The Beautiful Game

Last night at about 8:07PM I was able to begin to wipe from my mind the memory of the last time I saw Croatia play at Wembley on that dark, wet and miserable night back in 2007 when England were eliminated from qualification for UEFA Euro 2008. As Frank Lampard stepped up to convert the penalty it felt like it was going to be a great night. The team playing well, keeping the ball, creating chances and scoring goals - but there was one element which I was getting a bit stuck on. Good old Emile Heskey.

Before the game I was fully bought in to starting Heskey over Defoe. Sure Defoe has been on fire for Spurs so far this season, but the England team look so much more balanced and get the best from Rooney and Gerrard when there is a big guy who can hold the ball up. However, the two chances that Heskey missed in the first half are ones that I am confident Harry Redknapp's wife could of scored - and if we have designs on winning the FIFA World Cup then we need two strikers who can offer a goal threat.

He is great at doing his job, has pretty good movement and makes Rooney play well - but I think that now we have the luxury of secured qualification Fabio Capello should turn to Carlton Cole. We know Heskey can do the job well. However, could Cole offer the complete package that as well as the hard graft and link play delivers an eye for goal?

It stunned me to find this from the Daily Mail;

Cole is easily the best option to replace Heskey.

I believe that he should start, and finish, both of the remaining competitive FIFA 2010 World Cup Qualifiers. There are 9 months for the team to be developed and refined and you could argue that with a fully fit crop of players only the right midfield and partner for Rooney are the ones that do not pick themselves (assuming David James is fit and playing well). Lennon deserves a run in the team - and he should get that after his MoM last night - but if we do not give Carlton Cole the minutes on the pitch we will never know and then what happens if Heskey gets injured in the first match?

Come on Carlton, don't let me down

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So the mighty FIFA Confederations Cup has kicked off.

Each of the reigning Confederations champions face-off in a tournament lower valued by the media than the Carling Cup Quarter-Finals. It is a tournament that sees the might of Brazil and the reigning World Champions Italy face the likes of Iraq and New Zealand, it is nearly as mis-matched as the Twenty20.

Still the tournament has started, and there have been some lively opening games - not least last nights encounter between Brazil and Egypt which ended in a 4-3 victory to Brazil, with Real Madrid's new signing Kaka scoring the winning penalty in the 90th minute. However, it is not Kaka getting the headlines but English referee Howard Webb - how he must of wished for a simple, quiet tournament to cement his trip back to South Africa next summer after the controversy from UEFA Euro 2008 (he gave a dodgy penalty). However, he has once again ended up in a spot of bother over a penalty - he has even had an official complaint filed against him by the Egyptian FA.

 However, the remarkable thing here is it is not a complaint about making the wrong decision, but for the way he made the right decision.

 To put this into context, Brazil were making a last push for a winner when a Lucio struck a volley and Egypt's  Ahmed El Mohamady made a dramatic block on the line before the ball was cleared. Webb signalled a corner to Brazil and then there was a flurry of players around the English referee. Brazilian's claiming a clear handball and El Mohamady acting like he had just been shot.

You can watch the highlights here;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8101788.stm

In the midst of the player reactions Webb is listening to someone on his radio - and this is where the issue lies. Webb clearly issues a corner, and then changes his mind post radio contact with another official. The Egyptians claim that the penalty was only awarded after the 4th Official saw the TV replay on a pitch-side monitor. Now only Webb and the other officials know exactly what happened but from what I can see that is the only logical explanation.

This incident replicates my own thoughts that the same happened in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final when Zidane got sent off and despite being nowhere near the match action the referee returned to dismiss the player. However, in the same way as then FIFA have rejected the complaint

Clearly there is a massive debate about technology in football, but I still do not see why at the highest level it could not be brought in to the game. UEFA are adding two extra officials to the UEFA Europa League next season to keep a closer eye on the goalline but surely technology offers the solution. It would be quick and easy but would still have to be at the Referee's discretion to use the technology - as it is in Cricket with the 3rd Umpire. For moments like this it would ensure that decisions are right more often and would probably improve the general standard of refereeing as they would have extra support if required.

I am sure Mr Webb would join me and be in  favour of technology coming in to football and applied in this way, and which fan would not want to rule out the phantom goal destroying their dream...

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