UEFA Champions League Final: Running Commentary
The time has finally come. Manchester United faces Chelsea in the Champions League final. Man U will be looking for a second Champions League title under Alex Ferguson while Chelsea is looking for its first Champions League trophy.
What will be the key today? Will Cristiano Ronaldo find room to work his magic? Will Didier Drogba get chances against Manchester United's stingy defense? What role player will step up and be a star today?
My prediction? Manchester United 2, Chelsea 1.
Feel free to join the pre-game discussion here, and when the match begins, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play by play in the comments section below. I know some people won't be able to sneak away from work to see the match, and don't have internet feeds to watch on, so let's make this a place those unfortunate folks can come to read about the action.
I will be in New York City today, watching the match at the Galway Hooker. Adam Spangler (This is American Soccer) and Shawn Francis (The Offside Rules) will be joining me as we discuss our plans to take over the online soccer universe (kidding).
Enjoy the match.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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Jesus, I can't wait. Anyone know if there is any radio programs available that covers the buildup?
Posted by: 4now | May 21, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Hmmmmm, I'm sure there are some podcasts. Closest thing I know to radio coverage over the actual radio down here is whenever Jim Rome starts complaining about it.
Quick props to ESPN for some decent hype, and they have some good pre-match vids to whet the appetite. Curious how Seedorf is going to do in the booth, but I got a chuckle out of Derrik Rae asking him how to knock out ManU, since Milan did it a couple of times.
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Please do take over the internet.
Posted by: mikeK | May 21, 2008 at 01:02 PM
I keep watching the clock and it is getting slower and slower.... Come on, give me my Futbol!!!!
Posted by: Josh | May 21, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Example of how the ESPN Monster strangely hates and loves soccer at the same time:
I'm going to a party, in the middle of a day, at a friend's house to watch this game where I will be around plenty of casual soccer fans who followed Champions League matches all year. I'm talking big screen, barbecue, the works, for a soccer game in the middle of a week day... Granted all of us are under the age of 25 with varying degrees of employment but still.
And yet, if we get an MLS highlight on Sportscenter other than a Beckham free kick every soccer fan in the US would die of shock.
Go Liverpool! Oh, wait....
Man U 0-0 Chelsea, followed by a scoreless extra time, and followed by a literally endless round of penalty kicks.
Posted by: Ted | May 21, 2008 at 01:18 PM
That is a serious summit of American Soccer minds right there.
Michael Ballack with a double, Ronaldo and Tevez with a goal apiece, Chelsea wins it in pk's with ze German sealing it cooly slotted to the right.
Posted by: dallen | May 21, 2008 at 01:22 PM
I always follow it on BBC text:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7410307.stm
Posted by: KingSnake | May 21, 2008 at 01:22 PM
2-1 Chelsea with Chelsea going up 1-0 on a goal from Drogba, then United tie the game on a Ronaldo goal. Ballack then wins the game with a header off a cross from Lampard.
Michael Ballack finally wins a major trophy.
Posted by: Keith G. | May 21, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Glad to hear there's grass in Moscow, I thought it was a turf field.
My three biggest problems with the beautiful game, players diving, inept refs and non-grass fields.
Posted by: Pat the Red Bulls Fan | May 21, 2008 at 01:31 PM
"My three biggest problems with the beautiful game, players diving, inept refs and non-grass fields."
You forgot streamers. Michael Wilbon shuns you.
Posted by: Ted | May 21, 2008 at 01:37 PM
FieldTurf generation 6 and above is great!! SO get over it!
Streamers add to the intensity, something most MLS teams severely LACK!!!
Man Utd is gonna destroy those blue wankers!
Glory to United!!!!!
Posted by: Alex | May 21, 2008 at 01:41 PM
I wore my Chelsea jersey to work today. Everyone keeps saying..."I see you dressed up for work today." And I reply, "Yes sir/ma'am, Champions League Final today!" And they do that uncomfortable laugh, because they have no idea what I am talking about and walk away.
I want Chelsea to win (so "the special one" can fume about his un-specialness) and because Avram Grant has received no respect from anyone for what he has already achieved this season. I don't think winning the Champions League will change that, but at least he will have a medal to pack in his box when he is let go by Chelsea this summer.
Posted by: Homey Boehme | May 21, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Pre-game tidbit - is it true that Ronaldo has never scored against Chelsea???
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 01:48 PM
lineups are posted on uefa.com
Chelsea:
Malouda------Drogba-------Cole
Lampard----Makalele----Ballack
Cole----Terry----Carvalho----essien
------------Cech----------
Manchester United:
-------Tevez-------Rooney-------
Ronaldo----Carrick----Scholes----Hargreaves
evra----Vidic----Ferdinand----Brown
---------van der Saar---------
uefa's matchtracker has United in a 442, but I'd think it'd end up playing more like a 433 based on the players on the pitch.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | May 21, 2008 at 01:51 PM
WE'LL NEVER DIE, WE'LL NEVER DIE.
WE'LL NEVER DIE, WE'LL NEVER DIE.
WE'LL KEEP THE RED FLAG FLYING HIGH, CUZ MAN UNITED WILL NEVER DIE.
Posted by: Rob | May 21, 2008 at 01:55 PM
MLS only lacks the rioting, the hooligans, the bags of urine, batteries, missles and fire works that the rest of the world thinks so highly off. Manure is great fertilizer for REAL GRASS!
Posted by: Pat the Red Bulls Fan | May 21, 2008 at 01:55 PM
Best minute-by-minute report to follow on the net if you can't watch the game:
Barry Glendenning's coverage on the Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/may/21/championsleague.manchesterunited6
Posted by: Murphy | May 21, 2008 at 01:56 PM
it's on like donkey kong.
