THE SELEÇ-OW!
In its largely forgotten previous incarnation before the big rebrand, Football Daily rarely bothered to muddy its spats in the world of South American football unless it was to poke fun at the kind of news we would otherwise be forced to tut sanctimoniously over if it happened closer to home. A ref getting booted repeatedly up the backside after being chased around the pitch by an angry Ecuadorian centre-back, for example. Or a mass brawl that resulted in three Chileans and two Paraguayans getting shown straight reds and refusing to leave the field. Or perhaps a pitch invasion led by angry Peruvians upset that one of their players has been sent off for blowing his trumpet in the fourth official’s ear at full blast. In summary, the kind of scenes that “nobody wants to see”, unless of course they happen to unfold thousands of miles away, in which case we all want to see them.
So, when we spoke to the Football Daily Ed earlier and suggested that Wales topping their Nations League group with a fine win over Iceland, coupled with Craig Bellamy’s post-match remarks about only taking the job to prove to everyone that he is not completely crazy [well, that’s spoiled Quote of the Day – Football Daily Ed], was the only show in town for today’s thrilling instalment of the world’s most daily football email, our curiosity was piqued when that idea was shot down in flames and we were told to “do something on what happened in Brazil instead”. Oblivious to overnight news of any crowd violence, pitch invasions, acts of GBH on a match official or the Delapping of severed animal heads on to the field of play during Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, we immediately went a’Googling to see what on earth had happened during the game and find out how it had passed us by.
The answer? Not a great deal, apart from Brazil getting booed off in Salvador because they only drew 1-1 in a game low on chances, leaving their chances of qualifying for the next World Cup in jeopardy so mild you could mistake it for a warm sea breeze on a sunny summer’s day. Having gone behind to a fine strike from Uruguay’s Fede Valverde, Brazil equalised soon after courtesy of Gerson (not that one), whose first goal for his country leaves them fifth in the South American qualifying table, two points off second place and still set extremely fair to be among the six teams that qualify automatically. And quite frankly, if thinking such a scenario is far less interesting than Bellamy’s amusing take on why he became manager of Wales is wrong, then Football Daily doesn’t want to be right.
However, we’re just here to follow orders, here’s what Raphinha had to say about the barracking to which he and his teammates were subjected. “I think the booing is more about the result, because in my opinion we gave it all,” he gasped. “I’m proud of those who played and even those on the bench. We did everything we could to get the result. We played a lot of football and we have to leave with our heads held high.” The same cannot be said for Football Daily, whose head could scarcely hang any lower as it slinks apologetically into your spam folder with this disappointingly inconsequential news at the tail-end of what has been, by our snakebelly low standards, an otherwise uncharacteristically productive interlull.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I probably feel it was important to show people I am not a lunatic – I’m quite sane. People thought I was going to be running on the pitch and pushing the ref and stuff, getting sent off. I probably felt more pushed into management to show I am not like that. People used to bring temperament up. ‘Oh yeah, but his temperament.’ I was like: ‘Really?’ Now you get to see this side of me” – Craig Bellamy responds to those judgmental types [cough – Football Daily Ed] who have been left wondering where the real Craig Bellamy is after his Zen-like approach to leadership guided Wales to Nations League promotion.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Re: yesterday’s Football Daily. I see one of San Marino’s goals was scored by Nicola Nanni. A few more and Nanni could be their Goat” – Trevor Field.
I’ll admit, I was sniffy about the Nations League when it was first introduced, but there’s nothing like a plucky underdog story to win the doubters round. I actually found myself getting quite emotional seeing this nation of part-time pub players secure not just one, but two scarcely believable victories, when I and many others had given up hope of ever seeing them win a competitive fixture in my lifetime. Huge congratulations to Steve Clarke and everyone at the SFA who made it possible” – Ollie Forrest.
Mexico’s Aguirre hit by a beer can (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition)? Was it the Wrath of Grog?” – Tim Grey.
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s letter o’ the day winner is … Tim Grey, who lands their very own piece of Football Weekly merch. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.
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