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The UEFA Champions League Final Forfar Athletic versus AC Milan Wednesday 28th May 2014 Olimpico, Rome (75,330)
This was, quite incredibly, our 4th Champions League Final, and although our opponents were a team of some repute, I think it's fair to say that we weren't exactly a team of little repute ourselves. Today, we strolled onto the park with mighty AC Milan as equals, and no-one batted an eyelid.
Last season, against Kiev, we had felt that was a match we could and indeed should, win. In fact if we hadn't it would be bitter dissapointment. This time, against an Italian side, in Italy, we perhaps didn't expect quite so much. But we stull hoped for a lot. To retain the Champions League would be a fantastic achievement, and it would also give us an amazing grand slam.
Eight minutes into the match, as it seemed to be theme this year to make things as hard as possible for ourselves in Europe, Milan were ahead. Just before the hour mark though, Craig Cowie sent levelled, and this was becoming a very exciting and nerve wracking game. Three minutes from the end of the half, Paul O'Neil had the chance to send us ahead from the penalty spot. But that would have been too easy, and so O'Neill hit the ball past the post.
The second half, although not without drama, tension and excitement, was without goals, and so the match headed into the extra time period. With 99 minutes on the clock, Paul O'Neill sent a superb pass down the left to Steven Murray, who jinked into the area, before hitting a pass across the six yard box which Scott Craig turned into the net, and w ehad the lead.
We only had to hold out for six more minutes, and we would win of course, thanks to the silver goal rule. Right from the kick off though, Milan lost possession, Declan Lawless played Scott Craig into space, and he repaid Murray by sending him through, and a top quality finish from the fans favourite, and the match was over. It had been a quite up and down, round about and at times totally frustrating route to retaining our title as Champions of Europe. And as we paraded the glittering prize for the second time, the stadium was alive with the song of 'Who the feck are the Lisbon Lion? They're dead, we're no!'
04-22-2004, 11:50 AM
Bringing Up Baby - A Different Approach to The Lisbon Lions Challenge. Post #153
The opening groups for the 2014 World Cup had thrown up some interesting matches. Of course, Scotland had what was seemingly an easy group with Jamaica, Trinidad and Mexico in Group G. Group B had thrown together Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and poor Guinea were right in the middle of the potential blood bath.
Wales had reached the Finals, and they would be in Group C, along with Finland, Romania and Colombia, but despite a great opening 3-0 over the Colombians, defeats to Romania and Finland saw the Welsh crash out. England though, formerly managed of course by myself, came through Group E, containing Turkey, Chile and Cameroon, winning all three games, not exactly with ease, but still winning them. Group F, which contained current World Champions Honduras, also boasted Brazil and Argentina, as well as the unlucky Serbia & Montenegro. It was Brazil and Honduras who made it to the 2nd round from here.
As for Scotland, there had already been a bit of a dissapointment for me, as a cock up with the registrations, my assistant sending in the wrong list, meant I only had eleven Forfar players in the squad of 22. Nevertheless we easily dispossed of our group opponents, 1-0 v Trinidad, 2-0 v Jamaica and 3-0 v Norway, to book a 2nd round meeting with Italy, whom we had destroyed in the Confederations Cup.
The highlights of the Second round apart from ourselves were England's 1-0 win over Honduras to end the Central American nations reign as World Champions, and Turkey sending the Brazilians home with a fine 3-0 win. Norway, Iran, Germany, Finland and Bulgaria all joined those two sides in the last eight.
Against Italy, we were simply outstanding. A Scott Craig Hatrick, added to by Cowie and Murray and once again we had ripped the pish out of the Italians, and they really must hate us by now. Such was Italian frustration that Alessandro Nesta, who at 38 should really know better, was red carded for a rather childish shove on Scott Craig. With yet another big name out of the tournament, we now faced Turkey in the last eight.
