The final will be AC Milan vs Liverpool FC.
I love Milan so you can guess who i'm hoping will win. The Milan vs Manchester UTD game was awesome. I loved seeing C. Ronaldo fall flat on his face over and over again. I want a repeat of that for Liverpool. Heres to a no penalty kicks final. Let it be decided on the field.

It's good to see there are soccer fans on the forums. I am not as big a fan as you of either of these teams, but it should be a good game, and I love soccer.

It's soccer it sucks.

El_Turro, I'm a LFC fan! I love the rematch! Last yeat I spent three weeks in Liverpool while Chelsea was in town. They bought out my hotel and the management were ready to kick us out until we showed them how long we had been there and how much coin we had dropped.

It ended up being us and Chelsea and me in an elevator with Drogba asking, "So, what brings you to Liverpool?" Talk about feeling like an idiot after realizing who it was and what was going on.

Anyway, good luck to Milan, they sure as heck will need it.

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!!

Soccer still exists???

I watched the final last year. Ronaldinho is such a joy to watch.

quote:

Originally posted by HokieDoug:
Soccer still exists???

Soccer (or football as it's more widely known over here in Europe) most definately does still exist my friend, afterall it's only the most popular, most watched and most played sport in the world, if maybe not as popular in the states as everywhere else, although you guy's have some good players (Brian McBride of Fulham for a start).

Anyway, with regards to the Champions League Final, I'm a massive Liverpool fan, the most successful British team ever, and they'll definately beat Milan on 23rd May in Athens. We've a better team than when we beat them in Turkey in 2005, we've knocked out the two competition favourites on-route to the final (namely Barcelona and Chelsea) and will be well fired up for the final. Don't mind if it goes to penalties again, just as long as we win our 6th European Cup.

"You'll Never Walk Alone".

Sarcasm my friend, sarcasm.... Anyway, soccer is irrelevant in the US, and always will be. The only sports I like from across the pond are Rugby and auto-racing.

Formula 1 and/or Lemans Series > Left-turn only NASCAR

quote:

Originally posted by HokieDoug:
Sarcasm my friend, sarcasm.... Anyway, soccer is irrelevant in the US, and always will be. The only sports I like from across the pond are Rugby and auto-racing.

Formula 1 and/or Lemans Series > Left-turn only NASCAR

I wouldn't really call soccer irrelevant in the US. There are more kids playing soccer in the US then any other sport. The national team has improved leaps and bounds over the past decade, and the MLS is expanding and building new stadiums every year. Ratings were the highest ever in the US during the World Cup. World class players are coming here to play (albeit towards the end of their careers, but hey, it's a start). Not to mention with the consistant influx of people from other countries, they bring their passion for the sport with them. You might feel that it is irrelevant, but it is a growing sport here and I believe that it will continue to grow in years to come.

quote:

It ended up being us and Chelsea and me in an elevator with Drogba asking, "So, what brings you to Liverpool?" Talk about feeling like an idiot after realizing who it was and what was going on.

That is hysterical.

AC Milan is a classy team. LFC will most likely be overmatched, but perhaps Peter Crouch et al have some magic left over from the 2005 final.

Ah the beautiful game, I was disappointed the other day when I got home from class and turned on the TV only to hear the familiar voices of the ESPN 2 soccer commentators (gotta love Tommy Smythe) signing off after covering the ManU, Milan game which I later heard was great.

I have been playing soccer since I was five and am always loathe to hear some of the things that often follow any mention of soccer. don't get me wrong I don't like every sport in the world, but there is something to say for a game and culture so globally widespread even if it is not one of the big money makers here. The (American) football crowd always seems to characterize soccer as a game of little physical rigor full of faking injury which is quite far from the truth. I would like to see anyone play at an even mildly competitive level and still say that. Oh and they have little room to talk when it comes to mocking the short shorts and high socks when our version of football substitutes this with tight spandex pants and the start of action happening by way of one man placing his hands between another's legs who is bent over to deliver the ball. Also very few of the popular sports here require the extent of complete conditioning or different athletic skills of soccer. You'll never see anyone looking remotely out of shape at any of the top levels and I cant think of any other sports where competition continue almost nonstop for 45 minutes at a time. Not so much can be said for baseball and the like in terms of overweight pitchers etc. A big reason that soccer has not caught on in this country is that it is not as conducive to commercialization in terms of television coverage because to advertisers soccer holds little appeal given the limited opportunity for breaks. Oh and just because there is no "tackling" in our sense of the word doesn't mean that it is a no contact game. Far from it in fact.

the point is that not all sports are going to be understood, for instance cricket has no appeal to me, but it does in other cultures and i can at least respect that. Why such disrespect for soccer?

