It is the next world cup and after a good qualifying campaign England are unlucky to be drawn against Italy in the first round group stage. New coach Capello, who was initially supported by both press and public after some encouraging and sensible displays, is suspected of divided loyalties. He denies this but unfortunately, after an unexpected draw against, dunno, Nigeria, England need at least to draw against Italy in order to qualify for the knockouts. England produce a typically lacklustre performance and an in form Italy win. There is post match suspicion and dissatisfaction with the team selection. Capello cannot see off the accusations of conflict of interest, or even match fixing in some quarters. The public turn against him. the Sun turns his face into a Pizza. The Star accuse him of WW2 style betrayal... the FA are forced into a making a popular decision. ... "say what you want about mclaren" people will say. "but at least he was one of our own."
Now repeat the scenario for Lippi. Magnify the loathing by ten with Klinsmann who is transformed into a plate of saurkraut. Or airbrushed into leiderhosen.
What odds Martin O Neill now then? Or even Alan Curbishley... ?
Interestingly Mourinho's arrogance, self confidence, and familiarity seemed to lift him above silly hypotheticals like this- and he wanted to appoint an English assistant, unlike Capello.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Didn't this already happen with Sven and Sweden?
As I remember, it caused no problems.
yeah it did. But we drew. If we had lost the recriminations could have begun. Also, the nation loved sventhen as everyone still remebered the Germany 1 England 5 result.
Also, the Swedish enjoy a more serious and just reputation than the Italians. This is founded on nothing more than racial sterotypes but the there you go...
Also, it wasn't like, you know, a really serious piece of biting reportage from me, more like a, you know, a kind of joke.
I was just mentioning it as it was related.
Personally, I do think the Italians receive FIFA and UEFA help, witness their recent 'victory' over Scotland and the disgrace of their referee-inspired progress against Australia at the last World Cup.
I want video technology introduced to reduce referee power and put an end to some of the most flagrant miscarriages of justice.
I love the phrase "flagrant miscarriage of justice." I might add that "flagrant miscarriages of justice" are "a disgrace"! The kind of underlying belief that the english have about the Italians, that they are bit dodgy, is exactly why I think Capello will have problems, if he is daft and greedy enough to take on the england job.
I remember when Italy where at the wrong end of bad/dubious refereeing- when they lost to south korea in the world cup. The italians had about 9 perfectly good goals disallowed and bad offside decisions. God how they moaned. My Italian colleage a the time stomed out of hte office red in the hollerig "bufones!" And god, how the rest of the world laughed...
Nice to see you back here btw...
and yeah- bring on the third umpire. It makes for good drama at the rugby and the cricket. The sooner the world puts faith into facts and evidence rather than integrity the better.
No Chris, "flagrant miscarriages of justice" are "an absolute disgrace".
The Italians choking on their own medicine versus S Korea was hilarious. And for all that, Vieri missed from 0.1 centimetres too.
Post a Comment