[Rossoneri7]

Overall, Milan dominated this fixture ... Urawa had little chances and even with their chances, they didn't cause Dida much headache. Hell, even Washington's attempt at Dida wasn't as dangerous as what Milan have seen in Serie A or CL.

I expected a much stronger opponent from the ones we faced today. But I guess it was a good run from Milan ... Especially before the final, as this game could be counted as a practice match.


The score line doesn't define the type of game that Milan played IMO, I think the possession would be the better indicator of how the team performed.



I like watching Milan play their game, at their tempo and at their classy tactical game.

Inshallah on Sunday, Milan will be even more sharper against Boca to deliver the trophy (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)


Forza Milan !!

[Tennie]

For those interested, here are datasport's ratings for the rossoneri for today's game. I'm at work so don't have time to translate them now; if folks would like, I can make a stab at it when I get home.

Dida 6 Difetta solo in un paio di respinte che, come al solito, rimangono in zona pericolosa. I tiri dalla distanza dei giapponesi non lo impensieriscono

Jankulovski 6 Al rientro dopo l`infortunio si rimette a correre su e giu` sulla sinistra. Potrebbe anche trovare il gol: una volta colpisce male il pallone e una volta trova un cross velenoso che spaventa Tsuzuki

Nesta 7 Lucido per tutta la partita, compie interventi perfetti; in spaccata, tuffo o scivolata, arriva sempre per primo sul pallone.

Kaladze 6.5 L`altra meta` della difesa perfetta di oggi. Se Washington e Nagai non hanno occasioni e` anche merito suo.

Maldini s.v. - Solo dieci minuti per assaporare il campo.

Oddo 5.5 Ci mette del tempo per calibrare i cross dalla destra; scende con facilita` ma difetta in precisione. Sono pochi i palloni recapitati sulla testa del `Gila`

Brocchi s.v. Ingiudicabile.

Ambrosini 6.5 Si vede subito che e` il piu` vivo in mezzo al campo. Un colpo di testa di poco alto, alcuni inserimenti pericolosi e alla fine innesca Kaka` sul gol del vantaggio. Un vero capitano.

Pirlo 6.5 Non perde mai un pallone. Costruisce gioco a destra e sinistra con grande eleganza e sempre con i tempi giusti. Le sue punizioni sono un`arma in piu` per questo Milan.

Seedorf 6.5 Insufficiente nel primo tempo; non trova mai la giocata, si muove poco e non sembra in serata. Si sveglia nella ripresa segnando il gol vittoria e mettendo in mostra tutto il suo repertorio.

Gattuso 6 In mezzo al campo uno come lui ci vuole sempre, anche se le partite da `Gattuso` sono altre. Tanta sostanza e un lancio millimetrico per Jankulovski che sfiora il gol.

Kaka` 7 E` lui l`uomo partita. Soffre in avvio la marcatura degli avversari ma quando trova spazi e` inarrestabile. Il gol di Seedorf e` in gran parte merito suo; e` solo uno dei tanti duetti provati e trovati con l`olandese.

Gilardino 5.5 Voto negativo perche` un grande attaccante deve sfruttare al massimo ogni occasione e lui non lo fa. In compenso si sacrifica tanto per la squadra, molte volte si trova la` davanti a lottare da solo.

Inzaghi s.v. Nessuna vera occasione da gol per SuperPippo.

[bigmacmtl]

i must say i'm pretty happy we're in the final not cuz i care @ all about this trophy but because certain members of the team really wanna win it (whether or not it's there main objective i strongly disagree) for me the only trophy less important than the CWC that we could win is the italian super cup. also i'll be happy to get this over with and focus on more important things. my only worry is if we win it that galliani will consider the season a success (which is highly likely (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ), but what happens if we dont? i wonder how they will react... because in the end this is a glorified friendly.

[Tennie]

Here are some of the post-game comments from some of the players. It's acmilan.com's translation, but even so it's mostly understandable. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) link

CLARENCE SEEDORF

"I have to thank the team for playing such a good match, I missed a few goalscoring chances at the beginning and I got angry at myself. On the second chance I had, they did well to defend it and on the third occasion I touched the ball with my chin and lost my coordination. Unfortunately at the end the goal did come!

Before the match, the coach asked me how I was doing and whether I was going to score a goal for him, and indeed I did! Perhaps I should have scored two, but it's OK like this.

This new ball is a little difficult to control, but when you hit it well it's even more difficult for the keeper to grab it."

FILIPPO INZAGHI

"Even though I did not manage to score, this evening I'm very happy because the most important thing was getting into the final which allows us to bring home this Cup.

On the move of the goal I managed to go to the near post, bringing along a few defenders to free up Clarence who had no problems scoring. The match wasn't easy and we knew it, it became a bit difficult in the first half, but in the second half we did well to maintain our concentration.

I was happy to see this great affection shown towards me, it would be nice to lift this cup in front of the Japanese crowd which always shows me a lot of respect."

PAOLO MALDINI

"Just before the match Clarence told me it was a match we needed to win at all costs, and after he scored he ran straight to me, but at the time I was warming up on the sidelines with my back to the goal.

Seedorf did brilliantly today, he was the most dangerous man on the pitch.
I'm happy for him, and I'm happy we will be playing this Cup final against Boca Juniors. We had the chance to prepare well for these two games, it doesn't happen a lot that a team gets so much time to prepare for a mini-tournament like this, and it certainly helped us.

I think that on Sunday Boca will try to slow the game down with their ball possession, we'll have to avoid falling into this trap. I think the start of the game will be crucial."

RICKY KAKA'

'Today, as always, I tried to give my best for the team, even though my foot hurt. It wasn't easy today, on the contrary, but we did well, very well. In the first half I played in a more withdrawn role, while in the second half I acted more as a second striker.

I'm truly very happy: this year everything was different compared to 2003. I came here as a Golden Ball winner, we met many fans, there was a party atmosphere at the stadium, as always happens when there's a European team coming to play in Europe. Until now it's been a very positive experience. Now we have to confirm ourselves on Sunday, we want this trophy. Next Monday there's also the verdict on the Fifa World Player, but before that we have the Final on Sunday. It's a special match, a true World final.'

[kurtsimonw]

Thanks Tennie.

"I have to thank the team for playing such a good match, I missed a few goalscoring chances at the beginning and I got angry at myself. On the second chance I had, they did well to defend it and on the third occasion I touched the ball with my chin and lost my coordination. Unfortunately at the end the goal did come!

He scored, how unfortunate. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Dec 14 2007, 12:52 AM

[Rossoneri7]

Thanks Tennie.
He scored, how unfortunate.  (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Blame the translator ... He was one of our best players

[Tennie]

Awwww, the acmilan.com translators DO try. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

But yeah, that was a pretty bad typo.

[Warchant]

does anyone know what gattuso and dida got in an argument about.

dida was all up in gattuso's face...i think it took gattuso by surprise, lol, he's not use to people yelling back

[Tennie]

It was just after Dida almost flubbed a clearance he wasn't expecting to come his way. I suspect there was probably some miscommunication. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) The Gattuso-Angry-Face is a little intimidating!

[Jack Sparrow]

But not to Dida...noooo...who's your daddy Rino?? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

This post has been edited by Jack Sparrow: Dec 14 2007, 05:27 AM

[Darunia]

Milan played pretty well, defensively it was really easy for the most part. Oddo's crosses were waaaaaaaaay off and the x-mas tree, as usual, doesn't give our lone striker any space.