Book Review – Blood on the Crossbar: The Dictatorship’s World Cup by Rhys Richards

18 December 2022 – the Lusail Stadium. Lionel Messi receives the FIFA World Cup trophy after one of the most dramatic finals in the competitions history. This is Argentina’s, La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue), third triumph following wins in 1978 and 1986. However, for all the magnificence of the final, the first World Cup to be held in the Arab world has been a controversial one even from the point Qatar were awarded the event back in December 2010. Rumours circulated how votes had been ‘bought’ to ensure the tiny but incredibly wealthy state became hosts, with many around the globe pointing to Qatar’s human rights record as a significant and compelling reason for the country to be stripped of the 2022 event.

This however was not the first time that the staging of the World Cup finals in a particular nation has proved to be contentious. Roll back the clock to 1978 with the finals being held in Argentina for the first time and we have a tournament that was equally controversial.

Rhys Richards’, Blood on the Crossbar: The Dictatorship’s World Cup, explores what was the eleventh World Cup finals and is a brilliant read. This well researched book is not just about the tournament itself, but also social and political history within the South American country in the late 1970s.

Two years before the finals Argentina had been subject to a military coup with the democratically elected president, Isabel Peron, ousted by General Jorge Rafael Videla. This was a dictatorship that ruthlessly imprisoned, tortured and killed anyone who opposed the regime and used the World Cup as a massive propaganda exercise.

As a young teenager at the time, and even without England having qualified, all I naively cared about was the football, and knew nothing of the political situation. The book was therefore a real eye-opener in learning not only about the cruel and brutal administration, but about the opposition that existed both within Argentina and abroad. For instance, Los Montoneros (a left wing organisation who supported Peron) who as part of their protest, on a number of occasions were able to hijack the audio of Argentina’s games in certain locations. There was also deep concerns in Europe, and a Dutch alternative cabaret duo Bram Vermeulen and Freek de Jonge began a campaign for the Netherlands to boycott the finals. The title of their show was Blood on the Crossbar, and “focused on the crimes of the dictatorship and the use of the World Cup as a sports-washing project.” They attempted to work with the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) but ultimately failed and ironically the Dutch squad were then used in part of the propaganda war ahead of the Final, with an article appearing purporting to be from Rudi Krol, praising the hospitality, the organisation and the military –  all the content however was a forgery.

Richards though for all his excellent exploration of issues off the pitch, doesn’t forget about those on the pitch taking readers through the matches group by group and dealing with some of the other controversies associated with the tournament, such as the allegations of drug taking by the Argentina players, and most especially the 6-0 beating of Peru that put La Albiceleste through the Final.

The teenage me remembers the Final and the sea of ticker-tape that rained down from the stands of the Estadio Monumental. I’d never seen anything like it and was then proceeded to be dazzled by the performance of Mario Kempes and his compatriots. Now though after reading this book, those innocent boyish feelings and recollections are now tempered by an adult realisation of what lay behind the scene in the name of sport.

La Albiceleste’s win in 1986 will always be associated with the brilliance of Maradona whilst 2022 saw a fairy-tale ending for Messi’s. Yet that first win in 1978 has to deal to this day with the stigma of association with the junta. However, this book redresses the balance and is a homage to the 1978 winners of Argentina’s first World Cup triumph and leaves you with some sympathy for the group as Richards attempts to give them separation from the association with the dictatorship and the horrors of the regime of the time.

(Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd. September 2022. Hardcover: 304 pages)

 

Buy the book here: Blood on the Crossbar

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2022 World Cup – Monday 19 December 2022

2022 WORLD CUP FINAL: Argentina 3 (2) – (0) 3 France AET [Argentina won 4-2 on penalties] (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

Argentina scorers: Messi (23′ pen, 108′), Di María (36′). France scorers: Mbappé (80’pen, 81′, 118′ pen)

A quite incredible final, that will go down as one of the greatest of all time. Drama, controversy, gamesmanship, it was all there.

