The Finishing Straight - Turkey (by HappyDude88)

MELBOURNE was fairly tame, Malaysia gave us a lively indication of the season ahead China was simply sensational.  The return to Europe last weekend gave us another classic event to lookback on, but a familiar feel of events is beginning to develop at the front of the field.

SMILING: Vettel continued his 2011 domination in Turkey

     Once again, Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing completely dominated the entire weekend, and this time, scored maximum points.  Vettel was in a class of one in Istanbul and frankly, no one looked close to him all weekend.  He even had the luxury to make an extra pitstop against the rest of the field and could have won the race by half a minute.  Considering he lost the majority of running on Friday by stuffing his Red Bull heavily into the barriers during wet first practice, it was still staggering to see him destroy the opposition, considering he had at least two hours less track time than anyone else.  Vettel’s dominance is starting to gain a feel of the Michael Schumacher cruise campaigns of 2002 and 2004.  The new smiling assassin of Formula One can be beaten, as proven in China, but it will have to take a massive effort to do so.  You can already start to engrave Vettel’s name on this year’s championship, because I can’t see anyone beating him on a regular basis, unless it is himself of course.

     In Turkey, it was Fernando Alonso and Ferrari who were the closest challengers.  For the fourth successive race, Alonso qualified in fifth position and raced hard on Sunday afternoon, giving Mark Webber a load of food for thought.  Alonso’s first podium of the season will provide a lot of relief to the Scuderia, who have had a disappointing start to 2011 so far.  If they can unlock more potential from the car, then they could match Red Bull on occasional circuits, but it will have to take something special to overhaul the Austrian team from Milton Keynes.  Alonso wins my ‘Driver of the Day’ in Turkey, as he got the maximum out of his equipment and then some more.  It was a determined effort from the Spaniard and one that will rejuvenate his hunger for success.

     The DRS system and the Pirelli tyres dictated the pace of the Turkish Grand Prix.  Four stops were the way to go for most drivers, and even Jenson Button, one of the best drivers in preserving his tyres, was a sitting duck with no grip in the closing stages from his fading rubber.  After the event, even Pirelli admitted that they were disappointed that four pitstops were the prime strategy in Istanbul.  This shows that the Italian manufacturer is still striding for perfection.  It is however giving us some breathtaking racing.  So far, it is very difficult to follow the races in 2011, because strategies and tyre wear are becoming very difficult to forecast.  The unpredictable element behind runaway leader Vettel means that this season is turning into a classic.  The DRS system excelled again in Istanbul, although the FIA probably made the activation point far too early, hence we saw a lot of easy overtaking and not enough skill from the driver.  We probably saw a bit too much of this on Sunday, and it will be interesting to see if Barcelona – normally a track which is almost a no-overtaking zone, provides similar racing.  If so, expect some sweeping changes, because the critics will start claiming ‘Overtaking in F1 is simply way too easy.’

     The improved pace of Mercedes GP has thrown a spanner in the works at the front of the field.  They impressed massively in practice and qualifying, and hinted of a car that is getting closer to the frontrunners.  Unfortunately, they damaged their Pirelli tyres massively in the slightly hotter conditions of Sunday.  It meant that Nico Rosberg had very little weapons in his defence, especially against the likes of Alonso, Webber and Button.  Fifth place was a good result, and Rosberg seemed very happy with this, despite a third place starting position.  I think Mercedes will be disappointed with the overall result.  A podium was on the cards, even if beating Vettel and probably Webber, was almost impossible.  At least one driver from the German team is taking the fight to the frontrunners.  Mercedes don’t want to continue underachieving.

