to show the importance of the Europa League, and fell dismally short in the 2-2 draw, sucker punched by his own defense. And now, after those reasonably easy matches, he will be thrown into the fire.

Perhaps even more difficult for him, he must now go up against former Villarreal manager, and permanent Villarreal hero, Manuel Pellegrini. I think we can all expect an article in the papers on Monday analyzing the differences in success that Pellegrini had over many seasons with what Garrido has in the match. Probably won’t be a fair comparison….

Madrid are not flying as high as they would like. Pellegrini has the club playing some of the most flowing football they have played in years, but it still isn’t satisfying everyone in Madrid, as he has not yet already locked up La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa (likewise, they are loudly complaining because he has not instituted necessary measures to guarantee a win in all three of these competitions in each of the next 10 years as well). Yet the midweek 1-0 loss to Olympique Lyon has the clubs supporters wringing and wrenching their hands, as it could be another early exit for the club from European competition. They are also under pressure from Barcelona, who won handily today and moved five points clear in first place. That being said, Madrid are sitting on four consecutive wins in La Liga, and have shown no signs of slowing down on that front.

Madrid are without Karim Benzema who strained his groin, as well as Royston Drenthe and Guti. They have regained the services of Rafael van der Vaart, though, and shouldn’t have trouble finding a quality eleven players with which to set up the chess board. Madrid’s squad:

Keepers: Casillas, Dudek.
Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Albiol, Arbeloa, Metzelder, Marcelo, Garay.
Midfielders: Diarra, Gago, Lass, Xabi Alonso, Granero, Kaka, van der Vaart.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul, Higuain.

Villarreal are desperately short on defense, and have to be wondering what it is that they are about to get themselves into. There is a likelihood that three players who three weeks ago were full-timers with the B team will get the start, and a possibility that you could add a fourth (Matilla) to that list. Bringing a B team to the Bernabeu is normally not the best option for a team, no matter how strong that B team might be.

The team is without Godin due to suspension, and without Gonzalo due to his own suspension a leg injury (sorry – habit!).  In their places, the red-card-prone Kiko, and the up-and-coming Musacchio.  Boys, it’s time to grow up in a hurry!  They will also have Marcano in central defense, but after his red midweek (I mean, seriously) do you really want to see him with the start?

I think this might be a perfect time to give Ruben a start alongside Nilmar.  Obviously, Ruben doesn’t have the experience (and no, in case you are wondering, he did not play against them when he was with Recreativo Huelva).  But he is young and wants to prove himself, has been scoring goals all season for the  B team, and is coming off an important goal against Wolfsburg midweek.  Why not role the dice?

Here is the squad:

Keepers: Diego López and Oliva.
Defenders: Javi Venta, Ángel, Marcano, Capdevila, Kiko and Musacchio.
Midfielders: Senna, Bruno, Cani, Pires, Ibagaza, Fuster and Matilla.
Forwards: Llorente, Nilmar and Marco Ruben.

And here is my preferred lineup:

Diego López
Javi Venta – Musacchio – Marcano – Capdevila
Cani – Senna -  Bruno – Fuster
Nilmar – Ruben

This one is going to be tough.  I don’t know if we have the proverbial snowball’s chance in hell, but why not give it a go and see what we can come up with?

The match will be shown on ESPN360 at 2:55pm.  ENDAVANT!