10 things we learned from watching the FA Cup final
Chelsea completed an historic Double after beating Portsmouth 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
But what did we learn from the game, asks MirrorFootball 's Dan Silver?
1) Carlo Ancelotti is doubly Special
He may not have the quicksilver wit of Jose - and Mourinho certainly wouldn't need Ray Wilkins to tell him the Chelsea crowd were asking for a wave from their boss - but by pulling off the Double in his first season, Ancelotti has shown that he certainly has the managerial chops. If Carlo can just crack the Champions League now they'll be building statues of him down the King's Road.
2) If you could put a price on team spirit and commitment then Portsmouth wouldn't be in administration
The vast majority of pre-match predictions confidently claimed this would be an even bigger on-pitch pummelling than the one expected at Upton Park where Kevin Mitchell is due to fight Michael Katsidis later tonight. As it turned out, Avram Grant's side were frequently outplayed but never outfought by their infinitely better off opponents, and were very unlucky not to take the game to extra time.
3) Salomon Kalou gets his hair cut by Mystic Meg
The likes of James, Drogba, Malouda, Piquionne and Prince-Boateng all committed various degrees of crime against tonsorial fashion, but Salomon Kalou's 'Travis Bickle' cut was arguably the worst. Although perhaps his hairdresser knew something we didn't: given the Ivorian's shocking first-half miss from five yards, a taxi driver was exactly what Chelsea fans - and, indeed, his team-mate Ashely Cole - were calling for...
4) Piquionne should play ping pong
Petr Cech apparently plays table tennis to maintain his reaction speeds, which explains his remarkable point blank save to keep out Frederic Piquionne's first-half effort. If only Portsmouth could have afforded a couple of bats and balls, it could have been so much different.
5) David James' goal should be the first name on Fabio's team sheet
Never mind the debate over which goalkeepers Fabio should take to South Africa, can we transport the Wembley woodwork out there instead? David James' first-half goal was surely charmed, and we'll need some of that magic in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
6) Video technology is only as clever as the people operating it
The following exchange took place immediately after Didier Drogba's first-half free kick that crashed off David James' bar and onto the goal-line:
Clive Tyldesley: "How long did it take us, television, to work out that was a goal? 15 seconds?"
Jim Beglin: "That was a goal."
Except that it clearly wasn't. Thank heavens Clive isn't in charge over at FIFA. Or, indeed, anywhere else.
7) So
that's
what they mean by Schadenfreude
Given the panic inflicted by John Terry's suspected broken metatarsal this week, was there anyone from this nation who didn't have to suppress an instinctive rush of glee when Michael Ballack was forced to retire hurt? If only the Germans had a word for getting pleasure out of someone else's misfortune...
8) Kevin-Prince Boateng should avoid YouTube for the foreseeable
After Leicester City striker Yann Kermorgant missed the decisive spot kick that sent Cardiff City to the Championship play-off final during the week,
an enterprising Foxes fan recorded this scathing musical riposte
. Portsmouth fans: you know what you have to do...
9) Capello should start penalty practice now
Chelsea skipper John Terry slammed the Wembley surface as 'unacceptable' after the game and Frank Lampard will surely try and blame his lamentable late penalty on the turf as well. Let's hope he puts in some practice between now and June, though, cos if the England star thought last weekend's spot kick squabble with Didier Droba was bad, he'll have more than an angry Ivorian to contend with should he scuff one like that in South Africa.
10) Avram Grant would make a rubbish poker player
With the world and his dog expecting the Israeli to pitch up at Upton park within the week, Portsmouth's manager chose an interesting tack to take for his post-match interview. When asked by ITV's pitchside reporter if this was his final game in charge, Grant firstly pretended not to hear the question, and then stormed off in a huff when it was repeated. What's that, Avram? You're holding four aces? We fold!
What did you learn from the game? Let us know by leaving a comment below
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