Scott Murray's Blog, page 136

England's World Cup efforts in the studio have often been rewarded on the pitch | Scott Murray

From Back Home to World in Motion via This Time (We’ll Get It Right), life often imitates World Cup art once England leave the studio

The official 2018 World Cup anthem – Live It Up, by reggaeton star Nicky Jam, dancehall singer Era Istrefi, and polite fast-talker Will Smith – was released at the weekend, and met by the worlds of football and music with thundering indifference ... just as committee-approved pop, designed to please everybody but satisfying no one, always should be. File alongside spirit-sapping efforts such as R Kelly’s Sign Of A Victory, Ricky Martin’s Cup of Life, and Anastacia’s admittedly memorable Sepp’s Gonna Sexx Ya Up.

Still, at least Fifa are trying. England don’t bother any more, which is a terrible shame, as for a while they’d been world leaders in the field. Spin back to 1965 when the FA commissioned over-the-brow skiffle legend Lonnie Donegan to write a song for their upcoming tournament. He introduced us to World Cup Willie, tough as a lion, who never will give up. “That’s why Willie is favourite for the Cup!” The trad-jazz swinger wasn’t Lonnie’s best, but he did record the definitive version of Rock Island Line, and without his influence you’re getting no Beatles, so he had plenty of credit in the bank. Also England lifted the trophy with this ringing in their lugs, and there’s no arguing with results.

John Barnes' daisy-age-inflected rap is regarded as England's World Cup musical pinnacle

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Published on May 29, 2018 12:00

World Cup stunning moments: the Cruyff Turn is born in 1974

When Johan Cruyff sold Jan Olsson the mother of all dummies with the subtlest of swerves, the Dutch captain’s signature move became the enduring symbol of Total Football

It’s the defining image of the 1974 World Cup; the defining image of the great Dutch team of the 70s; the defining image of one of the most talented, enchanting and magical players to ever breeze around a football field.

It’s the 23rd minute of the Group 3 game between Holland and Sweden at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund, and Wim van Hanegem has the ball at his feet on the right wing. He’s about to be crowded out by Bjorn Andersson and Ralf Edstrom, so clips a pass back along the flank to Wim Rijsbergen, who in turn flicks the ball inside to Arie Haan, airily ambling through the centre circle. Haan takes a couple of quick, adroit touches to tee himself up, then wafts his right leg, spraying a long diagonal pass towards the left-hand corner flag, towards … Johan Cruyff.

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Published on May 27, 2018 05:22

World Cup stunning moments: the 1966 World Cup

Random tales from the 1966 tournament that have absolutely nothing to do with Azerbaijani linesmen, Kenneth Wolstenholme or Pickles the Dog

1. The branding for the 1966 Football World Championship for the Jules Rimet Trophy was all over the shop. But at least Fifa were trying. The 1966 finals was the first to be blessed with a mascot, a small lion wearing a union jack shirt walking along with its eyes narrowed to the point of being totally shut. A myopic nationalist, who’d have thought it. Willie was the creation of the freelance artist Reg Hoye, who had first considered “a little man in a bowler hat” and “a man in a cloth cap” but wished to steer clear of class issues. “I don’t think the result’s pompous,” he insisted, “it’s just to show that we’re not as clapped out as some people think we are.” Hoye was paid a flat fee for his work while the FA creamed off all the profits from the various tat bearing Willie’s grinning boat. “The enormous success of Willie has not made Mr Hoye bitter,” reported the Guardian. “Only a little unhappy.”

Jimmy Hill kept a running total of fouls in England v Argentina. After 14 minutes, England led 7-4

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Published on May 24, 2018 02:00

The Fiver | This is uncharted territory. This is positively trippy

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Goodness knows, it seemed weird enough when Bruce Rioch took over at Highbury in 1995 after nine years of George Graham. It must have felt very strange when Bertie Mee left after a decade in 1976 to be replaced by Terry Neill of Tottenham Hotspur. As for the times Herbert Chapman and Tom Whittaker died in office, well, we can only imagine. But this is uncharted territory. This is positively trippy. After 22 years of Arsène Wenger, there’s a new guy in town. Arsenal manager Unai Emery. Arsenal manager Unai Emery. Arsenal manager Unai Emery. Yes, it feels odd saying it, doesn’t it. Like your lips have gone numb. Like your teeth don’t fit. Like the dentist has injected some of the really good stuff into your gum. Then nipped out for a quick fag, leaving you to help yourself to the gas. It really does feel quite odd.

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Published on May 23, 2018 08:06

Football transfer rumours: who could be in and out under Emery at Arsenal?

Today’s rumours can’t always get what you want

Arsenal manager Unai Emery – this is going to feel strange for a while, isn’t it? – will make a move for Nice’s Jean Michaël Seri, a long-time target of his predecessor. Meet the new boss, same as, etc. Heading out as Seri arrives: Danny Welbeck, who is off to Besiktas. Staying put: Aaron Ramsey, who will be encouraged to sign a new deal.

Across town, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is for the off, this is probably not breaking news to you. But it seems he’s not going to rush finding a new job if/when sacked: he’ll be taking a break instead, happy to wait for the ideal opportunity to present itself, and let Chelsea pay for his sabbatical.

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Published on May 23, 2018 01:16

World Cup stunning moments: Patrick Battiston loses his teeth

One of the greatest World Cup games has been largely overshadowed by the West German keeper’s dastardly act

The semi-final stage of the World Cup has, on balance, not been particularly kind to France. In 1958, the free-scoring team of Just Fontaine and Raymond Kopa were more than holding their own against Brazil until Vavá clattered into the captain Robert Jonquet; as the defender’s leg sailed in an arc across the Stockholm sky, France’s hopes and dreams, in those days before substitutes, departed with it. In 1986, Les Bleus faced West Germany with star man Michel Platini only half-fit; the rest of the team failed to turn up until the last 10 minutes or so, by which time it was far too late. Even when the French finally won a semi, against Croatia in 1998, the popular defensive lynchpin Laurent Blanc got himself suspended for the final – unluckily and yet foolishly – by needlessly waving his arms near the face of Slaven Bilic, asking for the trouble that would soon be delivered to him in spades.

But nothing comes close to 1982. Nothing will ever come close to 1982.

Platini entreated Schumacher to simmer down but his laser eyes were trained only on Six, lost in a sociopathic reverie

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Published on May 20, 2018 06:23

Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: 2018 FA Cup final – as it happened

Eden Hazard’s first-half penalty was enough to seal an eighth FA Cup for Chelsea

7.40pm BST

Antonio Conte continues to cavort on the field, waving what could be some valedictory silverware. So there’s no word from him. Yet. No doubt there will be more to say about his position in the near future. Will he stay or go? All we can say for sure is that the FA Cup hasn’t done much for managerial longevity in the last couple of years, given what happened to Louis van Gaal and Arsene Wenger after winning it. Anyway, thanks for reading. Congratulations to Chelsea, as they join Spurs as the third most successful club in FA Cup history with their eighth win; commiserations to Manchester United as they remain stuck in second, one behind Arsenal on 12. The last word to our number one Daniel Taylor, who was at Wembley today, and filed the following report. Bye!

7.32pm BST

Jose Mourinho speaks. “I congratulate them because they won, but I don’t think they deserve to win. I congratulate because I am a sportsman. They score one more goal than us and they get the cup, and I have to do what my job asks me to do: I am the Manchester United manager and I have to be respectful, not just because they were my previous club, but because they are the opponent that won the cup. But I think we deserved to win, we were the best team, but that’s football. I am curious to know what you say, what people write, because I can imagine if my team played like Chelsea did, I can imagine what everyone will say. I am quite curious. But I am on holiday. I gave everything I could, I know the players gave everything, it was hard for us to play without Lukaku against a team who play nine players in the box, you need that presence. They are not stupid, they know without Lukaku we don’t have a presence, without Fellaini we don’t have a presence, so with eight or nine players in the box, they knew they were going to be dominant. For me the image of the game is that David de Gea didn’t touch the ball. We did everything, we tried, it’s the kind of defeat, while it hurts, we gave everything, no regrets.”

7.25pm BST

The prize-giving ceremony. United go up to collect their runners-up medals, grim-faced to a man. Commiserations to them. Then it’s the turn of Chelsea, who climb the steps to lift their shiny new trophy. It’s awarded to a jubilant Gary Cahill by Jackie Wilkins, the widow of Chelsea and United legend Ray. Blue is the Colour blasts out of the PA. Ticker tape rains down. And eventually Antonio Conte - beaming, vindicated - takes his turn to hoist it. Plenty of cheering all round ... with the defeated United team sportingly looking on.

7.19pm BST

The match-winner Eden Hazard speaks! “We tried to defend well. We scored one goal, it’s enough today. Though if we want to win a lot of games, we need to play better, because we just played defensively. But we won it and we are happy.” He’s then asked about his future. “Now I’m just happy. We didn’t play a great season, but we finished well.”

7.16pm BST

Gary Cahill speaks! “It’s unbelievable. This was to save our season. I’m not saying we’ve had a magnificent season by any stretch, but we have to try to win things. We had a lot of defending to do. They pushed us to the line. We’re buzzing, we got the job done. This is a dream come true, as this is the first one as captain.” He’s then asked if he wants Conte to be here next season: “Listen, we needed to achieve this goal for everybody, no matter what happens in the future. We’re not in control of that as players. I’m sure the club and himself will make the best decision. Who knows what’s going to happen?”

