Sunday 25 May 2014
Which Got more attention? Kimye's wedding or Madrid's La Decima Trium?
Kanye West married Kim Kardashian in a
lavish Italian ceremony on Saturday - then introduced her to their
hundreds of guests as 'my baby, Kim Kardashian West'.
The multi-million dollar nuptials saw the couple say their vows on a hilltop overlooking Florence, shielded by a 20ft high wall of white roses and peonies as the sun began to set at the 16th century Forte di Belvedere.
The pair were seen standing with their hands clasped watched by rows and rows of their 600 guests - who did not include Kanye's friends Beyonce and Jay Z or Kim's brother Rob.
The multi-million dollar nuptials saw the couple say their vows on a hilltop overlooking Florence, shielded by a 20ft high wall of white roses and peonies as the sun began to set at the 16th century Forte di Belvedere.
The pair were seen standing with their hands clasped watched by rows and rows of their 600 guests - who did not include Kanye's friends Beyonce and Jay Z or Kim's brother Rob.
Her fairytale moment: Kim Kardashian is
photographed in her backless Givenchy gown next to a white piano during
her wedding ceremony in Florence on Saturday
And For Madrid...
In the end it was the young man from
Cardiff, the most expensive footballer the world has known, who settled
an epic tussle between Madrid’s two sides in Lisbon’s Stadium of Light.
Gareth Bale it was at the far post who was on hand to head home when Angel Di Maria’s shot had rebounded off the leg of Thibaut Courtois and fell invitingly for him 20 minutes into extra time
In doing so, as he wheeled away to be engulfed by a mass of celebrating bodies and greeted by a roar of utter relief, redemption was found.
This might have been the final defined by his miss on 32 minutes. Instead Real Madrid have their illusive tenth European Cup, Bale joins an illustrious group of Britons who have won the famous old trophy with foreign clubs and Carlo Ancelotti has equalled Bob Paisley’s record of winning the European Cup three times: all thanks to Bale.
Gareth Bale it was at the far post who was on hand to head home when Angel Di Maria’s shot had rebounded off the leg of Thibaut Courtois and fell invitingly for him 20 minutes into extra time
In doing so, as he wheeled away to be engulfed by a mass of celebrating bodies and greeted by a roar of utter relief, redemption was found.
This might have been the final defined by his miss on 32 minutes. Instead Real Madrid have their illusive tenth European Cup, Bale joins an illustrious group of Britons who have won the famous old trophy with foreign clubs and Carlo Ancelotti has equalled Bob Paisley’s record of winning the European Cup three times: all thanks to Bale.
Delight: Gareth Bale scored a vital goal for Real Madrid in extra time in the Champions League final
Hands on the prize: Bale lifts the Champions League trophy after scoring in extra time
Welsh wonder: Bale with the flag of his home nation as he celebrates Real's victory
Silverware: Captain Iker Casillas lifts the Champions League trophy for Real Madrid
Drop Your comments below
Timothy Spall named Best Actor at Cannes Film Festival for portrayal of sex-mad painter in Mike Leigh's Mr Turner
Timothy
Spall was hurled into the front ranks of movie stardom when he was named
best actor at the Cannes Film Festival for his formidable portrait of
sex mad British landscape painter JMW Turner.
Spall and his wife Shane hurried back to Cannes from a boating trip in Holland.
They were soon mingling with the likes of special Cannes Film Festival guests Sophia Loren, Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino.
Success: British actor Timothy Spall (R)
receives the Best Performance by an Actor award for his role in the
movie Mr Turner from Italian actress Monica Bellucci (R) during the
Closing Award Ceremony of the 67th Cannes Film Festival
Shocked: The actor explained he was 'always the bridesmaid, but now he's the bride' after taking home the coveted prize
Notes: The actor read from his iPhone a few words to those gathered at the closing ceremony on Saturday night
Mike
Leigh's film, Mr Turner, not only showed what a great painter Turner
was, but also explored his legendary sexual escapades and how his
passion for women helped fuel his brilliance with a paint brush.
