Delle Alpi curse strikes Nedved as he misses final

THE Stadio Delle Alpi has proved a curse on brilliant creative players and on Wednesday it was the turn of Juventus’ most innovative talent Pavel Nedved to be booked and end a match in tears with the knowledge he would miss the Champions League final in a fortnight.

The 30-year-old Czech international emulated England's then creative maestro Paul Gascoigne in winning the match but losing out on the big one as Gazza's booking in the 1990 World Cup quarter-final against Cameroon led to his being suspended from the semi-final against West Germany.

Like Nedved, Gascoigne cried freely only adding to his legend whilst Juventus team-mates and manager Marcello Lippi praised the Czech for his superb goal, their third in the 3-1 Champions League semi-final victory over Real Madrid and a 4-3 triumph on aggregate to make the final in a fortnight's time against AC Milan.