With the decade at an end, skysports.com has assembled its Noughties' Hot 100 - a century of stand-out sporting moments.
It covers all sports, but seeing as we have so many experts to call on, we asked our commentators and columnists to come up with their very own Top Ten from their sport.
And they have picked out one Moment of the Decade, their own personal highlight and why, from the decade - but do you agree?
So efficient: Germany had no answer in 2001 as Owen took his chances
Here, Sky Sports pundit Andy Gray reveals his selection, in chronological order...
Marvellous Munich - 2001
For England to go into Germany's backyard - a country that has given them so much heartache over the years - and win 5-1 as they did in Munich in 2001 was unbelievable. It was an incredible night to be broadcasting because England could have been two or three down after conceding first, but Germany didn't take their chances. In contrast England seemed to score with almost every shot they had and Michael Owen's hat-trick was brilliant.
Unforgettables - 2003/04
Arsenal achieved the unthinkable by going through the 2003/04 Premier League season unbeaten - something that has never been done before in the modern game and probably never will be done again. They dug out results when they had to but also played some sensational football along the way. One of the many goals that sticks in my mind is the second of Thierry Henry's hat-trick in the 4-2 victory over Liverpool at Highbury just after the Gunners had been eliminated from the Champions League and the FA Cup: it had pace, power and poise - a sensational finish.
Reds' Letter Day - 2005
I, like the many Liverpool fans I could see trudging away from the Olympic Stadium in Istanbul from my place on the gantry, thought the 2005 Champions League final was over at half-time. Who could have imagined what the next 45 minutes would bring? It was extraordinary. There was just a murmur after Steven Gerrard made it 3-1, then the second and third went in and everyone was thinking 'wow'. But I only really thought it was going to be Liverpool's day when Jerzy Dudek saved from Andriy Shevchenko at point-blank range in extra-time before he did the same in the shoot-out. It was all a bit surreal, a bit unbelievable - but entirely memorable!
Shear delight - 2006
Alan Shearer is someone I've always admired as a front man and I've enjoyed watching throughout the Premier League because he could do everything; he's one of the players I would pay to watch. A tremendous goal-scorer - I wish he had won more than one Premier League championship because that's scant reward for what he put into football. It was very special when he broke Jackie Milburn's record of 200 goals for his beloved Newcastle in February 2006 with a strong, clinical finish against Portsmouth.
Massive in Moscow - 2008
The first Champions League final contested by two Premier League teams - Manchester United against Chelsea in 2008 - was a big moment in the decade because it confirmed that our league is right up there with the best in the world, if not better. It was a massive night in Moscow and the two teams didn't let the league down. I've seen many disappointing finals when teams have cancelled each other out but this match had pretty much everything you could want - goals and plenty of incident, including penalties. It was a great advertisement for the Premier League. I think Europe sat up and took notice that night.
Allez Les Scots - 2008
As I'm not allowed Scotland's 1-0 victory over England at the old Wembley in the Euro 2000 qualifiers (because it was in November 1999) I've got to go with Scotland doing the double over France in the Euro 2008 qualifiers! Us Scots have had very little to shout about in the last decade so to beat France at Hampden was great but to do the same at Parc des Princes was something else for us Jocks. James McFadden took the headlines for his winner but the way the whole team fought was exceptional. Unforgettable!
Boy Ron good - 2008
It's been a privilege to watch a player over the years who in 2008 became officially the best footballer in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo's transition from ugly duckling to master craftsman culminated for me in the opening goal against Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final and it's a journey that has been nothing short of captivating. Real Madrid's gain was the Premier League's loss, not just Manchester United's, because that level of talent and skill is nothing if not rare.
On the level - 2009
Sir Alex Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford in 1986 at a time when Manchester United were miles behind Liverpool. He couldn't possibly have dreamt that before he left the club he'd have been the man responsible for dragging them level with a record-equalling 18th top-flight title. Last season was a pressure-ridden one for United because history beckoned but they held their nerve and a draw at Arsenal in May 2009 secured Fergie's 11th Premier League title in 17 seasons.