Spall
is one of Britain's best known and beloved actors thanks to parts in
the Harry Potter films and his frequent collaborations with director
Leigh in films such as Oscar-winning The King's Speech and Secrets and
Lies, which took the coveted Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1996.
It's
a long and winding road from playing an electrician on Auf Wiedersehen
Pet on TV thirty years ago to golden laurel recipient at the Cannes Film
Festival for portraying one of Britain's most lauded painters.
New challenge: Mr Turner not only showed
what a great painter Turner was, but also explored his legendary sexual
escapades and how his passion for women helped fuel his brilliance with a
paint brush
Rocking the red carpet: Director Mike Leigh,
actress Marion Bailey, actor Timothy Spall, actress Dorothy Atkinson and
director of photography Dick Pope at the Mr Turner Cannes Film Festival
screening on May 15
Or as Spall put it Saturday night: 'From spark to sparkling artist.'
The best actor win puts him on the fast track for an Oscar nomination at the next Academy Awards in February 2015.
Spall
told the Daily Mail: 'Four hours ago I had my fingers, and I'd better
say this carefully, up a pipe full of oil on my boat. I was so
distressed about the pipe that I almost didn't pick up the phone.'
Celebration: Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan
received the Palme D'or from Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino and
joined them with Timothy for a photo
Barefoot: Uma's feet must have been killing from her heels as she took to the stage with Quentin on Saturday night
Jay Z, Beyonce and even brother Rob snub #Kimye wedding as Kanye and Kim Kardashian tie nuptials in Lavish fashion
Kanye West married Kim Kardashian in a
lavish Italian ceremony on Saturday - then introduced her to their
hundreds of guests as 'my baby, Kim Kardashian West'.
The multi-million dollar nuptials saw the couple say their vows on a hilltop overlooking Florence, shielded by a 20ft high wall of white roses and peonies as the sun began to set at the 16th century Forte di Belvedere.
The pair were seen standing with their hands clasped watched by rows and rows of their 600 guests - who did not include Kanye's friends Beyonce and Jay Z or Kim's brother Rob.
Kim chose a demure mermaid-silhouette gown in delicate white lace custom-made by Givenchy, who also designed a little white dress for her 11-month-old daughter North.
Small panels of a sheer lace decorated the arm and also accentuated her slimmed down waist.
The backless dress was long-sleeved with a train, while a dramatic flowing white cathedral-length veil completed the look.
The bride's hair was worn loose and long, with her make-up restrained and flawless.
The couple gazed at one another as the vows were said under the direction of Rich Wilkerson Jr, a pastor from North Miami.
Kim's bridesmaids, her sisters Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie were all dressed in white, although their dresses did not match.
They sat front row next to mother-of-the-bride Kris Jenner, also in white, and Bruce Jenner, who like most of the male guests wore a black suit.
Speaking moments after the ceremony to E! News, who film the family's reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kris Jenner said she was 'beyond bursting with happiness for Kim, Kanye and baby North.'
'Such a magical, romantic wedding!' she added. 'I feel blessed to have my new son and his family as part of ours.'
And Kanye seemed equally ebullient, with a source telling MailOnline he gave an eight-minute speech to the gathered guests.
'I just wanna stop the music a second 'cos my baby's coming back with a new dress on. Here she is - Kim Kardashian West,' he said, introducing his bride.
After the ceremony the guests broke bread together sitting family style on a 70-metre-long marble banquet table - a gift from master craftsman Gualtiero Vannelli who used marble from the Tuscan quarry in Carrara, according to Us Weekly.
And as Kim finally relaxed her strict low carb diet, they feasted on traditional Italian food with an 'innovative' twist.
The menu included chicken, steak, salmon, tortelloni, strawberry gelato and both rose and gold Armand de Brignac champagne.
The food was color-coordinated with pink being the theme.
