If I was asked to rattle off the last ten winners of the Champions League and the key moments in each final I could probably do it with relative ease. Ask me next to talk about the last two FA Cup finals and I would struggle to remember all the teams involved and the final scores. Does that suggest that I know or care little about football’s greatest domestic cup competition, or is it a reflection of the lack of magic the cup has had on my generation?
Arguably the ‘death’ of the FA Cup is in direct response to the rise of the Champions League and the majesty of European football’s premier competition. There is much pride to be had knowing your club is competing with the best in Europe, despite finishing fourth in your league, struggling through the qualifying round against an unknown and sacrificing the domestic cup in the prior season. And yet this is the emphasis that has enveloped most top European clubs and fans. There is no longer an appreciation among younger crowds for what the FA Cup represented to older brothers or fathers. The cup is now looked upon as a distraction from the real priority at hand—the Premier League.
The FA Cup’s symbol also goes hand-in-hand with Wembley and it’s iconic image. Move the competition away—no matter the reason—and you’re aiding in the destruction of it’s drawing power. During my time as a football fan the FA Cup has only been contested three times at the old Wembley; significant and memorable moments to each of those respective seasons absolutely, but it quickly become less of a priority in my wish list of desired trophies and more something that is just added to the ever-increasing fixture list. There is certainly an air of mystique about the cup for me and plenty of respect of course, but even the Carling Cup has perhaps leaped ahead in the battle of the domestic trophies.
It doesn’t help that the final is so close to the Champions League final either, where the desire to watch Manchester United vs. Barcelona far outweighs the interest for a Chelsea vs. Everton cup final at the new Wembley. But that never seemed to be a problem in the past, and you’ve got to follow with the question of what happened?
Through Champions League finals at Wembley and the Euros in the summer, the FA has had to shuffle the FA Cup final around and further reduce it’s charm. Now instead of a single day dedicated to the final we’re seeing it sandwiched between a number of crucially important Premier League fixtures. Where will the neutrals and worldwide broadcasters be? A greater song and dance has been made in recent years about the relegation dog fight in the remaining fixtures of the league season. Arguably a more exciting prospect than seeing that old cup on show again. On the other hand, there is a greater sense of occasion for the League Cup, nicely placed at the end of February and isolated away from anything that may steal it’s headlines.
The FA’s decision to place semi-finals at Wembley doesn’t help either. As it’s been said, the FA Cup goes hand-in-hand with Wembley stadium and will never have the same lasting impression if you take one half of the equation away and hand out the gift prematurely.
The Premier League is now seen as the greatest draw for foreign players coming to England, rather than the cup final that every child wanted to score in. And it works both ways: the lack of energy and excitement from the players is fed from the lack of enthusiasm from fans. Sadly I don’t ever see the FA Cup becoming as dominant as it was. A reflection that there is simply too much going on at one time, or the inevitability that every good thing must come to an end?
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