      Speaking of underachieving, Michael Schumacher!  Schumacher looked strong in the early stages of the weekend, but blew his qualifying lap with a mistake at turn one, and then drove like a amateur on raceday.  His attempt to keep Vitaly Petrov back on lap two was a grave misjudgement from a great champion.  The corner had been lost to the aggressive Russian, yet Schumacher still doesn’t know when to give it up.  If he had, Petrov would have had the place, but Michael would still have been in contention for a high points scoring result.  He didn’t and the contact broke his front wing, and wrecked his afternoon.  Seeing him being barged out of the way by the likes of Adrian Sutil, Kamur Kobayashi and former team-mate Rubens Barrichello was a very sorry sight.  After finishing 12^th, Schumacher even admitted he felt ‘no joy’ at the moment.  When the fun stops, the racing must stop too.  Alain Prost walked away at the top of his game, and to a degree, so did Nelson Piquet.  Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Kimi Raikkonen didn’t and their reputations suffered as a consequence.  The comeback by Michael was brave, but it hasn’t worked out.  I think it is best for the seven-time world champion to walkaway and as soon as he can.  At 42, the glory days of his career are just a distant dream.  No-one can take away Schumacher’s achievements and of course, those controversial moments.  He will always be known as one of the greats of all-time in Grand Prix history, but he is never going to return to those days, and that’s a fact.  When the joy stops coming, the motivation goes and so, there’s little hope of getting that back. 

PROBLEMS: Dodgy pitstops stalled McLaren's progress

     For McLaren, the 2011 Turkish Grand Prix can only be described as a very average weekend.  Different strategies for their drivers didn’t work out, and with two shocking pitstops, the dreams of a podium finish vanished for both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.  Nevertheless, the pair gave the crowd some wild moments in the early exchanges, as they battled royally for position, just as had in the closing stages of the 2010 event.  Button had a resigned look on his face all weekend, and that disappointed me.  He seemed to be down in the dumps for most of the event, and I couldn’t put my finger on it.  Hamilton had a smile all throughout, despite the struggles that faced, especially against a recharged Alonso/Ferrari attack.  Despite the 24 second pitstop Lewis endured during the race, he finished close to 50 seconds behind Vettel at the chequered flag, which is a sobering statistic in any form of terminology.  Fourth and sixth was a good save, but McLaren still have work to do, if they want to go toe-to-toe with Red Bull.

     A quick mention for one of the under-rated performers of the season so far and that is Sebastian Buemi.  Like in Australia, the Toro Rosso driver finished in the points, in ninth place and has worked very hard on his natural abilities.  Buemi had a poor 2010, especially after a solid rookie season in 2009.  If we believe the speculation, Sebastian and Jaime Alguesuari are battling for one drive at Toro Rosso, especially with the highly talented Daniel Ricciardo waiting in the wings on testing duty.  Currently, it is no contest, as Alguesuari is being left in the dust by Buemi’s improvements over the winter.  Although the two Renault drivers overhauled the Swiss star in the late laps, Buemi was the only driver who seemed to make a three-stop strategy work in Turkey, so he deserves great credit for going down this route.  Plus, he started only 16^th, so it was a mighty effort under the radar.

     To conclude this edition of ‘The Finishing Straight,’ I want to share my views with a couple of topics that are creating debate within the F1 paddock.  Firstly, Bernie Ecclestone will make a decision very soon on the future of the Bahrain Grand Prix.  With the unrest in the country having settled down, which forced the postponement of the event, initially scheduled for March 13, the organisers of the Sakhir event were in Turkey, attempting to plead their case to Ecclestone.  Bernie told the BBC on Sunday that he wants the race to take place, but there is no place for it on the calendar, unless we have the ridiculous prospect of three races in three consecutive weekends.  Bahrain probably does have an F1 future, but I can’t see them holding a race in 2011, I just can’t.  Lastly, there has been growing speculation about the plans Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp company have in taking over Formula One.  Ecclestone doesn’t want it to happen, and although Murdoch will try what he can to gain power on the sport; what would be the benefits?  The teams might get more money, but the chances are, ticket prices will go up and F1 will move into pay-per-view television.  We tried this in 2002 and it didn’t work.  Why would it work a decade on then?  Although I can see some possible negotiations starting soon, I don’t think Murdoch has enough backing to turn his move from a serious bid, into a certain venture.