During the ceremony famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli serenaded Kim and Kanye with several of his songs, including Con te Partiro.
A source told MailOnline exclusively that he played At Last, thought to have been the couple's first dance, followed by All Of You.
And in a short speech he told the newlyweds: 'Kim and Kanye. It's really inspired me to be here.
'All these wonderful people here - it's a celebration of your love.'
The crowd jokingly heckled him as he referenced Kanye's ex girlfriends.
'I've seen Kanye with other women,' he said. 'I'm serious... this is a bad speech but I have never seen him as in to someone as he is in to you Kim.
'He was so in to you before he was even with you. He is in love with you. I am so happy to see you two together.'
And there was a shout out to 'the mother of the bride'.
As the dancing began - tracks including Beyonce's Drunk In Love, showing that there were no hard feelings despite the singer's absence.
But it was Kanye's All Of The Lights that got the party-goers crowding the dance floor.
And a magnificent fireworks display lit up the night sky as they danced.
The wedding was organised by long-time Kardashian family friend and celebrity event planner Sharon Sacks - with much direction from Kanye.
Sacks also planned Kim's 72-day second wedding to Kris Humphries in 2011.
The multi-million dollar nuptials saw the couple say their vows on a hilltop overlooking Florence, shielded by a 20ft high wall of white roses and peonies as the sun began to set at the 16th century Forte di Belvedere.
The pair were seen standing with their hands clasped watched by rows and rows of their 600 guests - who did not include Kanye's friends Beyonce and Jay Z or Kim's brother Rob.
Her fairytale moment: Kim Kardashian is
photographed in her backless Givenchy gown next to a white piano during
her wedding ceremony in Florence on Saturday
They do! Kim and Kanye, right, say their vows in front of her bridesmaids, in white, and 600 guests
Idyllic: The couple wed in the shade of a tree
on the hillside, just as the sun began to go down at the 16th century
Forte di Belvedere
Kim chose a demure mermaid-silhouette gown in delicate white lace custom-made by Givenchy, who also designed a little white dress for her 11-month-old daughter North.
Small panels of a sheer lace decorated the arm and also accentuated her slimmed down waist.
The backless dress was long-sleeved with a train, while a dramatic flowing white cathedral-length veil completed the look.
The bride's hair was worn loose and long, with her make-up restrained and flawless.
The wedding spot: The huge floral backdrop was
hand made, and is a larger version of Kanye's extravagant Mother's Day
gift to Kim
Guests stood as Kim came face to face with her fiancé, who wore a black suit. The couple gazed at one another as the vows were said under the direction of Rich Wilkerson Jr, a pastor from North Miami.
Kim's bridesmaids, her sisters Kourtney, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie were all dressed in white, although their dresses did not match.
They sat front row next to mother-of-the-bride Kris Jenner, also in white, and Bruce Jenner, who like most of the male guests wore a black suit.
Kim's girly gang: Designer Rachel Roy
wore a suit, founder of burlesque troupe The Pussycat Dolls Robin Antin
wore black, as did LaLa Anthony
Grandmother Kris held baby North on her lap, while Kourtney had little Penelope on hers. Speaking moments after the ceremony to E! News, who film the family's reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kris Jenner said she was 'beyond bursting with happiness for Kim, Kanye and baby North.'
'Such a magical, romantic wedding!' she added. 'I feel blessed to have my new son and his family as part of ours.'
And Kanye seemed equally ebullient, with a source telling MailOnline he gave an eight-minute speech to the gathered guests.
'I just wanna stop the music a second 'cos my baby's coming back with a new dress on. Here she is - Kim Kardashian West,' he said, introducing his bride.
Snazzy dressers: Celebrity magician David Blaine
and Spin City reality star Jonathan Cheban, a close chum of Kim's,
dressed for the wedding
'The gang!' Kim's friends LaLa Anthony, Malika Haqq and Loren Ridinger posed for an Instagram pic before the nuptials
After the ceremony the guests broke bread together sitting family style on a 70-metre-long marble banquet table - a gift from master craftsman Gualtiero Vannelli who used marble from the Tuscan quarry in Carrara, according to Us Weekly.
