You couldn't make it up...
In an attempt to refresh my forgotten Spanish skillz I've been watching a Mexican telenovela for a few weeks, and there has been less DRAMA and WTFery in the cheesy, over-the-top soap opera plot than in this World Cup so far. Honestly, one of the characters is a raging slutbitch from Hell who wears more makeup than the average drag queen, yet she still looks like a class act compared to the likes of Raymond Domenech.
I can't believe some people have been complaining that the tournament has been boring. What is boring is sitting at a desk for eight hours, knowing that I am missing four matches every day that, irrespective of the results, are infinitely more exciting than work. Yeah, I'm recording every game and following commentary online, but going home to speedwatch everything when I already know the results definitely takes some of the joy out of the experience. Still, the one thing I would never say is that it has been boring. How could it be, with officials dropping bollocks left, right, and center since Serbia v. Germany, Les Bleus' epic meltdown, and of course the latest England crisis?
I've always had my doubts about Fabio Capello's management skills, and sadly he confirmed my low opinion when he bowed to media pressure and stripped John Terry of the captaincy. You can't have it both ways, Fabio. Either JT is so morally repugnant and disruptive to the team that he should not be in the squad at all, or his (alleged) personal life should have no bearing on what he does on the pitch for England. Indeed, since Capello appears to believe that elbowing an opponent on the pitch or being videotaped assaulting someone in a nightclub is acceptable behavior for an England captain that moral high ground looks more than a little shaky.
And this week, in addition to poor judgment, questionable tactics and team selection, and evidently less than stellar preparation, Capello has demonstrated further hypocrisy. Unlike most of the English public (and, by his own admission, the England manager), I actually watched John Terry's press conference. You know, the one in which he defended Capello from suggestions that he lacks passion and is unapproachable, stated that everyone in the squad respects and backs the manager, and responded to a direct question about Joe Cole by giving his own personal opinion of Joe's special talents while stressing that the decision to play him is down to the manager alone. Hardly revolutionary stuff, that, and the stories on Sky and in the papers immediately following the presser were all positive and praising Terry for his honesty and obvious passion for England. So it was more than a bit rich, though not surprising, to wake up the next morning to hysterical headlines about Terry's one-man coup.
During his media session on the following day Frank Lampard told the members of the press that if they want players to speak to them honestly they also need to report what is said honestly. Nice try, Lamps. Funnily enough that particular quote never made it into any of the papers. Meanwhile, the man deemed intelligent enough to lead England to World Cup glory lacked the wit to recognize media spin and, apparently without noticing the blatant hypocrisy, criticized John Terry for making a 'big mistake' talking about England's issues with the media instead of in private...while, er, talking with the media instead of John Terry in private.
What a prize wanker. If England are to enjoy any success following today's progress into the last sixteen, I reckon it will be down to the players on the pitch rather than the man who continues to preach one thing while doing the opposite.
And speaking of wankers and the media creating their own stories, WTF, France? Way to make England look better by comparison, I guess. I admit that apart from Nico and Flo I despise most of the French team and I was hoping they would fail (always likely with such an incompetent nutjob at the helm), but I never expected the train wreck that actually occurred.
As amusing as it was to imagine Nico telling off Domenech to his face (especially with the choice phrases invented by L'Equipe, LOL), I knew that story was false even before both player and manager denied it. Anyone who's ever paid any attention to Nico at all knows that's just not his style--maybe regrettably, in this case! And while I'm glad that Nico wasn't a part of the total farce that ensued after his expulsion, I don't think the Federation handled the situation fairly at all. Even if it's better for Chelsea I don't want his international career to end this way, unless that is Nico's choice. I certainly wouldn't blame him for wanting to stay as far away from the rest of that bunch as possible!
It will be interesting to see what Captain Not-So-Fantastic Evra has to say for himself in the next few days. As for Domenech, I guess he wasn't reading the stars correctly if he couldn't see this shameful disaster coming. Good riddance to him, about six years too late.
Whew. At least I can be proud of my hero Bocanegra and company, and pleased that my Chelsea boys haven't disgraced themselves despite often being surrounded by the proverbial shower. Well done to Flo Mo for being France's only bright spot, and to Didi for his goal. Hopefully he and/or Sala will get another on Friday, while Riccy and Paulo kick a few metaphorical lumps out of Brazil's bunch of overhyped cheaters.
