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What a game... what a comeback... BOUNCEBACKABILITY writ large! Superb. Dead and buried at half-time, Liverpool's players went into the dressing room, deservedly 3-0 down, destined for a tongue lashing from their Spanish coach, Raffa Benitez. I don't know what he said, but it sure did work, because an altogether different Liverpool team came out for the second half. This Liverpool fought for every ball and took the game to Milan. In a six-minute spell, from the 54th to the 60th minute, Liverpool scored three goals. The comeback was started by Mr Liverpool and club captain, Stephen Gerrard, and finished by the Spanish newcomer, Xabi Alonso, with an old warrior, Vladimir Smicer, sandwiched between the two. Milan didn't know what hit them - teams that go in 3-0 up at half-time just don't throw away that advantage, they usually win. Milan threw everything at Liverpool, but they couldn't make the break-through. Liverpool held on into extra-time - often by the skin of their teeth. Then came the penalty shoot-out. The Liverpool goalie, Jerzy Dudek, played every trick in the book to distract the Milan penalty takers... and it worked! One miss and two saves (and one save from Schevchenko!), and Liverpool were crowned Champions of Europe. Now, they must be allowed to defend their title next year, UEFA.
On this day last year I was in a posh place