Amauri words a sign of things to come:
On Wednesday morning in the Italian press hidden amongst the recriminations from Italy’s 3-0 European Championship opening loss to The Netherlands, was a short piece about Juventus’ new signing Amauri. In it the Brazilian-born attacker, who has recently left Palermo for Turin, stated his desire to play for Italy at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Now Amauri wouldn’t be the first South American-born player to turn out for the Azzurri, after all currently starring for Italy in Austria and Switzerland is Mauro Camoranesi, who was born and raised in Argentina but, like so many of his compatriots qualified for an Italian passport and having performed for Verona and Juventus was capped by then coach Giovanni Trappatoni.
What should be of more concern to FIFA is what it will do to player development in the wealthier nations.
Italy is a something of an exception when it comes to qualifying for a passport. You need to be resident for 10 years and whilst his wife holds a passport it makes no difference for Amauri. Currently he is at the eight-year mark and has admitted that if he could, he would have accepted a call from Italy coach Roberto Donadoni to play in Austria and Switzerland.
Of course in two years time he will be a fully paid-up member of the Italian passport holders club and if he continues his form for Juventus chances are he will be part of the Italy squad (qualification depending) who defend their trophy in South Africa. Had he made it to the Alpine countries this year he wouldn’t have been alone as a Brazilian naturalised and playing for another country.
Portugal’s Deco has long been a star for FC Porto and Barcelona and fellow Brazil-born player Pepe, who gained his passport in August 2007 and went straight into the team, now joins him in the Portugal line-up. Marco Senna has made his name for Villarreal and once he became a citizen was brought in to solidify a Spain midfield featuring Xavi and Cesc Fabregas. Roger Guerreiro scored Poland’s goal against Austria on Thursday night and Marco Aurelio became Mehmet Aurelio when he joined Turkey’s Fenerbache and whilst he too anchors the midfield his inclusion isn’t 100% popular.
Most European countries only require someone to be resident within their borders for five years to qualify for a passport. Now in most cases, such as Roberto Carlos when he was at Real Madrid, it is so that they no longer qualify as a non-EU player and thus are outside any quotas. However it is easy to see how it can be more cynically exploited thanks to the FIFA’s rules that insist that anyone playing for a national team must have be a passport holder from that country.
Argentina is one such country that is aware of the threat from the rich European clubs. Realising that there is little that can be done to stop their players running to Europe the first time an agent waves a fist full of Euros or Pounds in their faces, they tie them up in national training schemes, imbuing them with a sense of patriotism when they go overseas. It is one reason why Leonardo Messi will never turn his back on Argentina, despite his formative years in Spain and his Spanish passport.
But of course not every South American family is as blessed with such talent as Senor Messi's and therefore what is to stop, for instant, English clubs heading over to South America picking up a load of talented Brazilian lads and parking them in England until they qualify for UK passports and therefore the national teams. Sure there are FIFA rules against player movements before a certain age, but these can be circumnavigated if the whole family is moved, as happened to the 13 year-old Messi.
I realise it is a bit of an extreme scenario, but such is the English clubs’ apathy to player development, that it wouldn’t be too much of a shock. There has already been talk of Arsenal’s Spanish goalkeeper playing for England when he qualifies for a passport next season and it wouldn’t be the first time that such a policy has existed. New Zealand with their three year requirement for citizenship have been parking talented Pacific Island rugby players at schools and then putting into provincial and national teams as they did with wing Sitiveni Sivivatu.
We already have the situation whereby there is little compunction about a national team having a foreign coach and I realise that there can be little criticism of the players who are only taking advantage of passport laws for the betterment of their career. However, FIFA and the national associations need to get their heads round this issue if there is to any sense of national identity in international football in years to come.
Collingwood sounds note of caution:
Whilst the whole cricketing world seems to have gone bananas with the Twenty20 format, it took England one-day captain Paul Collingwood to remind everyone that there is more to the sport than a frantic two-hour (at most) session of bat thrashing and ball smashing and that test matches should not be forgotten as the highest form of the game.
