^ same topic : L'EQUIPE SAGA #2 (supplement, April 2011). European Cups, the 25 unforgettable matches A) « The incredible scenarios » (in order of appearance). 1. Manchester United – Bayern Munich 2-1 Champions League Final 26.05.1999 « God is English » 'Original title' on the newspaper issue's front page of the time : « Renversant ! ». « Astounding ! ». 2. Liverpool – Alavés : 5-4 UEFA Cup Final 16.05.2001 « Liverpool is magic » 'Original 'title : - 3. Liverpool – Milan : 3-3 Champions League Final 25.05.2005 « Liverpool in the legend » ''Original title'' (but translated) : « Liverpool is eternal » 4. Chelsea – Liverpool : 4-4 CL quarter-finals, 2nd leg 14.04.2009 « It was fantastic » The day after in l'Equipe : « ça, c'est du foot ! ». « This is footie ! » 5. Saint-Etienne – Split : 5-1 a.e.t Champions Cup, 2nd leg of the round of 16 06.11.1974 « La révolte des Stéphanois » Original title : « Saint-Etienne made the feat ». B) « The unexpected outcomes » 1. Benfica – Barcelona : 3-2 Champions Cup Final 31.05.1961 « Portugal's day of glory » Original title : Benfica (speed, physical strenght, chance) gives to Portugal its day of glory. 2. Celtic Glasgow – Inter Milan: 2-1 Champions Cup Final 25.05.1967 « Celtic as British pioneer » Original title : « Sarti only postpones the defeat (2-1) of Inter in front of a Celtic admirable of energy ». 3. AC Milan – FC Barcelona : 4-0 Champions League Final 18.05.1994 « A beautiful Italian lesson » « Milanissimo ! » 4. FC Barcelona – FC Metz : 1-4 Cup Winners Cup round of 32, 2nd leg 03.10.1984 « Impossible n'est pas Lorrain » original title : « Y a de la Joie !». ... « Happy Days !» 5. La Coruña – AC Milan : 4-0 CL quarter-finals, 2nd leg 01.04.2004 « The Miracle has happenned » Front page of l'Equipe : « Monaco, c'est fou ». C) « The French clubs Feats » 1. Marseille – AC Milan : 1-0 Champions League Final 26.05.1993 « OM trapped it all » Original title : « Le Jour de Gloire ». 2. Paris-SG – Real Madrid : 4-1 UEFA Cup quarter-finals, 2nd leg 18.03.1993 « The out of time feat » Original title in the newsaper : « Le Bonheur total » 3. Saint-Etienne – Dynamo Kiev : 3-0 Champions Cup quarter-finals, 2nd leg 17.03.1976 « En vert et contre tout » (pun with 'envers et contre tout' : against all odds) In L'Equipe back in the day : « Saint-Etienne : it was the feat ! ». 4. Lyon – Real Madrid : 3-0 CL 1st phase, 1st day match 13.09.2005 « OL buy itself a great of Europe » Subtitle :« the Lyonnais walked on Real Madrid. Not all the time but enough to knock them down » Original title in 2005 : « Lyon est Galactique ». 5. AS Monaco – Real Madrid : 3-1 Champions League quarter-finals, 2nd leg 06.04.2004 « They took the stars out of the sky » Original title : « Fantastique !» D) The Must of the XXth century (the word 'must' is used in the text) 1. Real Madrid – Eintracht Frankfurt : 7-3 Champions Cup Final 18.05.1960 « The super-class of Real» Original title : « 7-3 : INVICTIBLE REAL » . Subtitle : Puskas 4 goals, Di Stéfano 3. 2. Ajax Amsterdam – Bayern Munich : 4-0 Champions Cup quarter-finals, 1st leg 07.03.1973 « Ajax Le Magnifique » 3. Real Madrid – Reims : 4-3 Champions Cup Final 13.06.1956 « And the Blow passed so close » Original title : « Di Stéfano leads the Madrid attack to victory (4-3) » 4. Benfica Lisbon – Real Madrid : 5-3 Champions Cup Final 02.05.1962 « Benfica's mutinery » Original title : « Benfica retains its European Cup ». 5. AC Milan – Real Madrid : 5-0 Champions Cup semi-finals, 2nd leg 19.04.1989 « Milanissimo ! » Original title : « Fantastique Milan AC » E) The Must of the XXIst century 1. Manchester United – Real Madrid : 4-3 Champions League quarter-finals, 2nd leg 23.04.2003 « A furious clash on the roof of Europe » Original title : « Totally crazy » 2. Chelsea – FC Barcelona : 4-2 CL round of 16, 2nd leg 08.03.2005 « It was sensational ! » Original title : « Lyon, Chelsea, insane ! » 3. FC Barcelona – Arsenal : 4-1 Champions League quarter-finals, 2nd leg 06.04.2010 « Leo at work » L'Equipe cover the day after : Lyon. And aside in bold : Messi ! Messi ! Messi ! Messi ! Can make think of "mais si" x4 : "but yes!"... x4. 4. Manchester United – AS Roma : 7-1 Champions League quarter-finals, 2nd leg 11.04.2007 « In another world » Original title of the newspaper : « Europe speaks English » 5. Inter Milan – FC Barcelona : 3-1 Champions League semi-finals, 1st leg 20.04.2010 « Inter hits the jackpot » Title at the time : -
