Law of averages in football - It all evens out

5) Bayern Munich and Arjen Robben (name on the 2013 European Cup)

Now coming back to the question that my friend asked me, I am sure, that all of you, who know what had happened with Munich and Arjen Robben in the past three years, can now easily tell how I could foresee the result of this year’s final.

Bayern Munich, despite dominating most of the proceedings in the 2010 and 2012 European Cup finals, were undeservedly beaten on both the occasions. And one player from Bayern Munich who has suffered the most, failing in almost all the major events he has participated in the last three years, is Arjen Robben. He was the one who missed an extra-time penalty in 2012 final against Chelsea. The Dutchman also missed a one-on-one chance in the World Cup final against Spain in 2010. Also, in the 2012 league campaign, Robben missed a crucial penalty in the dying minutes of a match against Borussia Dortmund, which eventually cost Munich the title.

Both Bayern Munich and Arjen Robben, however, had their tryst with destiny in the 2013 European Cup final, in which, all of you know, what happened. They call it, the law of averages – it all evens out.

And it works almost everytime, the law of averages – it all evens out. So, the next time you see a dubious penalty or an unfair decision in favor of Manchester United, or for that matter, against Real Madrid, in a crucial European tie, do cast an eye towards the Nani red-card incident that happened at Old Trafford this season. In football, it all evens out.

PS: There have been many other incidents in the past which are worth mentioning here – like United air crash in 1958 and their European cup victory in 1968. England’s ghost goal against Germany in the 1966 World Cup and then Lampard’s legitimate goal against Germany not awarded in the 2010 World Cup. Zidane turning from hero in 1998 World Cup final by scoring a brace, to a villain in 2006 final with a headbutt and a red card…