Here it is. Beautiful, majestic. Put on a table, in the alignment of the centre circle, it focuses all the glances and all the desires. It is the European Cup.

Here it is. Beautiful, majestic. Put on a table, in the alignment of the centre circle, it focuses all the glances and all the desires. It is the European Cup. The Only one, that one with the large handles. That one which made cry Boli and all Marseilles in 1991. That one which still makes dream the OM two years later.
Can it refuse itself again to the Olympian ? At their entry on the field for the warm-up, they can’t take their eyes off the Cup, but none risks itself to touch it. Too much confident in Bari, they undoubtedly had it abrupt.
Raymond Goethals knows these moments. He's living in Munich his 7th and last final. It can only be glorious. As usual, the Belgian strategist polished the tactics in his least details. He imagined all the parades, all the scenarios. Papin or not Papin. Gullit or not Gullit.
Finally, the two Milanese are on the bench at the beginning of the match. JPP on the bench, and the Batavian in the stands. That’s what Fabio Capello, the coach, of the "best formation of the World” decided. Feeling reinforced by his 10 consecutive victories in the competition until this final.

The first minutes are clearly in favour of the Italians. Marseilles’s public comes very close to the infarction on multiple occasions. Rijkaard then Massaro miss the target by the head whereas the tifosis have already the arms to the sky. With a knee injury for several weeks, Basile Boli suffered terribly. He turns over in direction of Goethals to beseech him to leave. Völler saw the scene. Natural leader of the team, he comes closer to "Base” and told him: «Please, stay». Boli took back his place. Perhaps the OM victory is in these two English words of the German striker.
The Milanese pressure remains unbearable until half an hour. Van Basten is imperceptible. To 17th, he swivels and strikes to the goal. The ball is diverted by Barthez at the price of an astonishing reflex. At the Top of his 21 springs, the young gatekeeper has just held in failure the three times “Ballon d’Or”. A turning.
After such a starting, the Marseillais can only improve. Each player, from the attack to the defense, is now putting all his heart in the game, to make thwart the "Rossoneri". The organization is regulated itself to lead to a perfect mechanism. The seat of the goals of Barthez leaves place to a battle of the medium of field.
The storm passed, the Olympian remove the umbrellas and push the Milaneses to the fault. Abédi Pelé embarrasses thus considerably Paolo Maldini. On an overflow of the Ghanaian, this last cannot avoid the corner. The clock of Olympiastadion indicates 20h58. The half-time is very close. One cannot dream better moment.
Pelé strikes the kick of corner to the first post. Boli rises in the airs and prolongs the ball with head. A gold head. Rossi, immovable, is beaten. The OM’s supporters howl their joy like never. Incredible, the OM did it. They are first at the pause !

Capello does not lose a minute. He sends Papin to warm up for the second half. A broadside of whistles welcomes him when he substitutes Donadoni, at the 55th. The 25 000 Marseilles fans do not have short memory. But they cannot acclaim that one who can cause their loss, whereas the shiver of the victory traverses them since the goal of Boli.
The old idol of the Vélodrome is found besides in good position at fifteen minutes of the end… A short relief during a long time of worrying. The OM’s unconditional can’t stop looking at the watch. The minutes seem hours.
On the ground, the exit of Angloma because of an injury didn’t unbalance the collective. However, they gave up all ideas to worry Rossi. All their forces are now together in the same combat: the defense of their advantage. One gains thirty meters on a revival, one gather few seconds on a free kick.

The waiting of the liberator whistle of Kurt Rothlisberger is interminable. When it resounds finally, the clamour coming from the white turn is infinite, irrational. An explosion at the measurement of the accomplished exploit. The OM reached its nirvana. He is CHAMPION Of EUROPE !
On the field, the players are drunk of happiness. Di Meco, Sauzée and much of others cry like kids. Boli, this time, does not pour a tear, and says it.
Not without difficulty, Deschamps gradually involves his partners towards the podium. SHE’s waiting for them, dresses with blue and white ribbons. Under a thunder of applause, the captain poses his lips on it before holding up it in the sky of Munich. The gesture is historical. 37 years that French football was awaited it... For ever and ever the Firsts !

MATCHES - First Knockout Stage : Glentoran 0-5 OM - First Knockout Stage : OM 3-0 Glentoran - Second Knockout Stage : Bucarest 0-0 OM - Second Knockout Stage : OM 2-0 Bucarest - Group Stage : Rangers 2-2 OM

- Group Stage : OM 3-0 Bruges - Group Stage : CSKA Moscou 1-1 OM - Group Stage : OM 6-0 CSKA Moscou - Group Stage : OM 1-1 Rangers - Group Stage : Bruges 0-1 OM