7.13pm BST

OK, it wasn’t a classic. But should Chelsea care? Nope! They’ve just won the FA Cup for the eighth time in their history! It’s the first cup victory on Conte’s managerial CV. And a first domestic cup defeat in England for Mourinho. Chelsea were the better side in the first half, and defended with great purpose in the second. United only really showed what they could do after the restart. But chances were at a premium for both sides, and Pogba missed United’s golden opportunity to equalise with that free header in the closing stages. Chelsea were the deserved winners, even if the contest was tight.

7.08pm BST

Yep! Chelsea have won the 2018 FA Cup! On the touchline, Conte leaps around in joy ... before giving his old foe Mourinho a hug.

7.07pm BST

90 min +5: Willian threatens to burst clear down the left. Mata is forced to toe-poke out for a corner. That’s surely it.

7.06pm BST

90 min +4: Now Mata crosses from the right ... and forces Moses to eyebrow out for a corner ... which is sent straight down the throat of Courtois!

7.05pm BST

90 min +3: Valencia crosses high from the right. Matic goes up to meet it, but his header flies harmlessly high and wide right. Courtois is booked for taking an age over the resulting goal kick.

7.04pm BST

90 min +2: Chelsea continue to keep United pressed deep in their own half.

7.03pm BST

90 min +1: Willian’s first act is to run at United down the left. He can’t break clear into the box, but United need a goal and they’re being pressed back at the wrong end of the pitch.

7.02pm BST

90 min: Hazard bursts down the left, a gorgeous ball-on-string dribble in the circumstances, and wins a corner off Mata. It gives them opportunity to faff in the corner. They win a throw. Then Willian comes on for Hazard. A brave call if United force an equaliser and take the match to extra time ... and there’s five extra minutes to be added!

7.01pm BST

89 min: Morata comes on for the very hard-working Giroud.

7.00pm BST

88 min: Young slips a pass down the inside-left for Sanchez, just inside the box but with his back to goal. There’s a sea of blue shirts behind him. Sanchez lays off to Martial, who tries to float one, George Best style, into the net from a daft angle on the left. It flies harmlessly over the bar.

6.59pm BST

87 min: Mata comes on for Jones. It’s fair to say this is symbolic of a change of artistic intention.

6.58pm BST

86 min: Hazard and Fabregas take the ball for a walk down the right. Their perambulations eat up 60 seconds or so.

6.57pm BST

85 min: Sanchez sends a low fizzer wide left from 20 yards. He wants a corner for a deflection - he is livid - but he’s not going to get it.

6.57pm BST

84 min: Wembley is a very tense place. United are pressing Chelsea back again, but still there’s no way through.

6.55pm BST

82 min: This is end-to-end now. Hazard dribbles down the Chelsea left but is stopped by Smalling. Martial threatens to break down the United left and earns a corner. From which Pogba is found, alone on the penalty spot, but he sends his free header wide right when it was surely easier to get something, anything, on target! He holds his head in his hands. What a chance that was!

6.53pm BST

80 min: Matic shoots from 25 yards. It’s a rising missile, and Courtois does very well to punch it around the post. From the corner, Martial has a dig from the edge of the box. Azpilicueta gets in the way and the deflected shot loops into the hands of the keeper.

6.51pm BST

79 min: Jones is back on. A rare period of possession for Chelsea. They stroke it around the middle in the professional, clock-bothering style. How they’ve needed this, in the face of United’s near relentless attack since the restart.

6.49pm BST

77 min: At first, Giroud looked to have come off worse, but he’s up and about soon enough. Jones has cut his head open, though, and needs taping up. He’s off getting those running repairs.

6.48pm BST

75 min: Valencia robs Alonso down the right and tees up Martial, whose shot is deflected softly into Courtois’ arms. Then up the field, Giroud is nutted in the back of the head by Jones as the pair contest a high ball. Ooyah, oof.

6.46pm BST

73 min: Lingard puts Rashford clear down the inside-right channel. Rashford draws Courtois but his shot is tipped away by the keeper. A wonderful save. At which point United make a change, Lingard and Rashford making way for Martial and Lukaku.

6.45pm BST

71 min: A huge chance for Chelsea to score a second! Kante drives at the United box, then feeds Alonso on his right. Alonso takes too long and shoots low towards the near corner, and de Gea’s not going to be beaten from there. He parries. Moses latches onto the loose ball, to the right of goal, and tries to flick it past Young. The ball hits Young’s arm, which moved a little towards the ball. The decision goes to VAR, but there’s no penalty given. Perhaps Young was too close to act, but that’s a contentious decision all right. There’ll be debates of course, but it looked like a penalty.

6.41pm BST

69 min: Lingard earns a United corner down the right. What follows is not much cop. But since coming out for the second half revived, United have done everything but score.

6.40pm BST

67 min: Young goes down the left and is blocked by Azpilicueta. He doesn’t get the free kick, and takes out his frustration by getting up in the Chelsea player’s grille. For a split second, it threatens to boil over. Play nicely, everyone.

6.39pm BST

66 min: This is still all United. Valencia tries to break clear down the right, but can’t find a gap in the blue line. Chelsea surely can’t keep soaking up this pressure, though. They’re giving the ball away with metronomic regularity.

6.37pm BST

64 min: A brief pause as Courtois recovers from that good old stretch, while the offside decision is checked by the VAR. It’s fine. We play on.

6.36pm BST

63 min: Rashford is bowled over on the right. Free kick, which he takes himself. Jones, on the penalty spot, guides a header towards the bottom right. It’s heading in! But Courtois stretches to claw it out. However, Sanchez is lurking, and knees the rebound into the net. He wheels off to celebrate ... but the flag goes up for offside. It’s the correct decision, though it was very close.

6.34pm BST

61 min: Rudiger lashes a long pass down the left wing. Hazard scampers after it, races along the touchline, and then zips down the byline. It’s like a game of Amidar. He thrashes a shot-cum-cross straight at de Gea, who handles well.

6.32pm BST

59 min: United are dominating possession and territory. Chelsea are finding it very hard to get out of their final third. And this time United are asking serious questions. Matic has a shot which bobbles harmlessly wide ... but they’re racking up some chances now. On the touchline, Mourinho applauds his men.

6.30pm BST

57 min: Pogba shoots and wins a corner ... from which Chelsea break upfield. Hazard tears past Herrera, then cuts inside, past Valencia. He’s upended, and that’s Valencia in the book.

6.29pm BST

56 min: Herrera splits Chelsea’s back four with a slide-rule pass down the inside right that releases Valencia. The right back is clear in the area, but looks for a pullback instead of shooting. Rashford has a blast that’s parried by Courtois. Pogba tries again, but lifts a soft one into the keeper’s hands. This is miles better from United ... though Valencia might reflect that he really should have had a shot himself.

6.27pm BST

55 min: Chelsea are sitting deep and living dangerously. Lingard dribbles his way into the box and causes some bedlam. Chelsea half clear. Herrera slips a pass down the left and Young floats a chip over the bar from an ambitious angle.

6.25pm BST

53 min: Rashford curls a vicious free kick into the mixer. It might even have been a direct shot. Either way, Pogba rises but just misses his attempted header, six yards out. Courtois punches out bravely in the middle of a crowded box. United are on top here.

6.24pm BST

52 min: Young dribbles his way down the left and goes over the outstretched leg of Moses. That was a slightly cheeky one, he bought that very cheaply. It’s a free kick to the left of the Chelsea box, though, in a very dangerous position.

6.23pm BST

50 min: Hazard is down, having taken an accidental finger in the eye from Smalling in a midfield tussle. Or maybe it was a crack across the nose. Either way, he’ll be fine to continue. A splash of water on the face and a dap with a sponge will do the trick. Pleasingly old-fashioned treatment.

6.20pm BST

48 min: United have been first to pretty much everything since the break. Chelsea haven’t come out for the second half yet.

6.19pm BST

46 min: Pogba, dropping deep, spreads a lovely pass wide right for Rashford, who lays off to Sanchez, who slides the ball wide right for Valencia. The resulting attempt at a cross comes off Alonso then back off Valencia for a goal kick, but it looks like United are determined to play at a higher tempo. That was much better.

6.17pm BST

And we’re off again! Chelsea get the second half underway. No changes.

6.08pm BST

Half-time entertainment, courtesy of Norman ‘a song, a smile, a piano’ Long. As 78rpm platters go, Long’s 1928 release Why Is The Bacon So Tough? / Never Have A Bath With Your Wrist Watch On is hard to beat. But it’s cup final day, and Chelsea are playing, so here’s his 1933 classic On The Day That Chelsea Went And Won The Cup. The conceit doesn’t quite hold post 1970, admittedly, but let’s go with it. “The sun came out in Manchester and funny things like that ...”

6.04pm BST

Giroud nearly releases Hazard into the United box with a cute first-time cushioned pass. United flood up the other end, Pogba driving into the area from the left, Rashford miskicking at a chance from the penalty spot. Rudiger hacks clear, and the players trot off to the changing room for their half-time tactical de-brief. Those last 60 seconds of the half were the most exciting yet! Typical. Another 45 minutes like that, then, please!

6.01pm BST

45 min: ... United create their best chance of the game so far! The ball’s worked to Young, out on the left. He sends an inswinger to the far post. Jones rises highest, but can only head wide right from close range. A tight angle, to be fair.

6.00pm BST

44 min: Young drops a shoulder to circumvent Moses on the outside, but is cynically shoulder-barged to the floor. A free kick. It should have been a booking, but no. From the set piece, a corner. And from that ...

