Game Time

Well tonight is the night.

Barcelona and Arsenal square off tonight in Paris. The city of Barcelona is already going bonkers in anticipation of what should be an amazing game. I even saw my parents off on their flight to Paris this morning amid an airport full of Blue and Red clad FCB supporters bound for the City of Light. Oh, and did I mention that was at 5 AM this morning!

While I think FCB is loaded this year and could be one of the better teams assembled in recent memory, I think anyone predicting an FCB cakewalk may be getting a bit ahead of themselves. Some have even gone so far as to call the FCB-AC Milan semi-final the real final. Implying neither Arsenal nor Villarreal could possibly have what it takes to win it all. To those people, I have two simple words.

Thierry Henry.

A Frenchman ... leading Arsenal's dream run to the final ... playing in what could be his last game for the club ... head-to-head against Ronaldinho, the only forward who people could claim is better than him ... in one game ... for all the marbles ... IN PARIS!

I would never bet against a guy like that in a situation like this.

In fact, while all the media have focused on the clash between Spain's best team and one of England's best teams, I think it will be the French who have a profound impact before the night is done. The last time a major championship was decided in the Stade de France, a certain Frenchman with the initials ZZ became a legend by besting Brazil for two goals in a World Cup Final. Don't be surprised if Henry, Robert Pires or Giuly rise to the occasion with similar results.

So while I will definitely be rooting for my adopted home team, something tells me a classic is in the cards regardless of the victor.