Magic Millennium moments

Mar 17 2008 by Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail

MY TOP TEN MILLENNIUM MOMENTS:

1: Wales v France (March 2008)
The freshest in the memory, but simply the best. A superb occasion, a superb outcome. A superb team, superb fans. It tops the lot, in my eyes.

2: Wales v Italy (Oct 2002)
The Manics played beforehand, John Charles was paraded on the pitch. And then Mark Hughes’ soccer men stunned the Italians to win 2-1. Magnifico.

3: Wales v Ireland (March 2005)
The first Grand Slam for 27 years was very special and the tries by Gethin Jenkins and Kevin Morgan have gone into folklore. Magical, but Saturday was even better.

4: New Zealand v France (Oct 2007)
The best game of the 2007 World Cup, hosted by France, but played in Wales! Cardiff was a sea of black and blue and the French stunned the favourites with a thrilling comeback.

5: Wales v Finland (March 2000)
Makes the top five on my list because it was the first football game at the stadium ... and an unprecedented 66,000 soccer fans turned up. Tickets were sold out within 48 hours. Incredible.

6: Cardiff City v QPR (May 2003)
A magical Sunday afternoon when 30,000-plus Bluebirds fans moved from a mile down the road to roar their team to a 1-0 promotion play-off triumph. Andy Campbell was an idol for a day.

7: Wales v England (Feb 2005)
The game that kick-started the last Grand Slam campaign, courtesy of Gavin Henson’s memorable kick. Tense, tight, and tortuous for the English.

8: Liverpool v Arsenal (May 2001)
The first FA Cup Final at the ground, a game which really put the Millennium Stadium on the world map. Michael Owen, he of the Welsh roots, led a thrilling Liverpool comeback on a Welsh ground.

9: Wrexham v Southend (April 2005)
Only the LDV Vans Trophy, but a wonderfully sunny day in Cardiff. Sir Alex Ferguson was in the crowd to watch a certain Darren score and inspire Wrexham to a 2-0 win.

10: Swansea v Carlisle (April 2006)
This time it was the Swans’ turn to win the trophy, marred, of course, by the after-match Lee Trundle-Alan Tate antics. Almost 30,000 Swans fans roared their team to a 2-1 win.