Beckham bows, Bale wows
OK, so the nation’s red-top readers might not be unified in
touching an x-ray of his broken Achilles tendon this summer, but David
Beckham’s injury and subsequent absence from this year’s World Cup rightfully
dominated Monday's papers. Sure, his prospective absence isn’t anywhere near as
pressing this summer as it was eight years ago in Asia – and, if cynicism is
anything to go by, he wouldn’t even have made this year’s plane – but after
working tirelessly to get back into the England setup over the last 18 months,
chez-Beckham surely won’t be mounting any more international caps on the mantle
piece(s).
Now, I haven’t got a problem with Beckham. I haven’t even
got a problem with brand-Beckham; sure, he married into fortune, fame and OK
magazine shame, but nobody should begrudge him of that. Not least when he is
(was) still going strong a week before his thirty-fifth birthday, featuring in
massive Champions League knock-out matches and being tipped – by some – to
feature in an ultra-commendable fourth successive World Cup Finals.
My gripe on this one is with the fickle nature of those who
constitute the football-supporting (and, come to think of it, the
football-writing) demographic in this country. David Beckham can’t win. He
never could (a non-satirical lexical choice). I’m going to hedge my bets and
say that all the people who state Beckham should never had made an England team
for just being “committed” and “passionate”, are exactly the same short-sighted
fools who say that John Terry should have retained the nation’s captaincy for
having these very traits alone. "We don’t solely want passion and
commitment in our players, but seeing as John Terry only offers both he can
have the captaincy"... the only traits I want in these people are
consistency and sense.
* * *
Meanwhile, two bouts of brilliance locked horns at White Hart Lane on Saturday,
as Tottenham’s reformed Gareth Bale came face-to-face with Blackburn’s deformed
Michel Salgado. The only difference being, of course, is that Bale’s brilliance
came in the 90 minutes of football, while Salgado’s came in his post-match
comments. After being tormented for the best part of an hour by the Tottenham
left-sider’s power, craft and pace, Salgado felt the need to publicly piece
together the mystery of his own performance: “Bale is a diver”, the deluded
Spaniard concluded. I haven’t laughed so hard since Allardyce signed him in the
first place. I would put to Salgado that he doesn't really have a leg to stand
on with this one. Much like during Saturday's game. His comments were the
footballing equivalent of a child refusing to accept defeat at Pogs by stating
that his opponent “smells”.
