Email Print By Tom Adams
(Archive)
The 2010 World Cup, coming to Africa for the first time, was supposed to showcase the best of the continent, but recent weeks have generated cause for concern. Ghana have lost Michael Essien to injury, both they and Cameroon suffered heavy defeats to European opposition on Tuesday night and Ivory Coast installed a brand new coach so close to the tournament. But the most worrying problem appears to surround Samuel Eto'o, perhaps the leading African player of his generation.
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Samuel Eto'o has plenty to ponder at present
Over the weekend, Eto'o threatened to quit the national side and forego the chance to appear in his third World Cup finals after being stung by criticism from Roger Milla, Cameroon's hero of 1990 as they unexpectedly reached the quarter-finals. Milla accused Eto'o of failing to replicate his club form at international level, leading to a passionate response.
"People should respect me and they must shut up, really shut up, because playing in the World Cup quarter-finals is not the same as winning the World Cup," Eto'o said. "It is always before tournaments that bitter people wake up. What has he [Milla] done? He hasn't won the World Cup... And then you wonder, 'are they my people?' Are they really my people?' Is it worth me going to the World Cup? I've still got some days to think about it but I'll see if my taking part is important because I don't need this in my career."
He was subsequently included in Paul Le Guen's 23-man squad for the finals but on Tuesday his body language was instructive as he was sent off in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Portugal. Eto'o received a second yellow card for a high tackle on Duda and gesticulated furiously to the referee as well as becoming involved in an argument with Cristiano Ronaldo. Le Guen attempted to calm him down but it appears that the striker, who has won back-to-back Trebles with Barcelona and Inter Milan, is far from happy in an international shirt at present.
What impact this has on Cameroon's challenge remains to be seen, but ahead of a tournament in which the continent of Africa hoped to shine, the cloud around Eto'o is another worrying sign.
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
Players of all nationalities were left bitterly disappointed this week when all 32 countries had to submit their final 23-man squads to FIFA, but the exclusion of Mexico's Jonathan Dos Santos provoked perhaps the most extreme reaction. The 20-year-old - who has started just three games for his country, two more than at Barcelona - was no doubt disappointed to discover he would not be joining older brother Giovani in Javier Aguirre's selection, but his father was furious. Zizinho, a former professional himself, has claimed Jonathan will no longer represent the country and that Brazil and Spain could be viable alternatives. Giovani's participation is also in doubt.
"Gio is very hurt and he wants to be at home with us," said Zizinho. "He is there now and he's not well. We don't know if he will play (at the World Cup) or not. We still don't know anything. Jonathan told me that he is going to quit the Mexican team and I don't want him playing for them anymore anyway." While the Dos Santos family are no doubt disappointed by Monday's news, ending Giovani's international career as well would seem bizarre, and more than a little petulant.
PLAYER IN FOCUS: Fabio Quagliarella
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Fabio Quagliarella edged out Giuseppe Rossi and Marco Borriello
The Napoli forward was the surprise inclusion in Marcello Lippi's 23-man Italy squad announced on Tuesday as he was included at the expense of the up-and-coming Giuseppe Rossi. Quagliarella scored just 11 goals in Serie A this season, some eight less than Palermo's Fabricio Miccoli who was not even considered in the Azzurri's preliminary squad. Emile Heskey will, perhaps unconvincingly, tell you it is not all about goals at international level, and Quagliarella's versatility appears to have won him a place on the plane to
Wednesday 2 June 2010
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