In the other three matches, Norway put out Germany on a penalty shoot out, Finland ended Iran's run with a 2-1 win, and England overcame Bulgaria 1-0. It would be a strange Semi Final line up, with none of the 'big' countries having made it. Turkey proved to be a deal tougher than the Italians, and althought the only non-Forfar player in the side, Darren Fletcher, sent us ahead on 25, the Turks levelled just on half time. It was a great match that could have gone either way, but on 68 minutes Craig Cowie sent us through to a Semi Final meeting with Norway.
The Norwegians, having knocked out Germany, were of course full of confidence, and their negative, stuffy football made it difficult for us to break them down. A 7th minute strike from Scott Craig was all that seperated the sides, but it was enough, and we were through to the Final for the second successive time.
Four years ago, the whole of Scotland had been left in tears after a stunning loss to Honduras in the Final. A 101st minute goal from Luke Moore saw England overcome Finland on the silver goal, setting up the Final that everyone in Scotland had dreamed of. This time, there had better be no silly slip ups.
05-07-2004, 04:58 PM
Bringing Up Baby - A Different Approach to The Lisbon Lions Challenge. Post #159
The 2014 FIFA World Cup Final Scotland versus England Sunday 6th July 2104 Nou Camp, Barcelona, Spain (61,610)
It was probably the most anticipated, and overly hyped match of all time. The two oldest footballing nations in the World, were finally coming head to head in the biggest match of them all, and for whoever lost today, there would be no hiding place. Ever.
England, who were still under caretaker Manager Ron Sharp who had been 'Caretaker for the two years since Buchanan had left them, on the eve of Final, sneakily approached Buchanan to come back as manager, a clear attempt to unsettle the Scots team. The offer was, of course, refused.
Line Ups:
England(4-4-2): Adam Collin (Monaco) (29); Wes Brown (Manchester United) (34), Jonathan Woodgate (Newcastle) (34), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United (35), Ashley Cole (Arsenal) (33); James Milner (Leeds) (28), Frank Lampard (Chelsea) (36), Kieron Dyer (Manchester United) (35), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern) (33); Luke Moore (Aston Villa) (28), Wayne Rooney (Everton) (28) Subs: Craig Holloway (GK) (Tottenham) (29), Paul Young (Arsenal) (21), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool (34), Jamie Hart (Manchester United) (24), Jimmy Holmes (Shelbourne( (31)
Scotland (4-3-3): David Shearer (Forfar) (20); Scott McKeown (Forfar) (21), Declan Lawless (Forfar) (20), David Barker (Forfar) (21), Paul O'Neill (Forfar) (24); Kevin McMillan (Forfar) (22), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United) (30), Scott Adams (Forfar) (27); Steven Murray (Forfar) (26), Craig Cowie (Forfar) (17), Scott Craig (Forfar) (20) Subs: Jimmy Ross (Forfar) (22), Scott Brown (Hibs) (29), Lee Wilkie (Dundee) (34), Mark Wilson (Celtic) (30), Kenny Miller (Wolves) (34), Steven Caldwell (No Club) (34), Scott Gibson (Hertha BSC) (23)
It was Englands Pensioners, a side who were on their last legs and would surely never play together again, against a Scotland side that still had another 2 or even 3 World Cups together on the whole. Yet it was the English who go off to the better start, and Ashley Cole sent them ahead after just 18 minutes.
Half time came and went, and England were still ahead, but the young Scots had been battling well, and it seemed only a matter of time before the scored, and it was. On 56 minutes Kevin McMillan became the Scotland hero as he levelled the match, and the Scots looked hungrier now to win it. Yet in the England goal, Adam Collin was playing a blinder, and he alone stopped the Scots winning the game in normal time with some impossible saves.
Extra time came and went, and the biggest match the World had ever seen would now come down to a penalty shoot out. And who could stand to bear such tension.....
05-09-2004, 04:22 PM
Bringing Up Baby - A Different Approach to The Lisbon Lions Challenge. Post #160
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