Larry Ryan: An alternative view of the World Cup
Interest in the murderous atmosphere between Eamon Dunphy and Kenny Cunningham in the RTÉ studio has gone global, with sites such as 101greatgoals.com picking up the clip of the pair squabbling over John Terry. The dispute’s ratings potential hasn’t been lost on RTÉ either, which has been heavily promoting the exchange online, featuring a bemused and non-committal Didi Hamann stuck in the middle but making no attempt to referee.
Now the nation wants to know what’s eating the pair. RTÉ colleague Eoin McDevitt has remarked on the Breaking Bad vibe, tweeting: “Loving the Walter White/Jesse Pinkman on air relationship that has developed between Eamon Dunphy and Kenny Cunningham.” 2FM stablemate Paddy McKenna is also gripped: “The Kenny Cunningham face when Dunphy is talking. Magnificent.” And one station employee commented that “even at the World Cup launch event it was obvious there was something going on between them”.
But despite inviting viewers to tweet questions in its Ask The Panel feature, nobody on air has yet referred to a question that has been posed many times; what’s the story?
Could the needle go back as far as the 2002 World Cup when Cunningham was one of Ireland’s most experienced players, indeed one of the senior players injured on the Saipan training pitch that so aggravated Roy Keane? Dunphy’s comment at the time: “The question is why didn’t some other senior Irish players back him [Keane]. The belief is because they were muppets and cowards — and I agree with him.”
Might be worth keeping a close eye on the crowd during tonight’s clash of Brazil and Cameroon. Much-maligned Brazilian front man Fred claimed Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa performed “four miracles” in the side’s scoreless draw. But it seems Brazilian fans may have produced a few miracles of their own during the win over Croatia. Sao Paulo police are investigating CCTV footage after photos were posted on social media showing wheelchair-bound fans in the stadium’s disabled area leaping to their feet to celebrate Brazilian goals. If wrong-doing is proven, the fans could be charged with ticket fraud.
Apres Match’s Sky Sports News spoof — with Jim White cutting urgently to a reporter standing beside a bus similar to the England team bus — amused many and wasn’t far off the mark. In reality, however, even the finest comedy minds couldn’t write some of the stuff the news hounds are coming up with to pass the time during the tournament. Take Saturday morning’s breaking SSN story: “This family can prove Brazil will win a sixth World Cup.” In other words, a chat with the da Silvas from Brazilia, who were all born with six fingers on each hand.
“I think one day the African teams will win it. I don’t know when, but it’ll be in the future…”
Mystic Gilesy goes out on a limb.
“It’s missed my forearm by a millimetre but it’s a game of inches.”
Joe Hart can’t settle on a measurement system for the inquest.
“A lot of the Iranian players display their Christian names on their shirts.”
Clive Tyldesley announces a mass conversion from Islam.
“He was a powerhorse.”
Martin Keown found Nigeria’s Emmanuel Emenike to be a different animal.
Fact of the day ahead of the Group B deciders comes courtesy of Mohamed Moallim (@iammoallim) on Twitter: “Robin van Persie’s ban means Oranje, for the first time in 221 games (May 29, ’96 v China), will line up without a player whose surname begins with ‘van’.”
Revenge is served cold in Tahiti. A year after the island was hammered 10-0 by Spain, the official Tahiti Football Twitter account posted an image of Pique, Ramos, Fabregas and Casillas playing violins on the deck of a sinking ship, along with the message: “Titanic, We like this movie. And you? :)”
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