As old purple conk Ferguson said after Manchester Uniteds unlikely 1999 Champions League victory "Bloody Football Eh?" God knows what he would have said if they'd done what Liverpool achieved in this game. At half time I told my nine year old son he might as well go to bed as this game was all over. They might as well give Milan the trophy I said, feverishly praying that this wasn't going to end up a rout.
I think that in the midst of all the euphoria over this unlikely triumph it's been forgotten just how lamentable Liverpool were in the first half. As soon as I saw the Liverpool starting eleven I was apprehensive. No holding midfield player, either Hamann or Biscan would have done. The clearly unfit and under motivated Kewell wallowing on the wing and a contender for the worst player to ever feature in a Champions league Final Djimi Traore. To be honest I fancied Tim Henman to win Wimbledon more and that's about as likely as "Celebrity Love Island" winning a Bafta. Kaka, a player who unfortunately for Liverpool didn't live up to his unfortunate name, was allowed to run riot in that first half, given all the time and space he needed to thread a number of exquisite passes through to Milan's deadly strikers who would have punished Liverpool further if it wasn't for some tight offside calls and a goal line clearance.
To his eternal credit Benitez realised his error and changed things at half time (though of course it could be argued at 3-0 down he didn't have much choice) and something extraordinary happened. Spurred on by the mercurial Gerrard, a player who had seemed an isolated, frustrated and impotent figure before half time, Liverpool clawed their way back into the game and proved conclusively that unquenchable desire and an absolute refusal to admit defeat will usually compensate if you are up against superior technique and talent. Here we had in a few glorious minutes, an encapsulation of why sport is so important in the way it inspires, entertains and allows us to live through moments that are usually beyond our means.
Sure they were lucky, Milan were far superior in almost every department, but they didn't have that unquantifiable thing that makes teams fight when all appears lost, and they didn't have players like Gerrard and Carragher.You don't have to be a Liverpool supporter to enjoy this DVD, though it's probably even more enjoyable if you are. I'm not a Liverpool supporter, just a fan of football, but I did want them to win on May 25th and was absolutely ecstatic when Dudek stuck up a solid palm and blocked Shevchenko, s penalty. This is one of those precious sporting moments that can be enjoyed slavishly again and again along with England 5 Germany 1, Manchester Uniteds last minute mugging of Bayern Munich, Borg vs. McEnroe and the England Cricket teams recent run of Test Victories. Moment's only real life sport can offer. Inspirational .