And as Kim finally relaxed her strict low carb diet, they feasted on traditional Italian food with an 'innovative' twist.
The menu included chicken, steak, salmon, tortelloni, strawberry gelato and both rose and gold Armand de Brignac champagne.
The food was color-coordinated with pink being the theme.
During the ceremony famed Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli serenaded Kim and Kanye with several of his songs, including Con te Partiro.
Not in mourning: Lala joined Khloe's best friend Malika Haqq, along with Kim's pal Brittny Gastineau and her guest Simon
Fashion meets fame: Former American Vogue's editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley and rapper Common
Then pop star John Legend took over festivities as the party began in earnest.A source told MailOnline exclusively that he played At Last, thought to have been the couple's first dance, followed by All Of You.
And in a short speech he told the newlyweds: 'Kim and Kanye. It's really inspired me to be here.
'All these wonderful people here - it's a celebration of your love.'
The crowd jokingly heckled him as he referenced Kanye's ex girlfriends.
'I've seen Kanye with other women,' he said. 'I'm serious... this is a bad speech but I have never seen him as in to someone as he is in to you Kim.
'He was so in to you before he was even with you. He is in love with you. I am so happy to see you two together.'
Girls Gone Wild owner Joe Francis and his pregnant girlfriend Abbey Wilson were amongst those with the golden ticket
The singer also played Ordinary People, getting the crowd to sing along. And there was a shout out to 'the mother of the bride'.
As the dancing began - tracks including Beyonce's Drunk In Love, showing that there were no hard feelings despite the singer's absence.
But it was Kanye's All Of The Lights that got the party-goers crowding the dance floor.
And a magnificent fireworks display lit up the night sky as they danced.
The wedding was organised by long-time Kardashian family friend and celebrity event planner Sharon Sacks - with much direction from Kanye.
Sacks also planned Kim's 72-day second wedding to Kris Humphries in 2011.
Balotelli set for sensational Premier League return with Arsenal and Liverpool eyeing move for Italy striker..And other top Footbal News
Mario Balotelli is set to return to the Barclays Premier League next season with Arsenal and Liverpool likely destinations.
The AC Milan striker is sick of the racism he suffers in Italy and it is understood the former Manchester City star, realises life in England was not so bad.
Arsenal are in talks with Real Madrid to sign Karim Benzema but will talk to Balotelli’s ‘people’.
Liverpool will move in for Balotelli if Luis Suarez is lured away to Real Madrid or Barcelona after the World Cup.
I understand Redknapp wants to lure out-of-contract veterans such as Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole to Loftus Road next season.
In what is set to be Redknapp’s final year as a top-flight manager he feels bringing in older star players - with no fees but big wages - is the best way to stabilise a club which has debts of £117million and keep them in the Premier League.
It’s a big ask but Redknapp has powers of persuasion.
Redknapp hopes to make sure that Loic Remy, on loan at Newcastle in the past season, remains at the club.
Ashley Cole is wanted by Tottenham. As reported here in January, he has been released by Chelsea.
Liverpool are also keen but Cole has told friends he is reluctant to move one of Chelsea’s rivals.
That could see the former England left back take a one-year deal at Inter Milan, where he could help Thomas Ince bed down.
Ince, out of contract, is in talks with the Italian club for whom his father Paul played from 1995 to 1997.
Toure’s ‘people’ believe he should be on at least the same wages Wayne Rooney at Manchester united, if not more.
That is why, they launched a PR campaign last week.
City want to retain Toure but my source tells me they won’t be bullied into offering the 31-year-old a new mega deal.
Celtic are considering offering David Moyes the job as Neil Lennon’s successor.
