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Contrast, confidence mark Europe's big finale

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published May 17, 2006

SAINT-DENIS, France - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger isn't scared that his team will face probably Europe's strongest team in today's Champions League final. If the Gunners play their best, he said, they can beat FC Barcelona.

"The form of my team shows that it has peaked at the right time," Wenger said Tuesday. "I just believe that, if we play to our best (today), we will beat them."

Wenger's young team has come out of an early season slump to beat Spanish giant Real Madrid and Italian champion Juventus.

The Champions League, a yearlong competition involving the top club teams on the continent - and most of the richest teams in the world - ends today with the final at the Stade de France in suburban Paris.

"I have always tried throughout the season to convince these players that they are top quality and that the team is top quality and I am happy that I was proved right," said Wenger, whose team has a record 10 consecutive Champions League shutouts.

His counterattacking system matches up against Barcelona's attack-minded style under coach Frank Rijkaard.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry and Barcelona's Ronaldinho - members of the past two World Cup champions, for France and Brazil, respectively - are two of the best strikers in the world, but they're only the start of the star power.

Arsenal has 15 players named to national team rosters for this summer's World Cup; Barcelona has 11.

In addition to Ronaldinho, Barcelona has Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, Portugal midfielder Deco, Mexico defender Rafael Marquez and Spaniards Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez. Argentine teenager Lionel Messi is questionable with a knee injury.

"All I want is that my players show how they can play, nothing more, nothing less," Rijkaard said. "We have a lot of confidence in ourselves."

Arsenal boasts Henry, England internationals Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, Dutch striker Robin van Persie and Germany's starting goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann.

The final matches two of European soccer's most famous names, but both have poor Champions League records. Barcelona has won one title in the competition's 50 years, in 1992, and has lost three finals. And Arsenal, one of the most successful teams in England's history, is in its first final.

"All the time I have been looking at the Champions League final I have been thinking I wish I was there," Henry said. "I've never even been there to watch it. It's nice that it's in Paris (his hometown) but the most important thing is to be there."

OFFICIAL BOOTED: UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, replaced assistant referee Ole Hermann Borgan for today's match after a photograph of the Norwegian linesman in an FC Barcelona shirt appeared in his local newspaper. Borgan will be replaced by compatriot Arild Sundet.

"It was a stupid thing to do," said referee Terje Hauge, adding that Borgan only did it to celebrate his participation in the final.

[Last modified May 17, 2006, 01:29:12]