For all the gut wrenching, hand wringing and everything else that parallels with anxiety, England’s 1-0 World Cup win over Slovenia, eliminates the apocalyptic ending their fans were fearing, and the media were already preparing to write, as though it were an obituary, which it certainly would have been, if they would have been eliminated from the World Cup on Wednesday. Since the reality for the Three Lions, is that the playing field is now level once again, as they prepare for long time rival Germany, a little perspective on them might be in order. Let’s face it, if Robert Green hadn’t allowed one of the worst goals in the history of World Cup play,in England’s opener with the Americans, then the Lions would have allowed a total of one goal in three games, and the awful effort against Algeria, would have been a distant bad dream, that would have been dismissed by now. The intensity of England in their match against Slovenia, certainly indicates that there is indeed a heart that goes along with these Lions, as much as that was in doubt after the Algeria outing. The additions of Jermaine Defoe, and James Milner against Slovenia, seemed to have provided some much needed spark to Capello’s charges.
Canadians and Americans, often refer to their respective favorite sports, hockey and football, as being on par with religion in their own countries. In France, soccer seems to at least match that, or even supersede the North American fanaticism. The incomprehensible implosion of Les Blues, has taken on the kind of national coverage and political attention, usually reserved for life and death issues. According to the associated press, striker Thierry Henry will meet President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday,to “discuss the debacle”. This followed a Wednesday meeting with Sarkozy, Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot, to deal with the disintegration of the French footballers. Sarkozy’s press department, issued the following statement: “The head of state asked the ministers to ensure that those responsible learn the lessons of this disaster quickly. He also asked the ministers to ensure that no financial reward is given.” Former France captain Patrice Evra, who was stripped of his “C” by coach Raymond Domenech, indicated that there is more to the story than the well documented refusal of the players to practice last Sunday. “There is a cause for all this failure, several things will come out……Then, if people don’t want to forgive, at least they will know the truth.”
The headline on Wednesday’s sport’s daily “L’Equipe, read “ The end of a world.” According to the associated press, former France stars Zenidine Zidane and Bixente Lizarazu, blamed Domenech “for letting things spiral out of control and the French Football Federation, for retaining him after the team failed to make it out of the group stage at Euro 2008.”
Hopefully, our Prime Minister, will always have more important issues to involve himself in, than those that revolve around the sporting successes or failures of multi millionaire athletes.While he’s in Toronto, perhaps President Sarkozy can stop by Queens Park, and discuss the disappointments of the Raptors,Leafs, Argos, and Blue Jays, with the Ontario legislature. Then again, he will probably still be burdened with the football freefall for France.