There’s only one way to make things right – (Arthur Scargill or Mullard?)
It’s Wednesday now. Following a hair raising few days for the England team, in a few hours our fate will be determined. Will we go through or suffer the indignity of a group stage exit?
The fallout after the Algeria fiasco has been as fragmented as the ‘performance’ itself was. Immediately after the game David James indicated all was not well in the camp. A few days later John Terry, in full glare of the worlds media, implies he’s going to be an Arthur Scargill and confront the boss, but ended up looking more like Arthur Mullard as his colleagues seemed to be indifferent to or dismissive of his threatened revolt, and when FabCap referred to Terry making a “Big mistake” Poor old John Terry looked isolated and, to be honest, a bit silly, leavng us to ponder if he carries bitterness towards his manager after being stripped of the captaincy. Frank Lampard was charming diplomatic and articulate when he put the whole saga to bed. For now the game is more important than anything and a win will put much of this on the back burner but in coming months expect some explosive chapters in otherwise dull updated autobiographies.
Although the England camp is like the Brady Bunch compared to the French. Anelka’s vicious outburst at the coach led to him being sent home. Domenech changed his mind told him that he’d accept an apology which the French FA overruled that and instructed him to leave. That resulted in the hopeless Domench being at odds with his employers, and the team director (whatever that is) saw a nasty abusive outburst from patrice Evra so resigned and in the middle of all this (or maybe at the end, it doesn’t really matter) the players refused to train!! Brilliant stuff!! These shenanigens are the world witnessing the end of an era. Since the glory of 98 and 2000 France have played in fits and starts. In 2006 Zidane single handedly dragged them to the final where, in all fairness, had Zizou not had his headbutt moment, they may well have won another World Cup. But Henry single handedly (see what I did there? Good eh?) got them to South Africa and it may have been more beneficial if he hadn’t bothered. Domenech has looked as effective as Peter Sellers’ hapless union official in I’m All Right Jack and his players haven’t looked willing to protect his legacy. Not in a positive way anyway. Time to create a fresh dynasty. 2016 they host the Euros. Get your money on them.
The next time I post here we’ll know if we’ve made it through. Remember, at World Cups when England have gone to the final group match, we usually get what’s required to go through. BUT also remember, this is the first time the host nation hasn’t got past the group stage so those chains are there to be broken. Hopefully we are all happy on Thursday morning. There’s only one way our players can put things right, and we all know what that is.
COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS good luck to Australia . It’s unlikely but you never know.