After sixty four minutes and with Argentina 2-0 they took off Angel Di Maria who had scored his countries second goal in a clinical team move and had tortured France all game. The French had offered nothing up to that point and reports of a virus that had gone through the squad seemed accurate in a lacklustre and jaded performance that had seen Dembele, and Giroud substituted before half-time. But with Di Maria withdrawn, Argentina began to sit back and with ten minutes to go, gave away a penalty which Mbappe gratefully put away to make it 2-1. Within a minute the game had turned on its head as a superb strike from the French number nine levelled the game and suddenly Les Bleus were in the ascendancy. Into extra time in which both sides looked for the winner. Within three minutes of the second period Argentina went ahead again as Messi tapped-in only for Mbappe to score his second penalty two minutes from time to secure a hat-trick. The drama wasn’t over yet as France had a great chance to win it with the clock running down, with Kolo Muani finding himself free only for Emiliano Martinez to make a vital save. Argentina broke up field and nearly snatched a winner themselves as their final chance feel to Lautaro Martinez who headed wide. And so to penalties where Argentina’s ‘keeper Martinez was once more the hero so setting the motion the Messi love-in that so much of the media and no doubt FIFA wanted.

A breathless and memorable final no doubt.

But…once again the refereeing and VAR were poor. Was the first Argentina penalty and France’s second really penalties? Both were extremely harsh in my opinion. In this case and others the match referees were far too lenient with persistent fouls and seemed loathe to book anybody at times, providing no deterrent for those engaged in a string of niggly fouls. Was that really a top quality playing surface for a final? Certain areas had been sprayed/painted to hide the wear and tear, with one goal area looking like it had a huge section replaced – hardly fitting for the World’s biggest game. And what were FIFA thinking of allowing Messi to be drabbed in that cape? It should have been an iconic image, instead of one of comic proportions.

And finally, it’s hard to congratulate Argentina who have showed themselves to be a graceless and unsporting mob. Their behaviour after their spot-kick win over the Dutch was deplorable as were the antics of ‘keeper Martinez during that penalty shoot-out and in the final. He should not been allowed to get in the faces of those taking the penalties and in throwing the ball away before one of the French kicks in the final was inexcusable. He then compounded his graceless actions by making a needless and crude gesture with his Golden Glove award. Classless all round.

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2022 World Cup – Saturday 10 December 2022

Croatia 1 (0) – (0) 1 Brazil AET. Croatia won 4-2 on penalties (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan)

Croatia scorer: Petkovic (117′). Brazil scorer: Neymar (105’+1’)

 

Well, well, well. Europe 1, South America 0. So Brazil might have been favourites and five-time World Champions but the Croats care little for reputation and just went about their business to dump out Neymar and his samba dancing pals.

After a quiet first-half, Brazil totally dominated the second forty-five and but for numerous saves from Dominik Livakovic they would have cruised through. However, there was no panic from Croatia even when Neymar scored an excellent goal in extra time. He started the move, played two one-two’s, riding a challenge before rounding the ‘keeper to fire home – a special goal indeed. Croatia though just kept going and with three minutes left, broke down the pitch where Petkovic swept home with a slight deflection taking it beyond Alisson.

And so to penalties. Livakovic having starred again Japan in the shoot-out in the last sixteen, once again was the hero, saving Rodrygo’s first spot kick. Croatia were perfect with all of their first four which put the pressure on Marquinhos. However, when he struck the post, it was adeus Brazil with Croatia into a second successive World Cup Semi-Final.

 

Netherlands 2 (0) – (1) 2 Argentina AET. Argentina won 4-3 on penalties. (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

Netherlands scorers: Weghorst (83’minutes, 90’+11minutes). Argentina scorers: Molina (35’minutes), Messi (73’minutes pen)

 

Europe 1, South America 1…another drama filled game, dominated by an over officious referee with 17 yellow cards and one 1 red issued, with ugly confrontational scenes between the teams and their benches at the end of extra time and penalties.