This was the February 1996 list by Four Four Two on "the games of our lives - the 100 greatest games ever played". Just as the 1995 great players list, it was voted by peers (not readers, no journalists involved). The 100 peers came predominantly from the British Isles with also Sepp Blatter and a few other foreigners thrown in there (mostly Italians and Germans, but none of the smaller countries I saw). Some interesting choices and interesting descriptions definitely. Team names are given as they appear in print. I opted to show them by year because I thought that is more interesting and revealing than the rank itself. 1901 - Tottenham 3 Sheffield United 1 (FA Cup final) 1938 - Germany 3 England 6 (friendly) 1948 - Manchester United 4 Blackpool 2 (FA Cup final) 1948 - Italy 0 England 4 (friendly) 1953 - Blackpool 4 Bolton 3 (FA Cup final) 1953 - England 3 Hungary 6 (friendly) 1954 - Hungary 4 Uruguay 2 (World Cup semi final) 1957 - Charlton 7 Huddersfield 6 (Division Two) 1958 - Arsenal 4 Manchester United 5 (Division One) 1958 - Real Madrid 3 Milan 2 (European Cup final) 1958 - Sweden 2 Brazil 5 (World Cup final) 1960 - Charlton 6 Middlesbrough 6 (Division Two) 1960 - Real Madrid 7 Eintracht Frankfurt 3 (European Cup final) 1961 - England 9 Scotland 3 (Home Internationals) 1962 - Tottenham 2 Benfica 1 (European Cup semi final) 1962 - Benfica 5 Real Madrid 3 (European Cup final) 1965 - Liverpool 3 Inter Milan 1 (European Cup semi final) 1965 - West Ham 2 Munchen 1860 0 (Cup Winners Cup final) 1966 - Scotland 1 Italy 0 (World Cup qualifying group 8) 1966 - North Korea 1 Italy 0 (World Cup 1st round) 1966 - Hungary 3 Brazil 1 (World Cup 1st round) 1966 - Portugal 5 North Korea 3 (World Cup quarter final) 1966 - England 2 Portugal 1 (World Cup semi final) 1966 - England 4 West Germany 2 (World Cup final) 1967 - Spurs 2 Chelsea 1 (FA Cup final) 1967 - Celtic 2 Inter Milan 1 (European Cup final) 1968 - Man Utd 4 Benfica 1 (European Cup final) 1970 - Celtic 2 Leeds 1 (European Cup semi final) 1970 - England 0 Brazil 1 (World Cup 1st round) 1970 - England 2 West Germany 3 (World Cup quarter final) 1970 - Italy 4 West Germany 3 (World Cup semi final) 1970 - Brazil 4 Italy 1 (World Cup final) 1971 - Colchester 3 Leeds 2 (FA Cup 5th round) 1971 - Tottenham 0 Arsenal 1 (Division One) 1971 - Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1 (FA Cup final) 1971 - Asante Cotoko 2 TP 1 (African Champions Cup final) 1972 - Hereford 2 Newcastle 1 (FA Cup 3rd round replay) 1972 - Republic of Congo 3 Mali 2 (African Nations Cup final) 1973 - Ajax 4 Bayern Munich 0 (European Cup quarter final) 1973 - Scotland 1 Czechoslovakia 0 (World Cup qualifier) 1973 - England 1 Poland 1 (World Cup qualifier) 1974 - Zaire 2 Zambia 2 (African Nations Cup final) 1974 - Holland 2 Brazil 0 (World Cup semi final play off) 1974 - West Germany 2 Holland 1 (World Cup final) 1975 - Leicester 3 Letterhead 3 (FA Cup 3rd round) 1976 - Manchester United 0 Southampton 1 (FA Cup final) 1976 - West Germany 2 Czechoslovakia 2 (European Championship final) 1977 - Liverpool 3 St Etienne 1 (European Cup quarter final) 1977 - Liverpool 3 Borussia M 1 (European Cup final) 1977 - Scotland 2 Wales 0 (World Cup qualifying play-off) 1977 - Brighton 3 Sheffield Wednesday 2 (Division Three) 1978 - Scotland 3 Holland 2 (World Cup 1st round) 1978 - Argentina 3 Holland 1 (World Cup final) 1978 - Liverpool 7 Tottenham 0 (Division One) 1978 - Manchester United 3 WBA 5 (Division One) 1979 - Brighton 3 Newcastle 1 (Division Two) 1979 - Arsenal 3 Manchester United 2 (FA Cup final) 1980 - Watford 7 Southampton 1 (League Cup 2nd round) 1981 - Tottenham 3 Man City 2 (FA Cup final replay) 1982 - Italy 3 Brazil 2 (World Cup 2nd round) 1982 - France 3 West Germany 3 (World Cup semi final) 1982 - Italy 3 West Germany 1 (World Cup final) 1983 - Brighton 2 Manchester United 2 (FA Cup final) 1984 - Cameroon 3 Nigeria 