Malky Makay is also on Celtic’s radar after they were turned down by former striker and club legend Henrik Larsson on Saturday night.
Mon: Louis van Gaal formally appointed as new Manchester United manager. It’s then said Ryan Giggs will take over in three years. I say why not now?
Tues: Stories emerge that Paul Gascoigne is about to open a chain of pubs. I say I’m gutted there are still people living off Gazza’s fragility.
Weds: Yaya Toure doesn’t want a new contract, he just wants a birthday cake. And to be loved. If not he is ready to take a pay cut and move to Barcelona. And the issue has nothing to do with money.
Thurs: Barcelona are not interested in Toure
Friday: Toure wants a new contract with Man City. But the situation for a £220,000-a-week player has NOTHING to do with money.
It was shocking to see how Mario
Balotelli was racially abused by local ‘fans’ at Italy’s pre World Cup
training camp in Florence.
Sadly it was hardly a surprise.
Only a few years ago a prominent Italian sports writer who originated from Bologna explained to me that many Northern Italians still regard anyone south of Rome as an African and, like it or not, Benito Mussolini remains a romantic figure in the eyes of many.
Football has become a forum for many ‘Ultras’ in Italy to express their views.
Even if, as the recent European and local elections have exposed, there is an upsurge is xenophobia in this country, football has moved along way from the darks days when racism was rife on the terraces and the game has been at the vanguard of breaking down race barriers in this country over the past quarter of a century.
Yes, in recent seasons there have been some unsavoury and awkward high-profile incidents but in general the English game is more cosmopolitan and inclusive than in most countries.
Yet if White Van Man can return to the political highway then there is no room for complacency, because as John Barnes once told me it’s not necessarily what people say, it’s what they think when it comes to down to racism.
And lest we forget that Barnes once had to back heel a banana back into the Goodison Park stands and as recently as the 1990 World Cup finals was, like Balotelli, the target of racist taunts from England followers.
Paul Parker, who would emerge as a key player at Italia 90, recalls in his book Tackles like a Ferret a training session in Sardinia.
Manager Bobby Robson had opened the doors to let some of the fans who had arrived on the island early but it became an open invitation for a hardcore group of National Front followers to hurl abuse at Barnes and Parker and chant ‘No Surrender’ songs.
A year earlier it beggared belief that a group of 20 who did not disguise their allegiance to the NF (now BNP) had travelled all the way to Iceland for an England B match seemingly with the sole purpose of targeting Parker.
As he remembers: ‘It was so cold in Reykjavik that two players, Paul Stewart and Tony Dorigo, needed cold showers to WARM up from the effects of hypothermia but it was the abuse I received from the National Front which made my blood freeze.
‘Why these people had come all the way to Iceland I would never understand. They gave Gazza some stick for being too fat but that was genial enough.
‘In my case it was non-stop anti-black abuse and as I was the only non-white player in the team it was as if they had travelled for the specific purpose of abusing me, such was its intensity and persistence.
‘I just had to get on with the business of playing, pretending it had nothing to do with me.’
In many ways Italia 90 the following year proved a turning point, not only in terms of reviving the English game but ousting the racist bigots.
By the time England had reached the semi-finals, the majority of decent fans had drowned out the NF hardcore who were eventually driven out when the authorities took their actions more seriously.
The fact that players such as Barnes and Parker took such pride in wearing the white shirt and Three Lions crest was also a major factor. Lest we forget.
Did he say that when he wangled a new £300,000-a-week four-year deal from Manchester United in January?
I once argued that Rooney could be England’s Lionel Messi. But I know why that hasn’t happened.
Rooney can be England’s best asset in Brazil but he has to be deployed in the right position.
Where is that? Starting from the wing.
Next week I will explain why – thanks to the great man Dave Sexton (RIP).
How can a 'striker coach' alter the attacking ethos of the manager still wants to play Route One ?
The only solution I can think of is an old pal of mine called Mick Harford.
But last year he had a £120m warchest and didn’t really use it .
