The Champions' League: AC Milan v Liverpool thread

[Anarcho-Socialist]

Who's going to win? What's going to be the score?

I predict 1-0 to AC Milan, though I'm hoping Liverpool win. :)

[ben_packard]

1. Liverpool on penalties is my prediction (3-3) AET

Possibly including a massive Red comeback

Damn time stamps ;)

Congratulations LFC

[Vladimir]

2. Best final ever n/t

[bennywhale]

3. That will never ever ever ever ever happen to my team th bastards. But

well done scousers (or irish or cockneys or whoever supports liverpool these days)

I'm not bitter... alright i am but what a game, i surprised myself by how excited i was getting for someone else's team.

[aneerkoinos]

4. Congrats!

Didn't see the game, how was Hyypiä?

[T_i_B]

6. He was good in the second half

I don't think any of the Liverpool players played that well in the first half but the second half was a different story! But the player who really does deserve a mention is Jamie Carracher! I thought he was great in the second half and extra time.

[D-Notice]

5. Typical Liverpool:

play for a draw & win on penalties!

I was impressed by the way Dudek put off the Milan players - they've got a new Grobbelaar...

At half time Liverpool were lucky to only be 3-0 down, but I don't understand how Milan fell apart like that - the Italians are supposed to be the best at defending. This is the country where catanaccio (spelling?) comes from: 1-0 up & 11 players behind the ball.

You should never throw away a 3-0 lead, esp within 6 mins!

Now the big question: Will UEFA let Liverpool defend the trophy?

[Anarcho-Socialist]

7. It doesn't look like UEFA will

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4581317.stm

They keep saying it's up to the FA and it's unlikely that they're going to take away Everton's place.

It's madness if Liverpool are not permitted to enter the Champions' League next year.

[Mr Creosote]

8. The answer to your question

is "yes of course they will". This is not a unique situation: it happened to Real Madrid a few years ago - and in that case Real Zaragoza who finished fourth were placed in the UEFA Cup BY THE SPANISH FA. The problem is the English FA. You will be aware, I am sure, that the guidance on the FA's website EVEN AFTER THE SEMI FINAL was that in such a situation the fourth placed club would go to the UEFA Cup.
So why the change of plan? Obvious innit - the FA, and their paymasters at Sky - are desperate to get their hands on a lucrative fifth Champions League spot (let's face it the UEFA Cup is so important it's shown on FIVE!). Hence the almost hysterical campaign on Sky.
Gaillard (sp?)the UEFA man was just interviewed by David Foster on Sky News. He said UEFA would be love to have Liverpool defending their trophy. And then asked back "if we didn't change the rules for Real Madrid, why should we for Liverpool?" To which, of course, there is no answer.
So, thanks to Rupert, we have the ludicrous situation where Everton, the champions of fuck-all, are in the "Champions" league. And the Champions of Europe aren't.

Edited for link:
http://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/19071.pdf

which says, inter alia,

"1.03 At the request of the national association concerned, the UEFA Champions
League title-holders may be entered for this competition, as an additional
representative of that association, if they have not qualified for the UEFA
Champions League via the top domestic league championship. If, in such a
case, the title-holders come from an association entitled to enter four teams
for the UEFA Champions League, the fourth-placed club in the top domestic
league championship has to be entered for the UEFA Cup".

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. And Brazil is having to qualify for the 2006 World Cup

and France had to qualify for Euro 2004. I think you're right - it's the FA playing chicken with UEFA, thinking UEFA will have to change their rules to make sure 'the champions can defend their cup'. But UEFA are quite happy to have champions go out in a qualifying stage, like Euro 2004 - and that's what the Premiership is now, once the title has been decided. The FA can get Liverpool into the Champion's League any time they want. Unfortunately it would cause riots in Liverpool if it was at the expense of Everton.