The modern world is rife with stereotypes, from the beret wearing Frenchman to the humourless German and the football world is no exception.  Take Italy for instance, Italian football is generally characterised as dull, drab and defensive it’s teams more concerned with avoiding defeat then pursuing victory.  The all Italian Champions League final of 2003 couldn’t have been more stereotypical if it had tried.  The 0-0 draw and penalty shootout played out by Juventus and AC Milan is widely regarded as one of the dullest climaxes in the competitions history.   The fact that the game was played at Old Trafford the ‘theatre of dreams’ and home of fast paced attacking football made it all the more galling for many.  However as an avid fan of Italian football I would like to suggest that while this final was hardly a demonstration of total football it still offered drama, tension and excitement which deserves to be remembered.

The contestants were Italy’s two most successful teams boasting 7 European Cups and 43 Serie A titles between them.    Juve were slight favourites having already won the league title some 11 points ahead of Milan in third.   Both came through epic clashes in the semi finals with the Turin side ousting the galacticos of Real Madrid while Milan ironically defeated city rivals Inter on away goals despite sharing the same stadium.   The starting elevens oozed with world class talent.  Milan had Maldini, Nesta, Seedorf, Inzaghi and Shevchenko, Juventus Buffon, Thuram, Davids, Del Piero and Trezegeut.   However one crucial absentee was Juve’s Pavel Nedved.  The Czech winger would go on to win the 2003 Ballon d’Or but a yellow card picked up in the second leg against Real Madrid meant he was forced to watch on from the stands.

The early phase of the game was actually reasonably exciting.  Within eight minutes Shevchenko had seemingly fired Milan in front only for his deflected shot to be ruled out for offside.  Just two minutes latter Juve squandered a golden opportunity when Trezeguet tamely headed wide from a Thuram cross.  Gigi Buffon then cemented his reputation as the finest goal keeper on the planet with a stunning one handed save from an Inzaghi diving header, the look of bemusement on the strikers face upon releasing the ball hadn’t hit the net proving testament to this.   Immediately after the restart Juve substitute Antonio Conte came closest of all rattling the crossbar with a fine diving header.

Perhaps it was the lingering spirit of catenaccio or a realisation of just what was at stake but for the remained of the contest defences began to dominate.  Moving into extra time the action was unbearably tense for fans of the teams involved but something of a snore fest for the neutral.   However relief was at hand when eventually the clash had to be decided by the most exciting means of all, the penalty shootout.  Perhaps fittingly defenders were even in the ascendancy here with Birendelli, Montero, Nesta, Kaladze and Serginho all stepping up to the plate.   Buffon excelled himself once again with two fine saves from Seedorf and Kaladze but it was Milan’s Dida who was to prove hero of the hour with three impressive saves to offer Shevchenko the chance to win the day.  The Ukrainian made no mistake in converting the final kick and Milan were champions of Europe for the sixth time while Juve were forced to muse over a third final defeat in 8 years.

The fortunes of the two clubs have since proven contrasting.  Milan would become competition specialists lifting the trophy again in 2007 as well as reaching the final in 2005.  Meanwhile Juve would find themselves at the centre of the 2006 calciopoli match fixing crisis, a setback from which they are yet to fully recover.  The all Italian final of 2003 is unlikely to ever be remembered as a classic yet it certainly wasn’t dull and boring.  After all defending is an art in itself and surely any 0-0 draw is worth the wait if it leads to the unrivalled excitement that is the penalty shootout.

The game can be viewed in full on YouTube