All I can say is, how very French.
Instead of a blubbering apology to the nation, France coach Raymond Domenech chose the press conference after his side’s elimination from Euro 2008 to propose to his girlfriend, Estelle Denis.
It’s right up there with such great Gallic oddball moments like Eric Cantona’s “seagulls” soliloquy on his retirement, or Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt in the World Cup final. They may be playing with the élan of a group of sclerotic Palm Springs housewives, but Les Bleus are never short of personality, which is why I have a soft spot for them.
As I do the Oranje, for obvious reasons. (Little known fact: my family is actually Dutch – Fink is a bastardisation of Van der Vink; I am not Jewish, repeat, not Jewish.)
It’s certainly a nice time to be orange with the Netherlands slaying all before them at Euro, but anyone who knows anything about Dutch football will be wary of claiming the title is a laydown misere.
Marco van Basten’s team should make the final in Vienna on current form but the Italians are looming in the semis and, knowing the Azzurri, who always start poorly then take home all the silver, we’ll be stomaching the revolting sight of Fabio Grosso on the winners’ dais yet again.
And so to ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
There’s been some suggestion in the News Limited press that Football Federation Australia is shortchanging the fans by permitting Pim Verbeek to field an odds ‘n’ sods line-up for Sunday night’s WCQ dead rubber against the Chinese.
Perhaps, but Verbeek is well within his remit to rest those players that earned Australia’s progression to the next phase of World Cup qualifying in Asia last weekend in Qatar.
However, it would have been a nice gesture (and I would argue beneficial for the campaign) for the FFA and Verbeek to play those squad members who got little or no game time in Dubai and Doha, particularly entertainers such as – am I allowed to say it? – Nicky Carle, Mark Bresciano and Scott McDonald.
Forking out $90 to see what to all intents and purposes a training run for Graham Arnold’s Olyroos will stick in the craw of some punters who hoped this match would be a ding-dong affair, but unfortunately them’s the breaks in football.
Failing the appearance of those aforementioned players, it would be an even nicer gesture by the FFA if those people who bought a full-priced ticket to the match were given priority status for the next WCQ played in Sydney or, alternatively, given a half-price discount on their next ticket purchase to a Socceroos or A-League match.
A note of advice to the FFA: don’t piss off your constituents. Many of the fans preparing to head out to Homebush on Sunday night will have also held tickets to the aborted Zinedine Zidane charity match and will rightfully have had a gutful of football if the game turns out to be fizzer.
No customer likes being ripped off. And ripped-off customers have a habit of never coming back again.
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sledgeross
Guest
I dont want too see him in the A League mate. I reckon he is too good. My mates in Leeds reckon he one of their better midfielders (and Leeds have quite a few good mids playing for them such as Irish international Jon Douglas, former Soton mid David Prutton). I cant believe that if I can watch match highlights on the net each Monday morning that the Aussie coaching staff cant!
Midfielder
Guest
sledgeross Agree on Neil Kilkenny would love to see him in the A-League when it goes to 10 / 12 teams more kids will get a go.
dasilva
Guest
Apparently Estelle Denis said no and was embarrass by the public proposal. They ask Domenech whether she said yes and he said it was a private manner. LOL
dasilva
Guest
I wonder what Jesse thinks about Carle choosing NOT to play and have a rest? I always been a fan of Carle but I'm really baffled by his decision and its really reflects poorly on his mentality and whether he wants to fight for a spot for the national team.
dasilva
Guest
Well I haven't seen much of Kilkenny. Out of sight and out of mind is probably the reason why he wasn't given a go. Playing away in English 3rd division away from national selectors eyes. Perhaps a move to A-league will be benefitial for him to be given a go in the national team. The whole point of A-league is to prevent players from moving overseas to play in lower divisions of Europe.
sledgeross
Guest
Being a Leeds fan, I have had the opportunity to see (via replays) the form of Neil Kilkenny this season. Despite playing out of position towards the end of the season, he showed the ability to break up play, but also deliver good balls through to strikers. If he wasnt a better option than Holland, Jedinak, Musialik, Sarkies etc, then I dont know what the hell is going on!
dasilva
Guest
Look I'm first to say that Arnolds not good enough to be national team coach and I wasn't particularly happy when he stayed on as assistance manerger. I'm just saying that AFTER he is sack people are still criticising him. It's like he became a monster and represent everything bad about Australian football when really it is Pim fault for any decision you don't like. Arnolds is really been the scapegoat here. Arnolds been barking orders even under Hiddink - Pims just gave him responsibilty to send out team order. Anyway about the match I'm pretty disappointed that Musialik didn't get the chance to play. I think he is a much better player than Jedinak. A DM is not just responsible for breaking up play they also have to distribute it and I think Musialik is better option. Topor-Stanley and Zadkovich - Are they the best under 23 fullbacks we have? It seems a bit dire - the young talent we are having. We really need someone to be pressing Carney for a spot as left back as he has been poor and yet no one else is good enough. Bring back Chipperfield I say.