5.58pm BST

42 min: Matic, of all people, channels his inner Garrincha and nearly twinkle-toes his way through a small gap down the left. Chelsea shut that door quickly enough. United have done next to nothing in attack so far. On the touchline, Mourinho looks accordingly frustrated.

5.57pm BST

40 min: Fabregas hits the corner, from the left, long. De Gea rises and a telescopic arm extends to punch the ball away. Fine keeping with the likes of Giroud lurking with intent.

5.54pm BST

39 min: Hazard nips through a small gap between Pogba and Lingard, and is fouled by both of them at once. The resulting free kick is hoicked into the mixer, and Smalling is panicked enough to head straight out for a corner.

5.53pm BST

38 min: Pogba’s work earns United a corner on the left. Sanchez tries to curl a saucy one straight into the net, but Fabregas is guarding the near post and heads out for another corner. That second one goes straight down Courtois’ throat.

5.52pm BST

36 min: Fabregas batters one witlessly straight into the wall. This is not a classic. But there have been many worse finals over the years, and there’s still plenty of time to go.

5.51pm BST

35 min: Sanchez clips the heel of Bakayoko, who was threatening to break into the United box down the left. A free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the left of the D.

5.50pm BST

34 min: This is very bitty. Chelsea nudge the action up to the middle of the park, away from their goal, where both teams faff awhile.

5.48pm BST

32 min: A frustrated-looking Sanchez tries to blooter one in from 25 yards. It’s nowhere near the target.

5.47pm BST

31 min: United are dominating possession now. But it’s sterile domination at the moment. Chelsea’s back line is holding firm. There’s no way into the box.

5.45pm BST

29 min: United press Chelsea back a little. This has been their best spell of the match. Pogba drifts inside, but his shot flies harmlessly wide left. Courtois had it well covered anyway, despite the sun gleaming in his face.

5.43pm BST

27 min: Sanchez pulls the free kick back for Herrera, who shanks his shot dismally. But it dribbles straight back to Sanchez, who is able to curl in a cross for Pogba. The big man’s header clanks off Rudiger and that’s a corner ... which is wasted. But that’s a little bit better from United, who have seen plenty of the ball but not so much of it in Chelsea’s final third.

5.42pm BST

26 min: Pogba is fouled just to the left of the Chelsea area. A chance for United to finally work Courtois.

5.41pm BST

24 min: Well that got the crowd going. Wembley had been a little quiet before Hazard tore United in two with that glorious take and dribble. Chelsea wanted Jones sent off, but he was going for the ball, and the new double-jeopardy law saved him.

5.38pm BST

Once Jones is booked for his unique contribution, Hazard steps up and strokes the ball into the bottom right. Has there been a cooler cup-final penalty since the days of Eric Cantona?

5.37pm BST

21 min: I knew that would do it. Fabregas, deep in his own half, strokes a glorious ball down the inside-right channel. Hazard, cutting in, stuns it with one touch, tearing down the field. He enters the box, and is brought crashing down by Jones, who tries to toe-poke the ball away but falls over, spins through 180 degrees, and ends up felling Hazard with his back.

5.35pm BST

20 min: This final hasn’t got going yet.

5.34pm BST

18 min: Sanchez goes on a determined dribble down the centre. For a second, it looks as though Chelsea’s defence will be prised open by his ball-glued-to-boot stylings, but the door shuts on the edge of the box. That was a fine run.

5.33pm BST

16 min: Up the other end, Sanchez claims a penalty after a brush with Moses, who was busy falling down behind him. He then goes down near Azpilicueta’s trailing leg, but there didn’t seem much contact either. To be fair to Sanchez, his appeals weren’t particularly vocal.

5.31pm BST

14 min: Bakayoko tries to turn Matic on the edge of the United box, then falls inside it. He wants a penalty, because Matic’s hand was lightly on his back. Older fans who remember the Sinclair-Kanchelskis decision in 1994 would have been hoping for a little karmic payback, but it’s not coming.

5.28pm BST

13 min: United have yet to find theirs, though. Young is seeing quite a bit of the ball out on the left, but his deep, looping cross here is easily snaffled by Courtois.

5.28pm BST

11 min: Moses, tight on the right touchline, hooks a lovely first-time pass down the channel for Giroud. United’s defence is split open ... but Giroud’s been flagged offside. Chelsea are slowly finding a little rhythm.

5.26pm BST

9 min: The resulting free kick is worked wide left to Young. His cross is headed clear by Cahill. The ball’s then misplaced in midfield by Jones, allowing Sanchez to skedaddle down the middle at pace. He drifts left and drops a shoulder to pass the half-recovering Jones, then fires for the bottom left. De Gea sticks a leg out to stop. A lovely run and a fine save.

5.24pm BST

8 min: Chelsea press a little, but go nowhere. United break back upfield through Sanchez and then Lingard, who is brought down by Kante. Young isn’t happy about it at all, but the referee awards a free kick and nothing else.

5.23pm BST

6 min: It’s been a nervous start by both teams. Nothing’s happening at all. Some light speculative sparring. Probably not the best time for Hubert O’Hearn to proselytise for the FA Cup, but here he goes anyway: “When I was growing up in Canada and the FA Cup Final was the only live football match the CBC broadcast, I always thought that this was the highest achievement a club could win. Years pass. Well, to paraphrase Oscar Levant upon hearing of the passing of George Gershwin, I have heard that the FA Cup is dead, but I don’t have to believe it if I don’t want to. This is the true champiosnhip of all of England, not just a 20-team Division.”

5.20pm BST

4 min: Otherwise, it’s been a slow, studious start with players seemingly happy just to get their first touch of the ball. United are seeing a little bit more of it, though to no great effect yet.

5.17pm BST

2 min: Alonso dribbles down the left and is bundled over from behind by the ever-busy Herrera. A free kick, and a chance for Chelsea to load the box. Fabregas takes, but it’s an awful delivery, floating straight into the grateful arms of de Gea.

5.16pm BST

And we’re off! United get the party started. Young launches it long down the left. Courtois claims it. The keeper’s peering into fierce sun, without a cap. Good luck, then. “I’m going for a classic,” predicts Simon McMahon. “1-0 United. Or 1-0 Chelsea. But either way, done in the classic style.”

5.13pm BST

The teams are out! Both teams are able to wear their famous colours: Chelsea are in blue, United in red. The national anthem is belted out. The crowd roars. Pitchside flamethrowers blast away theatrically. The RAF fly past. We’ll be off in a minute!

5.08pm BST

And now the singing of the traditional cup-final hymn, Abide with Me. Each note sounds especially poignant this year, as tribute is paid to Ray Wilkins. The much-loved midfielder, who served both of these clubs with class, quality and distinction, passed away last month. Two huge banners picturing Wilkins flutter in the gentle summer breeze: dressed in Chelsea blue on one, lifting the cup for United on the other. That trophy will be presented today by his widow Jackie. Wilkins won the trophy three times as assistant manager of Chelsea, in 2000, 2009 and 2010, and as a player for United in 1983 when he did this:

5.03pm BST

Pre-match singalong. Nobody releases cup-final songs any more, which on balance is probably a good thing. Still, you can’t help feeling something’s been lost along the way. Here’s some beige period footage of Chelsea recording one back in the day (for the 1972 League Cup final, but let’s not start pulling at threads).

4.58pm BST

It’s a glorious day at Wembley. The vibes coming off the two managers: not so sunny. Both appeared a little downbeat, perhaps feeling the pressure ahead of a game that, if lost, will guarantee them opprobrium a-plenty. Both launched defences of their season’s work, though neither made their case with any great verve or passion. Life imitating art, hey. Mourinho also made sure everyone knew that Lukaku had declared himself not fit enough to start. Another agenda-setting masterclass. You have to love him.

4.46pm BST

Jose Mourinho speaks! “Lukaku has decided he is not ready to start, but is ready to give us some help. One thing is to start a match and play for 90 minutes, another is to be on the bench and play a few minutes. And that’s what he told us he was ready to do. We change Romelu with Marcus Rashford. Of course they are two different players but he will play in the same position with different qualities. It is not fair and not my philosophy as a manager to put the responsibility on one player, we have to defend and attack as a team, and Marcus is just one of them. It is better to win that lose, it is much more beautiful, but it is not fair to analyse my players and what they did during the season because of one result. They are one of the two best teams in the two most important domestic competitions in a very difficult country with lots of very good teams. So I think they did a positive season. Can we win? Let’s try everything.”

4.37pm BST

Antonio Conte speaks! “We have worked very hard to prepare for this game. The result of the last game was not positive, and the team have to play in a better way if they want to win this final. It is normal to send messages of positivity to the group, but the best way to do that is to work, and we prepare that way. Our starting XI is the same team we played against Liverpool two weeks ago. It is the best formation, the best XI for us today. I don’t think we have had a disappointing season, finishing fifth can happen in England. It is a great achievement to play two finals in a row in this important competition; now we have to change the result of last season.”

4.30pm BST

Chelsea make three changes to the team that didn’t turn up at Newcastle on the final day of the Premier League last Sunday. Andreas Christensen, Emerson and Ross Barkley make way for Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso and Cesc Fabregas.

4.20pm BST

Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Rudiger, Moses, Fabregas, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso, Hazard, Giroud.
Subs: Caballero, Barkley, Morata, Pedro, Zappacosta, Willian, Chalobah.

