Damn Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys

This is not an anti-French rant. It is a lament. The events of that fateful meeting in Paris many months ago are not forgotten, but they are accepted. At the least, I accept them. In sport, as in life, shit happens. Shit happens at all possible levels. The standard of refereeing at the World Cup shows that in spades. Like many other Irish, I wanted to see the French get beaten in the same sort of way that we like to see the English get beaten. It's not that we hate them or that we're bitter; just that we latch onto any reason to support one side over another. That and we love a good complain. Particularly in the summer, when the weather isn't as terrible as it usually is, we need something to complain about. So, France are suffering our ire at the moment.

While I was rooting for Mexico against France, the French team's woeful display left me infuriated. The complete lack of effort, the lack of desire, the lack of any sort of passion or pride in the jersey seemed so out of place at the World Cup. Fair enough their team is managed by an incompetent astrologist, but what ever happened to individual pride, individual leadership and more importantly, national pride? Each player can only ever play in three World Cups barring a few extraordinary exceptions. This is the competition that every kid grows up dreaming about. At the very least you'd expect them to give it a lash. Much like the Irish did in 2002 when after losing by far our best player to a dispute, the team rallied, gave it a lash, and lo and behold made it to the last 16 and were a heartbeat away from the quarter finals. Without any doubt, even again lacking our world class player, Shay Given, the Irish lads would have been giving it socks and not giving up at all.

I'm reminded here of a West Wong quote:

Leo: You know, it was a screw-up. But I gotta say, I love the way he did it full speed, bam. Like there's a Sam Seaborn-shaped hole in the wall.

That's the attitude I expect from ALL teams at the World Cup. That was the attitude the Irish team showed that night in Paris. Playing away from home, against a team ranked over thirty places higher than them, facing a one goal deficit; the odds were heavily stacked against them. No one thought it could happen. They gave it a lash and it produced a highly entertaining and competitive match. Surely that's the kind of team you want at the World Cup?

When FIFA "clarified" the rules on the draw for the play-off matches, I have no doubt that a desire to see the big money teams of France, Portugal, Russia at the World Cup played a factor. This strategy has spectacularly back fired with the impotent performances of France and (so far) Portugal. Will a lesson be learned? You gotta be kidding me.

Gold in Moscow; Gold in London?

Sandwiched in the middle of the unending World Cup coverage and the GAA championship, I hope I am not alone in feeling that accomplishments of the Irish boxing team in Moscow are not getting the coverage they deserve. The Irish team are coming home tonight with FIVE medals; one gold, one silver and three bronze. This meant that the Irish team grabbed second place on the medals table behind Russia with their seven golds, aided presumably by the sort of home field scoring that was seen at the Beijing Olympics. Particularly considering that there was only seven fighters on the Irish team, this is a phenomenal level of success.

Omens look particularly good for the 23 year old Paddy Barnes. Already an Olympic medallist at the tender age of 21, he should be coming into his prime come the London games in two years. Watching his final on RTE last night, the control and discipline he displayed in the biggest fight of his life so far tells me that this guy has that winning mentality, has the toughness and the tactical awareness to go all the way in London.

Darren O'Sullivan, a primary school teacher by day, found himself on the wrong end of a 16-7 defeat in his final. This score is a little unfair on O'Sullivan though. He was level with his opponent right up to the end of round 2, where a late flurry left him a little behind. He had to chase it in the third round, which left him vulnerable to his taller opponent; who used every extra inch of his reach to his benefit.

Team captain Kenneth Egan brought home a bronze. After his controversial silver in Beijing, I thought that his decision to remain amateur to fight in London was a mistake. After this showing, I am more convinced than ever. For Egan, anything that is not the gold medal in two years time will be a disappointment. He will be 30 when he fights in London which brings with it questions over his physical fitness. The guy is an absolute hero, and I hope to be in the crowd cheering him on to gold. I just hope this doesn't backfire horribly on him.

Of course, in London, women will be competing in the boxing arena for the first time. This means Katie Taylor gets to kick some ass. All in all, London should prove to be a happy hunting ground for the Irish boxing team.

The Pleasure, The Pain, The Pageantry, and The Punditry: World Cup 2010

After four years of waiting, after no less than eight hundred and fifty three qualifying games, two thousand, three hundred and forty four goals, and a bucket load of controversies, the 2010 FIFA World Cup is finally upon us.

Regardless of how much fun I derive from the next month or so of over indulgence in sport, FIFA have come out of this World Cup campaign very tarnished in my eyes. I don't think Ireland should have gotten a replay of the infamous match in Paris as they were tied by the rules on that occasion. However, the staggering level of resistance to the introduction to video technology to aid the referee baffles me. I just don't understand why FIFA cannot implement some sort of workable system when practically every other major sport on the planet has. Not only that but the ruthlessness which FIFA approaches the World Cup as a marketing opportunity means that little or no benefit will be seen to most South Africans due to prohibitive sponsorship deals and it's ruthless defence of trademark. It has most certainly left a sour taste in my mouth anyway, but I'm sure I'll forget about it quickly enough like the unprincipled market slave that we are really are.

Anyway, onto the actual football. I have some shocking predictions that may shock and disturb you. You may want to sit down or guard them from any elderly relatives.

1. France will not get out of the group stage.
2. Argentina will not get past the quarter-finals.
3. The US will make the semis.
4. Brazil will win.

Just remember to tell them I told you so...