jimbo
Guest
Who's taking care of the punters Jesse? For God's sake, I hope we don't get another dead rubber in the final game in Sydney of the next qualification stage and have to watch another Olyroos (or U/20s) training session. dasilva, its not Arnold bashing, the man is not good enough to take Australia to the next WC as national team manager. Most people agree with that assessment, otherwise he would have got the job ahead of Guus Hiddink, Dick Advocaat or Pim Verbeek. (And as yet undecided as to whether Pimbo is the man to do it either.) Agree that Pimbo is responsible for the Footballroos results, but who was sitting next to Pimbo tonight barking out orders to his Olyroos? It was NOT Henk Duut - the official Assistant Footballroos Manager, that's for sure. Arnold's role is the manager of our Olympic football team and he shouldn't be having anything to do with the senior Footballroos team. On a more positive note, wasn't it great to be amongst such a large crowd for a dead rubber like that. Imagine if the last game of the next round in Sydney is a top of the table clash with Japan for one of the WC spots - you'd think it'd be very hard to get tickets to the game. Also, Matthew Spiranovic had a good game and isn't it great that Zadkovic no longer plays for SFC.
uapm
Guest
Erm, I believe the FFA had nothing to do with the Zidane match, it was organised by this mob http://octagonaustralia.com.au
dasilva
Guest
Again with Arnold bashing. People blame Arnold for poor performances against Ghana and Iraq, people blame arnold for non-selection of Carle and people blame Arnold for this selection. His no longer manager of Soccerroos thankfully so you guys can stop bashing him. You can say that he has influence over Pim or that they agree with each other. In the end it is Pim decision, Pim choice to listen to his advice or not. Pim is experience enough to make his own choice. The decision to play the olyroos is Pim choice - may be Arnold recommended this choice but Pim agreed with his advice. So if you're not happy with the selection, blame pim not arnold. To blame Arnold is to imply that he has more power than Pim which is not really true.
Cpaaa
Guest
well said all... one for the fans, if its a dead rubber then pim should have included the most talked about player that dosnt play.....niki carle. ,... i just dont get it!
jimbo
Guest
The glass is half full and maybe we are jumping to the wrong conclusions. Despite the fact that it is basically an Olyroos team plus Harry, over 70,000 fans will go to watch – hasn’t football in this country come a long way. A bit different to the couple of thousand at an Oceania qualification game. Yes, we will be at the game and we bought our tickets knowing that the team was going to be missing most of its best players. In fact, I have not missed a Socceroos game in Sydney since my dad took me to my first one back in 1973, when we beat Iran and went on to qualify for our first ever WC. Its also obvious Graham Arnold is using the game to give his Olyroos some match practice. I am not a big fan of Arnie as a manager and he has far too much influence over Pim, especially when Pim has his own Assistant Manager, being paid very good money by the FFA to do what Arnie tells him. If the game has no meaning then at least play some entertainers to heighten the enjoyment. Thompson, Carle or Griffiths not available?
Millster
Guest
I just don't understand the selection of NTS. I'm not meaning to be harsh but I've been at enough games when he used to be in a Sydney shirt to know that he is so clumsy on the ball that he manages to make it look like it has grown edges and become a brick. Or perhaps it's me that is wrong, and in his year over at the Glory, away from my critical view, young Nikolai has found his inner Maldini....?
Dickroo of Blacktown
Guest
possible line up: --Petkovic-- --Zadkid--Spira--Beau--NTS-- --Holland--Valeri-- --Kilkenny--Kewell--Troisi-- --Djite-- ave age is 23, half of these guys will be around in the WC2014. man, I can't wait...
Salvation
Guest
Slippery, thanks for pointing that out. I hope the core squad players currently putting their collective feet up overseas, hear your adulation from the bar.
sledgeross
Guest
Ben, Kilkenny has great touch for Leeds this year, and has been playing really well. He has great touch and played out of position on the right wing in the recent playoffs. He also doesnt shirk in the tackle, though a criticism is that he doesnt get back far enough to defend on the counter attack.
Rob Humphreys
Guest
I can see how it would annoy some people. But hopefully on the flipside they will understand that it is a GOOD thing that we are in a position to rest senior players. It could/should have the added benefit of introducing a lot of people to some of the guys who'll be playing in Beijing. With the decent time difference between here and there, hopefully a lot of Aussies will be watching the Olyroos campaign. I know I am looking forward to it.
Gareth
Guest
Oh boo hoo. The Sydney-siders are whinging becuase they paid 90 bucks for tickets to a game that they knew would likely be a dead rubber. Pim made no secret that the prize for qulifying early would be early holidays. Atleast if the Euroroos take time off now they are more likely to come back when Sydney inevitably gets the next blockbuster friendly. Ask fans in Perth and Adelaide or anywhere else if they would take an Olyroos+Kewell match im sure 90% would love it.
Redb
Guest
Wouldnt' Kewell's presence alone satisfy most of the punters, particularly the kids? Redb
Slippery Jim
Guest
Salvation, Pim and the coaching staff will still be there, as will Kewell, Djite, Beauchamp, but yes, the rest of the lads are enjoying a well-earned holiday. I almost wish it had gone down to the wire with this match due to selfish specatator reasons, but it should be a fantastic game (especially with the liberal application of alcohol).