European Cup final

James Lawton: Stage is set for Ronaldo v Messi, the sparkling final Europe deserves

by Inde. on May 8, 2009

Out of the tears of Stamford Bridge comes the pearl of a European Cup final – a gift not just to the continent's football but all of the world game with its marvellous centrepiece of Ronaldo versus Messi, Narcissus against Little Caesar, power and beauty challenging, at its best, the most sublimely organised genius.

Lionel Messi was some way from his best this week, while Cristiano Ronaldo explained every nuance of his standing as a wonder of football, but this does nothing to check anticipation over potentially a duel of the ages.

Such euphoria will no doubt accentuate Chelsea's angst over what they consider the rankest of injustice, even, in the tortured view of Didier Drogba, outright conspiracy, but they should understand that the world moves on – and that if the hapless Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo was the agent of a plot hatched, as has been so ludicrously suggested, by Uefa president Michel Platini, he plainly attended the Guy...Read More >>