When We Were Kings
These days it's often hard to get too worked up about the outcomes of major football matches. They generally involve two teams playing a single striker each, with the intention of giving nothing away in the hope that the opposition makes a mistake. Failing that, you play the odds at penalties. It's Russian Roulette football, without the excitement: eventually somebody will blow their heads off, and it might be the other guy.
One afternoon exactly 40 years ago tomorrow, football's biggest match had a more compelling narrative. On one side, even then, were a team successfully playing the football of fear and percentages: Inter Milan. On the other, however, were Celtic, a team that channeled all the game's most glorious characteristics, and for whom attack was not a tactic, but a compulsion. And sometimes the good guys do win.
Where have you gone Jock Stein? Our game turns its lonely eyes to you.
One afternoon exactly 40 years ago tomorrow, football's biggest match had a more compelling narrative. On one side, even then, were a team successfully playing the football of fear and percentages: Inter Milan. On the other, however, were Celtic, a team that channeled all the game's most glorious characteristics, and for whom attack was not a tactic, but a compulsion. And sometimes the good guys do win.
Where have you gone Jock Stein? Our game turns its lonely eyes to you.
posted by Tommy77 at 8:24 a.m.
1 Comments:
I know I was just relieved by the fact that last nght wasn't a Manyoo v. Liverpool showdown. I haven't talked to a single United or Liverpool fan who was looking forward to that prospect.
No disrespect meant to pool fans, but I don't think Liverpool can really be bitterly disappointed with defeat to that Milan side. Surely Maldini and Nesta must be in the ranks of the all-time greats, with Kaka on his way to achieving the same. It might not have been a classic, but I reckon it was the right result.
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