The Final Countdown

Just a quickie, before we get onto the serious business of the match ahead. First of all, the team news. Barca are unchanged from the team that demolished Club America on Thursday evenings, so: Valdes, Motta, Marquez, Puyol, Gudjohnsen, Giuly, Ronaldinho, Zambrotta, Van Bronckhorst, Deco, Iniesta. For Inter, Pato, The Duck, plays. Quacking news. He was excellent against Ahly the other day. Just the one change for them, so they line up as follows: Clemer, Ceara, Indio, Fabiano Eller, Wellington Monteiro, alex, Edinho, Fernandao, Iarley, Alexndre Pato, Rubens Cardoso.

While I've been typing this, six large, multi-coloured balls have been brought out onto the pitch, with one bigger one, with Earth printed on it. Suddenly, there are laser lights everywhere, and a Japanese band called The Chemistry are in front of us, all wearing coats (bar one member who is, possibly foolhardily, wearing an Inter shirt) performing "On Top Of The World", the Tournament Anthem, it says here. It's a jaunty, upbeat Europop number, as if you needed telling. In the mean time, the over-sized have been re-arranged into a distinctly phallic shape. I hope to God that they don't shoot fireworks out of the Arctic Circle, if you see what I mean. Time enough, I think, for a quick cigarette, then on with the game. Prediction? 2-0 Barcelona.