4.00pm BST

Chelsea are hoping to avoid becoming the first club to lose back-to-back finals since Newcastle United in the late 1990s. Antonio Conte will be desperate to avoid becoming the first manager to taste defeat in consecutive finals since Howard Kendall in the mid 80s. His side were in decent form for a while back there, with a five-game that took them to this final and within a sniff of fourth place in the League. But then came a home draw with Huddersfield and a miserable no-show at Newcastle. Conte has looked short of energy, his team listless. It’ll be a miserable end to the season if they can’t raise themselves one last time.

But United didn’t have a great deal of late-season momentum either. They finished their Premier League card with a defeat at Brighton, a goalless draw at West Ham, and a nondescript home win over Watford. Though to be fair, second place had long been in the bag. A trophy would throw different light on a season during which Mourinho has copped flak from his own punters for his style of play. It’ll be a miserable end to the season if they can’t raise themselves one last time.

1.30pm BST

Welcome to our coverage of the 2018 FA Cup final. It’ll be the 137th staging of English football’s showpiece match, the third time it’s been contested between Chelsea and Manchester United, and the first to make use of the popular Video Assistant Referee feature. Throw in Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho on the touchline, and this could be a whole world of fun.

The clubs first met in the final in 1994. Sir Alex Ferguson’s first great United side had swanned their way to the Premiership, and were favourites to beat Chelsea, who had finished Glenn Hoddle’s first season in charge as player-manager in 14th position. Favourites, though not hot favourites, because Chelsea had beaten United home and away in the League, Gavin Peacock scoring the only goal on each occasion.

13: Arsenal
12: Manchester United
8: Tottenham Hotspur
7: Aston Villa, Liverpool, Chelsea
6: Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United
5: Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Manchester City

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Published on May 19, 2018 11:40

Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United: 2018 FA Cup final - as it happened

Eden Hazard’s first-half penalty was enough to seal an eighth FA Cup for Chelsea

7.40pm BST

Antonio Conte continues to cavort on the field, waving what could be some valedictory silverware. So there’s no word from him. Yet. No doubt there will be more to say about his position in the near future. Will he stay or go? All we can say for sure is that the FA Cup hasn’t done much for managerial longevity in the last couple of years, given what happened to Louis van Gaal and Arsene Wenger after winning it. Anyway, thanks for reading. Congratulations to Chelsea, as they join Spurs as the third most successful club in FA Cup history with their eighth win; commiserations to Manchester United as they remain stuck in second, one behind Arsenal on 12. The last word to our number one Daniel Taylor, who was at Wembley today, and filed the following report. Bye!

7.32pm BST

Jose Mourinho speaks. “I congratulate them because they won, but I don’t think they deserve to win. I congratulate because I am a sportsman. They score one more goal than us and they get the cup, and I have to do what my job asks me to do: I am the Manchester United manager and I have to be respectful, not just because they were my previous club, but because they are the opponent that won the cup. But I think we deserved to win, we were the best team, but that’s football. I am curious to know what you say, what people write, because I can imagine if my team played like Chelsea did, I can imagine what everyone will say. I am quite curious. But I am on holiday. I gave everything I could, I know the players gave everything, it was hard for us to play without Lukaku against a team who play nine players in the box, you need that presence. They are not stupid, they know without Lukaku we don’t have a presence, without Fellaini we don’t have a presence, so with eight or nine players in the box, they knew they were going to be dominant. For me the image of the game is that David de Gea didn’t touch the ball. We did everything, we tried, it’s the kind of defeat, while it hurts, we gave everything, no regrets.”

7.25pm BST

The prize-giving ceremony. United go up to collect their runners-up medals, grim-faced to a man. Commiserations to them. Then it’s the turn of Chelsea, who climb the steps to lift their shiny new trophy. It’s awarded to a jubilant Gary Cahill by Jackie Wilkins, the widow of Chelsea and United legend Ray. Blue is the Colour blasts out of the PA. Ticker tape rains down. And eventually Antonio Conte - beaming, vindicated - takes his turn to hoist it. Plenty of cheering all round ... with the defeated United team sportingly looking on.

7.19pm BST

The match-winner Eden Hazard speaks! “We tried to defend well. We scored one goal, it’s enough today. Though if we want to win a lot of games, we need to play better, because we just played defensively. But we won it and we are happy.” He’s then asked about his future. “Now I’m just happy. We didn’t play a great season, but we finished well.”

7.16pm BST

Gary Cahill speaks! “It’s unbelievable. This was to save our season. I’m not saying we’ve had a magnificent season by any stretch, but we have to try to win things. We had a lot of defending to do. They pushed us to the line. We’re buzzing, we got the job done. This is a dream come true, as this is the first one as captain.” He’s then asked if he wants Conte to be here next season: “Listen, we needed to achieve this goal for everybody, no matter what happens in the future. We’re not in control of that as players. I’m sure the club and himself will make the best decision. Who knows what’s going to happen?”

7.13pm BST

OK, it wasn’t a classic. But should Chelsea care? Nope! They’ve just won the FA Cup for the eighth time in their history! It’s the first cup victory on Conte’s managerial CV. And a first domestic cup defeat in England for Mourinho. Chelsea were the better side in the first half, and defended with great purpose in the second. United only really showed what they could do after the restart. But chances were at a premium for both sides, and Pogba missed United’s golden opportunity to equalise with that free header in the closing stages. Chelsea were the deserved winners, even if the contest was tight.

7.08pm BST

Yep! Chelsea have won the 2018 FA Cup! On the touchline, Conte leaps around in joy ... before giving his old foe Mourinho a hug.

7.07pm BST

90 min +5: Willian threatens to burst clear down the left. Mata is forced to toe-poke out for a corner. That’s surely it.

7.06pm BST

90 min +4: Now Mata crosses from the right ... and forces Moses to eyebrow out for a corner ... which is sent straight down the throat of Courtois!

7.05pm BST

90 min +3: Valencia crosses high from the right. Matic goes up to meet it, but his header flies harmlessly high and wide right. Courtois is booked for taking an age over the resulting goal kick.

7.04pm BST

90 min +2: Chelsea continue to keep United pressed deep in their own half.

7.03pm BST

90 min +1: Willian’s first act is to run at United down the left. He can’t break clear into the box, but United need a goal and they’re being pressed back at the wrong end of the pitch.

7.02pm BST

90 min: Hazard bursts down the left, a gorgeous ball-on-string dribble in the circumstances, and wins a corner off Mata. It gives them opportunity to faff in the corner. They win a throw. Then Willian comes on for Hazard. A brave call if United force an equaliser and take the match to extra time ... and there’s five extra minutes to be added!

7.01pm BST

89 min: Morata comes on for the very hard-working Giroud.

7.00pm BST

88 min: Young slips a pass down the inside-left for Sanchez, just inside the box but with his back to goal. There’s a sea of blue shirts behind him. Sanchez lays off to Martial, who tries to float one, George Best style, into the net from a daft angle on the left. It flies harmlessly over the bar.

6.59pm BST

87 min: Mata comes on for Jones. It’s fair to say this is symbolic of a change of artistic intention.

6.58pm BST

86 min: Hazard and Fabregas take the ball for a walk down the right. Their perambulations eat up 60 seconds or so.

6.57pm BST

85 min: Sanchez sends a low fizzer wide left from 20 yards. He wants a corner for a deflection - he is livid - but he’s not going to get it.

6.57pm BST

84 min: Wembley is a very tense place. United are pressing Chelsea back again, but still there’s no way through.

6.55pm BST

82 min: This is end-to-end now. Hazard dribbles down the Chelsea left but is stopped by Smalling. Martial threatens to break down the United left and earns a corner. From which Pogba is found, alone on the penalty spot, but he sends his free header wide right when it was surely easier to get something, anything, on target! He holds his head in his hands. What a chance that was!

6.53pm BST

80 min: Matic shoots from 25 yards. It’s a rising missile, and Courtois does very well to punch it around the post. From the corner, Martial has a dig from the edge of the box. Azpilicueta gets in the way and the deflected shot loops into the hands of the keeper.

6.51pm BST

79 min: Jones is back on. A rare period of possession for Chelsea. They stroke it around the middle in the professional, clock-bothering style. How they’ve needed this, in the face of United’s near relentless attack since the restart.

6.49pm BST

77 min: At first, Giroud looked to have come off worse, but he’s up and about soon enough. Jones has cut his head open, though, and needs taping up. He’s off getting those running repairs.

6.48pm BST

75 min: Valencia robs Alonso down the right and tees up Martial, whose shot is deflected softly into Courtois’ arms. Then up the field, Giroud is nutted in the back of the head by Jones as the pair contest a high ball. Ooyah, oof.

6.46pm BST

73 min: Lingard puts Rashford clear down the inside-right channel. Rashford draws Courtois but his shot is tipped away by the keeper. A wonderful save. At which point United make a change, Lingard and Rashford making way for Martial and Lukaku.

6.45pm BST

71 min: A huge chance for Chelsea to score a second! Kante drives at the United box, then feeds Alonso on his right. Alonso takes too long and shoots low towards the near corner, and de Gea’s not going to be beaten from there. He parries. Moses latches onto the loose ball, to the right of goal, and tries to flick it past Young. The ball hits Young’s arm, which moved a little towards the ball. The decision goes to VAR, but there’s no penalty given. Perhaps Young was too close to act, but that’s a contentious decision all right. There’ll be debates of course, but it looked like a penalty.

6.41pm BST

69 min: Lingard earns a United corner down the right. What follows is not much cop. But since coming out for the second half revived, United have done everything but score.

6.40pm BST

67 min: Young goes down the left and is blocked by Azpilicueta. He doesn’t get the free kick, and takes out his frustration by getting up in the Chelsea player’s grille. For a split second, it threatens to boil over. Play nicely, everyone.

