Movers And Shakers
‘THE Czech Republic last night dumped on Denmark to make the last four of Euro 2004, but for the English hacks the action stopped as soon as Ricardos penalty hit the back of the net.
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Thoughts are already turning to next season as the papers shuffle their Panini soccer stickers and try to work out who will be playing where.
The Sun decides to send Ruud Van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid for £30m, so that it can make space at Old Trafford for Wayne Rooney, who will be the subject of a £22m bid.
But will the Dutchman join up with his former teammate David Beckham at the Bernabeu?
Maybe not, says the Mirror, which claims that Beckham has been told by new Real Madrid coach Jose Camacho to shape up or ship out.
In particular, Beckham has been told to cut out his jet-set lifestyle and realise that his home is in the Spanish capital and not in Hertfordshire.
He was told that when the coach says the players can rest for two days, that does not mean taking a 3am flight back to England and then returning in time for training 48 hours later, a source says.
One person who is definitely staying put is Michael Owen, with the Star claiming that the striker will stay at Liverpool even if Steven Gerrard leaves.
But the paper says that part of the reason may be the lack of interest in the 24-year-old striker whose form in recent months has been patchy.
He was not the only one whose form for England has come under the microscope, with the Stars Brian Woolnough complaining that his performance against Portugal was too late and not enough.
Beckham, David James, Owen Hargreaves, Phil Neville, Emile Heskey and Sven Goran Eriksson himself get the thumbs down from the veteran hack.
Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Ledley King and of course Wayne Rooney get the thumbs-up as do Englands fans who were given a 9/10 by Uefa for their behaviour.
But they still cant match the Centre Court crowd who yesterday roared Tim Henman to victory against Hicham Arazi and a fourth-round tie against Mark Philippoussis.
The Mail plasters a picture of every middle-aged housewife from Eshers wet dream over its back page Tim saluting the true fans who had queued up to get tickets for Peoples Sunday.
Im not in any way criticising the fans who comes and support the other 13 days, Tim immediately added, but when you give the opportunity to those people who have queued and paid today, I think its something that could be capitalised on.
Maybe, perhaps, if no-one minds…’
Posted: 28th, June 2004 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
