^*^ Football Daily | Debates citing the FA Cup losing its magic have lost their magic

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It’s more than 22 years since the FA emotionally blackmailed defending champions Manchester United into withdrawing from the FA Cup so they could play in the inaugural Fifa World Club Championship in Brazil. The thinking behind this wheeze was that United’s expedition into the unknown would boost England’s chances of hosting the 2006 World Cup, a tournament that ultimately ended up being staged in Germany, possibly because the only team United managed to beat in Brazil were the Antipodean semi-professionals of South Melbourne.

Just returned from Bloomfield Road. A five-goal thriller that could just as easily have been Blackpool 1-4 Forest. Thrills, spills and half-time Bovril. The magic of the cup, right? Eleven changes to the Forest team. Yes, I was entertained, but left also with a feeling of being slightly soiled and used. Like the experience of reading this email in the olden days” – Lynda Caines.

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