When Messi stroked home a penalty with seventeen minutes remaining the game looked done and dusted at 2-0 to Argentina. The Dutch had nothing to lose and went more direct, and even though they got one back with seven minutes reaming through a lovely Weghorst header it seemed as if it was just a consolation. Then deep into time added on, a quite brilliantly worked free-kick move saw Netherlands draw level through Weghorst’ s second goal. Extra time was dominated by Argentina in the second fifteen, but it was penalties once more.

Aston Villa’s ‘keeper Emi Martinez has a great record saving penalties and proved it once again, making saves from the first two Dutch spot-kicks which was enough to see Argentina through 4-3. The celebrations were all the greater knowing that their South American rivals Brazil has exited earlier.

 

Morocco v Portugal (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha)

The third World Cup meeting between these sides, with the first at the finals in Mexico. It was a group stage game with Morocco winning 3-1. Portugal gained some revenge with a 1-0 win in 2018 with Ronaldo getting the vital goal.

After the drama of the opening two Quarter Finals, who knows what this one will bring. Will Ronaldo be back in the starting line up or do they stick to the side that demolished South Korea? Morocco should not be taken lightly as they have shown resilience and no little skill to make it this far. They will be hoping it’s not a game too far.

 

England v France (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor)

For me this tie will take me back to Spain 1982. The glorious sunshine, the weird echoey commentary and crowd noise, a squad number system based on surname (Trevor Brooking wore No:3, Tony Woodcock No: 21) and no makers logo on the Three Lions legendary Admiral kits.

Against the French in the group stages Bryan Robson scored after 27 seconds, only for France to level, but a second goal from Robson and a volley from the late great Paul Mariner sealed a 3-1 win. Oh that today will be as comfortable! Les Bleus are a team of many talents – from Lloris in goal through to Mbappe up front. This is a real tester for England and go into the game as underdogs.

But as this tournament has shown anything can happen.

PS. Did anyone mention England beat France 2-0 with a Roger Hunt brace on the way to winning the 1966 World Cup?

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Mr. Kane questions his DNA

Ancestry…

The logo on the envelope was blinking at him from his mantelpiece. The guy from the Middlesborough Mercury, was in his living room catching up with that interview he promised to give after the disaster of the Ballroom Dancing Championships over at the prestigious Mecca of Ballroom Dancing, Blackpool.

Mr. Kane had taken his premium stars over with high hopes of winning the entire competition. Their first contest against an unfancied team from somewhere in the east, was a complete delight.

Easily winners there were high hopes of the team of which he was captain, progressing into the next round. This was after a summer of mishaps and less than impressive performances, home and away, before they faced a USA team that flattered to achieve.

The future of the team’s progression now was in the balance and a final team contest against the National Team of Wales beckoned. In a fit of arrogance, Mr. Kane had been asked by the Mercury if they could chart his progress, and many in the paper thought he would be lucky to still be captain of the team by now, though he was utterly convinced he was in it to win it…

And now he looked over at the reporter in his living room who had just asked about the envelope on his mantelpiece.

Picture the scene…

A nervous Mr. Kane, sitting with questions hanging in the air. A reporter balanced on the edge of an uncomfortable couch poised with pen hoping for some answers. In between the air is heavy with expectation but for Mr. Kane he feels it is like a trap. Given the results he has been captain for in Blackpool – that uninspiring draw with the Yanks – he is cautious over what the reporter wants to ask…

“What do you mean?” Stall for time, he thinks, that’s what to do.

The reporter, not long out of university, is slightly caught off guard. An old hand at the newspaper had told him to make some nice comment about the house in the interview so that the interviewee feels more at ease. It was a simple comment, and not without any understanding. The reporter’s uncle had gone and got his DNA tested months ago and found out he was half Swedish. Caused one hell of a row in the family, given that his father and mother had given some guy called Sven bed and board decades ago during a summer dad was away working on the oil rigs…

Mr. Kane’s response was curious. The other piece of advice given to the reporter was, that if any question gets an odd response… probe deeper… but don’t be too obvious about it…

“So, tell me, Mr. Kane,” he began. “What did you think of Harry’s performance, particularly in the Tango?”