Those sports are all fun! The best part of soccer for me is coaching my girls. It has been a dedicated daddy/daughter time two or three times each week for 5 years! My son is into football (American) and my wife and I watch racing together. Now, if only she'd put down those menthols and smoke a cigar with me!

quote:

Originally posted by creech:

quote:

It ended up being us and Chelsea and me in an elevator with Drogba asking, "So, what brings you to Liverpool?" Talk about feeling like an idiot after realizing who it was and what was going on.

That is hysterical.

Yeah, I had a few pints at the pub after that one. Great trip, great people, great city.

quote:

Originally posted by TMFIII:
El_Turro, I'm a LFC fan! I love the rematch! Last yeat I spent three weeks in Liverpool while Chelsea was in town. They bought out my hotel and the management were ready to kick us out until we showed them how long we had been there and how much coin we had dropped.

It ended up being us and Chelsea and me in an elevator with Drogba asking, "So, what brings you to Liverpool?" Talk about feeling like an idiot after realizing who it was and what was going on.

Anyway, good luck to Milan, they sure as heck will need it.

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!!

Awesome, my stories so far only involve watching them play. I hope I should be so lucky some day. The final is gonna be great. I just wish cup tied Ronaldo could play, THAT would make it more interesting. Milan is used to relying on mid fielder Kaka for goals, it'd be nice to have an experienced striker in front of him, none the less Brazilian comrade il fenomeno. Good luck to both sides, it will be decided by the goals.

Il calcio è il gioco della vita.

If this rematch is half as entertaining as the 2005 final between Milan and Liverpool...

That is asking a lot, but this final should be a good one. Both Liverpool and Milan have looked pretty sharp this year and have played good soccer. The DVR will be set this time around so I don't miss a minute.*

* I used a VCR to tape the 2005 final, and while I allowed for extra time in the event of a draw after 90, I didn't add enough for PKs. As I watched the recorded game (with mouth agape) dwindle down I realized I was going to need that extra tape time, and prayed the game didn't go to penalty kicks - the tape cut out seconds after the final whistle, and I had to look up the result online.

Still a classic match for the ages.

quote:

Originally posted by Gary1:
Soccer (or football as it's more widely known over here in Europe) most definately does still exist my friend, afterall it's only the most popular, most watched and most played sport in the world, if maybe not as popular in the states as everywhere else, although you guy's have some good players (Brian McBride of Fulham for a start).

RESULT (Highlight to reveal) -->Clint Dempsey (also an American), may have saved Fulham (and subsequently Brian McBride and Carlos Bocanegra) from relegation with a pretty give-and-go goal against Liverpool this weekend.

I know this is old but no one ever posted a result.I watched the game with my Dad who was born in Italy.He's a Juve fan but he was pullin for Milan and so was i.I don't remeber the score i think it was 2-1 Milan with 2 goals from Pippo Inzaghi.I always wathed the World Cup with my father but that was about it.Until 2006 when the Azzurri won there 4th World Cup and Fox Soccer Chanel started showing Seria A games.I have watched more soccer in the last year and a half then i have my whole life.And not just Seria A.The EPL is realy fun to watch so diffrant from Seria A.



FORZA AZZURRI

Campione Del Mundo Campione Del Mundo Campione Del Mundo Campione Del Mundo

I am a Man U fan and a big Cristiano Ronaldo fan being Portuguese. I like to watch the game at lot when there are on ESPN 2 over her in the states. But watching Ronaldo who is most likely the most talented player in the world is fascinating. There is things he can do with the ball know one can do. He had a great season.