6.39pm BST

66 min: This is still all United. Valencia tries to break clear down the right, but can’t find a gap in the blue line. Chelsea surely can’t keep soaking up this pressure, though. They’re giving the ball away with metronomic regularity.

6.37pm BST

64 min: A brief pause as Courtois recovers from that good old stretch, while the offside decision is checked by the VAR. It’s fine. We play on.

6.36pm BST

63 min: Rashford is bowled over on the right. Free kick, which he takes himself. Jones, on the penalty spot, guides a header towards the bottom right. It’s heading in! But Courtois stretches to claw it out. However, Sanchez is lurking, and knees the rebound into the net. He wheels off to celebrate ... but the flag goes up for offside. It’s the correct decision, though it was very close.

6.34pm BST

61 min: Rudiger lashes a long pass down the left wing. Hazard scampers after it, races along the touchline, and then zips down the byline. It’s like a game of Amidar. He thrashes a shot-cum-cross straight at de Gea, who handles well.

6.32pm BST

59 min: United are dominating possession and territory. Chelsea are finding it very hard to get out of their final third. And this time United are asking serious questions. Matic has a shot which bobbles harmlessly wide ... but they’re racking up some chances now. On the touchline, Mourinho applauds his men.

6.30pm BST

57 min: Pogba shoots and wins a corner ... from which Chelsea break upfield. Hazard tears past Herrera, then cuts inside, past Valencia. He’s upended, and that’s Valencia in the book.

6.29pm BST

56 min: Herrera splits Chelsea’s back four with a slide-rule pass down the inside right that releases Valencia. The right back is clear in the area, but looks for a pullback instead of shooting. Rashford has a blast that’s parried by Courtois. Pogba tries again, but lifts a soft one into the keeper’s hands. This is miles better from United ... though Valencia might reflect that he really should have had a shot himself.

6.27pm BST

55 min: Chelsea are sitting deep and living dangerously. Lingard dribbles his way into the box and causes some bedlam. Chelsea half clear. Herrera slips a pass down the left and Young floats a chip over the bar from an ambitious angle.

6.25pm BST

53 min: Rashford curls a vicious free kick into the mixer. It might even have been a direct shot. Either way, Pogba rises but just misses his attempted header, six yards out. Courtois punches out bravely in the middle of a crowded box. United are on top here.

6.24pm BST

52 min: Young dribbles his way down the left and goes over the outstretched leg of Moses. That was a slightly cheeky one, he bought that very cheaply. It’s a free kick to the left of the Chelsea box, though, in a very dangerous position.

6.23pm BST

50 min: Hazard is down, having taken an accidental finger in the eye from Smalling in a midfield tussle. Or maybe it was a crack across the nose. Either way, he’ll be fine to continue. A splash of water on the face and a dap with a sponge will do the trick. Pleasingly old-fashioned treatment.

6.20pm BST

48 min: United have been first to pretty much everything since the break. Chelsea haven’t come out for the second half yet.

6.19pm BST

46 min: Pogba, dropping deep, spreads a lovely pass wide right for Rashford, who lays off to Sanchez, who slides the ball wide right for Valencia. The resulting attempt at a cross comes off Alonso then back off Valencia for a goal kick, but it looks like United are determined to play at a higher tempo. That was much better.

6.17pm BST

And we’re off again! Chelsea get the second half underway. No changes.

6.08pm BST

Half-time entertainment, courtesy of Norman ‘a song, a smile, a piano’ Long. As 78rpm platters go, Long’s 1928 release Why Is The Bacon So Tough? / Never Have A Bath With Your Wrist Watch On is hard to beat. But it’s cup final day, and Chelsea are playing, so here’s his 1933 classic On The Day That Chelsea Went And Won The Cup. The conceit doesn’t quite hold post 1970, admittedly, but let’s go with it. “The sun came out in Manchester and funny things like that ...”

6.04pm BST

Giroud nearly releases Hazard into the United box with a cute first-time cushioned pass. United flood up the other end, Pogba driving into the area from the left, Rashford miskicking at a chance from the penalty spot. Rudiger hacks clear, and the players trot off to the changing room for their half-time tactical de-brief. Those last 60 seconds of the half were the most exciting yet! Typical. Another 45 minutes like that, then, please!

6.01pm BST

45 min: ... United create their best chance of the game so far! The ball’s worked to Young, out on the left. He sends an inswinger to the far post. Jones rises highest, but can only head wide right from close range. A tight angle, to be fair.

6.00pm BST

44 min: Young drops a shoulder to circumvent Moses on the outside, but is cynically shoulder-barged to the floor. A free kick. It should have been a booking, but no. From the set piece, a corner. And from that ...

5.58pm BST

42 min: Matic, of all people, channels his inner Garrincha and nearly twinkle-toes his way through a small gap down the left. Chelsea shut that door quickly enough. United have done next to nothing in attack so far. On the touchline, Mourinho looks accordingly frustrated.

5.57pm BST

40 min: Fabregas hits the corner, from the left, long. De Gea rises and a telescopic arm extends to punch the ball away. Fine keeping with the likes of Giroud lurking with intent.

5.54pm BST

39 min: Hazard nips through a small gap between Pogba and Lingard, and is fouled by both of them at once. The resulting free kick is hoicked into the mixer, and Smalling is panicked enough to head straight out for a corner.

5.53pm BST

38 min: Pogba’s work earns United a corner on the left. Sanchez tries to curl a saucy one straight into the net, but Fabregas is guarding the near post and heads out for another corner. That second one goes straight down Courtois’ throat.

5.52pm BST

36 min: Fabregas batters one witlessly straight into the wall. This is not a classic. But there have been many worse finals over the years, and there’s still plenty of time to go.

5.51pm BST

35 min: Sanchez clips the heel of Bakayoko, who was threatening to break into the United box down the left. A free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the left of the D.

5.50pm BST

34 min: This is very bitty. Chelsea nudge the action up to the middle of the park, away from their goal, where both teams faff awhile.

5.48pm BST

32 min: A frustrated-looking Sanchez tries to blooter one in from 25 yards. It’s nowhere near the target.

5.47pm BST

31 min: United are dominating possession now. But it’s sterile domination at the moment. Chelsea’s back line is holding firm. There’s no way into the box.

5.45pm BST

29 min: United press Chelsea back a little. This has been their best spell of the match. Pogba drifts inside, but his shot flies harmlessly wide left. Courtois had it well covered anyway, despite the sun gleaming in his face.

5.43pm BST

27 min: Sanchez pulls the free kick back for Herrera, who shanks his shot dismally. But it dribbles straight back to Sanchez, who is able to curl in a cross for Pogba. The big man’s header clanks off Rudiger and that’s a corner ... which is wasted. But that’s a little bit better from United, who have seen plenty of the ball but not so much of it in Chelsea’s final third.

5.42pm BST

26 min: Pogba is fouled just to the left of the Chelsea area. A chance for United to finally work Courtois.

5.41pm BST

24 min: Well that got the crowd going. Wembley had been a little quiet before Hazard tore United in two with that glorious take and dribble. Chelsea wanted Jones sent off, but he was going for the ball, and the new double-jeopardy law saved him.

5.38pm BST

Once Jones is booked for his unique contribution, Hazard steps up and strokes the ball into the bottom right. Has there been a cooler cup-final penalty since the days of Eric Cantona?

5.37pm BST

21 min: I knew that would do it. Fabregas, deep in his own half, strokes a glorious ball down the inside-right channel. Hazard, cutting in, stuns it with one touch, tearing down the field. He enters the box, and is brought crashing down by Jones, who tries to toe-poke the ball away but falls over, spins through 180 degrees, and ends up felling Hazard with his back.

5.35pm BST

20 min: This final hasn’t got going yet.

5.34pm BST

18 min: Sanchez goes on a determined dribble down the centre. For a second, it looks as though Chelsea’s defence will be prised open by his ball-glued-to-boot stylings, but the door shuts on the edge of the box. That was a fine run.

5.33pm BST

16 min: Up the other end, Sanchez claims a penalty after a brush with Moses, who was busy falling down behind him. He then goes down near Azpilicueta’s trailing leg, but there didn’t seem much contact either. To be fair to Sanchez, his appeals weren’t particularly vocal.

5.31pm BST

14 min: Bakayoko tries to turn Matic on the edge of the United box, then falls inside it. He wants a penalty, because Matic’s hand was lightly on his back. Older fans who remember the Sinclair-Kanchelskis decision in 1994 would have been hoping for a little karmic payback, but it’s not coming.

5.28pm BST

13 min: United have yet to find theirs, though. Young is seeing quite a bit of the ball out on the left, but his deep, looping cross here is easily snaffled by Courtois.

5.28pm BST

11 min: Moses, tight on the right touchline, hooks a lovely first-time pass down the channel for Giroud. United’s defence is split open ... but Giroud’s been flagged offside. Chelsea are slowly finding a little rhythm.

5.26pm BST

9 min: The resulting free kick is worked wide left to Young. His cross is headed clear by Cahill. The ball’s then misplaced in midfield by Jones, allowing Sanchez to skedaddle down the middle at pace. He drifts left and drops a shoulder to pass the half-recovering Jones, then fires for the bottom left. De Gea sticks a leg out to stop. A lovely run and a fine save.

5.24pm BST

8 min: Chelsea press a little, but go nowhere. United break back upfield through Sanchez and then Lingard, who is brought down by Kante. Young isn’t happy about it at all, but the referee awards a free kick and nothing else.

