A football match lasts 90 minutes but the memories can stay with you for a lifetime.

A photo in the papers on Thursday morning, from the previous night’s PSG-Man City game, pretty much sums up where we’re at as football negotiates the fabled run-in.

Former AC Milan defender and Italy coach Cesare Maldini has passed away at the age of 84.

Italy has a history of teenage defensive diamonds, and Milan’s goalkeeper, 16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma, four months on from his debut, might be the best find yet

As many expected,

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Downtrodden, red-faced, a tormented laughing stock — that about covers it.

Italy gave us the Roman empire and the Renaissance two of the most influential forces in European history. Has this legacy coloured Italians’ perception of themselves and their place in the world, wonders Marjorie Brennan.

“This does not fucking slip now.” Steven Gerrard’s huddle — the inspirational moment that will define an unlikely triumph? Or an ominous poke from the finger of fear?

Italian football is the continuation of politics by other means rather than war.

“We won’t play like Fort Apache, that’s not our style.”

Paris St Germain head coach Carlo Ancelotti has claimed that David Beckham’s age is no barrier to success – and pointed out that Paolo Maldini was two years older when he won the Champions League.

Paris St Germain will benefit hugely from the David Beckham “brand”, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has claimed.

The turn of the year is a time to look forward, but for some people it’s also a time of regret.

ALEX FERGUSON has already seen off a few pretenders to his Manchester United throne — and he intends to repel a few more even though he will celebrate his 70th birthday later this year.

Alex Ferguson has already seen off a few pretenders to his Manchester United throne – and he intends to repel a few more even though he will celebrate his 70th birthday later this year.

OF all the countless tributes paid in recent years to the star player on a star-filled Barcelona team, we particularly liked the one The Guardian penned after he’d ripped the champions of England apart, so much so we’ll recite it here.

ITALY will need to display character to handle the problems the Republic of Ireland will inevitably cause them in tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier at Croke Park, Gianluigi Buffon said last night.

CARLO ANCELOTTI began his Chelsea reign yesterday by confirming the club have signed Russian star Yuri Zhirkov and insisted John Terry would be at Stamford Bridge “forever”.

New Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is adamant the club want to keep captain John Terry at Stamford Bridge “forever”.

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini has turned down the chance to make a one-off comeback for Italy in their friendly with Northern Ireland on June 6.

Kaka’s team-mates are delighted with his decision to remain at AC Milan instead of accepting a world record transfer to Manchester City.

SOVIET Maldini will tonight aim to justify his billing as outright favourite to win the Comerford Cakes National Puppy Stake at Shelbourne Park.

CHELSEA lead the way in England in nominations for the FIFPro World XI Players Awards, just one behind Barcelona, despite neither side winning the Champions League.

Rio Ferdinand is understood to have provisionally agreed a new deal with Manchester United that will keep him at Old Trafford for the next five years.

AVRAM GRANT will be back in the limelight today when attention switches from Chelsea’s FA Cup exit back to the club’s Premier League title challenge.

Avram Grant will be back in the limelight tomorrow when attention switches from Chelsea’s FA Cup exit back to the club’s Barclays Premier League title challenge.

Arsene Wenger opted on the side of caution by deploying Emmanuel Adebayor as a lone striker when Arsenal took on AC Milan for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the San Siro tonight.

AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini insists the team have complete faith in fellow veteran Valerio Fiori – with the goalkeeper looking set for a first appearance since 2003 in tonight’s Champions League clash against Arsenal.

AC Milan veteran Paolo Maldini is looking forward to his side renewing their rivalry with Juventus.

JUST two weeks after claiming he wanted to leave Chelsea, Didier Drogba is set to upset his employers once again with the release of a DVD chronicling his life story in which he admits he wanted to fail the medical he took before he joined the London club and was “disgusted” when he eventually put pen to paper at Stamford Bridge.

AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini has joined the condemnation of UEFA’s decision to ban Dida for two Champions League games after his theatrical reaction to being tapped by a pitch-invading Celtic supporter.

Sometimes you have to wonder what footballers understand by the word ’loyalty’.

Record-equalling Paolo Maldini is focused only on leading AC Milan in tonight’s Champions League final against Liverpool and not the individual accolades coming his way.

VETERAN AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini is confident he will be able to play in a record-breaking eighth Champions League final next Wednesday.

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso admitted yesterday that he is relishing the chance to heal the psychological scars left by the heartbreaking Champions League defeat to Liverpool two years ago.

AC MILAN president Silvio Berlusconi is convinced his team will go all the way in the Champions League after watching them tame Manchester United.

Captain Paolo Maldini is the main doubt for AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti for tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final second-leg match with Manchester United.

ITALY World Cup-winning midfielder Gennaro Gattuso should be available for AC Milan’s Champions League semi-final return match with Man Utd on Wednesday — but veteran defender Paolo Maldini is a possible absentee.

Italy World Cup-winning midfielder Gennaro Gattuso should be available for AC Milan's Champions League semi-final return match with Manchester United on Wednesday - but veteran defender Paolo Maldini is a possible absentee.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson made three changes to his side for this Champions League semi-final first leg match at Old Trafford.

AC MILAN coach Carlo Ancelotti admits an injury to Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will play into his team’s hands for the Champions League semi-final.

Brazilian goalkeeper Dida has been included in AC Milan’s 25-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

IT may have been unmissable in Manchester but it was ‘unwatchable’ in Rome, at least according to the front page headline in Il Messaggero, the capital’s daily paper, as Italy woke up to its heaviest defeat in nearly 40 years of international football.

Manchester United 4 Europe XI 3