TRIBUNNEWS.COM, INGGRIS - Tak ada kata libur dalam kamus Premier League atau kasta tertinggi Liga Inggris di kala liga-liga benua Eropa sudah mulai rehat.
Salah satu yang paling khas tentu saja adalah Boxing Day atau pertandingan sehari setelah Hari Natal. Edisi kali ini tak menghadirkan bentrokan antara tim-tim berperingkat enam besar.
Meski begitu, keseruan tetap akan terjadi pada laga Boxing Day kali ini.
Manchester United yang kini menghuni peringkat kedua akan menghadapi tim penuh kejutan, Burnley, pada Selasa (26/12/2017) Pukul 22.00 WIB.
Burnley saat ini mampu menempati peringkat ketujuh dan bahkan sempat sesekali menganggu dominasi penghuni peringkat enam besar yang reguler.
Tim asuhan Sean Dyche jelas menjadi ancaman bagi penampilan Manchester United yang tengah menurun akhir-akhir ini.
Sementara Manchester City yang menjadi pemuncak klasemen sementara musim ini juga akan menghadapi lawan tangguh, Newcastle United.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, dan Tottenham Hotspur bisa dibilang mendapatkan lawan yang relatif mudah.
Namun para langganan peringkat enam besar ini jelas tak bisa menganggap remeh laga Boxing Day.
Tantangan besar mereka adalah tetap mampu meraih poin maksimal di tengah jadwal padat merayap ini.
KOMPAS.com - Premier League - kasta teratas Liga Inggris - menjadi satu-satunya kompetisi di antara liga elite Eropa yang masih bergulir pada periode Natal. Laga boxing day pada 26 Desember 2017 menjadi selalu dinanti oleh para penggemar sepak bola.
Edisi boxing day kali ini tak menghadirkan bentrokan antara tim-tim berperingkat enam besar. Meski begitu, keseruan tetap akan terjadi pada periode padat ini.
Manchester United yang kini menghuni peringkat kedua akan menghadapi tim penuh kejutan, Burnley, pada Selasa (26/12/2017) Pukul 22.00 WIB.
Burnley saat ini mampu menempati peringkat ketujuh dan bahkan sempat sesekali menganggu dominasi penghuni peringkat enam besar yang reguler.
Tim asuhan Sean Dyche jelas menjadi ancaman bagi penampilan Manchester United yang tengah menurun akhir-akhir ini.
Sementara itu, Manchester City yang menjadi pemuncak klasemen sementara musim ini juga akan menghadapi lawan tangguh, Newcastle United.
(Baca Juga: Harry Kane Cetak Hat-trick, Ada Sebuah Harapan yang Dipenuhi Santa Kane )
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, dan Tottenham Hotspur bisa dibilang mendapatkan lawan yang relatif mudah.
Namun para langganan peringkat enam besar ini jelas tak bisa menganggap remeh laga Boxing Day .
Tantangan besar mereka adalah tetap mampu meraih poin maksimal di tengah jadwal padat merayap ini.
Seusai boxing day di tengah pekan, mereka tetap akan kembali berlaga pada akhir pekan nanti. (Sri Mulyati)
(Baca Juga: Stadion Etihad Jadi Tempat Angker Sepanjang 2017! )
Berikut jadwal siaran langsung Liga Inggris pekan ke-20:
Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton Live beIN Sports 1 Pukul 19.25 WIB
Manchester United vs Burnley Live beIN Sports 1 Pukul 21.55 WIB
West Bromwich Albion vs Everton Live MNCTV & beIN Sports 2 Pukul 22.00 WIB
Liverpool vs Swansea City Live RCTI & beIN Sports 1 Pukul 00.30 WIB
Newcastle United vs Manchester City Live beIN Sports 1 Pukul 02.35 WIB
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Live MNCTV & beIN Sports 1 Pukul 02.50 WIB
Berikut jadwal Liga Inggris lain yang tak disiarkan di saluran televisi lokal:
It’s the day when shopping turns into a competitive sport. So how do you win at the Boxing Day sales?
Forget December 25. If you love to travel, it’s on Boxing Day that all your Christmases come at once.
With travel companies slashing prices on airfares, cruises, accommodation and tours, December 26 is one of best days of the year to book a holiday.
Here’s some of the hot tips for travel bargains that can be snapped up as you recover from Christmas Day.
13 TRICKS TO BAG A DIRT CHEAP FLIGHT
8 WAYS TO SAVE ON A CRUISE HOLIDAY
CHEAP WAYS TO STAY IN A FIVE-STAR HOTEL
JETSTAR FLIGHTS FROM $29
About half a million seats for domestic and international destinations are on sale, with fares starting from $29 on domestic routes and $99 on international routes. Destinations on sale include Bali, Hawaii, Thailand, Byron Bay, Gold Coast and Cairns. Sale ends December 28, 2017.