Harry had been the subject of much abuse and criticisms of late as team talisman, so it was only naturally, thought the reporter that the chance for some redemption in the USA match would be taken.

Mr. Kane grabbed at the distraction, though he was unaware it was a distraction. He responded, “Harry put in a fantastic performance. Whenever he puts the sequins on it brings out the best in him. He had a fantastic dance, and he did previously too. I am really happy for him. He’s had some tough moments in the last year or two, but he’s shown his quality.”

Taking some notes down to record Mr. Kane’s thoughts, the reporter then shoots out with, “and the Ancestry stuff is that a bonding thing with the team?”

Mr. Kane is caught off guard. “No,” he blurts out, a little too quickly.

“Just something personal then, is it?” shoots back the reporter.

Mr. Kane is disconcerted once more. “I am not quite…”

“Oh, our readers are always curious, you know, about the man behind the headlines.” That was his favourite piece of crap he would spout at interviewees. Got him an A on a university assignment once. “Nothing of consequence, I am sure, but we like to flesh out the man. For the public. They can be so more understanding if they have a whole picture.”

Mr. Kane is not convinced but smiles, hoping that it is enough to deflect the thrust of the questioning.

“Hopes for the next match. Win I suppose?” the reporter asks next.

Mr. Kane looks again at the envelope and realises that it has been opened. Someone knows and it is not him. He was saving that for later. A quiet time and not for someone else to spoil. This is appalling. Who could have opened it? The postman? She always looked shifty. Since she started the hormone treatment, she was a different person, or so he thought…

Mr. Kane becomes aware of the air of expectation in the room and realises that he has not yet answered the last question. He can’t even remember what the last question was.

“Sorry,” he begins. “I have just realised that I have something very important to do and will need to get the sequins for it sewn on before lunchtime.”

The reporter smirks as he stands and looks at the envelope. He turns to Mr. Kane and asks, “so, if you get through the group stages, I shall be looking for a follow up interview, Mr. Kane.”

“Of course, yes, whatever you want, we can schedule that in, any time. You have my number and can give me a call, whenever suits. That will be fine.” Ushering the reporter, off the couch and into their coat, through the living room and along the hallway, towards the front door, the reporter stops at it and turns.

“Now, Mr. Kane,” he begins. “I do hope that you will be true to your word, and we shall talk again, whatever the result with Wales may be. I am used to sly and sleekit people who promise one thing and deliver nothing.”

Mr. Kane gulps. That is exactly what he was going to do. He takes in a big gulp of air, crosses his fingers and toes and responds, “of course not. We shall talk soon.”

And with that opens the front door and prods the reporter out of it.

Once the door is closed the view on either side of it could not be different. The reporter flips open his phone, calls his editor and speculates with a smirk, what might be in that contentious envelope.

On the other side, a worried Mr. Kane darts back to the living room to find his wife standing with the envelope in her hand.

“Did you know?” she asks.

“Know what?” he responds.

“I should have known,” she begins, “getting to the Championships by the skin of your teeth, then showing signs of faltering against weak opposition and ending up with one match likely to decide your fate.”

“So what?”

“You’re half bloody Scottish, that’s what…”

 

Whilst the author, asserts his right to this as an original piece of work there is no evidence that Harry Kane is half Scottish, unless you know differently, so this is clearly a piece of fiction, though we have used some words spoken by captain Harry Kane as source material.

