Saturday, 15 May 2021

EMIRATES FA CUP FINAL 2021 - LEICESTER CITY vs CHELSEA [SATURDAY 15th MAY 2021]

LEICESTER CITY

1 - 0    [Tielemans 63']

CHELSEA


Kick Off 5:15pm Live on BBC1

The greatest domestic cup competition in the world finally reaches it's conclusion for this season and should have the BBC's full attention today across the national network as they build up to the big show. It's not quite the treatment from the BBC that it used to be in the past, no episodes of Cup Final Mastermind, or the like this weekend and of course the kick off is 5:15pm and not 3pm where it traditionally should be but never mind. At least we will have a reasonable attendance with 20,000 due in for this match and soon we hope that fans will be back across other sports too.

This season is the 140th FA Cup Final and we've got ourselves a top four battle as Chelsea seek to win the cup having been beaten in last years final by Arsenal. This time they face a dangerous outfit in Leicester City while Thomas Tuchel's side also have an eye on the European Cup (Champions League) against Manchester City, and it was City they beat in the semi final 1-0 to reach this final. While Leicester City overcame Southampton by the same 1-0 score. 
Following the traditional coin toss, Chelsea’s outfield players will wear blue shirts, blue shorts and white socks, while their goalkeeper will be in all grey, and Leicester City’s outfield players will wear all maroon, with their goalkeeper in all green.

If you can remember when there was life before the Premier League and the FA Cup was THE final game of the season it used to go on all day, Mastermind, Question of Sport, watching the team coaches head to the old stadium, the twin towers and hoards of fans walking down 'Wembley Way' from the station I don't think the teams even think about having a FA Cup final song anymore (remember Chas and Dave with Ossie's Dream anyone). Chelsea still sing that "blue is colour" song from the 70s which is still better than that awful 'one man went to mow...' of course this season without the fans has been far from normal and having this Cup Final played in May while there are still Premier League games on is just one of the annoyances never mind any talk of a 'Super League'.
12pm Football Focus

We start our FA Cup Final Saturday with Football Focus, Dan Walker presents the weekly magazine programme ahead of the FA Cup final between Leicester City and Chelsea he will be joined at Wembley by Alex Scott and Dion Dublin there's a few supporting programs to follow after the news but hopefully they can fill the hour with interviews from the managers who will be looking to lift their first trophy as a manager of their respective English sides.
1:45pm FA Cup Rewind
Classic moments from the FA Cup; this year’s showpiece is a mouth watering contest between eight-time winners Chelsea and Leicester, who will attempt to lift this trophy for the first time in their 137-year history. Chelsea boast an impressive FA Cup pedigree, with eight final appearances this century, while head coach Thomas Tuchel will hope to win a fourth domestic cup of his career (former Manager/Coach of Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain). Leicester have reached the prestigious showpiece for the first time since 1969 and will attempt to end a run of four FA Cup final defeats with head coach Brendan Rodgers who himself had plenty of success north of the border with Celtic.
2:45pm Match of Their Day
Featuring seven-time FA Cup winner Ashley Cole, who relives some of the best cup finals he played in with Arsenal and Chelsea. [* surely this would have been more apt for last season's final but I don't create the BBC schedule].
3:25pm The FA Cup Road to Wembley
A look back at the biggest stories from this season’s FA Cup ahead of the final between Chelsea and Leicester at Wembley on Saturday. From minnows Marine of the eighth tier taking on eight-time winners Tottenham to Cheltenham nearly shocking the mighty Manchester City, the world-famous cup competition never disappoints.
4:15pm 2021 FA Cup Final
Gary Lineker hosts live coverage of the 139th FA Cup final at Wembley, where he should be joined by regular guest pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer. Back the 'under 1 minute' market for the time it takes someone to mention that Shearer has never won the FA Cup.
  • Leicester have reached their 5th FA Cup final, their first since 1969 when they lost 1-0 to Manchester City.
  • Chelsea have reached their 15th FA Cup final, having lost 2-1 to Arsenal in last season's competition.
Alan Shearer and Ian Wright provide expert analysis and then we are almost ready to end the build up as the teams come out about 5pm for the traditional ceremonies and we will be treated to the traditional Cup Final anthem 'Abide With Me' kick-off is scheduled for 5:15pm.

The line ups will be confirmed during the course of the afternoon's program, we've just left them as per the semi final games initially and will update when team sheets are known; 

LEICESTER CITY Team News;


Schmeichel (c) (Gk)

Castagne    🟨Forfana    Evans    Söyüncü

Ndidi    ⚽Tielemans    Thomas

Pérez    Vardy    
Iheanacho

Subs - Ward (Gk),  Maddison,  Albrighton,  Amartey,  Ricardo Pereira,  Choudhury,  Mendy,  Praet,  Morgan

CHELSEA Team News;

Arrizabalaga (Gk)

Azpilicueta (c)    Silva    Rüdiger 

James    Jorginho    Alonso    Kante

🟨Werner    Giroud    Mount

Subs -- Mendy (Gk),  Pulisic,  Zouma,  Giroud,  Hudson-Odoi,  Chilwell,  Gilmour,  Havertz,  Emerson

Match Officials
Our match referee for today's showpiece final have been confirmed and it's the turn of Michael Oliver to lead out a team including assistant referees Stuart Burt and Simon Bennett, fourth official Paul Tierney and reserve assistant referee Dan Cook. Of course we will also have VAR with Chris Kavanagh and Sian Massey-Ellis will be in the video operation room as video assistant referee [VAR] and assistant VAR respectively.

My best bets are for a high scoring game, so back the over 3.5 goals market [@9/4]. Also think a penalty awarded is a good bet [@5/2] as well. Jamie Vardy to score anytime [@5/4] and the pair of Fofana (Yes) / Kanté to be booked [both @3/1].


Latest Odds (from William Hill)

LEICESTER CITY @3/1  /  Draw - @5/2  /  CHELSEA @10/11


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