Eto'o is part of the combination of his country since 1997. In its first five years as indomitable lion portfolio experienced a period of success: they won the Olympic gold in Sydney 2000 and the African Cup in 2000 and 2002. Since then, Cameroon has been a disappointment after another until you reach the tragicomic farce this weekend. In the 1998 World Cup, 2002 and 2010 failed to pass the first round (Alemania'06 not even ranked), no longer able to match, but not to approach the historical Italia'90 quarterfinals. And in the last four editions of the African Cup (remember that is played every two years, in pairs) have reached the end of 2008, while in 2004, 2006 and 2010 failed to pass the quarter. But go back a while.
The first time that Samuel Eto'o was faced with a penalty from those that are life and death was in 2005. Cameroon played their last game against Egypt's qualifier for the 2006 World Cup and provided a maximum penalty in the absence of a few minutes to go. That penalty could give them the win, but Eto'o, and then the greatest figure of the Indomitable Lions, preferred to look the other way. The throw was in charge of Wome. It failed, ran out of Cameroon and the World interista then burned his house and car ... Scorched by the furious reaction of the fans Cameroonian Wome finally said what everyone thought: he had to throw the penalty because Eto'o was not bold.
But fate had prepared an ironic revenge on Eto'o. In the 2006 African Cup of Cameroon came across Ivory Coast's quarter-final. The match went to penalty shoot-outs and Eto'o scored his. But the fate of the maximum sentences lengthened both reached the second release cycle. He turned to reach the turn to Eto'o in the penalty n º 23, the ball ended up in the stands and Cameroon left for home.
This weekend, Cameroon Team played a crucial game for Africa Cup qualifier 2012, to be held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. his opponent was Senegal, marching first group with five points ahead of the camerunuses. In each group of four passes only the first (and the two best runners), so that victory was essential to the aspirations of the combined led by Javier Clemente (every time I think a giggle escapes me ...). Just as was Julio Maldonado 'Maldini' in Sports Four , the meeting was one of the most surreal moment. Basque coach ordered a double shift the audience rose to boo, do not know if it replaced one was particularly high and was about to throw a corner for ... Anyway, the reason is not important. The fact is that Eto'o, captain and more of the Cameroon Team, ran after Choupo-Moting, grabbed him and ordered him to stay in the field.
I have no doubt that there has been, is and will still be many teams a player has so much heritage in the club (or selection) that, in practice, send more than his coach. But I had never seen a player impose his will on his coach in a very public and explicit. Eto'o is the most demand in the Cameroonian football we knew all, but to pass that way over his coach equals autocoronarse as First Head of the United A while later, changes were eventually made, but that hardly matters between the two great events of this story. Let's go with the latter.
Arrived 42 minutes into the second half, Cameroon and Senegal were tied goalless. Time was running and the Indomitable Lions were unable to Teranga Lions. But at the time the referee awarded a penalty for Cameroonians. The aspirations of a country that idolizes him as anyone again at the feet of Eto'o. The line between success and failure was back again to eleven meters. And Eto'o failed again, his shot crashed off the crossbar and the rebound was diluted from ten legs. Just a while before Eto'o proclaimed himself responsible for the future of your choice making a decision that did not answer, beyond the limits of the role of a player, it is deified by his fans (or himself). On the contrary, when it came time to do what you have to do, failed. He failed on his own, which is score goals, which is what you do best and what he has done throughout his career, not in vain is the top scorer in Cameroon, with 52 many. First climbed higher than any other, and then plummeted to the ground, the level of everyone else.
Apologized after the game. The penalty for failing, I mean. Now the future of Cameroon is dark. They are five points behind Senegal in the absence of disputed two games. Still, with the five points they have achieved so far, they can end up being eleven and one of the two best runners and get the rebound. Time will tell.
Egypt, the reigning champions on the brink
In January 2010 in Football Notes follow the African Cup and I went every day to update the future of the competition. It was a championship rather poor, with a foreword terrible , with the death of several players of the Togo's in the hands of a terrorist group. As I told you at the time, for me the most remarkable of all the CAN 2010 was the shameful spectacle of a bunch of porters, scarecrows and good play and, above all, the office of the national team of Egypt.
The Pharaohs won the tournament , as in the previous two editions and became the first to achieve three consecutive wins. A year and a half later they are in a situation for which no hieroglyphs that will help us understand. After four days of qualifying are the rock-bottom of their group, with only two draws to their credit. Has lost one match and tied another with South Africa (1 st to 8), lost in Niger (2 nd to 6) and tied with Sierra Leone (3 rd to 5). As South Africa and Niger have yet to play a match between them, at least one of the two reach 9 points and reigning champions that are left to try to be second with eight points, a figure that is unlikely to serve them for one of the two best runners.
PS. Do you remember that Togo is prohibited from participation in the 2012 African Nations Cup because it withdrew from the 2010 edition after the murder of several members of his expedition? A real shame that does not stop there. Although they can not play the CAF are forced to play the qualifying tournament that they are not out of position groups, under threat of extending the sanction. And then we complain about Platini ...
Photo | mustapha_ennaimi
 | -And-return-to-suffer-the-curse-of-the-once-Meter ">  |
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment