Initial Conditions

After the fine performance of English teams in the Champions League of late, most of Five Live has been drooling at the prospect of an all-English final, and not to mention the constant references to the Premiership as being the best league in the world (I write this as Spurs and Everton are being beating in the UEFA Cup, but that’s another comment for another day).

I’m probably not going to make many friends by saying this, but this really is the last thing anyone outside the UK wants (who actually likes football). Don’t get me wrong, an all-English final would be a better prospect than Schalke 04 v Fenerbahce, but hear me out.

Firstly, there have been two same-country finals so far, and neither was very memorable. Well, I tell a lie, the 2003 final between Juventus and Milan was memorable in that it was possibly one of the most disappointing games of football ever (but not the worst- I still remember the World Club Championship Final between Vasco da Gama and Corinthians despite my best attempts to forget it). The 2000 final between Real Madrid and Valencia had some good goals but Valencia didn’t seem to turn up and lost 3-0.

So it’s only happened twice, but neither has been much good. Not a good sign.

Second, if there are two English clubs in the final, neither would get the satisfaction of beating a major european power like Real Madrid, Juventus, Barcelona, Milan etc to win the biggest trophy in club football. Granted, they may have beaten some of these teams on the way, but beating them at the last would be much better.

Third, games between the “big four” are often desperately dull and defensive. Liverpool have played Chelsea 6 times in the Champions League in recent years and the results have been thus:

0-0,1-0,0-0,0-0,1-0,1-0.

I wouldn’t bet on a Chelsea-Liverpool final being any different.

Fourth, English fans are notorious for trying to get into a game if it is at all possible, often resorting to fake tickets. Imagine the problems Liverpool had last year (this led to them being labelled “worst fans in Europe”) and multiply it by two. In Moscow as well, where the booze isn’t exactly costly.

Fifth, there’s a guaranteed all-English final not long before the Champions League-it’s called the FA Cup. Mind you they aren’t often that exciting either! (2006 excepted)

Anyway, I’m not really bitching against English football, I’m just trying to see beyond jingoistic tripe. I would love a Barcelona v Man U final, but if it had to be all-English then I guess Man U-Arsenal would be best. Suppose it wouldn’t be too bad!