The rise and rise of the short format of the sport continued this week when England announced they will play five Twenty 20 matches in the Caribbean this autumn, for a minor fee of £10million that will be shared between the winning players and staff.
Since Texas-born, Antigua-based multi-millionaire Sir Allen Stamford started bankrolling the modestly titled ‘Allen Stamford Series’ in the Caribbean, Twenty 20 cricket has snowballed.
We now have a credible tournament putting life back into cricket in the West Indies, something the International Cricket Council and the local organising committee failed to do with the 2007 Cricket World Cup and boy does it need it.
In recent years West Indian cricket has been hijacked by football, basketball and athletics, where once it was cricket that defined the region. Name a famous Jamaican sportsman and I would guarantee the first name that pops into your head is sprinter Asafa Powell rather than cricketer Chris Gayle. Likewise where are the heirs to Gary Sobers in Barbados or Brian Lara in Trinidad and Tobago?
It may only be a couple of years old, but Stamford recognised something when he created his series. That the islands are today truly independent nations and where they were once showcased to the world by their unified efforts as a cricket team, now they have their own individuals competing for an individual nation. Powell and new 100m world record holder Usain Bolt from Jamaica, fellow sprinters Obadele Thompson from Barbados and Ato Boldon from T and T, not to mention Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago making it to the World Cup finals in recent years.
India have now followed suit and their first year has been a resounding success of exciting action, full crowds and money through the tills. Watching this from afar has been the English and Welsh Cricket Board (ECB) whose original Twenty 20 concept now looks quaint by comparison.
Of course it is interesting that it is Collingwood who is trying to cool the frenzy. For years this was a player who was outstanding at one-day level, but who struggled to find a place in the test team. He could easily have sat back and enjoyed being a 50 over star and not fret too much about establishing himself in the longer form of the sport. But he wanted the credibility that comes from being a test cricketer and is now a key fixture of Michael Vaughan’s test side and what he says is true.
Twenty 20 is a valid form of the game and in terms of spreading the popularity of cricket is important (hell it is even shown on Italian TV), but it should be the first step in educating people about the sport as a whole, including the five-day format. After all the beauty of test cricket is that it lasts so long, but by being like that it gives the sport depth and substance. It is not something that can just be consigned to the bin on the whim of the man with the biggest cheque- book.
JI 16/06/08
domenica 15 giugno 2008
domenica 8 giugno 2008
Notes from a sporting week 09/06/08
Nadal confirms status as king of clay:
Watching the French Open’s men’s final on Eurosport wasn’t the easiest of viewing, mainly due to the ridiculously over the top artistic vision mixing of the channel’s directors. However, on the review programme that followed there were some interesting comments made by ex-world number one Mats Wilander.
The Swede said he cannot wait until next year’s French Open, as like most people who troop to Roland Garros, he will be desperate to see Roger Federer break his duck in Paris and win the one slam to elude him.
It is hard to disagree with Wilander; such is the way in which Federer has charmed the world with his magnanimity and multi-lingual charm. He is alone as an undisputed number one in that unlike the likes of Michael Schumacher or Tiger Woods, you feel little shame cheering him on.
That said, it is no bad thing that Nadal continues to be his nemesis on clay, this time demolishing him 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 to keep some kind of check and balance in men’s tennis. Furthermore with Novak Djokavic come up fast there is now a real threat to the Swiss in the other three slams. Imagine how truly dull men’s tennis would be if Federer cleared up every time?
Of course Federer will take no compensation from the fact that he lost to someone who has won the last four French Open titles and who has yet to lose at Roland Garros. That he lost in such an appallingly bad manner will probably haunt him until the start of the 2009 tournament. Sure he’s had health problems this year, but the way he mistimed shots, misjudged angles and length and gave away silly point after silly point mean that he has a lot of work to do between now and Wimbledon, be it physical or mental.
There have been many reports since the turn of the year questioning whether we will ever see the best of Federer again and we should have a clearer picture of his future once Wimbledon has finished. Of equal importance will be seeing how well Nadal does there and whether he can demonstrate that he is more than just a one-surface player. Wilander may be excited by what will happen down the Bois de Boulogne next year, but there are a lot of staging posts along the way that will be as equally significant for what shape men’s tennis will be in 12 months time.
