Things you may have missed during the game - I did anyway

[djibril]

Watching it again with a clear head and all its amazing the things you pick up on that you never during the game.  Here's just a few:

1.  Never realised how quick from kick off Milan won the free kick for the 1st goal.  There was actually a long delay before taking it and still the goal was timed at 51s.

2.  The referees position for what should have been the penalty was spot on and I don't know how he missed it.

3.  When they then broke and scored the 2nd, Carra was off balance trying to stop Crespo and he could so easily have through instinct or accidently handled and been sent off and that definitely would have been curtains.

4.  Their 3rd was just absolutely sublime.

5.  We weren't actually as bad in the 1st half as is being made out.

6.  Dudeks save from Shevchenkos free kick right at the start of the 2nd half was a lot better than I had given him credit for.  Many times I've questioned the strength of his wrist for goals he gets his hand to - but that was a great one handed save!

7.  All three of our goals came from great football.  The first started with Riise cutting out a Maldini pass to Gerrard and there was a great build up from there.  The second was sublime football leading to the throw in from which we scored, and the penaly came from a great driving run down the right from Carra, good ball in, great flick from Baros and great run from Gerrard.

8.  At the end of extra time for Dudeks double save, if Shevchenko had left the follow up to Tomasson it was a certain goal because he was coming at an angle which would have given him an open goal.

9.  Dida is a helluva big unit!  Can't believe it escaped my notice at the time because it woulda had me shitting myself even more.  His head near touches the bar.  If you compare him with Jerzy it is quite amazing we won the shoot out so comfortably.

10.  Hamanns penalty was pure genius (especially after his terrible attempt in 2001).  Loved his goose step approach to it.

11.  Djibril threw in a lovely little Aldo shimmy which completely threw Dida and then just slotted it the other side 

12.  There was a lot more pressure on Vladis pen then I realised at the time because Milan had just scored to put the pressure on at 2-2 and we had missed our last one.  Amazing composure from Vladi.

(13.  Harry Kewell came flying from the halfway line in celebration and threw himself on top of Dudek despite not having been able to walk an hour earlier)

Its amazing how little by little it sinks in.  The smallest things give you a little more realisation of what we have achieved.  I was logging onto my e-mail at work yesterday (eurocups4@hotmail.com) and I got a massive shiver down my spine as I realised I had to change it.  And I put on the Paper Talk section of Teletext this morning and under the heading Liverpool, the rumour started off "The European champions are preparing........"

 

[taters]

GERRARDS header 

[mr_mad_master]

baros touch to gerrard to get the penalty was somthing i didnt notice,was quite clever

[Mr T]

Good post, although i don't like the dig at Harry Kewell, they guy snapped something in his body.

But anyway the rest was all good.

The more you watch that stop by Dudek, the more you realise it was infact a wonder save. That ball must of been doing 70 mph at least and he saved it one handed. Unbelievable save.

The referee was poor throughout, giving every 50-50 to them. He should of sent off the bearded one.

[whkoh]

(13.  Harry Kewell came flying from the halfway line in celebration and threw himself on top of Dudek despite not having been able to walk an hour earlier)

Apparently it healed quickly enough or adrenaline took care of it

[whkoh]

The referee was poor throughout, giving every 50-50 to them. He should of sent off the bearded one.

I don't know, the penalty was pretty inconclusive from the replays.

[HIRA]

Gerrard's header was so calculated, accurate and determined. I could imagine him telling himself just before that moment that he was going to get the header right no matter what.

Baros played a crucial role in the second and third goals. For setting up Gerrard for the penalty, and then moving out of the way for Smicer's shot. He had left Dida unsighted for a crucial moment, which resulted in Dida not being able to hold on to the shot.

Xabi's was actually a very good penalty, but Dida made an equally good save.

I didn't think Kewell was as bad as made out to be, some things have been blown out of proportion. Everyone was bad in the first 20-30 minutes, it is just that Kewell's performance was highlighted more because he was the surprise inclusion. One good thing he did was holding it up on the right wing and earning a throw-in. I believe Garcia was as bad as him. But Garcia could stay on the pitch to make a few crucial interventions. Also, nobody had the courage to criticise him after his goals to bring us to the final.

[Simon C]

The Cup nearly being presented to Carra instead of Stevie as I was screaming down the phone at a Manc at the time.

[Guz-kop]

Apparently it healed quickly enough or adrenaline took care of it

Well he's already had surgery on it so I'd suggest the latter

To be honest, I dont think that handball shout before their 2nd goal was much of a penalty. Maldini (or Nesta?) was virtually lying on the ground for ages but Garcia just seemed to knock it against his elbow. I dunno. Certainly, if it was given against us I wouldn't have been happy. Worst thing about that 2nd goal though, as good as a move it was, was how Kaka just ran straight past both Gerrard and Alonso. We really didnt show up for the first half.

[Rox]

13.  Harry Kewell came flying from the halfway line in celebration and threw himself on top of Dudek despite not having been able to walk an hour earlier

Good post, although i don't like the dig at Harry Kewell, they guy snapped something in his body.

Perhaps Rafa is the Messiah - what else can explain being able to make a lame man run?

Another bad mark against Sicknote.

[Rox]

I didn't think Kewell was as bad as made out to be, some things have been blown out of proportion. Everyone was bad in the first 20-30 minutes, it is just that Kewell's performance was highlighted more because he was the surprise inclusion. One good thing he did was holding it up on the right wing and earning a throw-in.

Kewell earned us a thrown in!  That MUST have been the turning point in the game! 

