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FORGET TACTICS, JUST LEATHER IT
In an age of counter-pressing, progressive carries and PPDA (passes per defensive action, apparently), it is heartening to know that we are – just like our childhood selves in the playground looking up in wonder at those in the year above – still absolutely entranced by people that can kick a football really, really far.
England has a long and proud history of absolutely leathering it. From Bobby Charlton’s thunderba$tards to Paul Robinson’s cultured set pieces, via laughing at Mark Corrigan cowering at someone kicking it “too hard” and John Smith’s attempts to flog tasteless bitter, we have always been a nation of shopkeepers traction-engine enthusiasts. Sure, Guardiola-ball was good, but have you ever felt the rush of watching a non-league full-back punt a clearance on to a corrugated iron roof? One of England’s proudest moments remains David Bentley booting a ball from a tower block into a skip. Or when Eric Dier, a true patriot, volleyed Prime Sergio Ramos into another dimension. David Beckham, born at Whipps Cross hospital and surely our nation’s best export since cheddar cheese, only really came into the country’s collective consciousness after that goal in 1996, and we all rushed out to buy his Predators the next day in the vain hope those mythical rubber bobbles would supercharge our own feeble attempts at actually getting the ball off the ground.
We know not if Diego Gómez enjoys wearing sarongs and goes out with Paraguay’s answer to a Spice Girl but having previously had our curiosity, the Brighton midfielder now has our attention after his goal-of-the-season contender on Sunday. The Seagulls romped to a devastating 5-0 win over rivals Crystal Palace, with Gómez’s strike from the halfway line the undisputed headline act. We are not sure what the dweebs in Brighton’s data bunker made of such a goal, but even chief nerd Fabian Hürzeler seemed impressed at Gómez’s heroics, despite his mention of xWind. “He’s a hard worker, he always puts the team first,” Hürzeler cooed. “He’s always ‘we’ then ‘me’. Last week, he showed against Sunderland, there was already that attempt shooting from the middle line. There the wind wasn’t perfect for this try. Now the wind was better for him.”
Of course, Diego’s goal was not just a hoof but an elite piece of skill, the culmination of a lifetime of preparation and training, executed perfectly after a series of micro-calculations that only a professional footballer can convert. But it’s also just a very big kick, and there are few things Football Daily would rather get behind than that. Now, where are those Predators?
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I am so happy to be able to carry on with this squad and cannot think of a better job in football. Working for a world-class organisation like the FA, and alongside so many people dedicated to winning England teams and the growth of our game, excites me every day” – Sarina Wiegman has extended her contract to continue as the head coach of England women for Euro 2029. Her deal was due to expire after next summer’s World Cup and this gives her the chance to lead the Lionesses to three European Championship titles in a row. Hooray for England’s winningest senior team!
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
In response to Mike Turney’s question about bands being present in a game (Friday’s Football Daily letters), and at the risk of revealing my advanced age, how about Peters and Lee in England’s 1970 World Cup squad? Though Martin and Franny probably weren’t welcomed home after being knocked out by West Germany in the quarter-finals” – Nick Payne.
Hold on! Callum Wilson played Kalvin Phillips a few times (Leeds v Bournemouth in 2021). OK, not hugely imaginative, but easier than seeing if there was a Willy Prefab lining up for Clachnacuddin against Keith Sprout of Forres Mechanics in the 1972 Highland League” – Ed Grant.
What a world we live in. Giving Mikel Arteta say £18m a year instead of £20m and Arsenal wouldn’t have to cut any jobs” – Andy Jennings.
If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day goes to … Nick Payne. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.
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