Giggs goes big - 2009
If I had to pick a player of the Premier League era it would have to be Ryan Giggs. I'm a huge admirer of his because he's a consummate professional on the pitch and well-behaved off it. The fact that he is still playing in the Premier League at 36 tells you everything you need to know about him. He's netted in every Premier League season there's been and it was wonderful to see him join an elite band of players to reach 100 Premier League goals when he scored with a free-kick in United's 4-1 victory over Portsmouth.
Andy Gray's Moment of the Decade
Do you agree with Andy's selection? Let us know by filling in the feedback form below...
Comments (56)
Jason Galvin (Liverpool fan) says...
I could thiink about 30 better games with more importance . that game was about 10 games in to the season ... as someone else said ebove Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal, that ended our title hopes and was an absolutely unbelievable game. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan very obvious but that has never happened before nor will it again. & Surely United V Chelsea in the Champions League final ? Two english teams for the first time ? Surely thats streets ahead of this regular game between Arsenal v Man United which finished 2-1 ? I remember the season previous to that it was 2-2 between United & Arsenal at the emirates with Gallas getting a last minute goal ... even that was a better game imo.
Posted 11:47 26th January 2010
Elliot Pollard (West Ham United fan) says...
What about the Liverpool vs West Ham 2006 F.A cup final? Much better than a meaning less Arsenal vs Man U game in November..
Posted 14:13 10th January 2010
Charlie Talor (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Wrong choice. Remember November 2004. Tottenham 4 -5 Arsenal. I may be a Spurs fan but that was just an amazing game. That is my favourite game of the decade.
Posted 17:07 8th January 2010
Matthew Wonnacott (Arsenal fan) says...
To Mr Grant Barker. The surname is Wonnacott not monnacott. The term 'bought the title' IS directly associated with the vast sums of money that a team spends on players. If you remember, this is why Manchester United fans were moaning when Chelsea won the league as before they had money, they had won nothing. I would like to also see Alex Ferguson win the premiership unbeaten with the players we had compared to your team. Oh wait, he has never done this. Not one manager in the current game has. It is totally unique and that is why it deserves to be certainly one of the top 2 moments of the season along with Liverpools dramatic win against AC Milan, as again, totally unique. Four managers have won the premiership, Dalglish, Ferguson, Wenger and Mourinho. Countless managers have won the fa cup, league cup and champions league, but only one has won the premiership unbeaten. Mr Wenger. I thank you Mr Barclays Banker...I mean Mr Barker.
Posted 16:50 8th January 2010
Steven Davison (Liverpool fan) says...
Andy you are so very wrong. Surely the moment of the decade was Liverpool's amazing champions league come back against ac milan in 2005. Or, if you want it to be a more recent game, Liverpool's 4-1 win over man utd at old trafford
Posted 16:12 8th January 2010
Shane Gregory (Manchester United fan) says...
I have to disagree with Andy's selection of momemt of the decade althought that was a good, competetive game that showed what the premierleague is all about these days it didn't have any real significance to anything. Yes, it levelled the title race and gave Arsenal a route back into the title hunt but I can think of so many other games that were equally if not more thrilling. Liverpool v Arsenl 4-4 last season sticks in my mind as a more defining moment as Arshavins 4 goals was phenomenal and that game effectively ended Liverpools title hopes. Man U v Chelsea championsleague final John Terry's inability to deliver glory also has to be counted as an unforgettable moment.
Posted 01:13 6th January 2010
Colm Shanahan (Manchester United fan) says...
I agree with Andy's choice. I actually had, somehow, forgotten that game, but when I saw it, it all came back in a flash. I'm normally a bit of a sore loser, but when that final whistle went, the only disappointment I felt was that it was all over. Two fantastically talented teams attacking each other with all of their skill, energy and enthusiasm. If every game was like that, I would gladly see Man United relegated, as every match would be so breathtakingly entertaining. That is what football is all about. Entertainment.
Posted 22:50 5th January 2010
Simon Taylor (West Bromwich Albion fan) says...
2 classic moment's . (1) Steven Gerrard banging in I think the 3rd goal against OLympiakos, with andy gray's reaction. And (2) Lloyd Doyleys awesome finish against QPR on Dec 7th 2009. Pure class.
Posted 21:51 5th January 2010
Grant Barker (Manchester United fan) says...
