One for the fans

Plenty to enjoy in cat-and-mouse drama

Seconds after Andriy Shevchenko smacked the decisive spot kick past Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, sealing AC Milan's sixth European title, the Ukrainian striker was mobbed by his teammates... except for one man.

As Buffon's net ballooned, midfielder Rino Gattuso spun away and sprinted to the opposite end to celebrate with the Milan fans, some of whom had endured a 30-hour bus ride just to share the moment.

The man some call "Ringhio" (growl) foamed at the mouth and pumped his fists in the air like a demented puppet: only the UEFA stewards kept him from leaping out into the throng of rossoneri supporters.

"I knew I would have the opportunity later to share the joy with my teammates," Gattuso told me after the game. "But at that precise moment it was all about the fans. They're the ones who paid the overpriced tickets, took time off work, traveled across half a continent and cheered us on even when things looked really bleak. Football is, first and foremost, about the fans."

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He's right, of course. But what about the fans: the neutrals, those who did not have a rooting interest Wednesday night, those who simply love the game? Did the match leave them satisfied?

Judging from the reaction in some quarters of the press, including the wire story on this very site that called it "the worst final since 1991," one might think they were not. They point to the 0-0 scoreline after 120 minutes of play, Juventus' lack of creative play, and Milan's failure to replicate the excellent football of the first 45 minutes as evidence that "entertainment" was missing.

Naturally, it comes down to personal taste. If they were expecting a replica of Manchester United's 4-3 quarterfinal win over Real Madrid in this very stadium, they were bound to be disappointed. Teams like this season's Real Madrid come along once in a generation and, on that special Old Trafford night, the found an opponent in United who went for broke, throwing caution to the wind.

Let's not forget that on that occasion we also witnessed some absurdly bad bits of defending from both sides, something that was unlikely to happen between Juventus and AC Milan.

If matches like United's 4-3 win are the only kind you find entertaining, well, it's unlikely you enjoyed Wednesday's final.

But if you appreciate gifted individuals, exquisite moments of skill, tactical cat-and-mouse games, direct football, unbearable tension and drama of the highest order there was plenty to enjoy in the final, and not just because of sterling defensive performances.

For the first 45 minutes, Milan played with wonderful poise and creativity, Andrea Pirlo and Manuel Rui Costa weaving a short-passing game which stretched even Juve's well-organized back four. Had it not been for a truly superhuman save by goalkeeper Gigi Buffon off Pippo Inzaghi's close-range header and an offside call on Shevchenko's goal (which could have gone either way), Milan might have taken an early lead and the game could have gone in an entirely different direction.

As it happened, Juve, like so many times before hung in there with its usual grit and resiliency. When Antonio Conte's powerful header struck Nelson Dida's crossbar, it too could have changed the face of the game, probably for the better.

After Roque Junior's injury reduced him to the role of spectator on the pitch (Milan had already made all three substitutions), the game was Juve's for the taking. And the bianconeri failed to capitalize, which is why Milan is a worthy winner.

In a match which was all about episodes, incidents and drama, these are the adjectives by which we may choose to remember it.

PREDESTINED: Paolo Maldini, lifting the European Cup as Milan captain, exactly 40 years after his father Cesare who also skippered the rossoneri. The veteran defender was splendid, just as he has been for much of his career. Just imagine the pressure on Maldini's son to live up to the feats of dad and grandpa...

GUTTED: Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, who was reminiscent of the Karate Kid in the Zen-like way he prepared for the penalty kicks. Head down, knees tucked into his chest, he proceeded to perform miracles, just as he had done in the preceding 120 minutes. On this night, it wasn't enough and he left the pitch in tears, by-passing the medal ceremony.

INSPIRED... TO A POINT: Manuel Rui Costa, whose performance sums up his career. For an hour he was dazzling, lending credence to those who believe that, in terms of pure ability, he may well be the most gifted footballer alive. In the second half, he tailed off badly, reminding us of why he is not on the same level as the Zidanes and Rauls of this world. He remains an unfinished masterpiece.

MISSING IN ACTION: The Juventus strikers whose game ranged from the erratic ( Alex Del Piero ) to the abominable ( David Trezeguet ). With Pavel Nedved suspended, Juve needed flair and leadership and both came up short.

JUST MISSING: Rivaldo, who once again could not find a place in the Milan team. Would he have made a difference? We may never know, but it would have been truly harsh to take off any one of Milan's front three.

OUTFOXED: Juve coach Marcello Lippi, who, for once, seemed to get his tactics wrong. He fiddled with the team, sticking Paulo Montero at left-back, where he was clearly overmatched and the static Igor Tudor in central defense, where his injury may well have been a blessing in disguise. And when it came time to add a third striker, he opted for the anonymous Marcelo Zalayeta, while Marco Di Vaio, whose quickness would have been a greater threat against Milan's defenders, watched from the bench.

REDEEMED: Defender Roque Junior and goalkeeper Dida. Two World Cup winners who have endured tough seasons, with the former overlooked for much of the year and the latter criticized on more than one occasion. Roque Junior battled gamely even after his thigh strain forced him to play at a walking pace, while Dida was simply heroic on the spotkicks.

VINDICATED: Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti, who exacted revenge on his former club, Juventus. He's been called a pig, a turd and a loser but on Wednesday he shut up his critics winning his first major trophy as a manager. Ancelotti showed great courage in re-casting Milan as a free-flowing offensive team and steadfastly endured far more criticism than any man should receive. And what did he do shortly after the final whistle had crowned him as champion of Europe? He walked over to the Juventus players, his former men and did his best to console them. A class act and a true gentleman.

Gabriele Marcotti covers international soccer for SI.com.

 

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