The fact is that after the USA match where England looked at best, lacklustre, Harry Kane gave an interview where he praised under fire colleague Harry Maguire thus, “Harry put in a fantastic performance. Whenever he puts the Three Lions badge on it brings out the best in him. He had a fantastic game and he did against Iran too. I am really happy for him. He’s had some tough moments in the last year or two but he’s shown his quality today and it was a really important clean sheet.” At the time of writing many Scots are learning the words to Men of Harlech…

 

Donald C Stewart

First appeared on the Scottish Football Supporter’s Association website https://scottishfsa.org/

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GLORY AND DESPAIR: THE WORLD CUP 1930-2018 by Matthew Bazell

Glory and Despair is a pictorial celebration of the World Cup that takes us on a spellbinding journey, from the inaugural tournament in 1930 to the present day.

Using stunning library stock images, the book brings to life the feats of the greatest stars ever to grace the game, including Pele, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi, Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore and both Ronaldo’s. This beautiful visual homage covers the great matches, the incredible goals, the controversies, heroes and villains, capturing the most iconic moments in the greatest tournament of any sport.

Glory and Despair is an essential piece of World Cup nostalgia that honours the history of the greatest football show on earth.

(Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd. September 2022. Hardcover: 224 pages)

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Book Review – In the Heat of the Midday Sun: The Indelible Story of the 1986 World Cup by Steven Scragg

In the Introduction to In the Heat of the Midday Sun, Steven Scragg puts forward, a theory “that you’re chemically wired to your first World Cups.”

My first memories are as an eight-year old when on holiday in Torquay during the summer of 1970 and the World Cup in Mexico. I don’t recall the games as such and all my memories centre on the England v West Germany Quarter-Final and the infamous 3-2 loss. To my eyes and ears all the shops and hotels seemed awash with England squad pictures and Union Jack flags in their windows and the sound of ‘Back Home’ the England World Cup song ever present. I was still two years from attending my first ever game ‘live’ but remember everyone in the hotel we were staying at crowding round the television and the resulting disappointment as World Cup holders, England exited the competition despite leading 2-0 at one point.

Given that for me my first real World Cup was the one held in West Germany in 1974. A tournament of just 16 teams, with four groups of four, with the top two progressing to a further mini-league each containing four teams, with the winners of each meeting in the Final. Memories that are still so clear in my mind include the huge thunderstorms that affected a number of games, a meeting between East and West Germany, Scotland not losing a game but exiting on goal-difference, the beauty and brutality of the Netherlands 2-0 win over Brazil, the birth of the Cruyff turn in the game against Sweden, and the bitter disappointment that the Dutch didn’t lift the newly designed trophy.

And on that basis for me, as Scragg’s theory suggests, those 1970 and 1974 burn more brightly and more special, even taking into account England’s Semi-Final appearances in Italia ’90 and Russia in 2018.

For Scragg, whilst he admits that 1982 is his favourite World Cup, he sees 1986 in Mexico “in his mind as the last great World Cup” and in the books Introduction, he cites his reasons why each of the tournaments since 1998 “has lost a little bit more of its shine”. With Qatar 2022 on the horizon Scragg opines, “I’m not sure that FIFA will ever fully recover its composure.” Only time will tell.

The reality is that the World Cup in 1986 wasn’t supposed to be held in Mexico and Chapter One, details how in typical murky FIFA tradition, Colombia was chosen as the host country for the thirteenth staging of the competition. With Columbia withdrawing in 1982 unable to finance the hosting, a shortlist was drawn up involving Mexico, the USA and Canada (who in 2026 will joint-host the tournament). With more sleight of hand from FIFA, Mexico landed the prize becoming the first country to host two World Cups.

One of the great things about Scragg’s excellent books to date (A Tournament Frozen in Time: The Wonderful Randomness of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, Where the Cool Kids Hung Out: The Chic Years of the UEFA Cup and The Undisputed Champions of Europe: How the Gods of Football Became European Royalty) is that that never run in an orthodox, simple timeline approach, with his research and ability to look from a different angle making them engaging for the reader.