QUICK - offer him a new contract...

[Mr T]

Kewell earned us a thrown in!  That MUST have been the turning point in the game! 

QUICK - offer him a new contract...

No need for that. How anyone can believe that someone would willingly miss out on the Champions League Final is beyond me.

[Terry B]

5.  We weren't actually as bad in the 1st half as is being made out

Agree with this. Obviously because of the score line at HT, we think we were completely outplayed, but after watching the game a few times again, it was pretty even up untill they scored the second goal. We took the game to Milan for the first 30 odd minutes, and had some decent chances. I do think we had an air of desperation at times, though, especially Traore and Riise, who kept hitting hopeful long balls, when they needed to just slow the game and keep possesion.

The quality of their third goal, though, was like a dagger to the heart. It was pure class, and the finish was of the highest quality. I thought they would go on to get 2 or 3 more

and the move for our third goal was superb. Great driving run from Carra, great movemnet form Stevie, and a lovely little pass inside from Milan. If Stevie had just decided to slam it into the corner, instead of going down, it would have been the goal of the match.

Many say we are a defensive team, but when we have to, we can compete with the very best. That 10 minutes of football was some of the best agressive, attacking football i've seen.

[applehead2k1]

Watching it again with a clear head and all its amazing the things you pick up on that you never during the game.  Here's just a few:

5.  We weren't actually as bad in the 1st half as is being made out.

Said that to my Dad at half time - Milan got it right one team came to play the otehr to defend - they just got the teams round the wrong way

And another one for your list - had Xabi not scored the rebound it should have been a retake - Nesta was a good 2 yards inside the box before Xabi touched teh ball

[carven]

Did you know that we won the cup in the end?

[Red in Korea]

Good observations Djibril. I've just watched the game again (3rd time) and picked up several of the same points. In particular I noticed:

1) Jerzy's save from the free-kick was an outstanding save at a crucial time of the match. Compare Dida's attempt at saving Smicer's shot with Jerzy's saves and you'll see why we got to 3-3. (By the way, Jerzy fumbled the ball twice in simple situations. i think the reason was he was so on edge for the final that he coldn't hold on to anything, but the same thing brought out the wonder saves).

2) All our penalites were well taken. Even Riise's was accurate. Your point about Dida's size is well made. He saved Xabi's as well.

3) Gerrard's head went down after the second goal and he was suckered into losing possession for the third goal. Thank God his head went up again in the second half!

4) Shevchenko's disallowed goal wasn't offiside. We got the luck there.

5) It was a handball directly before their 2nd goal. Gatusso could easily have got a red for the foul leading to our penalty (don't think he should have, but I've seen them given), so they got some luck too.

6) Didi was exceptional when he came on. Not a foot wrong. Broke their attacks up perfectly, but also passed the ball well. Deserves a lot of credit.

7) Smicer played really well too. Was this the first time he has played 90 minutes or more in a competitive match for a year?

[Red in Korea]

Said that to my Dad at half time - Milan got it right one team came to play the otehr to defend - they just got the teams round the wrong way

And another one for your list - had Xabi not scored the rebound it should have been a retake - Nesta was a good 2 yards inside the box before Xabi touched teh ball

And how far off the line was Jerzy for his penalty saves?

[Andy J]

Here is a fantastic one.

At the presentation on the podium, Josemi has a spanish flag and is proceding to wave  it around. Nunez appears to have a little word with him and remind him of the country of the club he plays for and not to risk upsetting the fans by waving the flag around. Josemi then ties it around his waist.

[benji]

dudek's little nod of the head after his double save. "oh yes, i'm good."

[TuteeHead]

Smicer played well

i was suprised when kewell was injured he bought him on, instead of hamaan, cos you cud see our  midfield just wasn't coping. gerrard was chasin the game, and alsono can't tackle. Hamaan came on and steadied things, jus passed it simple too, let the others do their thing.

[Buck Pete]

Watching it again last night and Dudeks free kick save was a defining moment in my eyes.

A superb strong wristed save that would have alot of keepers beaten.  Had it gone in we would have been 4 down and doomed.

Stevie G's comment was awsome after the game on the pitch "Jerzy has come in for alot of stick after the Man Utd goals, im made up for the fella".

[TuteeHead]

When ALONSO misses his penalty........a few of the Milan raises their hands! And then straight away drop em again when he scores the rebound!

[TuteeHead]

When Smicer scores he runs away going mental, then suddenly jus stops and looks back just to check. Also only Baros went to congratulate him !

More proof why Carragher would make a great captain - he was the only one complain to the refereee that the Milan geeza should be sent off. The rest were just celebrating.

[pinky]

Benitez assured his players hadn't been practicing penalties, but Otxotorena had been studied the way the Milan players used to shoot them and informed Dudek before the first penalty.

[**** The Pain Away.]

Pirlo's penalty should have been retaken, as Jerzy was at least a yard of his line.

[Red in Korea]

Vladi kissing his badge after his penalty despite knowing he is on the way out.

[Gaz123456]

Vladi kissing his badge after his penalty despite knowing he is on the way out.

I noticed that too - the club still means a lot to him

[EdmondFruitini]

Watch Vlad's scorcher again from the camera behind the goal. Alonso lays the ball off to Hamann whilst a Milan player (Crespo?) is only feet away from an easy interception doing up his shoelace. What a twazzock!

[sirjames]

i noticed that risse pen was prob the best pen of the lot i think it was actually going post and in but some how that giant stopped it, also i dont think kewell played that bad, it was just that we had changed to accomadate him and it didnt work.