World Cup 2010 - England enrage media
The world's media were left stunned after England's news briefing for Sunday's World Cup clash with Germany lasted barely five minutes and featured only questions taken from British TV reporters.
More than 250 journalists from around the world plus around 30 TV crews packed into the media tent at the Free State Stadium for the briefing with England coach Fabio Capello and captain Steven Gerrard.
Reporters, many of whom had travelled long distances to be at the briefing, left in anger after the FA's head of media Adrian Bevington took only eight questions from hand-picked reporters.
Giancarlo Galavotti, football correspondent of Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport who has reported on English football from London for more than 25 years said: "That was typical. They do not seem to appreciate this is the World Cup, with the emphasis on the word 'World'.
"The idea that the English set-up is not the friendliest among the top teams is reinforced by this sort of arrogance.
"And this, despite the coach being able to answer in three languages: Italian, English and Spanish. The FA do not seem to think the rest of the world is important."
Jorge Luiz Rodrigues of Brazil's O Globo newspaper was stunned by what he saw.
"That was bad. This is the World Cup. This guy doesn't know what the World Cup is. He only asks for questions from his friends. This is not professional.
"If you go to Brazil you will have questions in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian.
"All the journalists have the same opportunity. And Brazil is five times champions, not once."
Bevington said afterwards: "We complied fully with FIFA's regulations by bringing the coach and a player, our captain, to the conference.
"Furthermore, and as agreed with FIFA, we had a further five minutes with English newspapers and a further five minutes with FIFA.com."
In the five minutes access allowed to the wider world, journalists learnt that manager Fabio Capello knew his team - which he did not reveal - and that skipper Gerrard was confident of victory.
Platitudes delivered, Bevington declared after five minutes and 12 seconds: "OK, everybody, thank you very much. I would like to invite the English Sunday newspapers to join us in a separate room."
One reporter sarcastically clapped and with that the England delegation swept out of the room.
Although German coach Joachim Loew failed to appear before the media on Saturday, he did speak to them for 45 minutes on Friday and the German FA, at least, gave reporters the chance to quiz goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke for 30 minutes on their preparations for the game.
Comment 1010 - 1029 of 1029
Back home to your bouncey castle and swing Rooney.
@Christine Konig, Yeah of course. Because just generalising about the entire population of England doesn't make you look stupid?! Have to met and talked to every single person in England yet? Well certainly not because I had never met you and you had already made this sweeping generalisation. Its racism and you cannot deny it.
Isn't it typical of the english to be arrogant,its their nature!
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1128... I'm prepared to be found incorrect but I'm fairly sure the Scots are the common denominators using this forum as a platform to put forward their racist tripe and the English retaliate.
Of all the comments I see on here, very often I'm left bewildered as to what (A) Scotland have to do with any of the articles on the England football team and (B) what the politics or history of Scotland's gripe with England has to do with the articles.
Personally it would be nice to see a judicator from Yahoo! going through and deleting all the racist posts from both the English and Scottish because it contributes to nothing.
You're right about people making their mouths go over the Internet though, they wouldn't be so keen in a Glaswegian pub, any more than a Scot, Pole, Czech, Russian, Nigerian, Pakistani, Turk, Iranian or fellow Englishman would get away with making their mouths go in my North-Eastern local. I have family in Hamilton and friends in Dumbarton and it's nice to associate with the Scots who'll have a bit of banter but know where to draw the line.
It's not romanticism to acknowledge that we're all individual; yes certain characteristics of people from a nation will shine through but you'll find there isn't a great deal different between you lot in Scotland and us lot in England. The same goes for racism of both sides: when I think of the racist people I know, the common characteristic is clear - lack of intelligence or education.
England comming home to Scotland for a HEROs welcome
mmmmm seems like the usual stuff- pro England- anti whoeva! Ok i'm a Scot- but also a football fan at heart. Bottom line is on paper England have a great team- strength in depth with wonderful club players- lampard, gerard, rooney, cole and terry- sadly football isn't played on paper- is played on grass and no matter wot refeering misfortune happens- hand of god- lampards disallowed goal- one fact remains- the current squad isn't good enough to compete at highest level as demonstrated tonight- lacked punch and imagination. Back to my scottish- isim- no doubt will get some backlash but as a scottish football fan - one thing we have over english fans is - WE KNOW WE AERE @#$%- you lot gotta wisen up and realise ur @#$% too!! ciao
Why they have to answer any questions is beyond me.
It would take only a few seconds to talk of the good points of this England team.
5 Minutes was a life time.
FIFA rebuked England on Sunday for only taking questions from British TV reporters in their pre-Germany match briefing which sparked resentment from foreign media who branded the camp as "arrogant" [LDE65P0EP].
Soccer's world governing body also rapped Germany whose coach did not appear to receive questions in their pre-match press conference ahead of the eagerly awaited second round clash between the old rivals in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
Maybe the other Jounalists couldn't speak scouse like Gerrard.lol
Get over it you England hating spasmoes! C'MON England shove it up their Arses, but then they might like that!!
I used to watch football when it was played by men !
MR Reaper sir: You are right, every single little thing gets attached to some overblown word. Enraged, the general state of most of the media idiots I have met has been Alcoholised.
1142- kryme76. THAT my friend is the best comment ive ever read on English football. They certainly do not justify what they have and the salaries are ridiculous! They price the average fan out of the stadium, the very people who have made footballers "elite". Compare this to the average wage and its footballers and politicians income that boost the average figure, I would daresay that the highest percentage of people in the workforce are on minimum wage.
Dear Scotland,
What important competition are you involved in today?
Football World cup?? No i don't think so!!
Why are you making a comment on England and reading articles about England?
You are so sad, go and read about Andy Murray and how is going to get his arse kicked again like he does every year!
what really happened in 1745 on the outskirts of floorden near beerwick on tweed who kicked whos arse there was only one winner 900 yrs of it
COME OM ENGLAND...........make us proud to be english and let the wannabes look at us with envy.
weres albert ironstern when you need him we need answers is he in hotland somewere
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