1 (African Nations Cup final) 1984 - France 3 Portugal 2 (European Championship semi final) 1985 - Celtic 5 St Mirren 0 (Scottish Premier Division) 1985 - Everton 3 Bayern Munich 1 (European Cup Winners Cup) 1986 - Oxford United 3 QPR 0 (Milk Cup final) 1986 - England 3 Poland 0 (World Cup group 5) 1986 - USSR 3 Belgium 4 (World Cup 2nd round) 1986 - Brazil 1 France 1 (World Cup quarter final) 1986 - England 1 Argentina 2 (World Cup quarter final) 1987 - Coventry 3 Tottenham 2 (FA Cup final) 1988 - Liverpool 5 Nottingham Forest 0 (Division One) 1988 - Liverpool 0 Wimbledon 1 (FA Cup final) 1988 - Holland 2 USSR 0 (European Championship final) 1989 - Celtic 5 Partizan Belgrade 4 (Cup Winners Cup 1st round) 1989 - AC Milan 5 Real Madrid 0 (European Cup semi final) 1989 - Liverpool 0 Arsenal 2 (Division One) 1989 - Liverpool 3 Everton 2 (FA Cup final) 1989 - AC Milan 4 Steaua Bucharest 0 (European Cup final) 1990 - Crystal Palace 4 Liverpool 3 (FA Cup semi final) 1990 - England 1 Belgium 0 (World Cup 2nd round) 1990 - England 3 Cameroon 2 (World Cup quarter final) 1990 - England 1 West Germany 1 (World Cup semi final) 1991 - Everton 4 Liverpool 4 (FA Cup 5th round replay) 1991 - Guiseley 4 Gresley 4 (FA Vase final) 1991 - Barcelona 1 Manchester United 2 (European Cup Winners Cup final) 1992 - Leeds 4 Stuttgart 1 (European Cup 1st round) 1993 - Bayern Munich 1 Norwich 2 (UEFA Cup 2nd round) 1993 - Paris St Germain 4 Real Madrid 1 (UEFA Cup quarter final) 1993 - Werder Bremen 5 Anderlecht 3 (Champions League) 1993 - Argentina 0 Columbia 5 (World Cup qualifier) 1994 - Liverpool 3 Man Utd 3 (Premiership) 1994 - AC Milan 4 Barcelona 0 (Champions League final) 1994 - Ireland 1 Italy 0 (World Cup Group E) 1994 - Romania 3 Argentina 2 (World Cup 2nd round) 1995 - Real Madrid 0 Ajax 2 (Champions League) 1995 - Antwerp 0 Newcastle 5 (UEFA Cup 1st round) 1995 - Northern Ireland 5 Austria 3 (European Championship qualifier) Interesting is that although in terms of players the 1950s stands/stood as the perceived Golden Age, this does not match with the number of recollected games from the 1950s (only 7 of the 100 games date from the 1950s). Although some of the included early 1960s matches were effectively played with 1950s associated actors. Almost all top 20-30 greats are linked with multiple games (i.e. Pelé with 3, Puskas with 3, Cruijff with 3 as a player and 2 as coach, Platini with 2) except George Best and Diego Maradona if I've spotted it correctly. Both are linked to one 'legendary' game each.
Written by John Carlin Sunday 13th April 2003 A Brazilian journalist once said that the one-twos between Pele and Tostao offered convincing proof of the existence of God. One is tempted to a similar conclusion after watching Zidane and Raúl stroke the ball around on the congested edge of the Manchester United penalty area last Tuesday night, graceful and unhurried as if they were playing alone in a park. The supernatural peaks that Real Madrid scaled during that 3-1 Champions League victory at the Bernabeu have not been seen on a football pitch since Brazil 1970: the World Cup-winning team that had always served until now as the benchmark for the sublime. The appraisal needed updating. Players were not as fit or as fast, spaces were not as compressed, in the days of Pele, Tostao, Rivelino, Gerson and Jairzinho. Three decades later, the Real Madrid of Zidane and Raúl - consecrated now surely as the two greatest players in the world - and Figo, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo have offered us the wonderfully reassuring reminder that it can still be done, that perfection, or something very much like it, is still possible. Never mind all the money in the sport, the disputes over satellite TV rights, the building of brand names, football - the game itself as originally conceived by some inventively playful Englishmen 150 years ago - is bigger than all of that. Because what is so great about this Madrid side is what was great about Brazil 1970: the Corinthian freshness with which they go about their business. Cruyff's Ajax in the 1970s and the Milan of Gullit, Rijkaard and Van Basten were both, in their different