I would agree with your comments below. I have read everything there is possible to read about this final. My Turkish has improved considerably over the last few weeks.
In Belgium everyone has cable so I zap like a fiend looking and listening for any mention whatsoever of Liverpool or Milan. The Greek channel had a small segment so I sat there transfixed as dodgy, cheap graphics flooded the screen extolling the virtues of defensive formations, attacking pace and changing hair colours. (Cisse - the Blue Bullet).
The atmosphere looks great over there and now the regrets are slipping in just a little. But not enough as with Rafa's guidance we will be back and hopefully next season when the game will be in Paris.
I have had some considerable e-mail arguments with Mancunian "friends" recently. They are worried sick that after 15 years of being able to say we have nothing "important" (that was debated but they stand firm) this is really worrying them that we could actually win the European Cup and shut them up for a long time. They are twisted people and the fact they are more preoccupied with us than the Americanisation of their club speaks for itself.
I refuse to predict any score tonight as this has been my ritual. I will arrive at the Old Oak pub near to the European Commission in Brussels with a copy of today's L'Equipe. My friend has to arrive one minute after me and he too will bring a paper - a Flemish one. Then we will order a cheap beer and toast each other. Once the bottle is close to being empty then we can order food and wait for other people arrive. God help those who are already sitting at "our" table when we arrive at 18h15!
I can't fucking wait for tonight and it has indeed overidden everything I have done the last few weeks. Tomorrow will be bleary eyed and red-faced. I hope to provide a proud smile to those that await a reaction rather than a grimace.
Come on you mighty redmen, do us proud over there and bring the big cup back to Liverpool...