UCL: APOEL vs. Real Madrid

CR7 is not happy after missing a shot vs. APOEL (Getty Images)

Often in American sports you run into the team that's "just happy to be here."  We all know what I'm referring to.  Maybe it's that low seeded team that somehow makes it into the sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament.  Maybe it's the baseball team that somehow managed to sneak into the playoffs for the first time in years.  We also call them "Cinderellas" and while they can be a fancy bet down at the sports book, not many people really give them a chance.

This year has seen one of the finest Cinderella stories ever in the UEFA Champions League.  In soccer parlance, they're often called minnows.  They're the club that comes from a tiny country, Cyprus in this case, and doesn't have money, but they make it all the way through the qualifiers and into the Champions League proper.  Apoel Nicosia did one better than that story this year.  They made it through the group stage, and even knocked French powerhouse Lyon out in the first knock out round.  Now they were up against Real Madrid though, and that's a different story.  Madrid is the most successful club in the tourney's history, with 9 European Championships to their name.

I don't want to leave the impression that Apoel was "just happy to be here" though, because I don't think they were.  They really tried to survive the Madrid onslaught, and came pretty close.  It took 75 minutes for Madrid to finally break down the defense and the 'keeper. 

Unfortunately for Cinderella, the glass slipper totally shattered after Karim Benzema headed home Kaka's cross for the first goal in the 74th minute.  Just eight minutes later, Marcelo centered a pass to a trailing Kaka, coming into the six unmarked, and he added another goal to make it 0-2.  Benzema added a third for good measure in the 90th.  Apoel, for their part, could not manage a single shot all day, and the match ended 0-3 to Madrid.

That is an Everest sized mountain to climb for Apoel going into Madrid next week, and even though I'm a Madrid supporter, there's a part of me that hopes they make a game of it.  So often soccer fans become jaded over money, transfers, and missed opportunities.  Those of us that are fans of big clubs that are in major tournaments every year seem to expect to win, and take it for granted.  We can all learn something from Apoel.  First, always put forth the effort.  This team has worked their tails off to get this far.  Second, whatever comes your way, don't just be "happy to be here."  We may not always get the results we want in football or in life, but we should all make the most out of our experiences.

So, do I think Apoel has a chance in Spain?  Probably not, but let's not forget, even Mount Everest gives up it's summit every year for people who work hard and keep the right attitude.  These kind of people are the guys that make up Apoel's squad.  Best of luck to them.