I’ll be back for more of ‘The Finishing Straight’ in Barcelona.  Can anyone stop the Smiling Assassin of Grand Prix racing, Sebastian Vettel?  On the evidence of Turkey, it will have to take something special.

2010 Turkish Grand Prix - The Conclusions

In this piece, I will be assessing ten key features from each Grand Prix weekend from the 2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.  Round seven brought the teams to Istanbul Park for the Turkish Grand Prix.  In a country where East meets west, there was plenty of intrigue, if once again the lack of overtaking was severely highlighted.  Plus a controversial collision that could have severe implications for the front running team in Grand Prix racing at the moment.  Time to look back then at the seventh event of 2010, which turned into an unlikely triumph for some, and an utter catastrophe for others.

Red Bull Racing Play The Blame Game – And Produce The Perfect Crime!!

It was looking all so perfect for Red Bull Racing once again.  Okay, their dominance which had been shown in the previous two events had been nullified, by a McLaren upgrade, but nevertheless the team were heading for another 1-2 finish.  Then on Lap 41, Sebastian Vettel slipstreams Mark Webber down the backstraight at Istanbul Park.  Webber gives his German team-mate minimal space, but enough to stay on the track.  Vettel pulls ahead approaching Turn 12, but then inexplicably turns right into a left-hand bend, connecting with Webber.  It was an embarrassing own goal for the team, and with it, 43 points going straight down the drainpipe.  Vettel spun into retirement, lucky not to take Webber out, who needed a new front wing, before resuming, finishing on the podium.  After the race, the drivers played the blame game, both blaming the other for the unnecessary incident.  To be honest, both are stupid enough to get involved in such a needless shunt, but having the incident several times afterwards, I’m firmly putting the blame at Vettel’s door.  In Formula One, the first golden rule is never to collide with your own team-mate.  Sadly on Sunday for Red Bull, their drivers forgot that rule and produced the perfect crime.

Sebastian Vettel – The Real Darling of Red Bull

After the embarrassing incident between his two drivers, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner spoke in private to Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.  Later, he told the BBC that the accident was caused by ‘not enough space being given!’  His view was backed up firmly by Red Bull senior boss, Helmut Marko, firmly putting the blame squarely at Webber’s door.  I find this absolutely ridiculous to believe, as Webber didn’t do much wrong.  This proves that Sebastian Vettel is the real darling of Red Bull Racing.  On Sunday, Vettel blotted his copybook big-time, and if I was his team boss, I probably would have shouted at him, swore at him, attempt to get the message across that everything is not your own way.  Instead, he got the arm-around-the-shoulder technique, firmly not deserved.  This incident must leave Mark Webber seething and rueful that he hasn’t received the fair support he deserves.  Sure, he may have extended his championship advantage, but the relationship with his team may well have gone beyond repair.  Maybe it is a sign that all things aren’t well with Webber’s contract negotiations.  Either way, if Ferrari is interested in Mark, snap Webber up now I think would be the message. 

McLaren – Once Again Taking Full Advantage Of Others Own-Goals!

So, as Red Bull Racing shot themselves in the foot, McLaren took full advantage of others own-goals once again.  As in Melbourne and Shanghai, they cashed in with reaped rewards.  Plus, they showed Red Bull that an inter-team battle can be done fair and square, without the need to bash each other’s cars all over the place.  Less than ten laps after ‘that’ incident, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button went wheel-to-wheel in a fantastic scrap for the victory.  Lewis edged it, to claim his first win of 2010.  It was a lucky success for Hamilton, but he managed to split the Red Bulls in qualifying and lady luck hasn’t smiled on him too much this season, when you think of the botched pit strategy in Australia, and the tyre explosion in the closing stages of the Spanish Grand Prix.  Consequently, it was about time that he received some good fortune.  Istanbul was a good weekend for the world champion too, who had gone off the boil in Barcelona and Monte Carlo.  Jenson Button was a fraction behind Hamilton all weekend, but back at the sharp end, which will give him full encouragement.  McLaren are now a very dangerous player in the championship battle.

