Toe To Toe
JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG, intones the Sun. Whats this? A sober recapitulation of Abby Manns indictment of Nazi atrocities?
No, something much more important. This is OWEN ON TRIAL, not Eichmann. But on trial for what? Match-fixing? Impersonating an off-duty police officer? Being a tiny bit dull in interviews? No, not that kind of trial. This trial is the match against Trinidad & Tobago, in which he has the opportunity to prove why he is Englands No 1 striker.
Shaun Custis reports that Eriksson has finally admitted why he took Michael Owen off during the Paraguay game because the team were losing the ball too much. Custis reckons this is the closest Eriksson has ever come to criticising Owen, 26 [love that 26, Shaun] and it is clear the Newcastle strikers position is under scrutiny.
Opinions differ as to whether Owens substitution was a snub or a pragmatic decision. Similarly, it is by no means clear whether Owen is on trial in Svens eyes or simply being protected until he is fully fit and in-form.
However, todays match could be a trial for Owen in the other sense of the word, ie, an ordeal to be endured. DIRTY SANCH, the paper splutters. Brent: Ill give crock Owen a hard time. The headline appears to allude to Dirty Sanchez, the home-grown version of Jackass, in which various Welsh nut-cases staple their scrotums to surf boards, squirt sulphuric acid up each others rectums, and generally torture and humiliate themselves for the amusement of a jaded public.
It further appears to suggest that Brent Sancho, the brickshithousesque Trinidad & Tobago defender whose name is the excuse for the tortuous headline, is planning to give the fun-size England striker a hard time. What kind of hard time? Well, Sancho has promised that he will take no prisoners in Nuremberg tonight, so presumably he doesnt have plans for anything as dignified as a proper gallows. I wont be pussy-footing around, he hints. We are a tough band of players with a tough nose and we take that onto the pitch.
Hmm. We at Anorak dont like the sound of this. Especially that tough nose they intend to take on the pitch, which must surely be in breach of some FIFA directive or other. Sanchos assurances that he is hard but fair dont allay our fears either. On reflection, perhaps this isnt the best game in which to be risk players recovering from foot injuries.
Which brings us to the other damaged foot. Erikssons announced yesterday that Wayne Rooney is fit, and that he has not had a falling-out with FA boss Brian Barwick over whether to play him. But the papers sense a smokescreen, and are urging Eriksson to stand up for himself. The FA problem with this is that if Eriksson goes against medical advice and plays Rooney too soon, there could be claims for compensation and a nasty situation with Manchester United to boot.
It all points to Rooney, announces the Mirror, but others are more circumspect, and they are probably right. Despite intense media pressure yesterday, Eriksson wisely declined to make his decision public, and this has allowed time for various medical experts to examine Rooney again.
Their decision, whichever way it goes, could save face for Sven while also getting the FA out of a tight spot. With the prospect of a tough physical game in very hot temperatures, it could be a blessing in disguise if Rooneys return is delayed until next week. Then Olof Mellberg can stamp all over him without risking the FAs cash.
Posted: 15th, June 2006 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