ETA: Okay, I don't even follow tennis (apart from kels450's beloved Andy Murray ;D), but I was flipping between the BBC's text commentary of the World Cup and Wimbledon and became totally riveted by this. That is just beyond amazing. (kels450, if you've been watching I hope you're okay and not too stressed out!) Well done to both of them, whatever happens tomorrow.
I can't believe some people have been complaining that the tournament has been boring. What is boring is sitting at a desk for eight hours, knowing that I am missing four matches every day that, irrespective of the results, are infinitely more exciting than work. Yeah, I'm recording every game and following commentary online, but going home to speedwatch everything when I already know the results definitely takes some of the joy out of the experience. Still, the one thing I would never say is that it has been boring. How could it be, with officials dropping bollocks left, right, and center since Serbia v. Germany, Les Bleus' epic meltdown, and of course the latest England crisis?
I've always had my doubts about Fabio Capello's management skills, and sadly he confirmed my low opinion when he bowed to media pressure and stripped John Terry of the captaincy. You can't have it both ways, Fabio. Either JT is so morally repugnant and disruptive to the team that he should not be in the squad at all, or his (alleged) personal life should have no bearing on what he does on the pitch for England. Indeed, since Capello appears to believe that elbowing an opponent on the pitch or being videotaped assaulting someone in a nightclub is acceptable behavior for an England captain that moral high ground looks more than a little shaky.
And this week, in addition to poor judgment, questionable tactics and team selection, and evidently less than stellar preparation, Capello has demonstrated further hypocrisy. Unlike most of the English public (and, by his own admission, the England manager), I actually watched John Terry's press conference. You know, the one in which he defended Capello from suggestions that he lacks passion and is unapproachable, stated that everyone in the squad respects and backs the manager, and responded to a direct question about Joe Cole by giving his own personal opinion of Joe's special talents while stressing that the decision to play him is down to the manager alone. Hardly revolutionary stuff, that, and the stories on Sky and in the papers immediately following the presser were all positive and praising Terry for his honesty and obvious passion for England. So it was more than a bit rich, though not surprising, to wake up the next morning to hysterical headlines about Terry's one-man coup.
During his media session on the following day Frank Lampard told the members of the press that if they want players to speak to them honestly they also need to report what is said honestly. Nice try, Lamps. Funnily enough that particular quote never made it into any of the papers. Meanwhile, the man deemed intelligent enough to lead England to World Cup glory lacked the wit to recognize media spin and, apparently without noticing the blatant hypocrisy, criticized John Terry for making a 'big mistake' talking about England's issues with the media instead of in private...while, er, talking with the media instead of John Terry in private.
What a prize wanker. If England are to enjoy any success following today's progress into the last sixteen, I reckon it will be down to the players on the pitch rather than the man who continues to preach one thing while doing the opposite.
And speaking of wankers and the media creating their own stories, WTF, France? Way to make England look better by comparison, I guess. I admit that apart from Nico and Flo I despise most of the French team and I was hoping they would fail (always likely with such an incompetent nutjob at the helm), but I never expected the train wreck that actually occurred.
As amusing as it was to imagine Nico telling off Domenech to his face (especially with the choice phrases invented by L'Equipe, LOL), I knew that story was false even before both player and manager denied it. Anyone who's ever paid any attention to Nico at all knows that's just not his style--maybe regrettably, in this case! And while I'm glad that Nico wasn't a part of the total farce that ensued after his expulsion, I don't think the Federation handled the situation fairly at all. Even if it's better for Chelsea I don't want his international career to end this way, unless that is Nico's choice. I certainly wouldn't blame him for wanting to stay as far away from the rest of that bunch as possible!
It will be interesting to see what Captain Not-So-Fantastic Evra has to say for himself in the next few days. As for Domenech, I guess he wasn't reading the stars correctly if he couldn't see this shameful disaster coming. Good riddance to him, about six years too late.
Whew. At least I can be proud of my hero Bocanegra and company, and pleased that my Chelsea boys haven't disgraced themselves despite often being surrounded by the proverbial shower. Well done to Flo Mo for being France's only bright spot, and to Didi for his goal. Hopefully he and/or Sala will get another on Friday, while Riccy and Paulo kick a few metaphorical lumps out of Brazil's bunch of overhyped cheaters.
ETA: Okay, I don't even follow tennis (apart from kels450's beloved Andy Murray ;D), but I was flipping between the BBC's text commentary of the World Cup and Wimbledon and became totally riveted by this. That is just beyond amazing. (kels450, if you've been watching I hope you're okay and not too stressed out!) Well done to both of them, whatever happens tomorrow.