ManU vs Europe.

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Anyone heard nout about this?
United to face European XI

A European XI coached by Marcello Lippi will play Manchester United FC at Old Trafford next March in a match staged to commemorate two important European milestones, it was announced on Saturday.

Joint jubilee
The celebratory event has been scheduled to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome which, on 25 March 1957, formally laid the foundations for a united Europe and the jubilee of United's involvement in the European Champion Clubs' Cup. United were the first English team to enter what has now become the continent's most elite club competition and their involvement, which was begun by Sir Matt Busby's 'Busby Babes' in the 1956/57 season, has run in parallel with the lifespan of the European Union.

Old Trafford setting
Old Trafford will be the setting for the match, scheduled to take place on Tuesday 13 March between Sir Alex Ferguson's side and a European XI featuring star players from UEFA's member associations who have made contributions to the success of the UEFA Champions League and coached by FIFA 2006 World Cup-winning coach Lippi.

'Delightful prospect'
"I accepted the invitation immediately," said Lippi at a press conference at Old Trafford. "I'm delighted by the prospect of such a game and I am already looking forward to taking on my great friend Sir Alex Ferguson." The Italian coach will select the European squad and will have UEFA's Technical Director, Andy Roxburgh, as his assistant. "I think this is an excellent way of combining two celebrations and commemorating the 50th birthday of the European Union," said UEFA's Chief Executive, Lars-Christer Olsson.

'Best of Europe'
"The best of European football will be on show in Manchester next March to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of the European Union," added European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. "There is no better way to showcase the European Union at 50 than through Europe's favourite sport that unites Europeans in a unique way, through a passion we all share and a language we all speak." United have won the European Champion Clubs' Cup on two occasions, the first a 4-1 victory against SL Benfica in the 1967-68 season, the second a 2-1 win against FC Bayern München at the end of season 1998/99.
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http://www.uefa.com/uefa/Keytopics/kind=64/newsId=489467.html
 
Seen it on Ceefax last night. Apparently Becks is playing for the World XI.

No doubt it will be the usual suspects who always seem to get wheeled out for an event like this. Expect Zidane and Ronaldhino for 10 mins or so.

Maybe Lippi is testing the dugouts for next season ;)
 
Yup. Because Lippi's coming to the red end of the Meazza soon enough. :p
Although there are rumors about of Lippi going to Inter, Mancini going to Chelsea, and Jose to Milan.
 
It must be an intuiging proposition for Lippi with a host of suitors after him.

I heard that Quierozzzzzzzzzzzz was going to Milan anyway so good look to you :D
 
Loki said:
It must be an intuiging proposition for Lippi with a host of suitors after him.

I heard that Quierozzzzzzzzzzzz was going to Milan anyway so good look to you :D
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I'd rarther have Milan managed by a trained monkey in a tracksuit. :p

I think Lippi could do well at Milan. The squad is already a closely nitted one like Lippi likes to create. All it needs is someone who can get the performances out of the players.
 
The Italian coach will select the European squad and will have UEFA's Technical Director, Andy Roxburgh, as his assistant.
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That's them gubbed then. Never could understand how Roxburgh rose to the heady heights of UEFA yet couldn't put together a decent Scotland team.

On the other hand looks likeit could be a game worth watching but why Man U? :confused:
 
Snash said:
On the other hand looks likeit could be a game worth watching but why Man U? :confused:
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United were the first English team to enter what has now become the continent's most elite club competition and their involvement, which was begun by Sir Matt Busby's 'Busby Babes' in the 1956/57 season, has run in parallel with the lifespan of the European Union.
Click to expand...
 
United were the first English team to enter what has now become the continent's most elite club competition and their involvement, which was begun by Sir Matt Busby's 'Busby Babes' in the 1956/57 season, has run in parallel with the lifespan of the European Union.
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I know that but why eg an English team? Why not an Italian, Spanish or French team?
 
Snash said:
I know that but why eg an English team? Why not an Italian, Spanish or French team?
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I'm guessing but Man Utd are almost certainly the most famous team to enter the competition at the same time as the EU started so it does make a kind of a sense to pick them since teams from most of the other nations in the EU don't have such a worldwide (or even EU) presence with a couple of notable exceptions but those exceptions didn't join the 'elite club competition' at the same time. :)
 
Briton said:
Weren't the English cool on the idea of European competition? Should be Real Madrid.
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The FA at the time were completely against any English club competing in Europe.
 
Loki said:
The FA at the time were completely against any English club competing in Europe.
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Seems a bit strange then that an English club is celebrating this double jubilee. Did English clubs even contend the original European competitions? That's just the football side....Britain has hardly been the most enthusiastic about European integration either.
 
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