Tuesday 8 June 2010

Land of the Free, Home of the Brave!

During my final year at University one of my housemates and I decided to stay up and soak up the atmosphere of the Superbowl in the USA. For such a spectacular sporting and entertainment event, with amazing scenes of madness going on from the teams bursting through huge banners to the camera flashing-firework exploding bonanza of the coin toss the one thing that stuck out was the singing of the National Anthem.

So strong was the impression left by Kelly Clarkson's rendition of the wonderful Star Spangled Banner that one of the studio analysts went on to announce that was in his 'Top 3' of anthem performances. What a bizarre statement we thought as we looked at each other bemused and amused. Did this man really have a list of great national anthem performances?!

After a little thought however I can see why he would have such a list. The National Anthem for me is one of the most exciting parts of the World Cup, moving grown men to tears and subconsciously forcing you to stand a few inches taller with pride at your nations call to arms and unity. With the World Cup fast approaching, and having recently been reminded of my experience watching the Superbowl anthem I have taken a leaf out of said Superbowl commentators book and compiled my own list of top anthems for the teams in the World Cup. I tried to whittle it down to top 3 but felt compelled to include a top 5 to do the teams justice.


The Proudest moment for any player

The moments when the teams line up in symmetry with the crowd in the stands and the first few notes of the national anthems start booming from the roof tops you know the World Cup is upon us.

In Fifth and Fourth place respectively we have the rousing German Anthem and the most enjoyable Brazil Anthem. Both bring back memories of previous tournaments, and as both sides are usual suspects towards the latter stages of the tournament they are both anthems that are familiar with your average football fan. However both anthems miss out on a top 3 spot due to the magnificence of the French Anthem and the absolute brilliance of the Italy Anthem.

Yet for all the emotion and excitement evoked by such works of musical art, nothing can come close to the rising crescendos of the superb Star Spangled Banner. The USA Anthem comes out on top as no one does national pride quite like the Americans. The very basis of the American psyche is to be a beacon of light for the world to follow and the Star Spangled Banner screams with pride and joy at being the 'Land of the Free and Home of the Brave'.

Humorist Richard Armour said of the American Anthem:

Bombs were soon bursting in air, rockets were glaring, and all in all it was a moment of great historical interest. During the bombardment, a young lawyer named Francis Scott Key wrote The Star-Spangled Banner, and when, by the dawn's early light, the British heard it sung, they fled in terror!"

Many in the American camp at this years World Cup will be hoping for a similar affect on the English players on Saturday night in Rustenburg.


Picture Credit: MCT Direct
Picture Credit (2) :Bob Thomas, Getty Images

Thursday 3 June 2010

Two wrongs don't make a Wright



Don Fabio has got this wrong. Quite a judgement indeed, but the announcement of the England squad has left me feeling like Capello has picked up the wrong suitcase from the carousel at the airport terminal. That wrong suitcase comes in the shape of Shaun Wright-Phillips, but the right piece of luggage is not Theo Walcott as many people argue, but in fact Man City's Adam Johnson.

Walcott's omission has been widely reported on, whilst various theories on the reasons behind his exclusion have come to light. Walcott is often see cruising the wings with blinkers on, unable to deliver an effective final Beckham-esque ball, rather speeding down dead ends highlighting a lack of creative vision.

Whilst his performances against Mexico and Japan failed to spark the imagination into illustrations of greatness, rumours have also surfaced of a rift in the England camp between Messrs Walcott and Rooney. Such a rift would hardly be surprising with Walcott's seeming inability to cross the ball to his striker on a daily basis on the training pitch. Stories of a Rooney red mist following defeat to Walcott in a game of pool a few months ago add further fuel to such speculation - (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2950538/Wayne-Rooney-snaps-cue-after-Theo-Walcott-pool-defeat.html)

Johnson has had a great half season at Man City, and most interestingly is ahead in the pecking order at club level against his ex-international team mate Wright-Phillips. For me Wright-Phillips has done nothing this season to merit a place in the World Cup squad whilst Johnson offers something different. Naturally left footed he can play on either wing and unlike Walcott can deliver a killer ball when needed. Coupled with his pace and deft touch, plus the added benefit of being something of an unknown quantity in World Football circles certainly gets the pulse racing as a potential secret weapon for England.


7 Minutes in Heaven for Johnson and England

Picture the scene, 80 minutes gone, England 0-0 USA and Capello needs to get a goal from somewhere, anywhere. Who would you bring on? Wright-Phillips and his scintillating form and confidence from the season gone? No? Or Johnson, brimming with enthusiasm and ability to match, getting himself a yard of space and whipping the ball to Crouch...

Capello was right to drop Walcott, but wrong to drop Johnson and wrong to include Wright Phillips. As the saying goes, Two wrongs don't make a Wright.


Walcott finds another Dead End

Photos PA, Daily Mail

Tuesday 1 June 2010

Legends of the Past, Icons of the Future


Au Revoir ZiZou
The World Cup is once again upon us and the people of the world await with excruciating excitement for the first ball to be kicked. Memories of the World Cup often revolve around those iconic images of the greatest players in the world, Moore and Pele in a shirtless embrace in '70, Maradona and his fist in '86, Baggio with hands on hips and head bowed in '94, Zidane sinking down the steps in '06. Just a couple of the many iconic moments from the iconic players in the greatest show in the world.

On a personal note my memories of the World Cup stretch back just about as far as 1994, although as a 6 year old my memories of the matches, the goals and the headlines are all a blurry haze that become focused by the glut of youtube montages sparking vague recollections of watching the yellow of Romania or green of Ireland. But the one thing that sparks the light bulb in my head are the names of the great players. Hagi, Baggio, Stoichkov, Romario, Maradona, Valderamma all spring to mind as icons of that hot American summer to name but a few.

The best players in the world not only offer the most exciting and impressive footballing talent, but they offer a story to go with it. A legendary status that can only be achieved in hindsight perhaps. I look back with a nostalgic fondness at the names i grew up with and a regret and sadness that, now the squads have been announced, their names are missing from the guest lists invited to the party.

This World Cup has almost come in at a transitional period in World Football. No Longer are the legendary names of Zidane, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Cannavaro, Beckham, Crespo, Ballack et al invovled yet the brilliance of Kaka, Messi, C Ronaldo, Rooney, Torres have yet to rise to the level of their predecessors.

Who will step up and become a legend? Who will write the future as the Nike commercial asks?

In ten years time we will look back on the next month and reminisce about how they don't make 'em like they used to. The way we now look at names like the Baggio's or the Ronaldo's or Zidane's or Beckham's of the past we will do so of some of the names announced this week in the squads going to South Africa. Iconic images will be made and I for one can not wait to witness future being written.


Hoddle's rejection hit 'Gazza' hard

Photo: (1) Perenyi/Augenklick