If Looks could kill

wouldn't fancy being in the Man City changing rooms this evening.

The romance of the FA cup - Wigan the little team, 35 years ago not even in the league, a population less than the capacity of stadium they played in, struggling even to escape relagation. An owner who 53 years ago played the FA cup final himself only to have his leg broken in that game and never play at that level again, returning a much older man. The opposition the English Champions, the rich team, a couple of their players would cost more on the market and get paid more in a week than the whole of the opposition. Wigan with a porous defence, Man City the team with the devastating foward line. Wigan playing energy sapping games of late, City having rested key players for 10 days. The could be only one result, only one result.

"Footbal b'dy hell" Sir Alex Ferguson.

40 years ago today, same stage, a then lowlier team my beloved Sunderland took on the then unplayable Leeds - only one result was possible. Ian Porterfield 29mins, Monty - that double save. Hiiiiistory!

So much about the beautiful game is not beautiful, the spitting, the biting, the diving, the cheating, the lack of respcect, the racism, the homophobia, the ugly excesses......so many times I've turned away but every time despite the pain and despite the ugly parts of the modern game, it's moments like these that bring me back as much as the sublime skill of the likes of Messi, Henry or Van Persi

Games without frontiers- I hope not, but a sometimes beautiful and romantic game it is, and no war exists without tears.

Games without Frontiers - Peter Gabriel