5.23pm BST

6 min: It’s been a nervous start by both teams. Nothing’s happening at all. Some light speculative sparring. Probably not the best time for Hubert O’Hearn to proselytise for the FA Cup, but here he goes anyway: “When I was growing up in Canada and the FA Cup Final was the only live football match the CBC broadcast, I always thought that this was the highest achievement a club could win. Years pass. Well, to paraphrase Oscar Levant upon hearing of the passing of George Gershwin, I have heard that the FA Cup is dead, but I don’t have to believe it if I don’t want to. This is the true champiosnhip of all of England, not just a 20-team Division.”

5.20pm BST

4 min: Otherwise, it’s been a slow, studious start with players seemingly happy just to get their first touch of the ball. United are seeing a little bit more of it, though to no great effect yet.

5.17pm BST

2 min: Alonso dribbles down the left and is bundled over from behind by the ever-busy Herrera. A free kick, and a chance for Chelsea to load the box. Fabregas takes, but it’s an awful delivery, floating straight into the grateful arms of de Gea.

5.16pm BST

And we’re off! United get the party started. Young launches it long down the left. Courtois claims it. The keeper’s peering into fierce sun, without a cap. Good luck, then. “I’m going for a classic,” predicts Simon McMahon. “1-0 United. Or 1-0 Chelsea. But either way, done in the classic style.”

5.13pm BST

The teams are out! Both teams are able to wear their famous colours: Chelsea are in blue, United in red. The national anthem is belted out. The crowd roars. Pitchside flamethrowers blast away theatrically. The RAF fly past. We’ll be off in a minute!

5.08pm BST

And now the singing of the traditional cup-final hymn, Abide with Me. Each note sounds especially poignant this year, as tribute is paid to Ray Wilkins. The much-loved midfielder, who served both of these clubs with class, quality and distinction, passed away last month. Two huge banners picturing Wilkins flutter in the gentle summer breeze: dressed in Chelsea blue on one, lifting the cup for United on the other. That trophy will be presented today by his widow Jackie. Wilkins won the trophy three times as assistant manager of Chelsea, in 2000, 2009 and 2010, and as a player for United in 1983 when he did this:

5.03pm BST

Pre-match singalong. Nobody releases cup-final songs any more, which on balance is probably a good thing. Still, you can’t help feeling something’s been lost along the way. Here’s some beige period footage of Chelsea recording one back in the day (for the 1972 League Cup final, but let’s not start pulling at threads).

4.58pm BST

It’s a glorious day at Wembley. The vibes coming off the two managers: not so sunny. Both appeared a little downbeat, perhaps feeling the pressure ahead of a game that, if lost, will guarantee them opprobrium a-plenty. Both launched defences of their season’s work, though neither made their case with any great verve or passion. Life imitating art, hey. Mourinho also made sure everyone knew that Lukaku had declared himself not fit enough to start. Another agenda-setting masterclass. You have to love him.

4.46pm BST

Jose Mourinho speaks! “Lukaku has decided he is not ready to start, but is ready to give us some help. One thing is to start a match and play for 90 minutes, another is to be on the bench and play a few minutes. And that’s what he told us he was ready to do. We change Romelu with Marcus Rashford. Of course they are two different players but he will play in the same position with different qualities. It is not fair and not my philosophy as a manager to put the responsibility on one player, we have to defend and attack as a team, and Marcus is just one of them. It is better to win that lose, it is much more beautiful, but it is not fair to analyse my players and what they did during the season because of one result. They are one of the two best teams in the two most important domestic competitions in a very difficult country with lots of very good teams. So I think they did a positive season. Can we win? Let’s try everything.”

4.37pm BST

Antonio Conte speaks! “We have worked very hard to prepare for this game. The result of the last game was not positive, and the team have to play in a better way if they want to win this final. It is normal to send messages of positivity to the group, but the best way to do that is to work, and we prepare that way. Our starting XI is the same team we played against Liverpool two weeks ago. It is the best formation, the best XI for us today. I don’t think we have had a disappointing season, finishing fifth can happen in England. It is a great achievement to play two finals in a row in this important competition; now we have to change the result of last season.”

4.30pm BST

Chelsea make three changes to the team that didn’t turn up at Newcastle on the final day of the Premier League last Sunday. Andreas Christensen, Emerson and Ross Barkley make way for Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso and Cesc Fabregas.

4.20pm BST

Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Rudiger, Moses, Fabregas, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso, Hazard, Giroud.
Subs: Caballero, Barkley, Morata, Pedro, Zappacosta, Willian, Chalobah.

4.00pm BST

Chelsea are hoping to avoid becoming the first club to lose back-to-back finals since Newcastle United in the late 1990s. Antonio Conte will be desperate to avoid becoming the first manager to taste defeat in consecutive finals since Howard Kendall in the mid 80s. His side were in decent form for a while back there, with a five-game that took them to this final and within a sniff of fourth place in the League. But then came a home draw with Huddersfield and a miserable no-show at Newcastle. Conte has looked short of energy, his team listless. It’ll be a miserable end to the season if they can’t raise themselves one last time.

But United didn’t have a great deal of late-season momentum either. They finished their Premier League card with a defeat at Brighton, a goalless draw at West Ham, and a nondescript home win over Watford. Though to be fair, second place had long been in the bag. A trophy would throw different light on a season during which Mourinho has copped flak from his own punters for his style of play. It’ll be a miserable end to the season if they can’t raise themselves one last time.

1.30pm BST

Welcome to our coverage of the 2018 FA Cup final. It’ll be the 137th staging of English football’s showpiece match, the third time it’s been contested between Chelsea and Manchester United, and the first to make use of the popular Video Assistant Referee feature. Throw in Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho on the touchline, and this could be a whole world of fun.

The clubs first met in the final in 1994. Sir Alex Ferguson’s first great United side had swanned their way to the Premiership, and were favourites to beat Chelsea, who had finished Glenn Hoddle’s first season in charge as player-manager in 14th position. Favourites, though not hot favourites, because Chelsea had beaten United home and away in the League, Gavin Peacock scoring the only goal on each occasion.

13: Arsenal
12: Manchester United
8: Tottenham Hotspur
7: Aston Villa, Liverpool, Chelsea
6: Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United
5: Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Everton, Manchester City

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Published on May 19, 2018 11:40

Marseille 0-3 Atlético Madrid: 2018 Europa League final – as it happened

Antoine Griezmann was Atletico’s two-goal hero as Diego Simeone’s ruthless side dispatched Marseille

Read Jonathan Wilson’s match report

10.09pm BST

Our man Jonathan Wilson was in Lyon. Here’s his match report.

10.01pm BST

This victory puts Atletico into joint second place on the Uefa Cup / Europa League roll of honour:

5: Sevilla
3: Juventus, Internazionale, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid
2: Borussia Monchengladbach, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid, Goteborg, Parma, Feyenoord, Porto

9.53pm BST

And here come the 2018 Europa League winners: Atletico Madrid! Having lost a couple of Champions League finals in recent seasons, this is a huge release of emotion for quite a few of these players. Fernando Torres, of course, but this is the first trophy Antoine Griezmann has won for Atletico too. Gabi takes possession of the trophy and raises it ... generously allowing Torres to share the moment! The red-and-white ticker tape showers down, as the players bounce like they’ve never bounced before.

9.50pm BST

A few of the Marseille players in tears, as you’d expect in these circumstances. But they’re magnanimous in defeat, too, embracing their opponents and offering congratulations. Plenty of smiling Atletico men, though, as Eric Abidal carries the trophy to the presentation plinth. They form a guard of honour as the officials walk up to receive their medals, but mainly so they can applaud the 2018 Europa League runners-up Marseille. Bittersweet scenes. Poor Dimitri Payet, tears still stinging his eyes, takes off his medal the second it’s draped around his neck. In addition to tonight’s disappointment, his World Cup chances now hang in the balance.

9.43pm BST

Atletico cavort around the pitch, their fans singing their praises. Though it’s difficult to hear them, because Uefa are blasting some very intrusive music over the PA. Has somebody let Ofenbach back in? Joyous scenes nonetheless! Sad ones for Marseille, though. Atletico were deserved champions, having bossed that match since the 21st minute, when they were gifted the lead by Andre Zambo Anguissa’s terrible mistake. Antoine Griezmann scored two clinical goals, and that was pretty much that, Gabi embellishing the scoreline right at the end. But 0-3 doesn’t tell the whole story: Valere Germain missed a golden opportunity in the early exchanges, Dimitri Payet was forced off injured, and Kostas Mitroglou was so close to scoring with a towering header. It just wasn’t their night.

9.37pm BST

And that’s it! Atletico Madrid are the Europa League champions for the third time!

9.36pm BST

90 min: And to huge, emotional cheers, here comes Fernando Torres! The one-time teenage captain of Atletico replaces the two-goal hero Griezmann. He’s finally going to win a major trophy with the club he’s supported since the age of five!

9.35pm BST

This puts the tin lid and pretty bow on it. Atletico stream forward, Marseille having committed too many men forward. Grizemann spreads a pass wide left for Costa, who cuts back for Koke. Koke switches play towards Gabi, coming in from the right. Gabi lashes low and hard, across Mandanda, and into the bottom right. What a goal! What a performance by this wonderfully relentless Atletico Madrid side.

9.33pm BST

88 min: Atletico make their second change of the night. Partey comes on for Correa. Will we see Torres?