Ferrari – The 800^th Race Turns into a Flat Pancake

The Bahrain 1-2 must seem a decade ago for Ferrari, as their season continues to unravel alarmingly.  At Istanbul, a track where the team has had a lot of success in the past, the pace of the cars was absolutely nowhere.  The Scuderia may well have been celebrating their 800^th race in Formula One, but the party turned into a flat pancake.  Fernando Alonso failed in Q2, starting a frustrated 12^th, admitting it was ‘the best he could do!’  Three-time Turkey winner Felipe Massa wasn’t much better, back in 8^th.  In the race, Massa only improved to 7^th, thanks to Vettel’s DNF, whilst Alonso needed to use excessive force on Vitaly Petrov’s Renault in the dying moments to earn 8^th place.  However, these aren’t the results expected, and the pressure on Stefano Domenicalli must be growing after this mediocre weekend.  Ferrari are now struggling to hold off Renault for 4^th best team in Formula One at the moment, and they are in severe danger of being out of both championship battles before mid-season for the second successive campaign.

Michael Schumacher – The Renaissance Continues

The great renaissance of Michael Schumacher continues to become one of the major talking points in 2010.  He had his strongest weekend of the season in Turkey, though still miles off the pace of the pacesetters, Red Bull and McLaren.  He qualified 5^th, even chucking his car at the Turn 8 scenery, trying to find that extra tenth.  An aggressive start saw the German pass his new nemesis, Jenson Button off the line.  Critically for Button, he got back ahead before the end of lap 1, and raced away from Schumacher.  However, Michael had no problems from behind, now beginning to overshadow Nico Rosberg’s efforts on a regular basis.  4^th place was a fitting reward for a fine weekend.  Mercedes are in no shape this season to be championship contenders whatsoever, but if they keep improving, don’t be surprised to see Schumacher back on the top step before the end of the season.

Kamur Kobayashi – Answering Some of the Doubters

Until Turkey last weekend, we had seen very little of Kamur Kobayashi in 2010, apart from destroying his car half the time against Toro Rosso’s and Williams’.  In Istanbul, he answered some of the doubters, with a fighting performance to 10^th, Sauber’s first championship point of what has been a depressing campaign so far.  Kobayashi was a little star on Saturday, overcoming the likes of Fernando Alonso and Adrian Sutil to make the top ten.  He then endured a race-long scrap with Sutil, which he ended up losing bravely to the Force India driver.  However, Petrov’s late puncture allowed him back into the magical point’s positions.  It will put a monkey off his back, and answer some of the doubters, who must have been questioning whether his stunning drives for Toyota at the back end of 2009, were just a fluke.  Now, he needs to take the next step forward, and become a regular point’s threat.  However, this is a solid start.

Hispania Racing – Moving Off the Back, Genuinely!

The Hispania Racing cars still look all over the place, but there was a step forward last weekend for the team.  Bruno Senna managed to genuinely out qualify someone else, other than team-mate Karun Chandok for the first time this season.  The unlucky fellow was Virgin’s Lucas di Grassi.  Then in the race, Senna managed to keep up with di Grassi, and then overtook his fellow countryman around the outside of Turn 12, in a classy move.  Sadly, both cars ended up retiring, as reliability issues continue to halt the progress of the new teams.  However, this was a positive weekend for Hispania, their first since the end of their tempestuous marriage with car chassis, Dallara.  Can they move off the back on a regular basis, only time will tell? 

Formula One Heads Stateside Again – Positive Or Negative?

