Seeing Red
BLOOD BATH, screams the Sunday Timess headline, and a chill runs through us.
The truth is somewhat less terrible than an entire bath full of blood, as Italys Daniele De Rossi gives USAS Brian McBride an elbow-shaped weapon of mass destruction right in the face.
Looking at the shot of the Americans face streaming with blood from a cut below his left eye we imagine that some blood might well have dripped into the Americans post-match bath. But fill it? We think not.
But in case the water should turn a deep crimson, wise were two Americans – Pablo Mastoneni and Eddie Pope to opt for early baths. Both received red cards from the Uruguayan referee. And in the spirit of fair play, Italys man with the elbow, De Rossi, also trotted down the tunnel early. (Who says sportsmanship is dead?)
The game was now nine against ten. As the Times says in its headline: The beautiful game turns ugly.
Of course, some would argue that football was never that good looking in the first place. The Timess Rod Liddle calls Brazils roly-poly Ronaldo a Peter Kay look-alike and wonders is Ronaldinhos perma-grin is the recourse of a half-wit.
Not every player can be David Beckham. But at least theres that other Ronaldo to present footballs clean and, very possibly, moisturised face to the world.
The Portugal winger can be seen celebrating being voted sexiest player at the World Cup by a Dutch gay magazine on the cover of the New of the Worlds score section.
And to put the cherry on the top of a good week for the Manchester United player, we read that he scored from the penalty spot as Portugal beat Iran 2-0.
Right he is to be happy. As the paper says, this is the first time in 40 years Portugal have made it to the knockout stages of a World Cup.
Its 2006 and all that for the Portuguese as memories of 1966 are rekindled. Forty years of hurt are at an end.
Now England need to lay their own ghosts to rest. And that means seeing off Sweden in their next match.
But the Swedes are up for it. In a piece called Revenge of the Rejects, the Mail says that almost half of the Swedish squad are past or present Premiership players the majority of them had unhappy spells here.
Now they are out to prove that they are as good as the top English players. Not that they should worry too much the Swedes have not lost to England for 38 years…
Posted: 18th, June 2006 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
