Champions League Final Wrap Up Extravaganza
So, Vein of Form was well off in its prediction last night. Probably one of the more passion-fueled declarations that Liverpool would in fact win European Cup #6. We were wrong. But not as wrong as Rafa Benitez - former genius of all things football managing - and not as wrong as the referee that allowed an illegal goal and was wildly inconsistent with his calls.
First, to the Liverpool lineup. It was a bit odd to not have a threat such as Peter Crouch on the pitch from the very beginning. The decision to leave him on the bench until close to 10 minutes remaining in the entire match was even more perplexing. Crouch never had a chance to get in the flow of such a massive occassion and it is unfortunate that we will never know what kind of havoc he could have brought to the AC Milan defense. Some might wonder who Rafa should have sacrificed in the starting lineup for Crouch. Well, from the first whistle it was evident Bolo Zenden had no business out there. He was slow to react, his passes were terrible and he could not run down the long balls on the wing. Liverpool dominated large portions of the match. Especially during the first half when Zenden became the apparent weak link in the chain that was holding Liverpool back from putting in a goal.
To be fair, captain Steven Gerrard never looked close to his best, Xabi Alonso went completely missing and gave up the stupid foul that led to the opening goal, and John Arne Riise was in and out of the action. It is a shame that Jermaine Pennant, who had an outstanding match, never had a target such as Crouch to finish off those crosses. Pennant's work ethic deserves to be applauded. Had Liverpool won the match he could have been awarded Man of the Match easily. Other Reds players that deserve credit are Jamie Carragher and another monstrous effort. Time after time he stopped the Milan attack dead in its tracks. Javier Mascherano was relentless. When Rafa took him off it was for tactical reasons, but the Argentine had run himself into the ground. He looks to have locked up a starting role next season and if this match was any indication it will be Xabi Alonso who will be making way.
As for Milan, what can I say? They scored the most goals and in football that is all that matters. Andrea Pirlo is one of the best dead ball strikers in the world and when the opportunity was presented at the end of the first half, he took the free kick well. Pippo Inzahgi played himself into a position to hit the ball into the back of the net with his arm. Without question, this goal should have been called back. However, the ref did not make the appropriate decision and Inzaghi's goal was allowed to stand. Throughout the match Milan benefited from questionable calls where I thought when the whistle was blown it was surely going to be in Liverpool's favor.
Carlo Ancellotti gave Paolo Maldini the start as predicted here on VoF. However, Maldini wasn't the star of the Milan defense. That was clearly Alessandro Nesta. Nesta foiled several Liverpool attacks and prevented goals on a few occassions by stopping Gerrard when he was making those patented drives into the box. Goalkeeper Dida had a solid match - he didn't have too much to do, but when called into action he was on point. It should be noted that Dirk Kuyt's goal in the 89th was tricky the way it bounced off a couple heads. But Dida was grossly out of position and again I cannot help but wonder why Crouch was not used early on to exploit the Milan 'keeper's weaknesses.
Inzahgi lived up to his "toe the line" reputation when he sealed the deal with his second on the night. Given Kuyt's late effort it proved to be a true match winner and Ancellotti was made to look very smart by holding back the worst striker to ever feature in a Champions League final - Alberto Gilardino - until the final minutes. We will never know if Liverpool could have equalized in the added time as the ref blew the whistle with at least 25 seconds remaining. Rafa pointed this out after the match and to Michel Platini when accepting his runner's up medal. Platini had to be quite pleased with the outcome, no?
The match was not great. At the best of moment it was just very good. Most of the time it was interesting and always tense. Today ended what was overall another tremendous competition. Early qualifying stages are not that far away for next year's Champions League. As it stands, Italy holds the World Cup and the Champions league titles - the two most prestigious trophies in all of sports. Not bad for a country that will have trouble convincing everyone on the outside that what goes on within isn't totally corrupt.
First, to the Liverpool lineup. It was a bit odd to not have a threat such as Peter Crouch on the pitch from the very beginning. The decision to leave him on the bench until close to 10 minutes remaining in the entire match was even more perplexing. Crouch never had a chance to get in the flow of such a massive occassion and it is unfortunate that we will never know what kind of havoc he could have brought to the AC Milan defense. Some might wonder who Rafa should have sacrificed in the starting lineup for Crouch. Well, from the first whistle it was evident Bolo Zenden had no business out there. He was slow to react, his passes were terrible and he could not run down the long balls on the wing. Liverpool dominated large portions of the match. Especially during the first half when Zenden became the apparent weak link in the chain that was holding Liverpool back from putting in a goal.
To be fair, captain Steven Gerrard never looked close to his best, Xabi Alonso went completely missing and gave up the stupid foul that led to the opening goal, and John Arne Riise was in and out of the action. It is a shame that Jermaine Pennant, who had an outstanding match, never had a target such as Crouch to finish off those crosses. Pennant's work ethic deserves to be applauded. Had Liverpool won the match he could have been awarded Man of the Match easily. Other Reds players that deserve credit are Jamie Carragher and another monstrous effort. Time after time he stopped the Milan attack dead in its tracks. Javier Mascherano was relentless. When Rafa took him off it was for tactical reasons, but the Argentine had run himself into the ground. He looks to have locked up a starting role next season and if this match was any indication it will be Xabi Alonso who will be making way.
As for Milan, what can I say? They scored the most goals and in football that is all that matters. Andrea Pirlo is one of the best dead ball strikers in the world and when the opportunity was presented at the end of the first half, he took the free kick well. Pippo Inzahgi played himself into a position to hit the ball into the back of the net with his arm. Without question, this goal should have been called back. However, the ref did not make the appropriate decision and Inzaghi's goal was allowed to stand. Throughout the match Milan benefited from questionable calls where I thought when the whistle was blown it was surely going to be in Liverpool's favor.
Carlo Ancellotti gave Paolo Maldini the start as predicted here on VoF. However, Maldini wasn't the star of the Milan defense. That was clearly Alessandro Nesta. Nesta foiled several Liverpool attacks and prevented goals on a few occassions by stopping Gerrard when he was making those patented drives into the box. Goalkeeper Dida had a solid match - he didn't have too much to do, but when called into action he was on point. It should be noted that Dirk Kuyt's goal in the 89th was tricky the way it bounced off a couple heads. But Dida was grossly out of position and again I cannot help but wonder why Crouch was not used early on to exploit the Milan 'keeper's weaknesses.
Inzahgi lived up to his "toe the line" reputation when he sealed the deal with his second on the night. Given Kuyt's late effort it proved to be a true match winner and Ancellotti was made to look very smart by holding back the worst striker to ever feature in a Champions League final - Alberto Gilardino - until the final minutes. We will never know if Liverpool could have equalized in the added time as the ref blew the whistle with at least 25 seconds remaining. Rafa pointed this out after the match and to Michel Platini when accepting his runner's up medal. Platini had to be quite pleased with the outcome, no?
The match was not great. At the best of moment it was just very good. Most of the time it was interesting and always tense. Today ended what was overall another tremendous competition. Early qualifying stages are not that far away for next year's Champions League. As it stands, Italy holds the World Cup and the Champions league titles - the two most prestigious trophies in all of sports. Not bad for a country that will have trouble convincing everyone on the outside that what goes on within isn't totally corrupt.
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