FA Cup final preview & Official Match Discussion.

[joshbrfc]

FA Cup final preview
Cardiff and Portsmouth hope for fitting finale.



# The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
# Final
# 17th May 2008
# KO 15:00
# Ground: Wembley

Match Facts:

LAST SIX RESULTS:

Portsmouth
Portsmouth 0 - 1 Fulham
Middlesbrough 2 - 0 Portsmouth
Portsmouth 0 - 1 Blackburn
Man City 3 - 1 Portsmouth
Portsmouth 0 - 0 Newcastle
West Ham 0 - 1 Portsmouth


Cardiff

Cardiff 3-0 Barnsley
Burnley 3-3 Cardiff
Wolverhampton 3-0 Cardiff
Scunthorpe 3-2 Cardiff
Cardiff 3-1 Blackpool
Ipswich 1-1 Cardiff


Cardiff City and Portsmouth meet at Wembley on Saturday to contest the 126th FA Cup final, a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1.

This season the Football Association's flagship competition has thrown up more shocks, upsets and spectacles than even a soap opera scriber with a taste for the dramatic could concoct.

As Cardiff and Pompey prepare to cross swords at the home of English football, hopes are high for a fitting finale to a fabulous year for the world's oldest and most illustrious knock-out tournament.

It has been suggested that the infamous magic of the FA Cup has been buried six feet under for many-a-year following the 13-season monopoly of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

But this weekend's final has sparked flashbacks to yesteryear as plucky Championship underdogs Cardiff prepare to do battle with Premier League opponents and popular favourites Pompey.


Showdown

Non-league Havant & Waterlooville's fourth round exploits at Anfield will sit fondly in the memory, while giant-killers Barnsley eliminating Liverpool and Chelsea earns recognition, but if Cardiff manager Dave Jones is the man with his hands on the silverware come Saturday evening that would deservedly be hailed as the greater achievement.

The Bluebirds have accounted for Chasetown, Hereford, Wolves, Middlesbrough and semi-final opponents Barnsley on their way and Jones will now be calling on his Welsh club to produce one last effort in a bid to replicate the 1927 victory which forced the FA to rename the English Cup.

Jones has named wily striking veteran Robbie Fowler, who has sampled previous cup final heartbreak and joy with Liverpool in 1996 and 2001 respectively, in his initial 18-man squad as he looks to secure every possible weapon in his arsenal.

Fowler has not played for five months following hip surgery and doubts exist about his fitness, but the former England international has travelled with the club.

Fellow forward Paul Parry came through his return from a hamstring problem against Barnsley a fortnight ago and will partner Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in attack, while highly-rated winger Joe Ledley could be making his last appearance before a summer transfer.

Renaissance

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp, though, will have no room for nostalgia as he prepares for a first FA Cup final appearance in over 40 years as a player and a manager.

Redknapp has more than done his bit for the renaissance of the competition as, having already steered Pompey to successes against Ipswich, Plymouth and Preston, his South Coast outfit notched another of this term's great upsets with a stunning 1-0 quarter-final victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Few could therefore begrudge Redknapp a chance for glory and Pompey - who have lifted the cup once before in 1939 - undoubtedly deserve their final place following a comfortable defeat of domestic second tier winners West Brom in the last four.

Cup-tied striker Jermain Defoe will continue to be absent, but goalkeeper David James (calf) and skipper Sol Campbell (hamstring) are fit to return.

Nwankwo Kanu looks certain to lead the attack, possibly with Nigerian compatriot John Utaka on the wing or on-loan Milan Baros as chief support despite no goals for the Czech Republic international in 15 appearances.

Another striker, David Nugent, should be fit to join the squad after a groin strain, while Papa Bouba Diop sweats on a midfield place after being left out in the Premier League last week against Fulham.




Fowler in final squad
Veteran striker has chance of Wembley appearance.

Cardiff City manager Dave Jones has confirmed that Robbie Fowler is in his FA Cup final squad.

The Liverpool striking legend is yet to play in 2008 because of a hip problem - which needed surgery.

The 33-year-old has trained this week and he is now in with a chance of making the bench for the match with Portsmouth on Saturday.

Bluebirds chief Dave Jones would only confirm that he has brought Fowler with him and he was in his 18-man squad.

"He is in the 18," he told Sky Sports News as the Cardiff squad arrived in London.

Jones is likely to leave it until Saturday morning before deciding whether Fowler will be involved.




Harry - We can be heroes
Pompey boss challenges players to claim FA Cup glory

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has urged his players to become 'heroes in history' by lifting the FA Cup on Saturday.

Pompey and Championship side Cardiff City go head-to-head - live on Sky Sports 1 and HD 1 - at Wembley with both teams gunning for FA Cup glory.

And ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter, Redknapp has rallied his Portsmouth troops, challenging them to ensure the club lifts the trophy for the first time since 1939.

"These lads we have now are a great bunch, a pleasure to work with, but they need to win this trophy on Saturday and make themselves heroes in history," he said.

"Whatever happens it has been a great season despite losing four matches in a row (in the Premier League) right at the end. That was disappointing but it won't matter a bit if we win the cup.

"Not even Europe will matter then - not until later. It will be great to get into the Uefa Cup just for the sake of it but right now I'm concentrating on just this one game."

[joshbrfc]

So Who will win, who do you want to win?

Discuss..

[squibba]

Well.. it would be good if Cardiff win it but its kinda similar to 2003 wen Manchester Utd beat Milwall 3-0 so we have to wait and see. On BBC from 12:30 to :5:30

Im sure it kicks of at three but hey more footie to watch

[joshbrfc]

well its not similar to that because pompey are no were near what ma united are... its two underdogs that have beaten bigger teams to get there... gonna be a good game.