[NASCAR Gnome]

Having played the position that Petr Cech (Chelsea) and Edwin Van Der Sar (Manchester United) played for a couple of decades myself, (and then some,) I have been involved in several "sudden-death" penalty shootouts. Know what? I never liked them and frankly, never will! Today's Champion's League final is a testament as to why it's so inappropriate to have these types of endings!

I watched the whole game - 90 minutes of regulation, 30 minutes of overtime and the DREADED penalty shoot-out at the end... all of it! And to see how HARD these guys were playing - cramps, bloodied noses, bloodied heads, fights, yellow cards and even a red card (ejection) to a premier starter, it had all the HALLMARKS of a legendary game between two evenly-matched teams who are storied rivals in the English Premier League. And trust me, those who know, understand that the word "rival" is probably benign when trying to describe the relationship these two clubs have between themselves!

Anyway, as an ex-pro goalkeeper, I have always had extreme disdain for penalty shootouts. Not for any reason other than it's a heck of a (wrong) way to end a game that has so much riding on it. Think of this: 10 field players on each side are playing their hearts and guts out all game long to try and emerge victorious and all that effort leads them to where it boils down to a 1-on-1 between the kicker and a goalie. A game that stresses (and highlights) flow, rhythm, skill and teamwork comes down to the crude 12-yard spot and the 24' X 8' goal! Sickening...

In watching this game though, I will say that it was a PLEASURE for me to watch all the STARS of the game play with, and against, each other! WOW!!! This, imo, truly was an ultimate ALL-STAR soccer game!

Chelsea: (All players I name are World Cup representatives for their nations!)
Petr Cech - Team Czech Republic
Ashley Cole - Team England
Michael Essien - Team Ghana
Andriy Shevchenko - Team Ukraine
Frank Lampard - Team England
Joe Cole - Team England
Didier Drogba - Team Cote' De Ivory (Ivory Coast)
Micahel Ballack - Team Germany (and Team Germany Captain at the last WC!)
John Terry - Team England and Chelsea Captain (and England Captain if, I'm not mistaken!)
Alex - Team Brazil

Manchester United:
Edwin Van Der Sar - Team Holland
Rio Ferdinand - Team England and Manchester United Captain
Owen Hargreaves - Team England
Cristiano Ronaldo - Team Portugal
Wayne Rooney - Team England
Ryan Giggs - Team England
Nemanja Vidic - Team Serbia & Montenegro
"Nani" - Team Portugal
Paul Scholes - Team England
Carlos Tevez - Team Argentina

I truly enjoyed the game. I felt very bad for John Terry for missing the PK at the end because he doesn't deserve to be remembered for that. He's a warrior and for the effort put out by all the guys at this wonderful final, having it come down to a 12-yard spot kick, is a sorry way to end a great game! Bittersweet...

[alex83]

I see your point, I've been involved in many penalty shootouts myself and it is a bad way to lose a game, but an amazing way to win it as well, unfortunately if the teams cant be separated after 2 hours of football there is no choice.

i suppose sometimes when people look at it they think that its tough to decide a game by one kick of a ball or one save or one miss....but at the same time you can look at it from another perspective and think both teams were so evenly matched, or so evenly terrible , that they could not be separated simply playing in a regulation game and it came down to the team that prepared the most and could still find some energy and concentration and mental stamina after 120 minutes of football to step up, calm themselves and try and score

i can see your point about it being an 'All Star' game but in the Premier League most of the players represent their countries now anyway and its almost uncommon for them not too.