THE SELEÇ-OW!
In its largely forgotten previous incarnation before the big rebrand, Football Daily rarely bothered to muddy its spats in the world of South American football unless it was to poke fun at the kind of news we would otherwise be forced to tut sanctimoniously over if it happened closer to home. A ref getting booted repeatedly up the backside after being chased around the pitch by an angry Ecuadorian centre-back, for example. Or a mass brawl that resulted in three Chileans and two Paraguayans getting shown straight reds and refusing to leave the field. Or perhaps a pitch invasion led by angry Peruvians upset that one of their players has been sent off for blowing his trumpet in the fourth official’s ear at full blast. In summary, the kind of scenes that “nobody wants to see”, unless of course they happen to unfold thousands of miles away, in which case we all want to see them.
So, when we spoke to the Football Daily Ed earlier and suggested that Wales topping their Nations League group with a fine win over Iceland, coupled with Craig Bellamy’s post-match remarks about only taking the job to prove to everyone that he is not completely crazy [well, that’s spoiled Quote of the Day – Football Daily Ed], was the only show in town for today’s thrilling instalment of the world’s most daily football email, our curiosity was piqued when that idea was shot down in flames and we were told to “do something on what happened in Brazil instead”. Oblivious to overnight news of any crowd violence, pitch invasions, acts of GBH on a match official or the Delapping of severed animal heads on to the field of play during Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, we immediately went a’Googling to see what on earth had happened during the game and find out how it had passed us by.
The answer? Not a great deal, apart from Brazil getting booed off in Salvador because they only drew 1-1 in a game low on chances, leaving their chances of qualifying for the next World Cup in jeopardy so mild you could mistake it for a warm sea breeze on a sunny summer’s day. Having gone behind to a fine strike from Uruguay’s Fede Valverde, Brazil equalised soon after courtesy of Gerson (not that one), whose first goal for his country leaves them fifth in the South American qualifying table, two points off second place and still set extremely fair to be among the six teams that qualify automatically. And quite frankly, if thinking such a scenario is far less interesting than Bellamy’s amusing take on why he became manager of Wales is wrong, then Football Daily doesn’t want to be right.
However, we’re just here to follow orders, here’s what Raphinha had to say about the barracking to which he and his teammates were subjected. “I think the booing is more about the result, because in my opinion we gave it all,” he gasped. “I’m proud of those who played and even those on the bench. We did everything we could to get the result. We played a lot of football and we have to leave with our heads held high.” The same cannot be said for Football Daily, whose head could scarcely hang any lower as it slinks apologetically into your spam folder with this disappointingly inconsequential news at the tail-end of what has been, by our snakebelly low standards, an otherwise uncharacteristically productive interlull.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I probably feel it was important to show people I am not a lunatic – I’m quite sane. People thought I was going to be running on the pitch and pushing the ref and stuff, getting sent off. I probably felt more pushed into management to show I am not like that. People used to bring temperament up. ‘Oh yeah, but his temperament.’ I was like: ‘Really?’ Now you get to see this side of me” – Craig Bellamy responds to those judgmental types [cough – Football Daily Ed] who have been left wondering where the real Craig Bellamy is after his Zen-like approach to leadership guided Wales to Nations League promotion.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
I’ll admit, I was sniffy about the Nations League when it was first introduced, but there’s nothing like a plucky underdog story to win the doubters round. I actually found myself getting quite emotional seeing this nation of part-time pub players secure not just one, but two scarcely believable victories, when I and many others had given up hope of ever seeing them win a competitive fixture in my lifetime. Huge congratulations to Steve Clarke and everyone at the SFA who made it possible” – Ollie Forrest.
Mexico’s Aguirre hit by a beer can (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition)? Was it the Wrath of Grog?” – Tim Grey.
Send letters to [email protected]. Today’s letter o’ the day winner is … Tim Grey, who lands their very own piece of Football Weekly merch. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.
MOVING THE GOALPOSTS
In the latest edition of our sister email, Megan Swanick puts the spotlight on the upcoming NWSL final in which Brazil legend Marta could write another chapter in her storied career. You can subscribe here.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
Get your ears around the latest edition of the Football Weekly podcast.
RECOMMENDED SHOPPING
You can now get your very own copy of the latest David Squires cartoon. And Big Website’s football bookshop has the latest release from David himself, along with those from Miguel Delaney, Nick Miller and Jeff Stelling.
A CHANG(ING ROOM) WOULD DO YOU GOOD?
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for that Madrid fan in your life who has a massive room and weird obsession with players past and present? Well, if you have more money than sense you might be able to get your hands on any one of 24 changing room lockers that were once used by players – including Cristiano Ronaldo no less – over the past two decades. Just imagine dumping your dirty joggers in the same space that Luka Modric once placed his luxury watch. Or hanging your jumper behind a door Marco Asensio once (quite possibly) kicked after being overlooked for the starting XI again. Wow! Bidding on each one starts at £10,000. The auction closes on 26 November. Go on, what are you waiting for? Oh.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Pep Guardiola’s new one-year contract with Manchester City does not contain a break clause should the club be relegated from the Premier League over alleged financial shenanigans.
Tottenham have appealed against the length of the ban given to Rodrigo Bentancur for comments he made about teammate Son Heung-min, believing it is too severe.
Former Newcastle winger Kieron Dyer has received an apology at the high court after settling his phone-hacking case against the Daily Mirror in return for a payout.
Premier League clubs always want more. This time they’re after a bigger share of the increasingly lucrative data deal that currently gives each league £35m in a move that will make Football League clubs even angrier with them.
Patrick Vieira is back in management, baby, after easing himself into the Big Chair at Genoa.
Romania have been handed a 3-0 win by Uefa after Kosovo walked off at their Nations League match in protest at pro-Serbia chants from home fans.
Gerardo Martino has quit as Inter Miami boss, citing personal reasons.
La Liga has dropped plans to host next month’s fixture between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in the USA USA USA. Hurra! But they still plan to host domestic matches abroad in the future. Abucheo!
And Kyle Lafferty, last spotted playing for Johnstone Burgh in the West of Scotland League Premier Division, has admitted feigning knack instead of showing up for Northern Ireland duty during his career. Regrets, he has a few. “Not reaching 100 caps, I blame myself for it. [I] didn’t turn up at times when I should have. Deciding to go on holiday instead of playing for [my] country at times. This was like when I was 21, 22, 23, just knowing I’d done well previously that I’d get another call-up, taking liberties. Maybe throwing in an injury where the rest of the team I was at might have been getting a few days off and taking the days off.”
STILL WANT MORE?
Opta have run the numbers and the computer says: Mohamed Salah is getting even better – Liverpool must keep hold of him!
Career we go! Luke McLaughlin on journeymen who played here, there and everywhere.
Nostalgic Serie A five-a-side teams: picking a lineup for … Udinese. Yes, of course Antonio Di Natale is in it.
And which foreign country has provided most Premier League managers? The Knowledge knows.
MEMORY LANE
11 February 1982: To Wembley where Roberta Moore (daughter of Bobby) is pictured with the pretty terrifying England mascot Bulldog Bobby as the buildup to España 82 began in earnest.