ways, brilliant. But in a methodical, rigorous, solemnly professional sort of way. This lot give the impression that they play chiefly for fun. Vicente del Bosque, the Madrid coach, is the most staid, self-effacing of men, but spend half an hour talking to him about his football philosophy and, never mind tactics, the word that will recur is 'spectacle'. ......The devil, of course, is in the detail. They play such beautiful music because each has such perfect command of his instrument. We are talking pure skill here. No team possess more players blessed with such an impeccable first touch. No one alive receives the ball with such exquisite cushioning, standing still or on the run, as Figo or Zidane. Yet rarely do the Real players have to push their masterful control to the limit because the weight, pace and direction of the passes they receive from each and every one of their team-mates are so consistently fine. In turn this gives them the time to look up and ponder their next option, keeping their opponents always one step behind Several passages of play illustrated the point in Tuesday's game, most of them occurring on the left side of midfield, where Zidane bestrode the stage within a space not much bigger than half a tennis court on the periphery of the United penalty area. The players attempting to police these tight confines would be Roy Keane, David Beckham, Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand, assisted as the situation became increasingly unmanageable by Wes Brown and Nicky Butt. The assailants would be Zidane, Raúl and Roberto Carlos, who alone would cause more than enough mayhem among the mightily experienced and undoubtedly talented United players - dancing around them in tight little circles, threading and weaving the ball between and around their legs - until Figo would come cantering over from the right wing, eager to dazzle on the night when the whole world was watching to see who was better, he or Beckham. Whereupon the space would open up, the level of danger would suddenly increase and circus would give way to palpable threat. Above all, the difference between the two sides was a difference in the sense of time. All great players in all sports appear to have more time to do what they do than the ordinarily talented. Zidane is the world's best footballer because he has more time than anyone else, meaning that he requires fewer milliseconds than anybody else to get the ball - either when he is controlling it or passing it - to do exactly what he wants it to do. That is why, against Manchester United, he gave the impression at times that he was treating his opponents with contempt. It was not that. He is not the contemptuous type. He regards the likes of Giggs and Beckham with respect. It is just that the game is much easier for him that it is for them. Consider this statistic, courtesy of the Spanish sports daily AS . Zidane made 75 passes in that game, only eight of which failed to find their target. Beckham made 46, 16 of which went astray. But a great team cannot live by Zidane alone. The problem is who else to single out. Raúl, as Alex Ferguson is the first to acknowledge, is sensational: his positioning, his intelligence on the ball, his devilish eye for goal, his work rate in attack as well as defence, plus the sheer lust to win that he transmits to the rest of the players. Then you have two centre-halves in Hierro and Helguera who started life as elegant, goal-scoring midfielders; and Makelele, the workhorse who covers every inch of the pitch, who does what is needed to allow Zidane even more time and space to do his stuff, Roberto Carlos to abandon his left-back duties and join the fun up front. Yet Makelele too is an impeccable player of the ball. The AS stats make the point once again. Of 72 passes he made against United, 64 went exactly where he intended. ......All the fuss about Wayne Rooney's performance against Turkey 10 days ago offers a typical case in point. He made a couple of exciting runs, neither of which culminated in a goal, and a whole nation drooled. Which is not to disparage either Rooney or the nation. That is the way things are with football."