New model Spurs taking shape:
It wasn’t a bad weekend to be a fan of Tottenham Hotspur. Firstly their team pulled off a major coup by taking Giovanni Dos Santos off Barcelona’s hands for an initial £4.7 million and then watched as their new signing Luca Modric opened the scoring in Croatia’s win over Austria at the European Championships.
In past summers, for supporters of other clubs, it has become a part of the summer to watch with amusement as Tottenham fans work themselves into a frenzy at news of their impending signing of one big name or another before those hopes are quickly dashed. Certainly the biggest name to have been linked with Spurs in recent summers was Rivaldo, before somewhat inevitably he turned them down in favour of AC Milan, a team who was playing in the Champions League.
There was a chance of a similar situation occurring this summer, with all the talk surrounding Samuel Eto’o joining the White Hart Lane outfit from Barcelona. With respect the lilywhites, such a move is highly unlikely given that the team will only be playing UEFA Cup football next season and has yet to feature in Europe’s premier club competition. However, the signings of Dos Santos and Modric should quieten such noises, yet give fans some hope that they can move forward in 2008-09.
Both signings should fit into the traditional Spurs tradition of good, intelligent footballers and whilst they aren’t household names now the powers that be are clearly optimistic that they can develop as players in north London and turn Tottenham into regular Champions League participants. Whilst Spurs fans wouldn’t appreciate anyone mentioning it, it is a policy that worked wonders for their bitter rivals down the road at Arsenal.
Dos Santos, whose transfer fee could rise to £8.6 million, will provide an attacking threat from the left, whilst hopes will be on Modric that he can pull the strings in midfield in the way that Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardilles once did. Great praise has to go to Tottenham manager Juande Ramos for pulling off the signings as there is little doubt that both will have received a number of significant offers, such is the level of their reputations. It also speaks volumes for the respect in which Ramos is held that he could persuade them to join him at White Hart Lane.
Having led Sevilla to two successive UEFA Cups, one of the reasons Tottenham were so keen to get him on board was because of the clout he would bring to the transfer market and transfer dealings. Whilst Martin Jol did extremely well to get Spurs into fifth place two years in a row and was highly popular, the decision to sack him, whilst hardly painting Spurs’ management in a good light, shows that they were willing to make tough, unpopular decisions for the sake of the club.
The signings may not be the most earth-shattering purchases in Tottenham’s history, but they do show the direction the club should be going in. Along with defenders Jonathon Woodgate and Alan Hutton they demonstrate that Ramos has a strategy when buying players. Good at their job and old enough to be of benefit to the club either on the field or in the transfer market they show that the club thinks that they won’t break into the top four by a sudden splurge of cash on one or two big names, but through a well though out policy towards players who will fit into the model and grow together.
Of course there remains a chronic need for the club to keep hold of striker Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian has been at the heart of everything the team has down well over the last few years, but is famously temperamental and has an agent who has no compunction over making eyes to the Champions Leagues clubs elsewhere in the country. Holding onto to him will be the next big job for Ramos and whether he does or not is likely to define whether Spurs make the step up to the next level or keep living their deluded dreams for the foreseeable future.
JI 09/06/08
Watching the French Open’s men’s final on Eurosport wasn’t the easiest of viewing, mainly due to the ridiculously over the top artistic vision mixing of the channel’s directors. However, on the review programme that followed there were some interesting comments made by ex-world number one Mats Wilander.
The Swede said he cannot wait until next year’s French Open, as like most people who troop to Roland Garros, he will be desperate to see Roger Federer break his duck in Paris and win the one slam to elude him.
It is hard to disagree with Wilander; such is the way in which Federer has charmed the world with his magnanimity and multi-lingual charm. He is alone as an undisputed number one in that unlike the likes of Michael Schumacher or Tiger Woods, you feel little shame cheering him on.
That said, it is no bad thing that Nadal continues to be his nemesis on clay, this time demolishing him 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 to keep some kind of check and balance in men’s tennis. Furthermore with Novak Djokavic come up fast there is now a real threat to the Swiss in the other three slams. Imagine how truly dull men’s tennis would be if Federer cleared up every time?
