What we have always said here on Football Daily is that the world needs more football tournaments. Oh yes. You’ve had your European Championships and your Copa Américas this summer but the fun does not have to end in mid-July because there is football at Big Sports Day still to take place. Sometimes in good ol’ Blighty this competition is overlooked because it is definitely not the most valued of all the trinkets and rarely do superstars play. Long jumpers, shot putters and joggers all rightly think a shiny gold medal and a five-ring tattoo are the epitome of sporting success but football has never held that view.
Great Britain forgets about the tournament’s existence because it will not be represented thanks to bureaucracy and goal difference . The last time a GB men’s team did show up, Stuart Pearce was manager and Scott Sinclair was on the wing. Needless to say, it did not go well and they were eliminated at the quarter-finals stage by South Korea, failing to go higher, be faster or stronger. The women’s side had the same issue in 2012, although Canada were the victors. They made the quarter-finals at Tokyo 2020 but were flamin’ turfed out by Australia. All these losses were greeted with an almighty shrug at the time given that no one really bothers to watch the competition in the UK.
But not everyone is as miserable as the Brits, some people actually really want to be part of it. Julián Álvarez, fresh from the Copa América, will lead the line for Argentina and Álex Baena arrives pretty much straight from a Euros triumph in search of more mantelpiece decorations. The South Americans are very keen to bring back some gold; Lionel Messi has a shiny medal from 2008 but matters since have superseded this fact. Brazil’s legendary Marta is back for one final push for success having won two silvers down the years. She will bow out from the international game at the conclusion of Paris 2024, adding a little thrill to viewers. And the world’s best player Aitana Bonmatí will be leading Spain’s charge, bringing plenty of star quality to the event. There will be matches in Paris but other venues spread from Nantes to Nice, taking the tournament a little further than the rest of Big Sports Day, spreading the joy of athletic excellence.
Things start on Wednesday when Spain’s men take on Uzbekistan, in a clash no one anticipated at a major tournament, Argentina play Morocco in the mid-afternoon sun. It might not be A-list but no one will be complaining about winning, putting them on par with Messi, and few can say they are an Olympic champion, plus most of it is on midweek in the middle of the afternoon and that is the procrastinator’s dream.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
His quality in training has been unreal, so we’re all very excited to see him pull on the shirt and grace the Fairfield turf later on this season” – Hurstpierpoint Football Club of the Mid Sussex Football League announce on TwiXer that they have brought Gareth Barry out of retirement, kind of. The village team are managed by Barry’s friend Michael Standing.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Re: your timely warning to clubs about splashing the cash on a player on the back of one good international tournament ( Friday’s Football Daily letters ). This surely cannot be allowed to pass without mention of John ‘Johnny’ Jensen? I was there when he scored , you know, and I’ve got the T-shirt to prove it” – Peter Storch.
Following his release by Sunderland, I notice Harrison Sohna has joined Cheltenham. Presumably he’s been on their radar for a while” – Darian Boyd.
People seem to be getting their new season football shorts in a twist (Football Daily letters passim). Let’s make it easy … the old season ended, and has now gone. The cricket season started. Mind the gap. Soon, the new football season will start. That’s it. Hope that helps” – David Sheldrake.
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com . Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … David Sheldrake. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here .
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