Arsene, time to stop putting the foot on the ball and kick one hard… so push out the boat and buy back Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas.
It is now written that Dr Steve Peters can give England the edge. Really?
His last two clients, Liverpool FC and Ronnie O’Sullivan, both flopped when it came to the crunch.
The AC Milan striker is sick of the racism he suffers in Italy and it is understood the former Manchester City star, realises life in England was not so bad.
Arsenal are in talks with Real Madrid to sign Karim Benzema but will talk to Balotelli’s ‘people’.
Liverpool will move in for Balotelli if Luis Suarez is lured away to Real Madrid or Barcelona after the World Cup.
Redknapp wants Ferdinand, Lampard, Barry and Cole (x2)
Harry Redknapp was straight back into action on Saturday night after he lead QPR into the Premier League.I understand Redknapp wants to lure out-of-contract veterans such as Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole to Loftus Road next season.
In what is set to be Redknapp’s final year as a top-flight manager he feels bringing in older star players - with no fees but big wages - is the best way to stabilise a club which has debts of £117million and keep them in the Premier League.
Back in the big time: Harry Redknapp celebrates QPR's promotion to the Premier League
Targets: Veterans Frank Lampard (left) and Ashley Cole are wanted by Redknapp at QPR
It’s a big ask but Redknapp has powers of persuasion.
Redknapp hopes to make sure that Loic Remy, on loan at Newcastle in the past season, remains at the club.
But Spurs also have their eye on Ashley
DIEGO TO COSTA CHELSEA £32m
Chelsea are confident they will complete the signing of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa next week in a £32million deal.
Liverpool are also keen but Cole has told friends he is reluctant to move one of Chelsea’s rivals.
That could see the former England left back take a one-year deal at Inter Milan, where he could help Thomas Ince bed down.
Ince, out of contract, is in talks with the Italian club for whom his father Paul played from 1995 to 1997.
City won't be bullied into £300,000-a-week Toure deal
Yaya Toure wants a new £300,000-a-week deal to stay at Manchester City.Toure’s ‘people’ believe he should be on at least the same wages Wayne Rooney at Manchester united, if not more.
That is why, they launched a PR campaign last week.
City want to retain Toure but my source tells me they won’t be bullied into offering the 31-year-old a new mega deal.
Celtic look to United flop Moyes to succeed Lennon
iBet
Romelu Lukaku, unloved by Jose Mourinho, is 33-1 to be top scorer at World Cup.
Malky Makay is also on Celtic’s radar after they were turned down by former striker and club legend Henrik Larsson on Saturday night.
I am hearing
West Ham are set to make a new offer for Southampton’s Rickie Lambert.I am also hearing
The Hammers will try and get Jermain Defoe back from Canadian club Toronto for the first few months of the new season.Back Heel
iSay
Mon: Louis van Gaal formally appointed as new Manchester United manager. It’s then said Ryan Giggs will take over in three years. I say why not now?
Tues: Stories emerge that Paul Gascoigne is about to open a chain of pubs. I say I’m gutted there are still people living off Gazza’s fragility.
Weds: Yaya Toure doesn’t want a new contract, he just wants a birthday cake. And to be loved. If not he is ready to take a pay cut and move to Barcelona. And the issue has nothing to do with money.
Thurs: Barcelona are not interested in Toure
Friday: Toure wants a new contract with Man City. But the situation for a £220,000-a-week player has NOTHING to do with money.
Sadly it was hardly a surprise.
Only a few years ago a prominent Italian sports writer who originated from Bologna explained to me that many Northern Italians still regard anyone south of Rome as an African and, like it or not, Benito Mussolini remains a romantic figure in the eyes of many.
Football has become a forum for many ‘Ultras’ in Italy to express their views.
Even if, as the recent European and local elections have exposed, there is an upsurge is xenophobia in this country, football has moved along way from the darks days when racism was rife on the terraces and the game has been at the vanguard of breaking down race barriers in this country over the past quarter of a century.