Before F1 arrived in Istanbul, news broke of the return for the Grand Prix circus to America.  A new circuit in Texas will breakthrough on the calendar for the 2012 season, after agreeing a deal with Bernie Ecclestone and circuit designer, Hermann Tilke.  The last time Formula One was in the US, was back in 2007, when Lewis Hamilton charged to victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  It is a welcome return for America to the sport, but another traditional race is bound to disappear.  With India due for next year, 2012 could have upto twenty-one races.  Currently, Turkey, Japan and China do not have contracts for 2012, and you can’t see the teams agreeing to too many more races on a yearly calendar.  It is a positive for America to be back in F1, hosting a race, but if a star circuit like Istanbul or Suzuka disappears as a result, then it will turn into a massive negative. 

Pirelli On The Verge – Are They The Right Supplier?

Another battle in the paddock, behind the scenes is the competition to become F1’s tyre supplier for 2011.  Japanese giant Bridgestone is pulling out at the end of the season, due to cost-cutting measures.  Favourites seem now to be Pirelli, though Michelin are interested in creating the tyre war again.  Pirelli were last in Formula One in 1991, when they supplied the Benetton team amongst others.  Will they be the right supplier for the sport?  Well, Bridgestone will be missed, having given great service to the sport in the last fourteen years.  However, Pirelli are likely to give a great deal of passion and commitment to the sport, so I would back them over Michelin any day, especially when the 2005 ‘Indygate’ tyre scandal springs to mind.

Vitantonio Liuzzi – Losing the Battle for His F1 Future

The pressure is increasing on Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi and he is losing the battle to hold onto his drive.  As Scot Paul di Resta continues to impress on Fridays for the team, and in DTM, Liuzzi’s performances continue to dwindle.  Whilst Adrian Sutil has scored points in four of the last five races, Liuzzi has only managed a 9^th placed result in Monaco, and in Turkey, was hopelessly off the pace.  Despite running the f-duct, whereas his team-mate did not, Liuzzi was knocked out in Q1 for the second time this season.  A first-lap clash with Sebastian Buemi put an end to a decent race effort, but 13^th place is simply not good enough for a team that wants to break out of the midfield.  Changing a driver mid-season is always a risky element, but Vijay Mallya may have to consider this as an option if Tonio continues to underachieve in the coming races.

Benitez Bids Farewell To Liverpool

Again, this came as no real surprise, but in a statement at approximately 4pm this afternoon, Liverpool FC released a statement today, confirming that manager Rafa Benitez was leaving the club by mutual consent.

The statement from www.lfc.tv

Liverpool FC today confirmed that Rafael Benitez is to leave the club by mutual consent.

Mr Benitez relinquishes his position as team manager after six years and the Board of Directors would like to place on record their grateful thanks for his services and wish him all the best in his future career.

The Board has now asked Managing Director Christian Purslow, with the assistance of Club Ambassador Kenny Dalglish, to begin a formal search to identify and assess potential candidates for the managerial position.

No timescale has been placed on the process and Liverpool FC will make no further statement until a new manager is appointed.

LFC Chairman Martin Broughton said: "Rafa will forever be part of Liverpool folklore after bringing home the Champions League following the epic final in Istanbul but after a disappointing season both parties felt a fresh start would be best for all concerned.''

Rafael Benitez said: "It is very sad for me to announce that I will no longer be manager of Liverpool FC. I would like to thank all of the staff and players for their efforts. 

"I'll always keep in my heart the good times I've had here, the strong and loyal support of the fans in the tough times and the love from Liverpool. I have no words to thank you enough for all these years and I am very proud to say that I was your manager. 

"Thank you so much once more and always remember: You'll never walk alone."

Rafa Benitez arrived at Anfield in June 2004, with a huge reputation.  He had won the UEFA Cup and La Liga, with Valencia twice in three seasons.  Very quickly, he became a folk hero at Liverpool, for one historic night in Istanbul.