Of course Federer will take no compensation from the fact that he lost to someone who has won the last four French Open titles and who has yet to lose at Roland Garros. That he lost in such an appallingly bad manner will probably haunt him until the start of the 2009 tournament. Sure he’s had health problems this year, but the way he mistimed shots, misjudged angles and length and gave away silly point after silly point mean that he has a lot of work to do between now and Wimbledon, be it physical or mental.
There have been many reports since the turn of the year questioning whether we will ever see the best of Federer again and we should have a clearer picture of his future once Wimbledon has finished. Of equal importance will be seeing how well Nadal does there and whether he can demonstrate that he is more than just a one-surface player. Wilander may be excited by what will happen down the Bois de Boulogne next year, but there are a lot of staging posts along the way that will be as equally significant for what shape men’s tennis will be in 12 months time.
New model Spurs taking shape:
It wasn’t a bad weekend to be a fan of Tottenham Hotspur. Firstly their team pulled off a major coup by taking Giovanni Dos Santos off Barcelona’s hands for an initial £4.7 million and then watched as their new signing Luca Modric opened the scoring in Croatia’s win over Austria at the European Championships.
In past summers, for supporters of other clubs, it has become a part of the summer to watch with amusement as Tottenham fans work themselves into a frenzy at news of their impending signing of one big name or another before those hopes are quickly dashed. Certainly the biggest name to have been linked with Spurs in recent summers was Rivaldo, before somewhat inevitably he turned them down in favour of AC Milan, a team who was playing in the Champions League.
There was a chance of a similar situation occurring this summer, with all the talk surrounding Samuel Eto’o joining the White Hart Lane outfit from Barcelona. With respect the lilywhites, such a move is highly unlikely given that the team will only be playing UEFA Cup football next season and has yet to feature in Europe’s premier club competition. However, the signings of Dos Santos and Modric should quieten such noises, yet give fans some hope that they can move forward in 2008-09.
Both signings should fit into the traditional Spurs tradition of good, intelligent footballers and whilst they aren’t household names now the powers that be are clearly optimistic that they can develop as players in north London and turn Tottenham into regular Champions League participants. Whilst Spurs fans wouldn’t appreciate anyone mentioning it, it is a policy that worked wonders for their bitter rivals down the road at Arsenal.
Dos Santos, whose transfer fee could rise to £8.6 million, will provide an attacking threat from the left, whilst hopes will be on Modric that he can pull the strings in midfield in the way that Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardilles once did. Great praise has to go to Tottenham manager Juande Ramos for pulling off the signings as there is little doubt that both will have received a number of significant offers, such is the level of their reputations. It also speaks volumes for the respect in which Ramos is held that he could persuade them to join him at White Hart Lane.
Having led Sevilla to two successive UEFA Cups, one of the reasons Tottenham were so keen to get him on board was because of the clout he would bring to the transfer market and transfer dealings. Whilst Martin Jol did extremely well to get Spurs into fifth place two years in a row and was highly popular, the decision to sack him, whilst hardly painting Spurs’ management in a good light, shows that they were willing to make tough, unpopular decisions for the sake of the club.
The signings may not be the most earth-shattering purchases in Tottenham’s history, but they do show the direction the club should be going in. Along with defenders Jonathon Woodgate and Alan Hutton they demonstrate that Ramos has a strategy when buying players. Good at their job and old enough to be of benefit to the club either on the field or in the transfer market they show that the club thinks that they won’t break into the top four by a sudden splurge of cash on one or two big names, but through a well though out policy towards players who will fit into the model and grow together.
Of course there remains a chronic need for the club to keep hold of striker Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian has been at the heart of everything the team has down well over the last few years, but is famously temperamental and has an agent who has no compunction over making eyes to the Champions Leagues clubs elsewhere in the country. Holding onto to him will be the next big job for Ramos and whether he does or not is likely to define whether Spurs make the step up to the next level or keep living their deluded dreams for the foreseeable future.
JI 09/06/08
Iscriviti a:
Post (Atom)