1970 World Cup Panini sticker album

So within In the Heat of the Midday Sun, before he gets down to the business of the 1986 tournament, he takes readers on a wonderful aside as he describes the joy (with all the enthusiasm of the 12 year old Scragg was back in 1986) of looking at a completed Panini sticker album. These albums have been a staple for football fans since their first outing in 1970 and many of us have uncompleted versions from our childhood World Cups (this reader included!).

This is followed by a third chapter, The Hand of God, where Scragg makes the interesting point that to fully appreciate the 1986 World Cup, the infamous first goal from England’s defeat to Argentina has to be taken out of the equation. However, this is monumentally difficult because as the author observes, “it’s the defining image of the 1986 World Cup finals and it’s perhaps even the most distinguishing aspect of the entire history of the tournament stretching back to is very inception in 1930.” And we know that once the global audience is focused on Qatar later in 2022, the footage will once again be rolled out.

With these first three chapters out of the way, Scragg gets down to the tournament itself and takes an interesting path in the remaining fifteen. Rather than simply take it match-by-match as the games were played, he focuses on the teams as they were knocked out of the competition. In doing so, Scragg demonstrates his extensive research skills and tells the stories of all the participants, their path to qualification and their eventual exit from the tournament until Argentina are left as victors lifting the trophy for the second time, eight tears after first victory in their homeland.

Scragg is wonderfully able to conjure up the atmosphere of the time, such as the sweltering heat and the strange sounding commentary, always with a seemingly faraway echo, that accompanied the television images, but also some very specific things which take us back to watching certain games. From the England v Argentina Quarter-Final Scragg details the following, “a match was played out…on 22 June 1986, the midday sun blazing high in the sky, that spidery shadow lurking ominously in the centre circle.” Reading it I was instantly transferred back to watching the game at my local cricket club – a small well observed detail sparking that memory.

Ultimately this is a book which truly reflects Scragg’s joy and boyhood enthusiasm at watching the 1986 tournament and indeed comes across in every page. A tournament which despite the Hand of God goal, has a naivety and innocence that you sense won’t be felt in the 2022 version in Qatar.

(Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd. May 2022. Hardcover: 352 pages)

 

Buy the book here: Mexico 1986

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World Cup 2018 – 1 day to decision

Given all the controversy surrounding the media and the England 2018 Bid it is easy to forget that tomorrow FIFA also decide on who is hosting the 2022 World Cup. Today the five Bidding countries make their final presentations to the FIFA Executive Committee. These 30 minute slots are the last chance to impress and capture the necessary votes. Australia are first up, followed by South Korea, Qatar and USA, with Japan the final country to present.

From a purely personal viewpoint, I’d like to see Australia get the nod. It would meet FIFA’s desire of taking the Finals to new countries and would be a reward for all the strides the Aussies have taken in developing their domestic League (A-League). The national team are no strangers to the world stage and have played in three World Cup Finals; 1974 (West Germany), 2006 (Germany) and 2010 (South Africa). Australia has a fantastic sporting tradition and is a sports-mad nation, given this, the Aussies would put on a real show and be a perfect host for 2022.

The bookies however are tipping Qatar as favourites, followed by Australia and USA. Qatar have lined up an impressive array of Ambassadors for their Bid including, French World Cup winning captain Zinedine Zidane, Saudi Arabian striker Sami Al-Jaber, who played in the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups and was the first Saudi player in England when he made a handful of appearances for Wolves. Others pressing the claims of the Qatar Bid include Argentinean legend Gabriel Batistuta, Netherlands star Ronald de Boer (who has played in Qatar), Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, Cameroon icon Roger Milla and Bora Milutinovic who coached five different teams to five consecutive World Cups,  Mexico in 1986, Costa Rica in 1990, USA in 1994, Nigeria in 1998 and China in 2002.

To rip-off a song used by cricket fans Down-Under, “C’mon Aussies, C’mon, C’mon” As an Englishman I never thought I’d hear myself say that.

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