Yes, in recent seasons there have been some unsavoury and awkward high-profile incidents but in general the English game is more cosmopolitan and inclusive than in most countries.
Yet if White Van Man can return to the political highway then there is no room for complacency, because as John Barnes once told me it’s not necessarily what people say, it’s what they think when it comes to down to racism.
Shocking: Balotelli was racially abused by Italy fans at a pre-World Cup training camp in Florence
And lest we forget that Barnes once had to back heel a banana back into the Goodison Park stands and as recently as the 1990 World Cup finals was, like Balotelli, the target of racist taunts from England followers.
Paul Parker, who would emerge as a key player at Italia 90, recalls in his book Tackles like a Ferret a training session in Sardinia.
Manager Bobby Robson had opened the doors to let some of the fans who had arrived on the island early but it became an open invitation for a hardcore group of National Front followers to hurl abuse at Barnes and Parker and chant ‘No Surrender’ songs.
A year earlier it beggared belief that a group of 20 who did not disguise their allegiance to the NF (now BNP) had travelled all the way to Iceland for an England B match seemingly with the sole purpose of targeting Parker.
As he remembers: ‘It was so cold in Reykjavik that two players, Paul Stewart and Tony Dorigo, needed cold showers to WARM up from the effects of hypothermia but it was the abuse I received from the National Front which made my blood freeze.
Proud: Paul Parker (left) represented England with distinction despite at times being abused by his own fans
‘Why these people had come all the way to Iceland I would never understand. They gave Gazza some stick for being too fat but that was genial enough.
‘In my case it was non-stop anti-black abuse and as I was the only non-white player in the team it was as if they had travelled for the specific purpose of abusing me, such was its intensity and persistence.
‘I just had to get on with the business of playing, pretending it had nothing to do with me.’
In many ways Italia 90 the following year proved a turning point, not only in terms of reviving the English game but ousting the racist bigots.
The way things were: John Barnes famously backheels a banana thrown at him at Goodison Park in 1988
By the time England had reached the semi-finals, the majority of decent fans had drowned out the NF hardcore who were eventually driven out when the authorities took their actions more seriously.
The fact that players such as Barnes and Parker took such pride in wearing the white shirt and Three Lions crest was also a major factor. Lest we forget.
Libero
Wayne Rooney has, at the age of 28, said this World Cup is his last shot at the international big time.Did he say that when he wangled a new £300,000-a-week four-year deal from Manchester United in January?
I once argued that Rooney could be England’s Lionel Messi. But I know why that hasn’t happened.
He hasn't kicked on: Wayne Rooney could have been England's Lionel Messi but isn't playing in the right position
Rooney can be England’s best asset in Brazil but he has to be deployed in the right position.
Where is that? Starting from the wing.
Next week I will explain why – thanks to the great man Dave Sexton (RIP).
Y Factor
Why do West Ham seem to think that appointing a 'striker coach’ will solve their problems.How can a 'striker coach' alter the attacking ethos of the manager still wants to play Route One ?
The only solution I can think of is an old pal of mine called Mick Harford.
Forward thinking: Mick Harford (centre, in the 1988 League Cup final) would be ideal as West Ham's 'striker coach'
FOTB
So Arsene Wenger set to stay at Arsenal and the word is he has £100m to spend on new players.But last year he had a £120m warchest and didn’t really use it .
Arsene, time to stop putting the foot on the ball and kick one hard… so push out the boat and buy back Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas.
Bring them back: Arsene Wenger should try to re-sign Robin van Persie (left) and Cesc Fabregas for Arsenal
BTW
Most in the media seemed beside themselves last week that a ‘head doctor’, sorry sports psychologist, is a key member of England’s World Cup squad.It is now written that Dr Steve Peters can give England the edge. Really?
His last two clients, Liverpool FC and Ronnie O’Sullivan, both flopped when it came to the crunch.
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