On Wednesday May 25^th 2005, Benitez masterminded the greatest fightback in UEFA Champions League history, as his Liverpool side came back from 3-0 down at half-time to the mighty AC Milan, to tie the game up at 3-3, then a heroic Jerzy Dudek save from Andrei Shevchenko secured Liverpool their fifth European Cup, in the most unbelievable manner.  The following year, a similar type of fightback, inspired by captain fantastic, Steven Gerrard saw Liverpool win the FA Cup final in Cardiff, against West Ham United on a penalty shootout.

Community Shield and European Super Cup victories would also come the way of the Anfield trophy cabinet, and there was also a brave 2005 Carling Cup final defeat to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea after extra-time.  However, the real Holy Grail that the passionate LFC fans were waiting for, was the Premiership trophy.  Sadly, despite his best efforts, this goal was to elude Benitez, with the closest Liverpool would come was a 2^nd place finish in the 2008/09 season, and a meagre four points shy of bitter rivals, Manchester United.

There were many special European nights at Anfield and abroad under the Benitez era too.  A record 8-0 Champions League win over Besiktas in November 2007 stands out, as do historic results over the likes of Juventus, Chelsea (twice), Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Arsenal in Europe’s premier club competition.  Another Champions League final appearance beckoned in 2007, but this time Liverpool came up short in Athens, losing 2-1 to AC Milan in the final.  Benitez was also responsible for the club-record signing of the prolific Fernando Torres.

However, the last twelve months have been a disaster for Liverpool Football Club.  Record debts have been published, the controversial owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett have put the club up for sale, after becoming more unpopular.  Key player Xabi Alonso departed for Real Madrid in the summer, and form on the pitch dropped as well.  Elimination from the Champions’ League group stages before Christmas was a bitter pill to swallow, as was a humiliating FA Cup 3^rd round replay exit in January against lowly Reading at Anfield.  Capped by a 7^th place Premiership finish, Liverpool’s worst league season since 1999 and Rafa has paid the ultimate price, with his job.

Assistant manager Sammy Lee will take charge for now, with a successor unlikely to be appointed until after the World Cup finals.  Martin O’Neill, Guus Hiddink, Roy Hodgson and Jurgen Klinsmann have all been mentioned, but the successor must be aware that the transfer budget for strengthening the squad will be minimal, and selling either Steven Gerrard or Fernando Torres could  be essential to improve the strength-in-depth. 

It is a sad way for things to finish, for what was a nearly perfect marriage throughout – but Rafa Benitez has left many fantastic memories which Liverpool fans will never ever forget, and all I can say is “thanks Rafa, and best wishes for the future.”

Five Years On From One Unbelievable Night In Istanbul

It is five years on today, from one of the greatest nights ever in the prestigious history of Liverpool Football club.  No Liverpool fan present in the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, nor the millions listening on radios and watching on giant TV’s across the city, in bars and clubs and in home throughout the country will ever forget the night Rafa Benitez’s Mighty Reds became European Champions in the most unbelievable manner.  It is time to reminisce the over-riding joy of such an epic night full of emotions.

It is Wednesday 25^th May 2005, and it is a beautiful summer’s day across the country, whilst in Turkey, Liverpool’s date in Istanbul in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, against the mighty Serie A giants, AC Milan.

The 2004/05 domestic season for Liverpool had been a struggle.  Crippling injuries and a dire away record left Liverpool finishing the season a disappointing 5^th beaten in the final table by our domestic neighbours from Stanley Park, Everton.  This meant a season of UEFA Cup football was set to follow at Anfield, toppled with the fact that we finished nearly 40 points behind the new champions, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.  Our best form had been saved for the Champions League.  

Who could forget Steven Gerrard’s stunning strike against Olympiakos in the group stages, which kept us in the competition by the skin of our teeth, the slaying of Italian champions Juventus, then the controversial ‘goal’ that shattered Chelsea’s treble dream and loosened Mourinho’s grip on the European Cup during a nail-biting early May night at Anfield.  For the first time in twenty years, Liverpool were heading to a European Cup final, could we pull out one more historic performance and complete the most unlikely of triumphs.

