Anthony McIntyre ⚽When the chance comes around to watch two quality teams battle it out, even if in a friendly, it is nice to avail of the rare opportunity presented.
Two illustrious names of European soccer, each with a rich history in their own countries, England and Italy, went head to head in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. AC Milan lifted the most coveted prize in European soccer on more than one occasion whereas Leeds were the nearly men, losing out to Bayern in the 1975 final. They had previously lost a European Cup Winners Cup final in 1973. Milan are certainly not the side that once littered the field with names like Van Basten, Gullit, Rikard, Maldini. Nor are Leeds on a par with the great Revie sides of Clarke, Bremner, Giles, Charlton. Yet each are currently in the top flight in their domestic leagues. It was a first for me watching Milan, Leeds I had seen play Glentoran at the Oval in 1971 where the home team went down 1-3. I had also watched them play at Southampton maybe 25 years ago.
Unlike last year when I turned up to watch Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta contest the Europa Cup final I arrived for this one sober. Having a pre-match bevy is a great habit which I have no intention of giving up. Time didn't permit much latitude to make it to a pub so I settled for the dry version.
I hadn't even known the match was on. Paddy happened to mention it to me as we struggled to get through a dismal display at Sullivan and Lambe Park featuring Drogheda United and Waterford. Not able to make it due to Jay's soccer commitments the following day, he nevertheless left a worm in my mind that burrowed deeper through the night. By morning I felt I really wanted to go and asked my wife if she could get a ticket. Fortunately she did. Fortunate, because it was a packed house.
Before I left to catch the train my neighbour told me that two minibuses would be leaving from a local bar close to home. I didn't need them, free public transport available to people of my age. If that surprised me given that I wasn't aware that Leeds had a big local following, what I witnessed at Connolly station while awaiting the Dart to Lansdowne Road, was something else. I have never been in a station so congested. It made me think of television footage showing Indian railways where the trains are so crowded passengers are crammed like sardines on the roof holding each other in place by whatever means possible. It seemed that every Leeds fan in the world had gathered for this one. Only one of them I knew. An older guy from Drogheda who I often accompany on the bus out of the town centre back to the housing estates south of the Boyne. We shook hands outside the Aviva. He was desperately wating on a friend turning up with the phone where the tickets were stored. A much younger friend I guessed as they alone seem to master the challenges of the digital world we now inhabit. About ten years ago I rang my daughter when she was in California asking her advice on how to get a DVD working. Today, technology has moved at such pace, teenagers might not know what a DVD is.
The huge Leeds contingent dwarfed those in Milan colours but the fans intermingled in the spirit of a friendly match. It was a good humoured affair, a party like atmosphere. Many turned it into a family event, three generations in Leeds colours all making their way to the game.
I prefer being higher up in a soccer stadium for a more panoramic view of the game. Instead of watching it in sections, the entire field of play can be captured in one frame. Same when I was at Anfield or Paradise, try for a seat as close to the top as possible. It doesn't much matter where in the ground because the view is so good. Watching a game at ground level is best if seated around the centre, In the five mile high club there are no blinkers to constrain the view.
On the way out it was chockablock as we all made our way to the Dart. I opted to take the southbound route, go down a stop and then cross the track, using the bridge of course, and jump on the next one heading to Connolly. No standing forever in a queue. It worked a treat, just that I missed the first stop. I met my daughter at Connolly who tried tempting me to the pub. Despite her best efforts I declined. Tiredness had won the day, and we headed home where the last of the Jack Daniels bottle was drained.
As for the game itself, there was some great soccer on display. While I love the domestic soccer scene in Ireland, being a season ticket holder at Drogheda United, there is a huge gulf in quality. Even where quality cancels quality out the technical expertise and skill, the vision and speed, the movement on and off the ball, the positioning and the passing - all of it is at a different level. A friendly that both sides set out to win, this was not exhibition football, more a statement of intent that both sets of players, once their domestic seasons start, would be carrying on much as they started at the Aviva. I had no dog in the fight as such but preferred Leeds to win. They fell behind to a well taken first half effort from Alex Jimeneza before pulling level in the second half through Anton Stach. Again, quality served up.
Leeds have struggled before in their efforts to stay afloat in the premiership but Daniel Farke is a capable coach and seems to bring a very organised approach to the game, unlike previous gaffers such as Marcelo Bielsa who encouraged exciting forward play but never seemed serious about defending. Leeds outside of the Premiership are a bit like the lost sheep. The league never seems complete until they are back in the fold. This time Elland Road might find itself a regular away ground for visitors to ply their wares for years to come.
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