Damp Squib..

The clock ticked 12 as I jumped into my comfy chair with a glass of juice and some chips by my side,fully equipped for the occasion.2007 Champions League Finale.AC Milan v Liverpool.Some people said two of the luckiest teams this season made it,some said they just were good enough.After all,these two had knocked out giants like Manchester United,Barcelona,Chelsea etc.I was hoping to witness a recap of the Istanbul episode 2 years ago.However,both teams had other ideas.





Liverpool kicked off proceedings in a spirited fashion,something which I never thought could happen.Milan had landed in Athens with a negative frame of mind,or so it seemed form their lacklustre display of football.Probably,the ghosts of Istanbul were still haunting them.Liverpool kept pushing forward,but they couldn’t wriggle out much.They lacked a finisher,somebody with a killer touch ( of the likes of Eto,Kaka and His Highness,Lord of the 6 yard box - Ruud Van Nistelrooy ).Lets face it,Dirk Kuyt’s skill quotient is something close to zilch and all that he could do throughout the night was to try and push around Alessandro Nesta,soemthing which he miserably failed at.On the other hand,Milan failed to create the magic that saw them lay to rest Manchester United’s hopes a few days ago.Javier Mascherano carried on from where he left against Chelsea and tied down,to a certain extent,Milan’s midfield.As the match moved closer to its halfway stage,tempers started rising.Gattuso started throwing himself all over the pitch as he usually does,and got booked as well.By the way,Gattuso is apt to be a political goon and his mere presence on the pitch is to intimidate,if not inflinct injury on the opposition.Seldom is he part of his Milan’s attacking plans,while he is the cornerstone of any attack on the opponent.As the referee was about to call the half,a foolish Xabi Alonso committed a reckless foul on Kaka.A goal ensued from an Inzaghi deflection of a Pirlo freekick and the former went about shamelessly claiming credit for the goal.Later on,he even acknowledged that “It was all part of a long plan”.



The second half was boring to say the least,Milan’s dogged defence held on,unperturbed by the English club.Steven Gerrard’s stellar performance was inspiring,yet if failed to hit the nail on the forehead.Kaka’s sublime skill rose to the fore yet again as he deftly pushed the ball through the hapless Liverpool defence,only for Inzaghi to wipe out those ghastly memories and claim revenge,the sweetest way possible.It was all over,Kuyt got a consolation goal,but that was it.It wasnt a repeat of Istanbul,Milan were not goin to let it happen.Milan were plagued by problems galore off the field at the start of the season.To put all that behind and do this is something that deserves a standing ovation.There was one man who carried Milan on his shoulders,who trampled over the rest of Europe in the most elegant and impeccable fashion,and he goes by the name of Kaka.For me,he’s the player of the season and not Cristiano Ronaldo.This coming from an ardent Manchester United fan.



Milan have won 7 Champions League titles now,this one they will cherish because it was all about vengeance the moment they set foot in Athens.On the whole,football was the loser.Gone are the days of flamboyant and attacking football.Italy is the World champion,Greece is the European champion..All this only portrays the denigration of a glorious sport.Football was entertaining when Maradona played or even today,when Barcelona play.However,The Italian style of soccer,which undoubtedly sucks,not only seems to be establishing its imprint on the sport but also propating it among other nations.Kudos to Kaka and The Milan Grand-dads ( Maldini etc,I hear his son has entered the sport as well..lol ) for pulling it off against all odds.However,let us not be put through the pain of witnessing another Italian team doing it next year.Entertaining soccer is not dead,it is alive in the form of Barca,Man Utd,Arsenal ( it does ache to say this,but yes)..Come the new season,soccer will be invigorated,it will be a showcase of resourceful talent,it will be a feast to the eyes, it has to be rejuvenated by these teams,if not for me,atleast for the glory of the sport..