The first half was forgettable, not because we were so bad, more the case of Milan playing football out of this world, that no-one could live with.  Milan skipper Paolo Maldini volleyed his side infront inside of 50 seconds, and then Chelsea loanee Hernan Crespo scored a quick fire double to leave Reds fan devastated.  With a dejected Harry Kewell limping off before half-time and Steve Finnan forced off at the interval, everything seemed to be going against Liverpool.  In six crazy minutes, Liverpool roared back into the final, with quite probably, the greatest ever sporting comeback ever seen.

Ten minutes into the second half, Steven Gerrard headed in a deep John Arne Riise cross and pulled the scoreline back to 3-1.  Suddenly, doubts crept into the back of AC Milan minds; manager Carlo Ancelotti was chewing his gum far harder than he had just two minutes earlier.  Moments later, substitute Dietmar Hamann found Vladimir Smicer and in his final Reds appearance, the Czech hit an optimistic shot which the unconvincing Dida spilt through his grasp and into the net.  Now, the comeback was well and truly on, miracles are well and truly possible!  Then, Gerrard links up with the frustrating Milan Baros and is tripped by Gennaro Gattuso.  No doubts from the Spanish referee Gonzalez, who points to the spot, Gattuso lucky to stay on the pitch.  Step up Xabi Alonso, with a chance to equalise for Liverpool.  The penalty was pretty tame and Dida saved it, but Alonso snapped up the rebound and lofted the ball into the top of the net.  Mission impossible had been accomplished.  Five minutes earlier, Liverpool had been 3-0 down – now they were on level terms.

For the rest of the game, Milan looked shell-shocked, but started to gain a sense of control again.  With the match edging closer towards penalty, Brazilian Serginho whips a dangerous ball into the penalty area, which is met by Ukraine goal machine Andrei Shevchenko.  Surely, he must score!  However, he didn’t as somehow, Jerzy Dudek denied him twice.  Even now, Dudek probably doesn’t know how he kept Shevchenko now, and quite probably, neither does Sheva himself.

Into the drama and tension of a penalty shootout, and its Milan who go first.  Serginho’s first penalty belonged in the ‘House of Horrors!’ It was a shocking kick, and Andrea Pirlo’s lame effort was stopped heroically by Dudek.  Dietmar Hamann banged his kick home, as did super sub Djibril Cisse.  Liverpool, 2-0 up, now the dream was looking like a real reality.  Jon Dahl Tomasson made no mistake, and nor did Kaka for the Italians, despite Dudek’s best attempts to put the kickers off by copying the ‘wobbly legs’ format that Bruce Grobbelaar had successfully achieved in the 1984 final.  In between this, Dida did enough to push Riise’s effort around the post.  Still, Liverpool were in control and Smicer made it match point, dispatching his penalty with efficient calm.  What it meant now was that Shevchenko, who had scored the winning penalty in the diabolical 2003 final at Old Trafford, had to score.  The weight of the world was firmly on his shoulders, and his kick wasn’t the best.  Dudek pulled off a terrific stop and the European Cup was returning to England, and to Anfield.  LIVERPOOL ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE AGAIN!!

The most extraordinary final, had a most incredible final twist.  Liverpool had their hands on the European Cup again, and this time, it was for keeps.  Their fifth success meant that this version of ‘Old Big Ears’ was going to have a permanent storage in the Anfield trophy cabinet.  Liverpool had won the European Cup back in the most unbelievable manner.  It is a night that no-one will ever forget, one of those ‘Where was I’ moments in history.

Five years on, and the fire of this success still burns strongly and deeply with everyone connected with Liverpool Football Club, ‘One Unbelievable Night in Istanbul.’