Is the FA Cup Losing its Glory?

After an unbelievable week of Cup and League football that saw the top three English teams (based on current standings) experiencing highs, and then get cut to size by unheralded oppositions, the question that comes to mind is:

Is the FA Cup losing its glory?

Or is it just reclaiming it?

A look at the semi-final line ups for the FA Cup this year to be played at the new Wembley Stadium hardly sends the pulse racing.

None of the top Premier League sides still remain in the competition, and only one Premier League team remains in the last four.

When you compare this with the Champions League, where three English teams have already qualified for the quarters, and in all eventuality the fourth will qualify tonight; it begs the question: are the top English teams taking the FA Cup seriously?

If they are, then I find it hard to explain how the team that beats Inter 2-0 at home, loses to Barnsley. And a team that comfortably beats Olympiacos lost tamely to Barnsley.

A close look at the situation, though, will tell us that the sides that lost those respective games were by no means second string or under strength.

It just goes to show the beauty of the FA Cup, which has always been about giant killing and small teams from lower divisions fighting out results against top sides with passion, cohesiveness and grit.

The exploits of Barnsley, Cardiff, and West Brromich Albion is what the beauty of the FA Cup is.

Even Portsmouth, I think, have done their share of giant killing by beating an in-form Man Utd. side at Old Trafford to book their place in the semis.

Although the games may not be as glamourous from now on, they will reflect the soul of the Cup.

What fun it will be to see a team like Barnsley struggling in the lower Division to play at Wembley and maybe even Europe.

Let the dreams go on.