Posted by: Dominghosa | May 21, 2008 at 02:00 PM
I dunno about this Hargraves on the wing thing. At least they aren't playing him at right back, who does Fergie think he is, Essien?
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Seedorf is on ESPN depostes also. I didn't know he speaks languages
Posted by: laurie | May 21, 2008 at 02:08 PM
At work and TIVOing the game.
I'm netural, but I think Rooney and Tevez will be a lot to handle. I suspect Hargreaves will be the x factor for United. Can he net them a goal? I certainly think he can.
Scholes & Carrick vs. Ballack & Lampard...
I'll take Ballack & Lampard 1-0.
Result, Manchester 3 - 2 Chelsea
Its just a guess :-P
Posted by: George | May 21, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Prediction: Shevchenko subs in in 72d minute and scores brace, defeating ManU 2-1. All worldwide ManU and Chelsea fans suffer simultaneous heart attack caused by anguish and shock dwarfing casulaties from recent natural disasters.
Posted by: KungFuSoccer | May 21, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Great line up for ManU. I expect Scholes to get subbed out at the 70th for Anderson. But other than that ManU has an exceptional lineup and I'd expect to see Giggs go in also. Go Red Devils.
Posted by: Spencer | May 21, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Geez, C. Ronaldo has hands for feet.
Posted by: Dominghosa | May 21, 2008 at 02:12 PM
That was indeed a sweet montage of Ronaldo.
I do think ManU would be stronger with Anderson on the wing, no Scholes, and Hargraves in the middle. I keep saying that Scholes is overdue for a terrible Red Card lunge, but it ain't happened in the CL yet. Is today the day?
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 02:19 PM
If you're not a Manc, you're a wank.
ManU big 3-0 or 3-1. Early goal forces Chelsea out of the bunker and the rout will be on!!
Take that you pansie London wannabes. after this thrashing, you can change your jersey color to powder blue and join the girl's league.
Glory, glory, ManU!!!!
Posted by: William the Terror | May 21, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Hopefully Anderson will play a more attacking role (where he belongs) next season and the seasons to come. The kid will be magic there.
Posted by: Dominghosa | May 21, 2008 at 02:25 PM
wheres the hi def for the game???? VIVVVVVVVVVVVVVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA RONNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Posted by: matt | May 21, 2008 at 02:26 PM
So A. Cole is playing? I'd run Ronaldo right at him and his gimpy ankle.
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 02:26 PM
This is Ballack's game...Chelsea 2-0
Posted by: Dominick | May 21, 2008 at 02:31 PM
ESPN screws us again.
It's not in HD.
Posted by: Phillip | May 21, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Before I saw today's lineups I would have picked Chelsea, but now that I see that Ferguson has finally woken up and decided he has the strongest team and is going to start 2 up top and take the game to the opposition... Manchester United 2-1. We are going to be treated today and see some goals. Is anyone else watching at JFK airport? I'm in the Delta Crown Room by gate 9
Posted by: Original Aaron | May 21, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Wow those dancers have crappy hats and lame costumes. Someone call in the Florida A&M marching band and show them how it's done.
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 02:40 PM
it's in glorious HD! here we go!!!
Posted by: matt | May 21, 2008 at 02:45 PM
No PARK? Not even on the bench? That is a big loss...
Posted by: MiamiAl | May 21, 2008 at 02:45 PM
YEAH ESPN for the HD!!
Posted by: Dominick | May 21, 2008 at 02:46 PM
Si!!!!!
I had the black bars down the side of my screen... then when they were walking about the screen went blank and then switched to HD.
I was about to get mad.
Posted by: Phillip | May 21, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Great tackling by Man U, that's the spirit!
Agree, Park was good on the run up, surprised to see Fletcher and O'Shea over him, as well as both Anderson and Nani.
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Wow, Fergie brought out the expensive suit today!
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Has anyone seen Essien's jock anywhere lying near the touchline?
Posted by: Dominghosa | May 21, 2008 at 03:03 PM
LOL, Dominghosa. Maybe that's why they shifter Ronaldo to the left, Essien has fabulous technique and skill, but not the sprinting speed.
Nice yellow card for Scholes along with the blood. That's the kind of entertainment he's good for.
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 03:09 PM
evra and ronaldo together are amazing so far.
Posted by: matt | May 21, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Did Makelele get a card for that collision too?
Posted by: The Gentleman Masher | May 21, 2008 at 03:10 PM
!que golazo! Ronaldo!
Posted by: Dominghosa | May 21, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Ronaldo scores in a big game and against Chelsea, taking two birds with one stone! 1-0 Manchester United.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | May 21, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Essien is my favorite on Chelsea, but he just can't handle Ronaldo. Sweet header, breaks his streak against Chelski, and opens the scoring, 1-0 ManU.
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Cross by Wes Brown on the goal, btw.
Chelsea are out of sorts and ManU full of themselves. They need to snatch another goal while they have the momentum.
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 03:17 PM
Petr Cech! You serious!?!
Posted by: Dominghosa | May 21, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Moments after Ballack comes close to equalizing but for van der Saar, United has 2 chances stopped by Cech.
Posted by: ManicMessiah | May 21, 2008 at 03:20 PM
WOW!!! Breathtaking action, Rooney roars down the flank, hits a great ball to Tevez, his diving header saved by Cech, who somehow recovers to save a rocketing follow-up (Hargraves?)
Posted by: eric | May 21, 2008 at 03:21 PM