Zizou
Posted on Sunday, July 2, 2006I nearly didn’t bother watching the World Cup at all. I nearly lost all interest in soccer after the Heineken Cup, and my prejudice was nearly confirmed by some of the earlier games in this competition. However, Argentina vs Mexico rekindled my faith in the Beautiful Game, and today has restored it fully.
Today we witnessed two people being totally true to what they believe in, and doing it in such style that nobody could walk away unconvinced. First there was Rooney demonstrating to the world - as if we didn’t already know - how a fat knacker behaves under pressure. He got sent off, and fuck him. He deserved it. People are saying it was an accident, but let me tell you, Wayne Rooney has such awesome footballing skills, and such astonishing spatial awareness, that he knows precisely what his feet are doing at all times. He stamped on Carvalho’s crotch, and he knew he was doing it, so fuck him. He’s a knacker, he lost the game for England, he got sent off and now they’re all going home.
At the other end of the scale, we had the opportunity to witness the incomparable, the sublime Zinedine Zidane deliver a master-class in footballing virtuosity to his Brazilian acolytes, and though the Brazilians could never hope to reach Zizou’s level, perhaps they picked up one or two pointers on their way out of the competition. I don’t have a video of tonight’s game yet, but here’s some vintage Zidane for you to enjoy.
This is the best footballer I have ever seen. Better than Ronaldinho. Better than Cruyff. Better than Maradona. Better than Eusebio. Better than Pele. The best.
To his great credit, he also took a stand against resurgent fascism in France. Can you imagine Rooney doing that? Can you, in fact, imagine Rooney having a single idea in his head? Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous!
Zizou is the Anti-Fat-Knacker made flesh, and after tonight, I want ZZ to win the World Cup.
Stumble it!
