Istanbul 2005: Czech heroes in the most famous Champions League final
Exactly 20 years ago, Vladimír Šmicer and Milan Baroš made an indelible mark on the history of Czech football. They were part of one of the most incredible Champions League finals of all time, when Liverpool turned around a seemingly hopeless 0:3 score against AC Milan and eventually triumphed after a penalty shootout.
A nightmare start for Liverpool
When Šmicer came on the pitch in the first half, due to an injury to Harry Kewell, Liverpool were staggering under the onslaught of a superstar AC Milan squad. Liverpool went into the dressing room with a seemingly devastating 0-3 score and there was an air of frustration among the players. ‘I thought my presence on the pitch would help. But we went from 0:1 to 0:3,’ Smicer later recalled.
But Coach Rafael Benítez refused to give up and turned around the mood in the locker room. ‘We have 40,000 fans out there, let's give them at least one good goal,’ he urged the team. And it was this moment that gave the players the courage to try the impossible.
A football miracle and Czech "stamp" on football history
Then came the second half and the memorable six-minute spell that turned the score around. Steven Gerrard was the first to score, and moments later, Vladimir Šmicer's brilliant long-range shot brought Liverpool to within one goal of a tie as the stadium exploded with excitement. ‘The Italians still thought nothing was happening, but within minutes it was 3-3,’ said Šmicer.
Xabi Alonso added the equalizer from a goal after a missed penalty that came after a foul on Milan Baroš. The Czech striker played a crucial role not only in the course of the game, but also in creating pressure on the opponent's defence.
Drama until the final moments
The match came to a penalty shootout and the Czech midfielder was entrusted by the coach to shoot one of the key penalties. In the penultimate series, Šmicer scored while Milan's Andriy Shevchenko failed - and Liverpool could lift the Champions League winners' trophy over their heads again after 21 long years.
Šmicer and Baroš thus became the first Czech footballers to win the prestigious competition. They were followed by Marek Jankulovski with AC Milan and Petr Čech with Chelsea, but it is this unforgettable evening in Istanbul that remains the most dramatic Czech "stamp" on Champions League history.