See jetstar.com
FLY TO EUROPE FOR $999 RETURN WITH TRAFALGAR
Score flights from $999 return when booked with one of Trafalgar’s 95 trips across Europe and Britain or score an early payment discount of 7.5 per cent. Valid for travel between March 1 and November 30, 2018. Terms and conditions apply. Deal ends February 28, 2018.
See trafalgar.com
FLY QATAR AIRWAYS TO EUROPE FROM $915
Qatar’s Boxing Day sale includes discount economy fares for groups of between two and nine travellers who book and travel together. Fares include Perth to Dublin from $915 (for travel on selected dates between January and May). Flights from Perth to Paris start from $975. Sale ends January 8, 2018.
See qatarairways.com
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BONUS POINTS
Velocity members can earn triple points (6 points per $1 spent) when they purchase from Catch, and double points (4 points per $1 spent) when they purchase from David Jones, Boohoo, Dell, Kogan, The Iconic and Boohoo. Deal runs until January 22, 2018.
virginaustralia.com
FLIGHT CENTRE SAVINGS
Flight Centre’s Boxing Day sale includes discounts on flights, tours, cruises, accommodation and more.
See flightcentre.com.au
UP TO 45 PER CENT ON ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES
Sale deals include a nine-night South Pacific cruise on Explorer of the Seas, departing Sydney on March 19, 2018, from $1149 per person – a saving of up to $650 per person - and a 14-night New Zealand cruise on Ovation of the Seas departing Sydney on November 28, 2018, starts from $2099 per person – a saving of up to $1450 per person. Sale ends February 28, 2018.
See royalcaribbean.com.au
SAVE UP TO $800 ON CARNIVAL CRUISES
Sale deals include a 10-night New Caledonia and Vanuatu cruise on Carnival Legend departing Sydney on March 24, 2018, from $1149. Book before February 2, 2018 to receive up to $200 onboard credit on select sailings between January 28, 2018 and December 30, 2019. Sale ends February 26, 2018.
See carnival.com.au
SAVE UP TO $200 ON CELEBRITY CRUISES
New bookings on eligible worldwide sailings will receive savings of up to $200 per person, plus up to four bonus perks depending on the category of stateroom (including a Classic Beverage Package, unlimited internet access or $US150 on-board credit). Deals include a 10-night Tropical Queensland cruise on Celebrity Solstice departing Sydney on October 29, 2018 from $2399 per person, including savings of up to $100 and two bonus perks.
See celebritycruises.com.au
SAVE UP TO 50 PER CENT ON AZAMARA CRUISES
Azamara Club Cruises is offering a “buy one, get one up to 50 per cent off” deal - plus receive free internet for Oceanview Staterooms and above - for bookings for cruises departing between May 2018 and August 2019. Sale ends February 28, 2018. Some blackout periods apply.
See azamaraclubcruises.com
SAVE UP TO 25 PER CENT ON OUTRIGGER FIJI RESORTS
Deals include a five-night stay at Castaway Island Fiji from FJD$989 plus taxes per bure per night (approximately $A780 inclusive) which includes all meals and either a Family Pass or Aqua Pass, and Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort from $285 plus tax per night (approximately $A225 inclusive), for selected dates in 2018. Sale ends on March 31, 2018.
See outrigger.com
STAY IN HAWAII FROM $US149 A NIGHT
Book a stay at Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra in Honolulu from $US298 for a two-night stay, for travel until June 30, 2018. Sale ends January 3, 2018.
See mantrahotels.com
MANTRA HOTELS FROM $99 A NIGHT
Deals include a two-night stay at Mantra PortSea, Port Douglas from $198, between January 7 and June 30, 2018. Sale ends January 3, 2018.
See mantrahotels.com
ART SERIES HOTELS FROM $139 A NIGHT
Deals include The Watson in Adelaide from $139 per night (for travel until January 28, 2018), and The Chen in Melbourne from $144 a night (for travel until June 30, 2018). Sale ends January 3, 2018.
See mantrahotels.com
SAVE UP TO 20 PER CENT ON OAKS HOTELS
Oaks Hotels and Resorts around Australia and overseas are having a month-long new year sale, with deals including executive king rooms at Oaks Oasis Resort on the Sunshine Coast from $141 per night or a contemporary studio room at Oaks Cable Beach Sanctuary in Broome from $161, with savings of 20 per cent when staying for five nights or more. Sale ends January 22, 2018.
See oakshotels.com.au
SAVE UP TO 25 PER CENT ON BUSABOUT TRIPS
Save up to 25 per cent off Busabout’s favourite hop-on, hop-off passes and multi-country trips including La Dolce Vita, Road to Rome, Road to Venice, Hidden Gems, Alpine Way, Siesta Fiesta, Spanish Explorer and Swiss Miss. Terms and conditions apply. Sale ends December 27.
See busabout.com
SAVE UP TO 25 PER CENT ON INTREPID TOURS
Last-minute summer tours on sale include a 13-day Japan: Land of the Rising Sun tour departing January 27 for $4174, a saving of $1391, and a 13-day Mexico & Guatemala Highlights tour departing February 6 for $1541, a saving of $514. Sale ends December 31.
