Last week I was 1 of the many 65,000 people lucky enough to attend Soccer Aid 2010.The atmosphere was fantastic.They said the atmosphere would be similar to that of the World Cup.I've been watching the World Cup this week and they are indeed correct.The atmosphere was very similar considering we left the match deaf due to the ear wrecking noise of those Vuvuzelas.
We got there and it was heaving inside and outside the stadium.Everyone was jumping about cheering and there was this 'Buzzing' feel to the whole event.Luckily when we went to get our tickets it wasn't too bad as we were one of the first there and had to wait about 15 minutes for the tickets to print.2 minutes after we started queuing though,the queue was outside the door.Good timing some would say.
There was plenty of food to go round with those burger and hotdog vans all over the show outside the stadium and inside the stadium there was the take away 'McDonalds' look-a-like bars which sold alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and plenty of food.You weren't stuck in the department anyway although the prices were steep which was to be expected in somewhere like Old Trafford so bringing your own food was probably advisable.
Leading out England was Tottenham Hotspurs manager Harry Redknapp followed by the legends that are Bryan Robson and James Corden (both legends in their own right...1 a comedian and the other a former United footballer) and captained by Robbie Williams.Rest of the World was lead by Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush and captained by the great actor that is Michael Sheen.
ENGLAND SQUAD: Robbie Williams (CPT) David Seaman (GK), Ben Shephard, Nicky Butt, Bradley Walsh, Alan Shearer, Damian Lewis, Jamie Redknapp, Dominic Cooper, Martin Keown, Jonathan Wilkes, Teddy Sheringham, Jamie Theakston (GK), Ricky Hatton, Paddy McGuiness, Olly Murs, Ralf Little
REST OF WORLD SQUAD: Michael Sheen (CPT), Henrik Larsson, Brian Lara, Jens Lehmann (GK), Gethin Jones, Ryan Giggs, Gordon Ramsay, Zinedine Zidane, James Kyson-Lee, Sami Hyypia, Joe Calzaghe, Luis Figo, Mike Myers, Nicky Byrne, Patrick Kielty (GK), Shane Filan, Woody Harrelson, Simon Baker
The match itself was brilliant.To see the likes of Figo and Zidane play the way they do on the pitch was a feeling in itself if you've never seen them play before.You have to hand it to GMTV presenter Ben Shephard,who was on the England squad,after those amazing tackles on Figo and Zidane.I think anyone would love to boast about tackling 2 world class footballers.I know I would.Another classic moment was comedian Patrick Kielty,the Rest of the World goalkeeper,dribbling round Teddy Sheringham and then Sheringham giving him a kick up the arse for it.
Not only was the match entertaining but they also had half time entertainment from some of the top football freestylers of the world juggling the ball and dancing away to music.
I'd say the highlight of the match was the penalty shootout.I lost count of how many penalties were taken...20-25 maybe?My star player would have to be Jamie Theakston who was in Goal from the second half for England.The guy was unstoppable,stopping attempts from the likes of Henrik Larsson and saving about 5 penalties in the shootout with some world class saves.I think Capello might want to re-evaluate his goalkeepers?!
Even though Theakston was a star in goal...England still lost 7-6 on penalties.Woody Harrelson scored the winner for the Rest of the World which in itself was a little bit surreal.
The biggest winner was,however,how the event of Soccer Aid raised over £2 million for Unicef.
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