I think Matthew monnacott needs to take a look at his own club. you say arsenals unbeaten season was far greater than uniteds 6 premier league titles, it was a great achievement but the truly great teams win back to back titles and champions leagues! And to say united just 'bought' titles this decade is disrespectful. in the 99/00, 00/01, and 02/03 seasons we had ryan giggs,paul scholes,david beckham,nicky butt,gary and phil neville,john o'shea and wes brown. and for the previous 3 titles weve still had giggs,scholes, neville,brown,o'shea and fletcher!! and we have youngsters like jonny evans darren gibson and danny welbeck coming through now so to say we have bought our trophies is harsh. if you look at Arsenals sqaud which won the league in 2004, i think you will only find ashley cole who was home grown. henry,viera,pires,bergkamp,lunjberg, edu,lauren,lehman,toure,gilberto silva,wiltord,reyes, etc!!!!! and the latest sqaud is hardly home grown is it? fabregas,song,diaby,gallas,van persie, eduardo,sagna,vermaelan,arshavin,walcott,,,,etc! just because they havent spent millions and millions does not mean it is not 'bought'. i respect every teams acheivements this decade, chelseas back to back titles, arsenals 2 titles and liverpools champions league win! but you cant get away from the fact United have won 6 premier laegues,a champions league,an FA cup and been runners up twice,2 Carling cups, and a world club championship!
Posted 20:14 5th January 2010
Dan Bond (Manchester United fan) says...
Find it hard to argue with Andy most of the time, but on this occassion I do. In my opinion, the best moment was in 2003, Man Utd vs Real Madrid at Old Trafford. 4-3 on the night, with Beckham being left on the bench before coming on and scoring twice. Then there was Ronaldo's hat-trick leading to him being cheered off the pitch, not just by Madrid fans, but by United fans alike. This game had everything and is sorely under-rated in my opinion. And considering it was between arguably the two biggest names in World Club Football, it stands just above the friendly win for England against Argentina as THE stand out match of the noughties.
Posted 15:52 5th January 2010
Chuck Hannok (Arsenal fan) says...
What about Dennis Bergkamp's amazing goal? Great article, but most of the moments are from the recent years, no?
Posted 02:54 5th January 2010
Jay Patel (Arsenal fan) says...
1. Arsenal's Invincible Season If you look at the amount of money being spent on new players in the premiership as teams look to buy instantaneous success yet they can't even go undefeated for half the season just shows what an achievement it was. e.g. Man City / Chelsea 2. "Take a Bow Son!!!!!" the phrase used by Andrew Tyler everytime a player scores a stunning goal. A legendary as as Chris Camara's Perm. e.g. David Bentley vs Arsenal, Harry Kewell vs Arsenal, Arshavin vs Liverpool etc. 3. Manchester United's Treble Some may say it was luck, but you make your own luck in this game. That was the the ultimate dream team, i mean take the midfield for example, the perfect balance. Keane: the temperament, attitude, work rate, Scholes, Giggs and Beckham, ability to score and create, their technical ability, left footed, right footed. the attributes were endless. 4. Arrival of Arsene Wenger I for one did not know him and was sceptical about his appointment. Two seasons on he changed the training regimes such as the value of healthy diets, the way his players conducted themselves (e.g. apposite to Lee Bowyer), his ability to develop players as well as his vision to play the beautiful game etc. As what Jose Mourinho did for Chelsea, Wenger raised the bar in English football to the benefit of football fans all over the world.
Posted 19:49 4th January 2010
Matthew Wonnacott (Arsenal fan) says...
