Patrice Evra, French NT player and Man United star
Patrice Evra has given up drinking Sprite - because the green label reminds him of World Cup foes Ireland! The Manchester United defender has been getting all kinds of stick ahead of France's play-off games with the Republic. And a can of fizzy drink finally made him go pop. He revealed: "I've had the impression for days that certain people have been wearing green on purpose. Maybe that's just my imagination. But the other day I opened a can of Sprite, took a good look at it and decided I had to swap it for another drink. The moment I see anything green I think about the Republic of Ireland." Irish defender John O'Shea has wound up his United team-mate ahead of Saturday's first leg at Dublin's Croke Park and next Wednesday's return in Paris. Left-back Evra added: "These last few days at United have been difficult. John O'Shea has promised me it will be hell at Croke Park. I have had the mickey taken out of me a lot. It's normal, as when England failed to make Euro 2008 I asked my English team-mates if they wanted a remote control to switch between games on TV. Now it's started once more. Darren Fletcher, who plays for Scotland, tells me we'll spend the summer together. The joking has to stop now. We have to qualify. It has become an obsession."
Matt Parker, The Sun
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Chris Lemons, turn away now...
I'm sure France would like to forget Germany 2006. Losing to a diving, play-acting Italian side was tough enough, but then to be stung with the exit of the world's finest player...ever...because of an idiotic, low-minded, crude, brainless fool like Materazzi was too much for the French fans. I remember where I was when it all happened. I was teaching a week-long workshop in Plano, Texas and my friend and colleague, Dennis Davino (also a French-speaker) and I were cozy in his room at our hotel, ready to watch Zinedine Zidane give a clinic to the aforementioned morons from Italia. But, it was not to be. Zut alors! L'idiot, Materazzi, insulté la soeur de Zidane, qui a tourné alors et a tué l'italien ! (Il ne l'a pas tué, mais il a mis sa tête à sa poitrine, qui a signifié une carte rouge et le dernier jeu international pour le plus bien joueur dans le monde. Très triste. )
Translation: The fool, Materazzi, insulted the sister of Zidane, who then turned and killed the Italian! (He didn't kill him, but he put his head to his chest, which meant a red card and the last international game for the finest player in the world. Very sad.)
Let's hope that Patrice and company (including the very cute Yohann Gourcuff) can overcome a spirited Irish side (although I want Sheasy to do well) and finally secure their spot in The Cup.
Some pics of the great Zizou!
Looking at these pics gives me the chills... My interest for international soccer has dropped significantly since the great Maestro retired. If only the Italian defender I dare not mention (or rioting would ensue due to anger) had a little class in his pea sized brain it wouldn't have been the greatest player ever's last match internationally. Zizou is still my hero, my favorite player... and will always be, for his class on and off the pitch... Evra, do it for Zizou!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Chris. He recently played in a charity match...and very nonchalantly strolled to the ball, and whacked in a perfect freekick. He didn't run around the pitch like a fool, just strolled away...pure class as always! :)
ReplyDeleteYou're pretty classy too by the way! :)