All the air came out and it had to be kicked into touch. Dispensed with like a piece of rubbish.
Which felt fitting in a lot of ways, given how the oldest cup competition in the world has been treated this week.
The FA Cup – and all those who love it so much – have been left more than deflated after the news that from now on replays will be scrapped.
Another sad reminder of the parlous state our national sport finds itself in, as greed laughs in the face of good again.
All of the above meant that if one game needed to remind us of how wonderful the contest still is, it was this one. A clash between the current holders and eight-time winners.
A team looking to win a Double on the back of landing a Treble last season, against one costing £1 billion to assemble.
Some of the great players of their generation in front of 80,000 lucky enough to secure Wembley tickets.
Denne historien er fra April 21, 2024-utgaven av Sunday Express.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 21, 2024-utgaven av Sunday Express.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
RUUD DESPAIR AT United EXIT
RUUD VAN NISTELROOY has been left devastated by his Manchester United departure.
Shock rise in dental patients going to A&E
SOARING numbers of people who have trouble with their teeth are turning up at A&E departments amid rising concern about lack of access to NHS dentists.
3D modelling revolution for facial surgery
THOUSANDS of people needing facial reconstructions after being injured in car crashes or falls are set to benefit from pioneering 3D modelling.
Acid attack paedophile jailed for 30 years in U.S.
A VIOLENT criminal who put two police officers in hospital after dousing them with acid has been jailed for 30 years for a sex attack on a nine-year-old boy in the US.
Bruce wife: Daddy's not going to get any better
Christmas heartache of star's family
Richard on target for new Citadel filming
ACTOR Richard Madden has been spotted filming the second series of high-octane spy drama Citadel, writes Jaymi McCann.
Kemi: Hate crime laws are wasting police time
HATE-CRIME laws must be reviewed to stop people \"wasting police time on trivial incidents\", says Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
Trump ready to get tough on Iran...again
DONALD Trump's Cabinet choices have led Iran opposition groups and experts to believe regime change is now inevitable for the Islamic nation.
"There was a high degree of trust without the checks'
A PROMINENT MP who attended at least one Christian camp at which John Smyth groomed his abuse victims says confidence in the Church of England has \"collapsed at every level\".
Fans unleash Tyson fury as boxing legend turns into 'human punch bag'
BOXING great \"Iron\" Mike Tyson was booed out of the ring after being easily beaten in his comeback showdown with YouTube fighter Jake Paul, writes Mike Parker.
