The 127th FA Cup has been the most unpredictable in living memory. Form counted for little as every round, from the turn of the year, provided more than its fair share of shocks and surprises, as one-by-one the giants were slain.
It is the first final for 17 years in which both participants come from outside the top seven since eighth placed Nottingham Forest faced 10th placed Tottenham in 1991, when the Londoners prevailed 1-2 after extra time.
Portsmouth are the sole Premier League survivors, aiming to become the first club outside the so-called 'Big Four' of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United to lift the trophy since Everton in 1995.
Pompey's participation ensures the top-flight have provided at least one participant in every FA Cup final since the formation of the Football League in 1888.
Cardiff City are the first non-Premier League club to reach the final since Millwall in 2004, and the 25th team from outside the top-flight to qualify for this showpiece.
They could become the first non top-flight side to lift the FA Cup since West Ham in 1980, and the lowest ranked to do so since non-league Tottenham in 1901.
Both clubs are aiming to win the competition for the second time in their history; Portsmouth won it in 1939, Cardiff in 1927.
A place in next season's Uefa Cup awaits the winners. Portsmouth have never qualified for Europe; Cardiff have had 14 campaigns in the Cup Winners' Cup as Welsh Cup holders, making the semi-finals in 1968.
The FA decided last month to allow Cardiff to represent England in the Uefa Cup should they win the FA Cup, despite their ruling that Welsh clubs can only qualify for Europe through their own national competitions.
This is the second FA Cup final to be staged under the arch of the new Wembley, after six years at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Both clubs are returning to Wembley after winning their semi-finals there six weeks ago.
The Welsh national anthem will be played prior to the game, along with God Save the Queen.
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發表於 2008-5-17 19:47:32
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發表於 2008-5-17 21:36:33
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