Great article on Spain’s reaction to the Euro Championship win

I always enjoy Sid Lowes Spanish Football articles, this doesn’t disappoint.

John Nicholson is on his usual top form in his latest article on football365. He raises a couple of great points. Firstly, touching on John Terry’s constant blubbing after missing his potentially Champions League winning penalty, and what a contradiction that is for the “man’s man” the media portray him as. Nicholson notes that as a nation, we (the English), are supposed to display:

“…the stiff upper lip; emotion is expressed only in private and if shared then only with loved ones. Publicly expressed emotion is for the weak and the self indulgent. It is certainly not the sort of thing leaders of men indulge in.”

More importantly the fact that if you cry like that for a missed penalty, what the hell are you going to do if something really upsetting happens (which is ironic when you consider Terry was on the pitch with someone who’s mum died not long ago).

I have always had a problem with over-the-top displays of emotion. I didn’t ever subscribe to the mass outpouring of grief when Princess Diana died for the same reason Nicholson cites in regard to Terry. Its disrespectful to the people that really mean something to you in your life. That’s your real life, not the one that Heat magazine created for you.

This leads nicely on to his next point that footballers are so far removed from reality that they are emotionally stunted, and probably genuinely believe that the world is going to end every time their egos take a denting. Their constant tantrums and histrionics are a constant cancer on the game. Its funny to laugh at Rooney’s head exploding when things don’t go his way, but not so funny when the following Saturday, an eleven year old throws his hands in the air and screams and curses at the ref.

I didn’t make this sadly, stole it from a post on forum.football365.com

What a final!! Drogba sent off, Ronaldo misses a penalty and cries about it, and Terry attempts to be the hero and literally falls on his arse.

Also, it has to be said that Vidic is a hero. Any other footballer would have gone down like a sack of spuds after Drogba’s limp-wristed slap, but not Vidic. Not only does he stay on his feet, he tries to rip Drogba’s head off, and god bless the ref for red-carding Drogba. I hope Nani was paying attention after his performance against West Ham.

Chelsea were the better team after United initially dominated (and should have been 3-0 up). How good was Rooney’s 70 yard pass to Ronaldo for what should have been goal number 2. How much does Joe Cole owe Mourinho for making him into the fantastic tackler he is now (in addition to all that natural ability), and is there anything Drogba or Ronaldo could do to not make me take pleasure in their failure (small-minded, me?).

Anyway, its all pretty irrelevant. The major trophy of the season was decided ages ago when Johnny “god” Woodgate swooped to win the Carling Cup (which is one more cup than Chelsea won this season!)

The Anfield Rap – where music and football meet (and stave each other’s heads in with bottles and chair legs) – Read on for the lyrics, I dare you!

Liverpool F.C. is hard as hell
United, Tottenham, Arsenal
Watch my lips, and I will spell
’cause they don’t just play, but they can rap as well
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
My idea was to build Liverpool into a bastion of invincibility…
Napoleon had that idea he’d have conquered the bloody world
Walk on… walk on… with hope… in your heart… and you’ll never walk…
alone
Alright Aldo
Sound as a pound
I’m cushty la but there’s nothing down
The rest of the lads ain’t got it sussed
We’ll have to learn ‘em to talk like us
Well I’m rapping now, I’m rapping for fun
I’m your goalie, the number one
You can take the mick, don’t call me a clown
Any more lip and you’re going down
Alright Ace, we’re great me and you
But the other lads don’t talk like we do
No they don’t talk like we do, do they do la
We’ll have to learn ‘em to talk propah
Walk on… walk on… with hope… in your heart… and you’ll ne… ver walk…
alone
You two scousers are always yapping
I’m gonna show you some serious rapping
I come from Jamaica, my name is John Barnes
When I do my thing the crowd go bananas
How’s he doing the Jamaica rap?
He’s from just south of the Watford Gap
He gives us stick about the north/south divide
’cause they got the jobs
Yeah, but we got the side
Well I came to England looking for fame
So come on Kenny man, give us a game
’cause I’m sat on the bench paying my dues with the blues
I’m very big down under, but my wife disagrees
They’ve won the league, bigger stars than Dallas
They got more silver than Buckingham Palace
No-one knows quite what to expect
When the red machine’s in full effect
Well Steve McMahon sure can rap
It’s about time he had an England cap
So come on Bobby Robson, he’s the man
’cause if anyone can, Macca can
Macca-can… Macca-can… Macca-can… Macca-can…