Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Liverpool wins the CL!
Unbelievable. I was this close to turning off the TV at halftime, and I'm sure glad I didn't. I think Man U's victory over Bayern in '99 was more traumatic because of the bang-bang nature of the Sheringham and Solskjaer goals at the end of full time, but this was probably the more remarkable of the two Finals, overall.
I'll try to avoid hyperbole, and assume that most reports will express how different the two halves were, as well as the match's rollercoaster qualities. With that in mind, my quickly-jotted-down thoughts:
- Kewell's selection burned 'Pool in the first half. This was less because of the Australian's play or quick substitution due to injury, and more because of the sort of tactical decisions that flowed from his inclusion.
- For one, I didn't like the idea of leaving Baros up top alone against Stam and Nesta. The Czech did an admirable job trying to get some knock ons, but it's expecting too much of a single striker against those two mountains. Yes, 'Pool has been doing this throughout the CL, but it doesn't make sense to sacrifice a forward and still not beef up your defense. They needed Hamann or Biscan to slow down Kaka, who was given license to stroll through the center of the pitch in the first 45. Worse still, leaving the ball winning duties to Gerrard and Alonso only neutralized their creative play, and kept Liverpool on their back feet.
- Credit to Benitez who went to a back three at the break by throwing on Hamann for Finnan. Rafa could have just as easily kept the status quo in order to avoid embarrassment, which is precisely where the match seemed headed. I don't think anybody would have criticized him for it, either.
- Milan's counterattack looked potentially lethal throughout the game. They had something like 6 or 7 extremely dangerous chances in the first half that were either called back for offsides or barely defused by a dissheveled Liverpool back four. When the Rossoneri could get a break in the second half, which was far less often, they looked to be on the brink of pulling this one out.
- In the first half, Hyypia's organization was horrible. Finnan and Traore looked like scared rabbits running around in circles. Carragher was sluggish, but as far as I could tell not the weak link. To make up for it, he pushed himself to the limit in the second, and perhaps even beyond that.
- This may seem trite, but I thought the key point in the match was the way Gerrard reacted after his goal. He could have just went back to the center circle and calmly urged his mates to remain focused and plug on. Instead, he got physically riled up, which appeared to reignite everyone in Red -- from supporters to players -- when the game still looked far out of reach.
- Generally speaking, Stevie played his heart out, as usual. His defensive work on the right side during the game's last 50 minutes kept Liverpool in the game. Man of the match. He's going nowhere this summer.
- Milan has a gripe about Smicer's goal, which came in the run of play following an obvious offside that referee Mejuto González discounted. From the match commentary I've seen, I'm surprised more people aren't raising this issue.
- Dudek was shaky throughout the game, but his Grobbelaar-esque performance in the shootout and his Herculean efforts to deny Shevchenko in extra time will put him in Anfield's Hall of Fame.
- Ironically, all of those players on the pitch for Liverpool who are leaving this offseason had exceptional games: Smicer, Hamann, and Dudek. Baros less so. Kewell? Eh, he doesn't count.
- Both sides were winded in extra time, but the Reds clearly looked the more desperate of the two. PKs couldn't come quick enough.
- As for Milan, Shevchenko's PK miss tips his performance from mediocre to poor. Kaka was awesome in the first half, nowhere to be seen in the second. Crespo looked consistently dangerous, and his second goal was pure class. Stam and Maldini were solid throughout. For better or worse, nobody else in white stood out to me.
- I think Ancelotti is gone. There already was griping going on before this game about his job performance. Milan's collapse in Serie A and the CL (remember they were lucky to get by PSV) will see him out the door.
- Liverpool has to be let into the CL next year. It would be criminal to keep them out.
- This game should have made every neutral smile. How could you not pull for the Merseysiders?
