The Warm-Up: Breaking news - Luka Modric is good at football
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Updated 25/09/2018 at 15:49 GMT
Startling word reaches us at the Warm-Up, plus there's a calamity for democracy and eight minutes of Alvaro Recoba...
Modric
Image credit: Getty Images
TUESDAY’S BIG STORIES
Luka Modric is the best, officially, which is nice
Even if everyone simply accepts that the whole concept of individual awards in football is pretty silly, the idea of Luka Modric – or perhaps more specifically a player like Luka Modric – being declared the best men’s player in the world, is pretty pleasing. FIFA’s silly-named ‘The Best’ gong feels like a lifetime achievement award for a man who, for long spells of his career has been underrated. Or, at least, a man who people that like to think of themselves as footballing intellectuals say is underrated.
Still, in an era when the awards have generally been dominated by players who have been classically eye-catching, with heaps of goals to garnish their obvious brilliance, the appreciation of a more subtle genius is satisfying. It took him reaching the World Cup final to be recognised in such a way, but still. Modric pipped Mo Salah and winner of the previous two editions of this award Cristiano Ronaldo, who in the year he didn’t win couldn’t make it to the ceremony. Must be just a coincidence.
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Marta bereits zum sechsten Mal Weltfußballerin
Image credit: SID
While the men’s award went to a new recipient, a familiar face took the women’s: Marta was named the best women’s player for the sixth time, but for the first time since 2010. And her acceptance statement was notable for its lack of the usual platitudes.
This means so much but it is not only about me. It is about my team-mates and women’s football. Most importantly, it is good to see women’s soccer grow each year. If I keep doing well and that can help off the field too, then I am happy.
Well, maybe not totally free of platitudes…but pleasing that she recognised the game as a whole rather than just herself.
But look at the state of this…
As events around the world have showed us in the last couple of years, democracy has its drawbacks. Sometimes it comes up with results that defy sense and are fundamentally damaging to the structure of society.
Mo Salah’s goal against Everton last season probably wouldn’t make it into his own top five strikes, but bafflingly it was voted as the best goal scored around the world last season, Salah taking home the Puskas Award as the rest of the world wondered whether the voters had actually seen Gareth Bale’s goal…or Cristiano Ronaldo’s…or Riley McGree’s…or….well, any of the others on the shortlist.
Wenger cared more about ‘the Arsenal way’ – Cech
It’s not exactly a galloping shock to hear that, in his latter years at least, Arsene Wenger seemed to care more about the process and the style more than results at Arsenal. It’s something we all suspected/knew, but Petr Cech confirmed as such after their win over Everton at the weekend.
“In the past I would say the Arsenal way was more important than getting the points sometimes — and this is not how you win the League,” Cech said.
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Petr Cech wants Arsenal to become tougher to beat
Image credit: PA Sport
“For any club who wins titles in the recent years, you have a team with the know-how how to finish it off – and you can see it in any sport. Take Tiger Woods – ten years since he won a Major tournament. The longer it goes on, the harder it becomes. This club have not won the league for over 10 years so, obviously, you need to get back into knowing how to do it.
“We started with the new manager from scratch, basically, and we try to get this mentality of winning every game, progressing every game, working every day and, hopefully, we can build this up and win the title sooner rather than later. That will make the big difference.”
So are we to assume from this that Unai Emery has put a big boot up the behinds of his Arsenal players? Is he trying to be the anti-Wenger? All substance, and as little style as possible? One suspects it would be a welcome change.
IN OTHER NEWS
Could you carry this off? No, of course not, because you’re not Idris Elba. Unless you are Idris Elba. Good morning Idris. Nice waistcoat.
HEROES AND ZEROS
Hero: Eden Hazard
For recognising when and when not to take things too seriously…
Zero: Cristiano Ronaldo
Definitely just a coincidence that he didn’t show up the year he didn’t win. Absolutely. Definitely.
RETRO CORNER
For no specific reason, here’s a compilation of Alvaro Recoba doing cracking things. You’re welcome.
HAT TIP
When we read Kevin Keegan’s account of his second, distressing managerial spell at Newcastle — beautifully knitted together by Daniel Taylor, the journalist — we are not simply revisiting the dysfunction that gripped the club ten years ago. We are reminded that dysfunction has never left them, that Mike Ashley’s ownership remains baffling and illogical and frequently toxic.
As further tales of Mike Ashley disastrous tenure at Newcastle emerge, here’s some beautifully written righteous indignation from George Caulkin in the Times.
COMING UP
It’s Carabao Cup time, and there’s set to be bonhomie on the touchline as rookie manager Frank Lampard takes his Derby team to see the old master – not Obi Wan Kenobi, but Jose Mourinho and Manchester United.
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