They’re saying what? Kiko considers the possible ramifications of a poor translation. (Getty Images/Daylife)
You might have read reports over the last couple of days that Federico Macheda apparently described Manchester United team mate Wayne Rooney as a ‘chav’, in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport whilst on international duty.
However, today it transpires that the newspaper translation departments had been rather loose with their interpretation and Kiko was actually affectionately comparing his working class roots with those of Wayne, the omission of the words ‘like me’ being key to the story.
While we in no way condone Rooney’s latest shenanigans, this kind of thing does make it look rather like the English media are prepared to jump on anything potentially negative involving an NT player and exploit it for all it’s worth.
Under this kind of pressure, the team’s lack of success on the pitch seems a little more reasonable, no?
Experience over youth? Kevin Davies (l) and Andy Carroll. (Getty Images & AP Photo/Daylife)
With all the retirements, involuntary retirements, captain-related shenanigans and performances ranging in quality from awesome to asshat, we’re certain that Fabio Capello is as nervous as we are when it comes to announcing the England squad.
Never one to disappoint, Fabs has decided to throw the hacks a bone. Rather than obsessing over the above perennial probs, this time the footie journos can slaver over the inclusion of Bolton Wanderers striker Kevin Davies over Newcastle United’s Andy Carroll.
Although a decent enough goal scorer for his club, at thirty-three Davies is hardly a long-term prospect. Carroll meanwhile, has been on an great run of form since Newcastle returned to the EPL and has been tipped to be an England regular in the future. He is also very hot.
What do you think, Kickettes? Experience over pretty? Has Fabio fouled up again, or do you think Davies is exactly the type of um… no-nonsense goal scorer the England NT need while Wayne Rooney is misfiring?
Let us know what you think about the selects.
The entire England NT squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro on Tuesday can be found here.
You want the armband, short stuff? Come n’ geddit… Michael Ballack & Philipp Lahm consider their options. Images: Reuters, AP Photo via Daylife
As aficionados of unspoken conflict and passive aggressive posturing (the unfortunate aftermath of several Kickette team building weekends and designer outlet scrambles) we are watching with interest as the unresolved captaincy situations in the German and English NT’s gently but inexorably escalate.
Prior to the World Cup you may recall that both Michael Ballack and Rio Ferdinand suffered injuries that prevented them from captaining their sides in the tournament. While they recuperated, Philipp Lahm and Steven Gerrard took on the armbands and while England didn’t exactly flourish in South Africa, their recent form in the Euro 2012 qualifiers has cemented Gerrard’s reputation as a leader on the field.
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Things had got so bad in the French NT dressing room, Florent Malouda was prepared to sacrifice almost anything for the all important win. Image: Getty Images, Reuters via Daylife
All this international friendly/European qualifier shenanigans is playing merry hell with our sanity, Kickettes. To be quite honest we haven’t got a clue who’s playing who, for what reason and when this will all go away and we can return to our happy little world of short tents, toned torsos and the occasional league match, which we can peacefully enjoy with a large margarita and a bucket of nachos.
It’s all a little too much like work, y’know.
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Hands up who ordered two sweaty Spanish boys? Images: Reuters, Getty Images via Daylife
It’s Euro 2012 qualifiers, Kickettes! Admittedly we were taken a touch by surprise; the office diary ‘system’ having only just caught up the start of the new domestic season, but we’ve had our morning caffeine hit (or ten) and are feeling just about excitable enough to run through the results before we crash. Gah!
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