Hi Simon. Soccer may sometimes be very strange.
After Barca had attacked our goal for a long time, and We were not able to cross middle field, Juve did only one simple counter attack, and Marcelo Zalayeta scored the goal !
Pavel Nedved, the so called "bionic-man", was the MOM.
I was watching the match at home, stood up immediately and shouted loud GOOOAAAALLL and started running and jumping all around !!!!. My wife and our Rufus cat were sleeping. They soon woke up and thought I got crazy. The cat escaped under the table and stayed there for a while.
Juve played the well known Italian "catenaccio". This word means "thick metal chain" and it has been used to describe the defensive strategy of many Italian football teams. Let the other team play the game, try to keep the ball far from Your goal. As soon as Your opponents make an error in the middle field, counterattack and score the goal. Then keep eleven players in Your penalty area and wait for the end of the match.
Someone calls it "the son of a bitch" strategy.
Also Inter at Valencia's did not play football, but only "catenaccio".
I think it's a shame, but as soon as You catch the result, every strategy is good. The result is that We have two italian teams in UCL semi finals. It's the first time in the history of UCL.
My forecast was wrong, but I'm happy to say so.
What are You going to do this evening ? Are you going to Old Trafford ? Will You watch the match on TV ? Raul will not be able to play. What about Van Nistelroy and Giggs ? Both may be the match winners. Hope that United beats Real, so next match will be United vs. Juve and We'll discuss again about our teams.
Franco