quinta-feira, abril 26, 2007
respect in the heat of battle
Soccer: Rooney crowns thrilling night
By Rob Hughes
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
International Herald Tribune
There are nights in soccer when the game is played so well, when the sway of the contest is uncertain to the last, when teams respect the different culture of the opponents and 73,820 people are left singing in the rain.
Tuesday at Old Trafford in Manchester was such a night.
It may be a form of madness. It is certainly an escape from humdrum routine. And after the recent violence between English and Italian fans, it was also an almighty relief to see Mancunians and Milanese respond in the stands to the spirit displayed on the pitch.
That Manchester United won, 3-2, against AC Milan is inconclusive because there is a second leg to come in Milan's San Siro stadium next Wednesday. This Champions League semifinal is not over.
Alex Ferguson, United's manager for more than 20 years, looks forward rather than back: "We have an outstanding chance now," he said. "With the speed of our game, I believe we will score in Italy. Whether it will be enough, I don't know. It will not be easy - but it will not be easy for them either."
As Ferguson speaks, you can feel the competitive nature ooze from him. He is of pensionable age, but exudes imperishable adventure. He wants to win this trophy again, and even though his first-choice back four was absent because of injuries Tuesday, he expected his team to outscore Milan.
The Italians were nursing a different kind of frailty. Carlo Ancelotti had his full squad available, but key players are trying to defy Old Father Time.
They have quality, which is why Ancelotti clings to them. But when, like his captain Paolo Maldini, a man has played at this level longer than some of the direct opponents have been alive, something, somewhere, has to give.
Ancelotti tried to gain an advantage by resting his senior side from last Saturday's Serie A match at Siena. He tried, the silver fox, to send out messages that Milan has such medical care, such performance-related data, that they possess some kind of elixir. It would make Maldini, two months short of his 39th birthday, and the other 30-somethings in Milan shirts last for one final Champions League hurrah.
By halftime, the knee of Maldini that needs surgery in the summer, had given way. In less than an hour, Gennaro Gattuso, whose running, scuffling, tackling energy is so vital in midfield, was also off, injured by his own hyperactive combativeness.
Their leader, and their fighter both sidelined, Milan knew that it had 30 minutes to hold out against the irrepressible youth of United.
It had already been quite a contest. United led in the fifth minute when Dida, Milan's Brazilian goalie, failed to impose his 6-foot-5, or 1.96 meter, frame in his goalmouth. He came, he stopped, he watched as Cristiano Ronaldo rose to a Ryan Giggs corner kick.
Ronaldo's header struck Dida's chest and looped into the air. In panic, the goalkeeper stretched back, but managed only to tip the ball over his line.
Dida had been uncertain before the game because of a shoulder injury. Yet subsequent saves, eight of them, showed that there was nothing physically lacking. Perhaps, something was not quite match tight in his mind.
Milan's experience is mighty. Its other Brazilian, Kaká, is among the best young talents on earth. After 22 and again after 38 minutes, Kaká stole through confusion in United's make-shift defense.
He preyed on the lack of understanding between Gabriel Heinze, Wes Brown and Patrice Evra. His swift, smooth acceleration bewitched them, his cool, calm finishing at ground level gave goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar no chance. United was 2-1 down.
"Attack, attack, attack!" bayed the home crowd.
That is manager Ferguson's instinct too, especially when he is cornered.
"The manager told us at halftime to keep pushing," said Wayne Rooney. "He said keep going and you'll get goals."
Rooney is a simple lad, a talented, strong, persevering 21-year-old. Maldini would have struggled to keep pace with him even if the Italian had been able to come out for the second half.
It is likely that Gattuso's combativeness would have delayed the equalizer, which came six minutes after he was carried off with a foot injury. In the space where Gattuso might have been, Paul Scholes had the freedom to indulge in a piece of instinctive brilliance.
With the outside of his foot he flicked the ball over a defender, Rooney's hunger did the rest. He forced his way into the gap and took the goal at short range.
After that, with the ebb and flow of the match expertly handled by the Greek referee Kyros Vassaras, Milan tried to see out the 90 minutes, United tried to win.
Dida, flying high and flying low, kept out shots from Ronaldo, from Darren Fletcher, Giggs, Michael Carrick and Rooney.
Two minutes were added for the injury to Gattuso and substitutions. A minute was enough for Rooney. Giggs, at 33 entering Italian vintage, won the ball just inside Milan's half, ran 50 yards and timed his pass perfectly.
Rooney, without attempting to take a touch to control the moving ball, struck it low, hard and straight. Dida should have had his near post covered, but was taken by surprise by the instant shot.
One lasting, memorable example of this unremitting and fair spirited match remains.
In the 77th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alessandro Nesta raced flat out for the ball. Ronaldo is probably the quickest mover in modern soccer, Nesta can sense danger at 20 paces.
As they ran, stride for stride, Nesta finally made his tackle for the ball. The momentum carried both players forcefully into advertising boards behind the goal. Bruised and winded, they lay there until Ronaldo reached out to shake Nesta's hand: respect in the heat of battle.