Why does a Man Utd fan such as Tommy Nolan, ruin these discussions? He obviously hates Liverpool and Arsenal, regardless of their achievements, for example if Arsenal completed a back to back unbeaten season, Mr Nolan would still probably say Arsenal were "lucky" and if Liverpool won the champions league for a 6th time, he would probably label them as "cheats". I will tell you why Arsenal's unbeaten season is more memorable this decade than Man Utds treble...IT WAS IN THIS DECADE AND NOT IN THE 90's!!!! Also Mr Nolan, to go a whole PREMIER LEAGUE +11 games the next season unbeaten without defeat does mean you are labelled 'invincibles' as no-one could beat you. To do it in the current format, with all the games there are now (fa cup, carling cup, premiership, champions league, internationals) is a remarkable feat and without the money spent by Chelsea and Manchester United, to name but a few, is simply unbelievable. You have to go back over 100 years to see anything close to this, where the original 'invincibles' would have played a lot less games and the quality would have been far decreased. As for Liverpool's champions league win against AC Milan, and for Gerrard's 'dive' what game were you watching?!!! Gerrard was clearly fouled. To come back from 3-0 down and win the game, in a champions league final, against one of the most famous and successful European Teams in modern history, is a remarkable feat. I wish Mr Nolan, you could just accept these two moments as being far greater than your premiership wins, which this decade (2000-2010), were bought (as were Chelsea's). How much did you buy Berbatov, Veron, Ronaldo, Tevez, Carrick, Vidic, Van Nistelrooy, Van Der Sar, Ferdinand, Rooney, Anderson, Evra, Saha, Heinze, Hargreaves for? I rest my case...
Posted 15:45 4th January 2010
Arjun Singh sani (Arsenal fan) says...
Good stuff Andy. I remember watching that match with a few friends. It was my birthday that day and wow what a game that was. That game was quite well picked by you as the moment/match of the decade. Nasri absolutely terrified the United center backs. But great goal by Rafael too to deny Arsenal's clean sheet. Keep it up Andy.
Posted 06:22 4th January 2010
Liban Mude (Arsenal fan) says...
By far the greatest match in the last decade would have to be last seasons thriller at Anfield. That game between the gunners and the red side of Merseyside producered an absolute cracker. Goals, tackles and passion for the game.
Posted 23:19 3rd January 2010
Kevin Fanning (Manchester United fan) says...
I just wanted to point out to Steve Massey (who sounds typically anti-man utd, in his comment) that Man United won the champions league in 99 without Roy Keane and Paul Scholes and he called us lucky and we were the better team over the 120 minutes against Chelsea when we won the champions league again. I also think the 2005 at highbury was the best of all the Man Utd vs Arsenal classics, in my opinion, but still a good choice Andy. Thank you Sky Sports if you publish this.
Posted 22:30 3rd January 2010
Chris Towers (Manchester United fan) says...
Found it hard to believe he had watched 700,000/800,000 'live' games of football this decade when he said he had, thats because it is impossible...I did the maths, for Mr Gray to watch 700,000 games this decade he would have had to watch 191 games of football every day (which is impossible)...stick to the day job Andy!
Posted 22:17 3rd January 2010
Ian Smith (Ipswich Town fan) says...
I would just like to say that over the last few years of watching sky sports that you Andy seem to be a chelsea fan,as every time something happens to a chelsea player you go up in arms,but if a chelsea player does something its not a foul. When is sky sports going to get behind teams playing more home grown players instead of teams with only players from other countries,as this is not good for national team.Its about time every team had six or more home grown players in the first team every week.because you could say that it is not a british team that wins anything.cups etc.and yes Imean my team as well.
Posted 18:53 3rd January 2010
Markus Mueller (Liverpool fan) says...
Tommy Nolan personafies exactly why the Reds - United rivalry is bigger than any moment of the decade. Even though Andy picked a good top 10. Coming back to Tommy, he needs glasses and with all the success United have had ,I did not think somebody could be so blinded with jealusy. Neville might be a United Legent but certainly is one of the most overrated players ever to pull on a England Shirt. .
Posted 17:21 3rd January 2010
Kevin Fanning (Manchester United fan) says...
Steve Massey ladies and gentlemen, a classic example of an anti-Man Utd supporter. United win the treble without Keano and Scholsey due to unfair suspension, outplaying Chelsea on the night that we beat them on penalties on the 50th anniversary of Munich and he declares those achievments as lucky. Typical... and I bet that being a pool fan, they count as a losses for Stevie here. Oh yeah and personally i think the most enternaining Man Utd v Arsenal classic was the one in 05 where Keane went mad before the game and John o Shea scored to made it 4-2 to Man Utd , classic! Although Andy's choice was a brilliant game with brilliant end-to-end attacking football.
Posted 16:17 3rd January 2010
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