9.32pm BST

87 min: Not sure how this is still 0-2. First up, Sarr and Rami take turns to gift possession to Atletico, just outside their own box. Diego Costa’s eventual shot is no good. Then up the other end, Njie is teed up just inside the area, but shanks an awful effort out for a throw.

9.29pm BST

85 min: Marseille’s fans, to their eternal credit, are giving it plenty. It just hasn’t been their team’s night. Unless a story for the ages is about to be written.

9.28pm BST

83 min: Space for Sarr down the right. But his cutback isn’t all that. The ball’s half cleared. Amavi decides to have a thrash from 25 yards. He sends a sweet fizzer goalwards, through a thicket of players. But Oblak is a model of concentration, and gathers a very difficult low bouncer.

9.27pm BST

81 min: And the luck’s with them, too. Because Marseille are an inch away from getting back into this final. Sanson curls a cross in from the right. Mitroglou rises highest, ten yards out, and plants a downwards header towards the bottom left. Oblak is beaten all ends up, but the ball bounces off the bottom of the left-hand post, across the face of goal, and is hacked clear. That’s so unfortunate, it was a beautiful header, a combination of power and precision, perfectly timed. It deserved a goal.

9.25pm BST

80 min: But their heads have gone. A loose pass in the midfield allows Griezmann to scamper goalwards. Nothing comes of that move, but Lucas takes up possession and is barged to the floor by Njie. A free kick, and a chance for Atletico to allow the clock to run down some more. They’ve been ruthless and rather brilliant since being gifted the opener.

9.23pm BST

78 min: Njie is booked for rather petulantly flicking a hand towards the face of Lucas. Marseille need to calm down if they’re to have any chance of a dramatic comeback.

9.22pm BST

77 min: Griezmann sends Costa scampering with intent down the inside-left channel. For a second, it looks like he’s shaping to hit a screaming, dipping, diagonal volley towards the right-hand portion of the goal. But he decides against it, and the chance to do something, anything is gone.

9.20pm BST

76 min: Gustavo is booked after blocking Gabi as the Atletico captain hugs the right touchline. It’s a foul, nothing more, but he’s talked himself into the book for arguing the toss with the linesman. The resulting free kick is wasted.

9.19pm BST

74 min: Germain, who passed up that early chance for Marseille, is sacrificed for Mitroglou. The last throw of the dice.

9.18pm BST

73 min: But there’s another one coming along soon enough, as Correa busies himself on the right. This one leads to an extended period of ball-hogging, the highlight of which being a glorious crossfield pass by Diego Costa. Atletico have seized back total control.

9.15pm BST

71 min: Griezmann curls the set piece into the box. Saul tries to guide a header into the top left. it comes off Gustavo for a corner, from which Koke crosses deep from the left. Mandanda is forced to tip an unpredictable dipper over. Another corner, then, this time on the right. And that one’s nothing to write home about at all.

9.14pm BST

69 min: Gustavo has a good old hack at Griezmann’s ankles. He should go in the book, but doesn’t. A free kick to Atletico, though, just outside the Marseille box on the left.

9.13pm BST

67 min: After a very quiet period, Marseille are giving this one last shot. Sanson fights his way down the right and tries to hook into the centre from a tight spot. Not quite: the cross sails over the crossbar. But at least Atletico have been given something to think about.

9.11pm BST

66 min: From the corner, Njie has a crack, but it’s blocked by Griezmann. And then another phase of attack, as Lopez dinks into the box from deep. The ball drops to Sanson, who leans back and hoicks over.

9.10pm BST

65 min: This is better from Marseille. Lopez makes space down the right and hooks inside. Thauvin’s header isn’t all that, and Oblak should claim, but Juanfran slices out for a corner instead. A rare miscommunication in the Atletico defence.

9.08pm BST

63 min: Sanson tries to strip Saul of his trousers in a midfield tussle. He doesn’t quite succeed, though he really should be going in the book.

9.07pm BST

61 min: Ocampos has ranted himself out, and is now slumped on the bench in Quiet Fume mode. His fume serves as a decent metaphor for Marseille themselves: totally spent, they don’t look as though they have a comeback in them. Still, stranger things have happened. But they need to do something soon.

9.05pm BST

60 min: Lucas dribbles with great purpose down the left. He nearly breaks clear for a shot, but settles for a corner. His determination wins a high five from Koke, who nearly knocks him over backwards with the gesture. The corner is a complete waste of time, mind, but there’s a picture of a team who aren’t planning to take their foot off the gas just yet.

9.03pm BST

58 min: Atletico are bossing it in every department right now. They’re pinging the ball around in very pretty triangles, Griezmann, Costa and Koke at the heart of everything. Marseille by comparison are struggling to string two passes together.

9.00pm BST

56 min: Ocampos takes up his position on the Marseille bench, ranting in the expressive style. He’s really not happy.

8.59pm BST

55 min: A disgruntled Ocampos - who has been one of Marseille’s better performers - is hooked. Clinton Njie, once of Tottenham Hotspur, comes on in his stead.

8.58pm BST

53 min: And from this one, Godin flashes a header wide right from close range. He should probably have wrapped this up, right there. Marseille are clinging on for dear life.

8.57pm BST

52 min: From the set piece, the ball’s worked to Griezmann, who has the smell of a hat-trick in his nostrils. His shot, from the right-hand edge of the D, is deflected wide right for another corner.

8.56pm BST

51 min: Marseille are on the rack now. They need to clear their heads, because when Costa tries to break into the box from the left, Rami comes across and nearly slices a clearance backwards and over his own keeper, into the top right. Corner.

8.55pm BST

This was so simple. A huge hole in the Marseille midfield. Koke romps into it, and slips a ball down the inside-right for Griezmann. The striker buzzes into the box, draws Mandanda, and half-dinks, half-strokes the ball past the keeper and into the bottom left. What a gorgeous finish!

8.53pm BST

48 min: Correa cuts in from the right, having exchanged passes with Costa. Sarr does very well to stop him when, for a second, another goal looked on the cards. But it’s a futile gesture, because ...

8.53pm BST

47 min: A slow start to the second half. On the touchline, Atletico assistant coach German Burgos pulls on an extra gilet as the rain comes down in stair rods. Right now, Diego Simeone will be pleased he’s banned from the touchline and banished to the dry stand.

8.50pm BST

So here we go again! Atletico get the party restarted, having swapped off the already-booked Vrsaljko for Juanfran. Taking no chances. It’s tipping down in Lyon.

8.42pm BST

Half-time eulogy. One of England’s heroes of 1966 passed away today. Here’s Richard Williams on the unassuming but brilliant Ramon Wilson.

8.36pm BST

And that’s that for the first half. It couldn’t have gone much worse for Marseille, who spurned an early gilt-edged chance, gave up the cheapest of goals, and lost their influential captain Dimitri Payet to injury. Atletico are 45 minutes away from their third Europa League trophy.

8.35pm BST

45 min: Thauvin is down now. He’s taken a deflected clearance flush in his trouser arrangement. Ooyah, oof.

8.32pm BST

44 min: Griezmann drops deep, and very nearly threads a pass down the left to release Costa into the Marseille box. Sarr does extremely well to spot what’s going on and intercept. For a second, there was very real danger on the cards.

8.31pm BST

42 min: Marseille have totally lost their rhythm since the loss of Payet. Atletico look in control of this game now. Ocampos tries to Garrincha his way into the Atletico box from the left; it’s a nice run, but there’s simply too many red-and-white shirts to diddle his way past. No way through.

8.28pm BST

40 min: There’s loads of smoke billowing across the pitch again. Either a fan has let off a flare, or Ofenbach have returned with their decks. Those house DJs are a menace to society.

8.27pm BST

38 min: And it’s a free kick, of course. It’s basically a corner from the right. Koke whips it in, and Godin clanks a header miles over the bar from close range.

8.26pm BST

37 min: Amavi and Correa contest a 50-50 with a couple of dainty high-kicks. Correa goes down and rolls around quite a bit. There’s nothing in that, but Amavi is clearly frustrated because, as play restarts and Vrsaljko romps down the right, he comes across and clatters him to such an extent that a yellow card is a no-brainer.

8.24pm BST

35 min: Sanson looks to break quickly upfield with Atletico light at the back. He bursts past Gabi, but the Atletico captain is brushed and goes down cutely to win a free kick that puts a stop to Marseille’s gallop. The crowd - the majority supporting Marseille - go wild.

8.22pm BST

34 min: Lopez is immediately in the action, chasing after a pass slipped down the right by the impressively relentless Sarr. There’s too much juice on the ball and it flies out of play for a goal kick.

8.21pm BST

32 min: Yep, he’s taking his armband off. The poor chap is in floods of tears as he limps off. Maxime Lopez comes on in his stead. That’s a huge blow for Marseille, whose world has fallen apart in the last ten minutes.

8.20pm BST

31 min: The game’s paused, as Payet is down, holding that troublesome thigh. Oh no. This could be terrible luck for the Marseille captain.

8.18pm BST

29 min: Sarr clatters into the back of Lucas Hernandez. Free kick in the middle of the park. Atletico take an age over it, withdrawing a little of the sting from the game. They’re streetwise all right.

8.15pm BST

27 min: Thauvin finds a bit of space on the right and loops into the Atletico box. Oblak rises and gathers with confidence. This game is nothing if not end to end.

8.14pm BST

26 min: And now a free kick for Atletico, out on the right. Koke takes, and finds Correa on the right-hand corner of the six-yard box. He swivels and shoots first time. Mandanda collects, and the flag’s up for offside anyway.

