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.
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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
Brownhill brilliant for Parker's men
SKIPPER Josh Brownhill's insatiable appetite for goals made it nine unbeaten games on the spin for Scrooge-like Burnley.
Japan favours 39 authentic flavours of UK
A TRADING breakthrough means much of Britain's best-loved food and drink could soon appear more often on menus in Japan.
Alarm over 'epidemic of loneliness'
FEELING lonely at Christmas could affect around 32 million people, research suggests.
Great War airfield can reach for skies once more
THE best preserved First World War airfield has secured its future for another year thanks to the generosity of the public.
Sir Elton won't let the sun go down on writing new songs
SIR ELTON John has revealed he is working on new songs despite having quit touring and suffering a severe infection that has left him unable to see out of his right eye.
World Cup hero George dies
TRIBUTES have flooded in for George Eastham, a member of England's winning 1966 World Cup squad whose death was announced yesterday.
Should I quit while I'm ahead, ponders Lesley as 70th looms
SOPRANO Lesley Garrett has revealed her impending 70th birthday has made her think about quitting singing.
French truckers' threat over checks for migrants
SURLY French lorry drivers have threatened to block goods from entering the UK unless checks to stop migrants arriving become more lenient.
Biden could save 40 from death row
PRESIDENT Joe Biden is considering commuting the death sentences of most - if not all of the 40 prisoners awaiting execution in US federal jails, it has been revealed.
'Time to come clean on mystery drones'
DONALD Trump has urged President Joe Biden to explain thousands of sightings of mysterious, SUV-sized drones reported across at least five US states.