By Rob Hughes
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
International Herald Tribune
There are nights in soccer when the game is played so well, when the sway of the contest is uncertain to the last, when teams respect the different culture of the opponents and 73,820 people are left singing in the rain.
Tuesday at Old Trafford in Manchester was such a night.
It may be a form of madness. It is certainly an escape from humdrum routine. And after the recent violence between English and Italian fans, it was also an almighty relief to see Mancunians and Milanese respond in the stands to the spirit displayed on the pitch.
That Manchester United won, 3-2, against AC Milan is inconclusive because there is a second leg to come in Milan's San Siro stadium next Wednesday. This Champions League semifinal is not over.
Alex Ferguson, United's manager for more than 20 years, looks forward rather than back: "We have an outstanding chance now," he said. "With the speed of our game, I believe we will score in Italy. Whether it will be enough, I don't know. It will not be easy - but it will not be easy for them either."
As Ferguson speaks, you can feel the competitive nature ooze from him. He is of pensionable age, but exudes imperishable adventure. He wants to win this trophy again, and even though his first-choice back four was absent because of injuries Tuesday, he expected his team to outscore Milan.
The Italians were nursing a different kind of frailty. Carlo Ancelotti had his full squad available, but key players are trying to defy Old Father Time.
They have quality, which is why Ancelotti clings to them. But when, like his captain Paolo Maldini, a man has played at this level longer than some of the direct opponents have been alive, something, somewhere, has to give.
Ancelotti tried to gain an advantage by resting his senior side from last Saturday's Serie A match at Siena. He tried, the silver fox, to send out messages that Milan has such medical care, such performance-related data, that they possess some kind of elixir. It would make Maldini, two months short of his 39th birthday, and the other 30-somethings in Milan shirts last for one final Champions League hurrah.
By halftime, the knee of Maldini that needs surgery in the summer, had given way. In less than an hour, Gennaro Gattuso, whose running, scuffling, tackling energy is so vital in midfield, was also off, injured by his own hyperactive combativeness.
Their leader, and their fighter both sidelined, Milan knew that it had 30 minutes to hold out against the irrepressible youth of United.
It had already been quite a contest. United led in the fifth minute when Dida, Milan's Brazilian goalie, failed to impose his 6-foot-5, or 1.96 meter, frame in his goalmouth. He came, he stopped, he watched as Cristiano Ronaldo rose to a Ryan Giggs corner kick.
Ronaldo's header struck Dida's chest and looped into the air. In panic, the goalkeeper stretched back, but managed only to tip the ball over his line.
Dida had been uncertain before the game because of a shoulder injury. Yet subsequent saves, eight of them, showed that there was nothing physically lacking. Perhaps, something was not quite match tight in his mind.
Milan's experience is mighty. Its other Brazilian, Kaká, is among the best young talents on earth. After 22 and again after 38 minutes, Kaká stole through confusion in United's make-shift defense.
He preyed on the lack of understanding between Gabriel Heinze, Wes Brown and Patrice Evra. His swift, smooth acceleration bewitched them, his cool, calm finishing at ground level gave goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar no chance. United was 2-1 down.
"Attack, attack, attack!" bayed the home crowd.
That is manager Ferguson's instinct too, especially when he is cornered.
"The manager told us at halftime to keep pushing," said Wayne Rooney. "He said keep going and you'll get goals."
Rooney is a simple lad, a talented, strong, persevering 21-year-old. Maldini would have struggled to keep pace with him even if the Italian had been able to come out for the second half.
It is likely that Gattuso's combativeness would have delayed the equalizer, which came six minutes after he was carried off with a foot injury. In the space where Gattuso might have been, Paul Scholes had the freedom to indulge in a piece of instinctive brilliance.
With the outside of his foot he flicked the ball over a defender, Rooney's hunger did the rest. He forced his way into the gap and took the goal at short range.
After that, with the ebb and flow of the match expertly handled by the Greek referee Kyros Vassaras, Milan tried to see out the 90 minutes, United tried to win.
Dida, flying high and flying low, kept out shots from Ronaldo, from Darren Fletcher, Giggs, Michael Carrick and Rooney.
Two minutes were added for the injury to Gattuso and substitutions. A minute was enough for Rooney. Giggs, at 33 entering Italian vintage, won the ball just inside Milan's half, ran 50 yards and timed his pass perfectly.
Rooney, without attempting to take a touch to control the moving ball, struck it low, hard and straight. Dida should have had his near post covered, but was taken by surprise by the instant shot.
One lasting, memorable example of this unremitting and fair spirited match remains.
In the 77th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alessandro Nesta raced flat out for the ball. Ronaldo is probably the quickest mover in modern soccer, Nesta can sense danger at 20 paces.
As they ran, stride for stride, Nesta finally made his tackle for the ball. The momentum carried both players forcefully into advertising boards behind the goal. Bruised and winded, they lay there until Ronaldo reached out to shake Nesta's hand: respect in the heat of battle.
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