The 5 greatest sporting moments of all-time.....

You've no doubt heard that John Terry's sat-nav has been playing up, apparently it keeps saying he's one minute from Rome.....

Yes it's a shocking joke but one that seemingly appeals to a common demoninator in all human DNA, the enjoyment we each draw from other people's misery and misfortune.

When it comes to such desolation, the drama of sport is never too far away; in honour of this fact, here are arguably the 5 greatest sporting climaxes of all time.....








5. France vs Portugal - 1984 European Championships (Marseille)

After harshly losing on penalties to those nasty West Germans in the World Cup two years prior, France were attempting to win their first major tournament in their home country. Facing unfancied Portugal in the Semi-Final, and with the score 2-2 entering the final minute of Extra-Time, France throw bodies forward in the hope of avoiding the lottery of penalties.....
Having had the pleasure of watching this on holiday in France, the sound of the commentators going absolutely nuts brings back happy memories of the first time I saw grown men crying and kissing each other in the name of football.



4. Australia vs South Africa - Cricket World Cup 1999 (Edgbaston)

Needing one more run from the final five deliveries....and with Lance Klusener on strike, South Africa were surely "in" their first World Cup Final? Unfortunately who was to know that Allan Donald would lose complete use of his legs and become consigned to sporting folklore. Incidentally, no-one ever really mentioned Lance Klusener's part in this sporting tragedy...maybe it's because he didn't drop his bat?



3. Kerri Strug's Gold Medal Vault - 1996 Olympics (Atlanta)

One of the great Olympic moments...and I don't even like gymnastics. Kerri Strug, an eighteen year old carrying the weight of an entire nation as they attempt to win their first EVER Gymnastics Team gold. To set the scene, the US coaches believe that Kerri Strug needs to score 9.5+ on the vault to clinch gold...what follows is true sporting theatre.



2. USSR vs USA - 1972 Olympics (Munich)

Trailing by one point in the Olympic Basketball final and with only 3 seconds on the clock, the USA get to the free throw line knowing the gold is within their grasp. Under unbelievable pressure Doug Collins makes both shots....what happens next is possiblythe most controversial end to a sporting event ever. Afterwards, the entire USA team vote unanimously to refuse their silver medals (and take their ball home too)


1. Manchester United vs Bayern Munich - UEFA Champion League Final 1999 (Barcelona)

As Gary Lineker once famously observed, "Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win". In 1999, they played for 93 minutes...and Lothar Mattheus had an absolute face like a smacked arse at the end of them.







The greatest sporting climax of all time? I think so.....