So Fabio Capello says getting to the World Cup Final is an “aspiration” for him.
“Playing in the final would be success,” said Capello over the weekend. “For now, playing in it will do, rather than winning it. But if people are asking me what my aspiration is, then it is to reach the final.”
There are any number of problems with this statement. Let’s start with the obvious. His job is to win football matches and tournaments. That’s what the FA pay him for. Unless I'm misreading the situation, this means winning games up to and including the World Cup Final.
Of course reaching the final would be a significant accomplishment or even an amazing achievement. What it would not be is success. Success goes to the winners.
As for “playing in it will do” as opposed to “winning it”, pardon me if I don’t wonder what is going on in the man’s head. Merely days after securing qualification he appears content with not actually winning. Playing is good enough, apparently.
No it isn’t. Here’s why.
In 1984 Elton John’s Watford reached the FA Cup Final. They were delighted to have done so and told everybody they would enjoy the day.
The team they would play were mystified by this attitude. Everton players subsequently went on the record to make clear their attitude to the final – they wanted to win.
For a serial winner of La Liga and Serie A, the latter as player and manager, to come out with such statements is worrying.
Come on, Capello. Clear this up. Either you want to win next summer or you don’t.
Showing posts with label Faroe Islands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faroe Islands. Show all posts
30/08/2009
Biting nails, baiting the French, and looking away as Keane misses (again)
Continuing the look ahead to next month's World Cup qualifiers
Europe: Group Six
Free scoring England have 26 goals and 21 points to their name after 7 wins from 7 games. So why am I still biting my nails? Because Croatia can still get 23 points if they win their remaining three games, one of which is against England on September 9th. If the unthinkable were to happen and England were to draw their other two games, the group would be tied. Then the boffins at FIFA will scratch their heads before closely scrutinising the goal difference situation and wondering out loud why a bloke in England running an obscure footy blog was ever worried.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Ukraine - Andorra
Croatia - Belarus
September 9th
England - Croatia
Belarus - Ukraine
Andorra - Kazakhstan
Europe: Group Seven
If France beat Romania next month, the clash in Belgrade four days later will take on special significance. Beat Serbia and the French would jump into top spot on 19 points. Am I alone in thinking this would be a travesty? Les Bleus have scored eight goals and conceded six in their six qualifying games so far. They only beat the Faroe Islands 1 – 0 and, by some accounts, could have lost. This is hardly the France of Platini, Tigana and Giresse; of Henry, Vieira and Zidane. Sad but true.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Austria - Faroe Islands
France - Romania
September 9th
Faroe Islands - Lithuania
Romania - Austria
Serbia - France
Europe: Group Eight
Only one point separates the top two, so this group could still be up for grabs if The Republic of Ireland actually starts winning games. Over to you, Robbie Keane. Three wins and four draws have seen them cling on to Italy’s tatty coat tails, but somehow you feel this form won’t be good enough to secure an automatic place. That said, if they can’t beat Montenegro or Bulgaria, should the Republic be going to South Africa anyway? Watch out for the (possible) crunch game between the Irish and the Italians on October 10th in Dublin.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Bulgaria - Montenegro
Cyprus - Republic of Ireland
Georgia - Italy
September 9th
Montenegro - Cyprus
Italy - Bulgaria
Europe: Group Six
Free scoring England have 26 goals and 21 points to their name after 7 wins from 7 games. So why am I still biting my nails? Because Croatia can still get 23 points if they win their remaining three games, one of which is against England on September 9th. If the unthinkable were to happen and England were to draw their other two games, the group would be tied. Then the boffins at FIFA will scratch their heads before closely scrutinising the goal difference situation and wondering out loud why a bloke in England running an obscure footy blog was ever worried.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Ukraine - Andorra
Croatia - Belarus
September 9th
England - Croatia
Belarus - Ukraine
Andorra - Kazakhstan
Europe: Group Seven
If France beat Romania next month, the clash in Belgrade four days later will take on special significance. Beat Serbia and the French would jump into top spot on 19 points. Am I alone in thinking this would be a travesty? Les Bleus have scored eight goals and conceded six in their six qualifying games so far. They only beat the Faroe Islands 1 – 0 and, by some accounts, could have lost. This is hardly the France of Platini, Tigana and Giresse; of Henry, Vieira and Zidane. Sad but true.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Austria - Faroe Islands
France - Romania
September 9th
Faroe Islands - Lithuania
Romania - Austria
Serbia - France
Europe: Group Eight
Only one point separates the top two, so this group could still be up for grabs if The Republic of Ireland actually starts winning games. Over to you, Robbie Keane. Three wins and four draws have seen them cling on to Italy’s tatty coat tails, but somehow you feel this form won’t be good enough to secure an automatic place. That said, if they can’t beat Montenegro or Bulgaria, should the Republic be going to South Africa anyway? Watch out for the (possible) crunch game between the Irish and the Italians on October 10th in Dublin.
Forthcoming fixtures:
September 5th
Bulgaria - Montenegro
Cyprus - Republic of Ireland
Georgia - Italy
September 9th
Montenegro - Cyprus
Italy - Bulgaria
13/08/2009
Latest World Cup qualifying results
Spent some of last night ‘tweeting’ (2010bafbaf) goal news as it came in from around Europe. Discovered that if Croatia and Slovenia score around the same time, and one of the scorers has 17 letters in his name, you will run out of available space or 'characters' as Twitter fans call it. Lesson learned.
Europe
Group 3
Slovenia 5 San Marino 0
Group 4
Azerbaijan 0 Germany 2
Group 6
Belarus 1 Croatia 3
Group 7
Faroe Islands 0 France 1
Group 9
Norway 4 Scotland 0
North, Central America and Caribbean
Mexico 2 USA 1
Trinidad and Tobago 1 El Salvador 1
Honduras 4 Costa Rica 0
Costa Rica. What are you like?
Europe
Group 3
Slovenia 5 San Marino 0
Group 4
Azerbaijan 0 Germany 2
Group 6
Belarus 1 Croatia 3
Group 7
Faroe Islands 0 France 1
Group 9
Norway 4 Scotland 0
North, Central America and Caribbean
Mexico 2 USA 1
Trinidad and Tobago 1 El Salvador 1
Honduras 4 Costa Rica 0
Costa Rica. What are you like?
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