See intrepidtravel.com
SAVE UP TO $200 ON G ADVENTURES TOURS
G Adventures’ “Sale of the Year” deals include an eight-day Cuba Libre tour for $1499 and a 13-day Highlights of Borneo tour for $2679. Sale ends January 31.
See gadventures.com.au
SAVE $2018 ON INSIGHT VACATIONS IN 2018
To ring in the new year, Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold Vacations are each offering travellers savings of $2018 per couple on nine 2018 trips in Europe. Terms and conditions apply. Sale ends January 5, 2018.
See insightvacations.com or luxurygoldvacations.com
FREE AUSTRALIAN FLIGHTS WITH AAT KINGS
AAT Kings is offering free flights when booked with tours including Perfect Tasmania, Untamed Kimberley & West Coast, Wonders of the West Coast & Kimberley. Terms and conditions apply. Available for travel between April 1, 2018 to August 31, 2019.
See aatkings.com/fly-free
For more travel news and advice, sign up to Escape’s newsletter.
Boxing Day Test a new tradition that is unmistakably Australian
Updated
In a young, vibrant democracy, tradition can be a vexed concept.
The culture warriors are circling their wagons around January 26 as Australia Day and draping themselves in the flag, even though it was almost ignored until the bicentennial year of 1988.
The public holiday associated with our national day was generally allocated to the Monday nearest the actual date, and my youthful memories were of it being observed with vastly less solemnity than Anzac Day.
Sadly, I am old enough to be bemused by reference to the "traditional" Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It is a tradition of recent advent honoured in the breach as recently as 1994. In that year, the second Test between Australia and England began on Christmas Eve with a rest day taken on Christmas Day, which that year fell on a Sunday.
The Packer factor
Rest days, like many other trappings of traditional cricket, have succumbed to commercial pressures and the insatiable demands of the television audience. In that match Australia were led by Mark Taylor and England by Mike Atherton, both of whom are commentating on this year's "traditional" clash.
That the traditional tag rings somewhat hollow is not a criticism of the immense cultural significance this match has assumed, especially in the years since the Packer revolution galvanised the Australian population into support for the national team through catchy jingles and overt appeals to nationalism.
However, before Kerry Packer transformed Australian cricket, Australian teams were frequently on tour during our summers. When Australia were on tours, as they were in 1966-67 and 1969-70, the marquee fixtures on Boxing Day were Sheffield Shield matches between arch rivals News South Wales and Victoria.
When Ray Illingworth's men wrested the Ashes from Australia in 1970-71, the "traditional" Boxing Day Test was scheduled to commence on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1970. Ultimately, the match was abandoned on the third day without a ball being bowled.
To offer the fans some entertainment, the first One Day International was played between Australia and England on January 5, 1971. By today's standards it was a quaint affair, with the traditional red ball employed and Geoffrey Boycott scoring 8 off 37 deliveries.
No-one who played that day would have aroused the interest of a Big Bash League franchise on the basis of bustling strike rates.
Australia overtook England's modest 190 for the loss of five wickets in 34.6 overs. None of those involved could have imagined how the shorter form of the game would evolve and threaten the relevance of traditional cricket.
Christmas carols at the cricket
But over the past three decades, the Boxing Day Test has captured the imagination of the entire nation.
The atmosphere inside the cavernous arena is electric on the opening morning, even when a modest opponent is engaged.
The atmosphere of the Christmas festive season infects the fans who sing Christmas carols, without, it must be said, the spirit and talent of the Barmy Army.
As Greg Baum of Fairfax astutely noted, there is no such thing as a "dead rubber" on Boxing Day.
Test cricket always appears in rude good health amid a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground.
And the democratic temper of Australia is also vividly displayed.
As the long lines of fans snaked their way towards the entry gates, through the bag searches, and body scans they were in good humour. In the adjacent line, I saw the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith, attired in a business suit.
With the pervasive threat of terrorism, such searches are likely to become a bleakly "traditional" ritual of the game over time.
An unmistakably Australian affair
Mr Smith and I exchanged knowing smiles as the queue moved towards the shade. His writ did not run to being ushered past the sombrero-wearing lads, who hopefully had already elected their designated driver to take them home. They had clearly indulged in a hearty liquid breakfast.
If they are ultimately ejected today, he will not have to perform the honours.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat. The ground is bathed in brilliant sunshine under a cloudless azure sky.
The conditions, the crowd and the atmosphere are unmistakably Australian. Long may this fixture, which has become an institution, albeit relatively recently, unite the nation in our languid holiday celebration.
And let us hope it remains a five-day fixture. That tradition is increasingly under threat from avaricious administrators.
Yet every Test of this series, and last year's against Pakistan, required the fifth day to achieve an Australian victory.
Topics: cricket, australia-day, arts-and-entertainment, sydney-2000, melbourne-3000, brisbane-4000
First posted
