Cardiff City v Portsmouth
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
The Final
3pm, Saturday 17 May 2008
Wembley Stadium
Winning club will receive £1,000,000 from The FA
Seating plan - click here



Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes is keen to end his campaign with an FA Cup win and a place in Europe for next season.

Harry Redknapp's side enjoyed their best-ever season in the Premier League, finishing eighth, just three points off an Intertoto Cup place.

And after such a strong season, the 29-year-old Portugal international, who won the Champions League with Porto, said he would hate to see all of his side's hard work go to waste.

"It is important for us to win such a prestigious competition, but also to gain a place in the UEFA Cup. We have been fighting at the top of the table all season so it is vital we get into Europe," he said.

"There is no doubt that this is going be the most important game for a club that has not enjoyed so much success in the past. It is a unique opportunity to win one of the most important trophies in the world."

Portsmouth overcame a major obstacle in the quarter finals when they beat Cup favourites Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford, but despite the fact that Cardiff play a division below Pompey, Mendes is wary of the threat posed by The Bluebirds.

"We have done well to get to this stage, especially having beaten Manchester United," he said.

"We know Cardiff are a team from the Championship, but that doesn't mean anything. They have knocked out some good sides on the way to Wembley and we respect them very much."