8.13pm BST

24 min: Payet lifts the resulting free kick into the Atletico mixer. There’s a game of head tennis, and then from the middle of the melee, Ocampo tries to loop a header into the top right. It forces Oblak to scamper back in panic, but it’s always going over. Goal kick.

8.12pm BST

23 min: Ocampos tries to respond by bombing down the left. He’s shoulder-blocked by Vrsaljko, who is booked for his cynicism.

8.11pm BST

So having said that, naturally Atletico take the lead. And what a mistake in the Marseille defence. Mandanda rolls a pass out to Zambo Anguissa, who takes a horrible swipe at the ball and shanks it to Gabi. He immediately, and very cleverly, slips it forward to Griezmann. The striker has a clear run at goal from 30 yards. He’s not looking this gift horse in the mouth, and slips a low shot into the bottom left. And after Marseille starting so well, too.

8.08pm BST

20 min: Thauvin, deep on the right, looks to find Ocampos in the Atletico area with a curler towards the far post. He’s not far off. Oblak claims, but Marseille are causing Atletico quite a few problems here.

8.07pm BST

19 min: Payet tries to Le Tissier a dropping ball into the net from 30 yards, with a lazy waft of his wand-like leg. Not quite as easy as the old Southampton legend used to make it look, that skill.

8.06pm BST

17 min: Ocampos bursts down the left. For a second, it looks as though he’ll make it all the way to the box, but he’s ushered inside into traffic and the move breaks down. In the middle, the heavily involved Koke ensures the lurking Germain doesn’t get anywhere near a speculative cross.

8.04pm BST

15 min: But Atletico come straight back at Marseille. This time a half-clearance falls to Koke, who acrobatically leaps high and flicks a volley towards the top left from distance. It’s always going wide, but that’s their first shot in anger.

8.02pm BST

14 min: ... and loops it harmlessly into the area. Luiz Gustavo clears.

8.01pm BST

13 min: Zambo Anguissa clumsily bundles Correa to the ground, just to the right of the Marseille area. A chance for Atletico to load the box. Koke stands over the set piece ...

8.00pm BST

12 min: Sarr strides forward down the inside-right channel and unleashes a creamy low diagonal drive inches wide of the left-hand post. Oblak had that one covered, though.

8.00pm BST

11 min: Marseille are enjoying the lion’s share of possession so far. Atletico, the more experienced European campaigners, look strangely out of sorts. They can’t string more than a couple of passes together at the moment.

7.59pm BST

9 min: Diego Costa clatters into Rami, having glanced at the Marseille defender with intent before making the hit. It’s a foul, nothing more, a good old-fashioned clump to let someone know what’s what. But the referee gives him a bollocking anyway, perhaps pointing out that there are limits, and the notoriously cheeky striker would do well to stay within them.

7.56pm BST

7 min: Atletico launch their first meaningful attack of the match, Correa and Griezmann combining down the inside-right to half-decent effect. But Marseille hold their line and Atletico can’t break through it. Meanwhile here’s Thomas Jenkins: “I can understand why one would want to give one’s younger self a bit of a slap on the back for choosing Atletico over the big bad Real, but it must be a bit much for fans of Getafe, Rayo, Leganes and the other lesser Madrid teams to hear Torres name a massive club like Atletico the difficult choice. Not to be a meanie, it’s a sweet story. He said, being a meanie.”

7.54pm BST

6 min: Koke brings down Saar out on the Marseille right. The free kick’s hoicked into the mixer, and only half cleared by an uncharacteristically shaky Atletico. Rami meets the ball, 20 yards out, and sends it whistling wide of the right-hand post. Not far off, and had that been on target, Oblak might have been in a little trouble.

7.53pm BST

4 min: What a chance for Marseille to take an early lead. Payet and Thauvin play a long-distance one-two in the midfield. The former bursts towards the Atletico box, and slips a pass down the inside-right channel to release Germain into the area! He’s only got Oblak to beat, but leans back and blooters a wild, panicky effort miles over the bar. That really should be 1-0 to the French side.

7.51pm BST

2 min: The smoke is still billowing across the field of play. This is a complete nonsense. Through the 1940s London pea-souper, you can just about see both teams booting long balls up and down the pitch in the 1980s style.

7.49pm BST

Finally, we’re off! With smoke from the pre-match DJ/dance display still wafting across the pitch, Marseille boot the ball out of play straight from the kick-off. Atletico deal with the resulting throw, deep in their own half, easily enough..

7.47pm BST

The teams are out!
No they’re not. Both sets of players are in the tunnel, champing at the bit. But they can’t go anywhere, because out on the pitch, a set by sub-Eurovision DJ duo Ofenbach is overrunning. The Uefa suits really like the Super Bowl, don’t they. What a fiasco. But finally the musicians and dancers make way for the footballers. And despite it all, there’s a cracking atmosphere at the Stade de Lyon, as you’d expect for a major European final, both sets of supporters giving free rein to their hopes and dreams. And while we’re on the subject of Uefa’s organisational genius, here’s Kári Tulinius: “I will miss tonight’s game, having thought it would be played tomorrow. The one thing that people know about the Europa League is that it’s on Thursday nights. That’s pretty much the extent of its ‘brand’, as far as I can tell.”

7.37pm BST

Atletico may be the favourites tonight, but here’s a stat that will give them a little pause for thought nonetheless. The man with the most assists in all competitions in Europe’s top five leagues this season is ... Dimitri Payet. The Marseille captain has racked up 22, one more than Kevin De Bruyne of Premier League champions Manchester City, and four more than a certain Lionel Messi. Also, just one behind Messi on the list with 17: Florian Thauvin, also of Marseille. That is some mighty fine footballing. But can they prise open Atletico’s famously parsimonious defence?

7.31pm BST

While we wait for the big kick-off, a reminder of how these teams got to the final ...

7.22pm BST

Some lovely words from the aforementioned Fernando Torres, who has been telling BT Sport why he is Atletico through and through. “When you grow up in Madrid, there is an easy choice of becoming an Real Madrid supporter, and then you have the difficult way, which is to support Atletico Madrid. When I was five years old I did not really like football, but my grandpa was a huge Atletico fan so he was trying to explain the story of why he supported the club, what it means, the workers’ club. And when I was ten, I was able to do the trial to become an Atletico player. And since then I support this club. My dream was to be able to come from the stand to the pitch to score one goal. So in front of me is the dream final: a chance to win a trophy with my club. This might be the last chance I have.”

7.17pm BST

Both sets of fans seem to be enjoying themselves in Lyon’s Groupama Stadium as kick off approaches.

7.10pm BST

Some pre-match reading courtesy of our man Jonathan Wilson. He’s been reacquainting himself with Florian Thauvin, who endured a tough time at Newcastle but has blossomed at Marseille.

7.03pm BST

Marseille had been worried about the fitness of Dimitri Payet. But their captain (and erstwhile West Ham schemer) shrugs off a thigh complaint to make the starting XI. Bouna Sarr also makes the team, despite recently dislocating his shoulder.

Atletico had been hoping to recall Vitolo. But the winger’s hamstring problem sees him miss out on the big match. Diego Costa, once of Chelsea, leads their attack ... though what price another former Blue, Fernando Torres, coming on to score the winner? Torres scored in Chelsea’s 2013 final victory over Benfica, but he’s never won a major prize with his boyhood club. A fairytale in the making, right there.

6.57pm BST

Marseille: Mandanda, Sarr, Rami, Gustavo, Amavi, Zambo, Sanson, Thauvin, Payet, Ocampos, Germain.
Subs: Pele, Sakai, Kamara, Rolando, Mitroglou, N’Jie, Lopez.

Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Vrsaljko, Gimenez, Godin, Lucas, Correa, Gabi, Saul, Koke, Griezmann, Costa.
Subs: Werner, Filipe Luis, Thomas, Torres, Savic, Juanfran, Gameiro.

11.11am BST

The Europa League doesn’t count for much these days; that’s what some keep saying, anyway. But tell it to fans of Liverpool, who watched horrified through slits between their fingers as their side let a lead slip in the final against Sevilla in 2016. Or of Manchester United, who wildly celebrated the completion of their European curriculum vitae this time last year against Ajax. Or of Arsenal, who would have moved heaven and earth to give Arsène Wenger an appropriate send-off tonight. Yeah, it still counts for something all right. Don’t let the naysayers prevail.

The 2018 final will be contested by between two clubs with a proper European pedigree. Marseille conquered the continent in 1993, the very first victors of the Champions League era. Atlético Madrid by comparison don’t have a European Cup to their name, despite coming within a minute of victory in 1974 and 2014, and losing a penalty shoot-out in 2016 ... but they do have the 1962 Cup Winners Cup plus two Europa League triumphs in 2010 and 2012 to soften the blow.

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Published on May 16, 2018 14:09

The Fiver | Thousands gambol, cavort, frolic and prance all around Merseyside

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Under normal circumstances, the announcement of the England squad for Russia would be our lead story. But Tranmere have just been promoted back to the Football League, while Liverpool are in the final of Big Cup. So it’s only fair that Evertonians should get the chance to trumpet some good news too. And they finally have some, as thousands gambol, cavort, frolic and prance all around Merseyside, to the tune of A Brand New Day from The Wiz, in celebration of Sam Allardyce’s sacking. Now admittedly England only name a World Cup squad once every four years, while lately Everton have been binning managers at such a lick, they’re in danger of making Mike Walker’s stint look like the era of Harry Catterick. But folk at Goodison have been really suffering for the last five months, give them their moment will you. They deserve this.

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Published on May 16, 2018 07:56