It has been dubbed the richest game in world soccer. That is not a bad nickname for a match between two clubs that are not even in the top league of the land, let alone one of the elite competitions in European football. But the EFL Championship Play-Off final is unlike any other game.
The pressure on the players is intense, as a season's worth of blood, sweat and tears go into 90 minutes (plus extra time and penalties, if needed) of football. Fans from around the world tune in to watch two second tier clubs battle it out – and the Vegas sportsbooks take unprecedented interest. But why does this fixture create so much excitement and drama?
Money, Money, Money
Although most fans will tell you that it is all about achieving promotion to the Premier League, there is no doubt that there are officials at every club involved that see only pound signs when they make it to the final of the play offs. The EPL is the wealthiest league in the world – and potential riches are just 90 minutes away.There is the amount of money that the clubs can earn just from being in the top tier of English soccer. That includes a share of the broadcasting billions, as well as increased prize money for positions. Add to that the possibility of European money and it is fair to say that a club's accountants regard a potential play-off victory as a windfall.
Clubs also receive hefty parachute payments for a few years after even if they get relegated back down to the Championship. That is why so many of the clubs seem to yo-yo between the top two tiers these days. Those payments put the relegated clubs at a distinct advantage before a ball is kicked.
Knock Out Football
The league system is a very fair way to determine the best team in the division. Everyone plays each other a set number of times, home and away, and the winner is the one that did so well over the course of a season that they win the most points. But, as exciting as that is, it doesn't really compare with the thrill of knock out football.There is a reason why the FA Cup used to be so universally loved. The idea that a non-league side could upset the odds and beat a Premier League club provides every game with so much more drama. It is a shame that the FA Cup has been devalued in recent years, but the principle remains the same.
After an exhausting season – and it is a very long season in the Championship – two sets of players have to drag their weary bodies around the big Wembley pitch one last time. Everything is one the line. The winners can dream of playing against some of the biggest clubs and players in the world. Whereas, the losers have to somehow raise themselves to go through another season in the Championship.
Hopes and Dreams
There is sometimes criticism of Premier League fans for the lack of atmosphere in the grounds during the season. But there is none of that when it comes to the supporters at Wembley for a play-off final. The nerves alone could run the country's power lines for decades as the big game approaches.The tense atmosphere of the final itself is full of surges and explosions of noise as the two teams battle it out for a place in the Premier League. The raw emotion shown by the fans cannot be replicated anywhere else, as dreams of making it to the top tier either flourish or wither.
The team that goes through is usually the one whose players can control that emotion best. It will be one of Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town this year – and the game might well even overshadow the Champions League final being played the day before.
