I missed Liverpool's Champions League parade because my flight was delayed. I cried - I was part of that too' Florent Sinama Pongolle on his 2005 regret

"Had the one-time France international not netted an equaliser against Olympiacos in Liverpool's 3-1 victory that secured their passage out of the group stage, the Miracle of Istanbul may never have happend. By the time the final came around, the former Le Havre youth product had picked up a knee injury, so was ruled out of the final, but like the rest of his team-mates who had not made the matchday squad, he made the trip to Turkey with the team."

"Our flight was scheduled to leave two hours later, but was delayed, and by the time we landed, the parade through the streets had already started. All I could do was go home and watch the celebrations on TV. I cried out of frustration, because I would have loved to be on that bus celebrating with my team-mates. I was part of that too."

Florent Sinama Pongolle scored a crucial equaliser against Olympiacos that secured Liverpool's progression from the group stage en route to the 2005 Champions League triumph. He suffered a knee injury before the final and was ruled out of the matchday squad but travelled with the team to Istanbul. A delayed flight prevented him joining the post-match parade through Liverpool, leaving him watching celebrations on television and feeling frustrated. An estimated one million fans lined the streets for the parade. Pongolle later reported that his winners' medal and a replica were stolen by a gang targeting footballers.

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