Yesterday’s games saw more rubbish refereeing. Italy had a man sent off when it was nothing more than a yellow card and then they got a last minute penalty for a quite obvious dive. They go through, the Aussies go out.
In the other game, which I didn’t watch because I’m a bit footballed out, Ukraine beat Switzerland on penalties after a tedious 0-0 draw.
Today’s games have a bit of spice about them. Cesc wil start for Spain against France meaning he’ll come up against teammate Thierry Henry and former captain Patrick Vieira who, no matter what some people say, will be looking to put in a performance against the young man who has taken his place in the Arsenal team.
It also sees Henry come face to face with Luis Aragones after the Spanish coach’s well publicised remarks last year. Mikael Silvestre had something to say about it yesterday but the man at the centre of the row, José Antonio Reyes, feels the French man should have kept his mouth shut (he is a bit fish faced though. I’m not sure he mouth does actually close). Reyes said:
I think it is nonsense for Silvestre to try to heat up the game and it is because they are nervous about being eliminated by Spain. Henry knows well that Aragones is not a racist person. The matter was all cleared up a year and a half ago so I don’t understand why he has to talk about this topic now.
He’s got a point, in fairness, about talking about it again now. Whether Aragones is racist or not depends on your interpretation of his remarks and that’s a debate we don’t need to start again. Whatever happens it’s certainly going to be an interesting game on a purely footballing level.
I’d have Spain as slight favourites. I’m not sure Zidane’s return to the team will allow the French to play the football they need to win but if Henry performs and Vieira’s performance in the last game wasn’t a one off then they could push them hard. I’m really looking forward to it. It has the potential to be one of the games of the tournament.
In the other game Brazil play Ghana and Roberto Carlos says his team can’t lose. Famous last words those. I’m up for the Africans, no question.
In other news Arsene Wenger reveals he had Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt watched and described him as a ‘generous’ player. A rather unusual way to describe him, I thought. Maybe he’s a ‘comfy’ player or a ‘shiny’ player. Whatever, he’s a shite player based on what we’ve seen of him in this World Cup. Certainly not good enough for Arsenal.
Rio Ferdinand says Ashley Cole v Cristiano Ronaldo will be the key duel in the England v Portugal game while Cole described his tackle in the Ecuador game as his best ever for England.
Gunnerblog has more pictures of the new kit and an alleged third kit which looks, quite frankly, hideous. I’m really hoping that this is not real. It looks like an eBay fake. If it is real we need to gather up the money that Nike gave us and shove up their fucking holes before we go and find someone who can actually make a decent Arsenal shirt.
Right, a busy day ahead before the football kicks off. Laters.
