Fred, Jo...Roson-Kanu?

Day -447 WorldCup2018

If Wales, or Ireland for that matter, make it to the World Cup in Russia I will look at the this day and remind myself of the abysmal quality that is representing Europe. And it comes a day after Brazil tore Uruguay apart (4-1) for the seventh straight, emphatic, entertaining win. South America gives us Brazil. Europe give us Wales or Ireland. Hopefully, it's neither and we get Serbia.

I watched the first half of Ireland-Wales today. The reports describe it as "tense", "hard fought", "physical". I'd call it boring. Really, very boring. I even tried to find solace in it maybe being an intriguing tactical battle. Still boring. Wales attacked, Ireland defended. Bit was even worse than that. Wales had the ball in Ireland's half looking for Gareth Bale. Bale stumbled, lost the ball, passed it to and Irish player and Ireland hoofed the ball up towards the Welsh half.

Bale looked like the superpowers in his man-bun had worn off. Aaron Ramsey, the other Welsh Brazilian, seems to have had his Roy of the Rover skills wash away along with his blonde hair dye. And then there is Hal Robson-Kanu. He journeyed around a few clubs in England, became a bit of a hit at Reading, became Welsh because he wasn't good enough for England, and then he scored that one goal. He looked like another Welsh Brazilian with that bit of magic against Belgium in Euro 2016. Without a club last summer that one moment of brilliance earned him a big move......to West Bromich Albion. And for most of this season he has been the second choice striker, at West Brom, to a Venezuelan. I have nothing against Salomon Rondon, and his brute force and power, or the skill of footballers in Venezuela but with all the hype over Robson-Kanu last summer you would think he would be assured a place over Rondon. Robson-Kanu had his name in the news again last weekend for scoring against Arsenal in West Brom's 3-1 win. He scored with his first touch after the Arsenal defenders contrived to put the ball at his feet and clear a path for him to the goal. Yes, even Robson-Kanu couldn't miss.

Let me adapt my earlier thought. In 2014 Brazil gave us Jo, Fred and Hulk. In 2018 Wales (might) give us Hal Robson-Kanu.

Back to today's match, or the first half at least. The excitement was wondering when the Irish man with the big trumpet (or horn of some sort) was going to play his tunes again to get the crowd going, or when the Irish fans all stood up for a good old singalong in the 35th minute. And then there was the time Stoke teammates, Welshman Joe Allen and Irishman Glenn Whelan had a disagreement over an elbow and head collision.The gesticulating, wide eyes and threat of a coming together was particularly entertaining.

Talking of entertaining (with reference to Brian Williams, former host of the Olympic Games on Canadian television for that style of segue into a new topic), I went to watch a group of octogenarians play jazz in the second half. That was entertaining.

The talking point in the second half was, sadly, Seamus Coleman's broken leg after a tackle from Wales' Neil Taylor. That's never good to see, or hear about. But there were no goals and Wales now have quite the task to catch Ireland and Serbia.

Speaking of catching up (oh Brian Williams!) Argentina have gone from possible shock non-qualifiers languishing in 6th place in South American qualifying to 3rd place and a qualifying position. Their 1-0 win over Chile yesterday has really shaken up the 10 team group. Uruguay, in second, are three points ahead of Chile, in 6th. Brazil are pretty much home and dry, but it's going to be quite the battle amongst the other 5 teams. Make that 6. Paraguay are only two points behind Chile and Ecuador who are in the play-off spot in 5th.

And, in case you missed it, Syria beat Uzbekistan 1-0, to amazingly keep up their hopes of being in Russia. Putin might be prepping the red carpet for President Assad. I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how, for different reasons, I didn't care much for either Syria or Uzbekistan being anywhere near qualifying. Propaganda could be the common word that ties the football teams of both countries together. Incredibly, after South Korea's defeat in China, not only are Syria only a point behind Uzbekistan and a play-off place, but they are only two points behind South Korea and direct qualification.

Robson-Kanu has to have the last word, since I cant find any brilliance from Fred, Jo or Hulk. It was a good goal and it was one of the highlights of last summer.
(raw commentary for added entertainment value)