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Anorak News | Win, Lose Or Bore

Win, Lose Or Bore

by | 28th, April 2004

‘IF Sepp Blatter has his way, there will be only two possible results in football.

Rotherham celebrate three points against Stoke

The Mail hears the FIFA president propose to kick the draw out of football.

“Every game should have a winner,” says he. “When you play cards or any other game, there’s always a winner and a loser.

“We should have the courage to introduce a final decision in every game of football.”

The remedy for what Blatter sees as a footballing anomaly (although chess, hockey, rugby, athletics, horse-racing and many more sports suggest otherwise) is to end all drawn matches with a penalty shoot-out.

It’s the kind of idea we’re used to hearing from a man that once called for the goals to be made bigger and allowed the United States to host the World Cup.

But at least if the emphasis is placed on just scoring goal from 12 yards out, they’ll be no need for defending.

And that will suit team England just fine, since Sven Goran Eriksson’s squad is down to its last two central defenders.

The Express say that Sol Campbell and John Terry are now the only two fit first-choice defenders still standing as the Euro 2004 championships loom.

Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Southgate are both injured, and Rio Ferdinand’s phone is switched off, which means only Terry and Campbell are available to play.

But what seems like bad news is nothing of the sort, and we call upon Sven to forget about defending. If not defending is good enough for Manchester United, it’s good enough for England.

Not that United are resting on the their laurels. After Arsenal yesterday, it’s now United’s turn to be linked with a swoop for Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard.

The Sun says that the Old Trafford club are prepared to lash out £20m on the Liverpool skipper to replace Roy Keane, who is unsure where his future lies.

“As a player, you can’t be looking too far ahead,” says Keane to the Sun, “and in football, always expect the unexpected.”

So let’s expect United to lose to Millwall in the FA Cup final, Keane’s last match in United colours, and for the Lions to win the hearts and minds of football fans throughout Europe.

And for England to win Euro 2004 on penalties…’



Posted: 28th, April 2004 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink