Other Opinions Part 1
23/06/06 12:39 PM
By Ben Smithard
I’ve been off work ill today, don?t worry I?m not looking for any sympathy, but it meant that I could watch the Ghana v USA group game this afternoon. I?ve been quite disappointed with the World Cup so far, after looking forward to it for so long, it just seemed to be lacking that cutting edge? that big story. The biggest story so far has been how slow and fat Ronaldo is these days but this afternoon Ghana have changed all that. Everybody loves an underdog (Peter Crouch anyone?), and Ghana showed today that they are certainly no pushovers. They look pretty well organised, skilful on the ball and very unpredictable. Good luck to them, I say.
Whilst watching Sky Sports News, it really hit me just how much the England boys are getting a beating in the press at the moment. Boy, do we love to slate them. We build them up and give a world class side confidence going into a major tournament and then instead of getting behind them, knock them down. We won our group, which does not normally happen and are still unbeaten. Job done, surely? David Beckham?s contribution is being questioned? I think he?s done well, every time he?s on the ball he creates chances for us, what more do we want from him? Peter Crouch is scoring, Joe Cole looks menacing, John Terry and Rio Ferdinand look solid, Rooney?s back and we?ve got Steven Gerrard , a player who every other nation would kill for. For sure, we haven?t played that attractively, do you care? I don?t. Did any Chelsea fan care when they were scabbing 1 ? 0s every week in the Premiership?
I think Owen Hargreaves will play a major part in our World cup now, and good luck to him. I?m not a fan of him, but I don?t agree with the boo boys. He?s wearing an England Shirt and we are England supporters, why people don?t get behind him is beyond me. If someone was standing next to me whilst I did my job booing me and telling me I was poor it would get to me and probably distract me. We all respond to encouragement.
I can?t not mention how great it has been to see Jamie Carragher playing on the world’s biggest stage this past week. Jamie is my favourite player and watching him turn from a Liverpool squad player to a world class centre back has been fantastic. His mentality is unbelievable and he deserves to be out there playing his part for his country.
We are getting to the business end of the competition now, the most exciting part and I think there are a few more shocks out there. Just for the record, I think England will be in the final on July 9th? what happens then? I honestly don?t know.
commenting closed for this article
On Friday June 23, 2006,
Stu said:
Sod’s law, the second you mention that the biggest story so far has been how slow and fat Ronaldo is, he goes and scores twice (admittedly against Japan) to become the joint greatest ever goalscorer at the World Cup, ha ha.
I agree about Hargreaves. Not everybody’s cup of tea, least of all mine, but someone like him has to play now Owen’s out so we can let Gerrard bomb forward and do what he wants. I’d give Carrick a crack at the role but if Sven thinks Hargreaves is the man then so be it we’ve gotta get behind him. To be fair it must be tough to play his position and come on in the 75th minute all the time.
You’ve got to love the Africans though!