From the moment the draw was made, all the talk around the AC Milan and Manchester Utd was Beckham facing his former club, but with few exceptions, he was anonymous. The match was not won, as a fairytale might have had it, by a vintage Beckham free kick, it was won by the latest in a long line of Manchester United Talismen – Wayne Rooney. Instead of seeing media savvy, wannabe model Beckham this morning, the back pages are dominated by a gurning Rooney and rightly So. Two goals, an involvement in everything that was good about the English side and an all round inspired performance made Rooney the difference between the sides.
His first goal was a lovely header at the back post, using his strength to beat Daniele Bonera to the ball and looping his header across the face of goal and into the far corner; his second used all round good play – controlling the long ball and laying it off to Fletcher before running into the box and heading into the goal – simple and elegant.
His form is fantastic and has come at the right time for England to have a serious go at the World Cup in South Africa, but it was another unsightly player who impressed me the most. Ronaldinho looks better every time I see him at the moment. During his fall from grace he stopped trying his audacious tricks and seemed to enjoy the game less. He’s now looking a lot more like the ‘Dinho we all remember from 4-5 years ago. I’m sure everybody remembers his performance against England in Korea in 2002, where he chipped Seaman from a free kick to score the winner. What struck me in that game was his constant grin – as though he had just invented teeth – even while being sent off. Yes, I know people will joke that he couldn’t fit his grotesque teeth into his mouth, but he certainly found a way to hide them and look miserable in his final season at Barca. Last night that distinctive grin showed signs of return as he showed us some of his special touches with his front teeth hanging out. A nice back heel, getting through two challenges to get a shot on goal complimented an array of exquisite passes. He may not have been a match winner like Rooney but his goal and assist keep Milan in touch ahead of the second leg.
There were still some noticeable holes in Ronaldinho, firstly his Dick Van Dyke style goal celebration was just rubbish. There was an occasion where he received the ball on the left wing and dribbles in front of the defence to the right wing where he lost the ball despite having numerous options along the way. He was derided by Andy Gray later on for losing the ball and making little effort to win it back, but the point is that he is an attacking option – a gamble. Even when he was considered to be the world’s best he wouldn’t’ track back very well. If you’re worried about the defensive side of his game you could play a no-nonsense hard tackling Midfielder alongside him – Milan have Gatusso and Brazil have Lucas (perhaps I’ve finally found a use for him). On some of his efforts he might have done better, one effort was right at Van der Sar and he comically miscued an overhead kick. Perhaps in time he will regain consistency in his tricks and flicks and every shot will be lethal again, but in the mean time he may as well continue to try the spectacular – we all know he’s capable of it and it’s great to watch. Dunga is a fool if he leaves him out of his world cup plans.
A nod must be given to another couple of funny looking buggers – the others goal scorers: Paul Scholes and Clarence Seedorf. Scholes’s equaliser was an interesting one – swung his right foot at the ball only to miss completely and have it hit his left leg and roll in at the bottom corner. Very lucky. Any other player would have celebrated with a hint of embarrassment, perhaps a bit like one might celebrate an own goal, but Paul Scholes wheels round and celebrates as is he’s scored a 40 yard screamer. Is he trying to con us into thinking that was deliberate? No chance ginger nuts.
Seedorf's goal was a clever little backheel flick from Ronniedinho’s pass – a little annoying because a few minutes before when he came on as a substitute I announced to my friend that Seedorf was overrated and shouldn’t have as many trophies to his name as he does. So up he pops and scores, plays a few good passes and shows us some skills – maybe he heard me.
So to sum up: great match, Rooney and Ronaldinho are both unsightly but talented, Scholes and Seedorf are bastards, and I can only hope that Arsenal Vs Porto tonight is as good.
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