Top 5: Football strops
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Following Wayne Rooney's descent into cricket and boxing at Craven Cottage on Saturday, this week's Top 5 is dedicated to everyone's favourite spud-headed scouser and that supremely entertaining of moments, the football strop. It's quite recent because, you know, I'm a nipper.
- Leeds United midfielder David Prutton had a monumental tantrum in February 2005 while playing for Southampton against Arsenal. He was dismissed for a dangerous tackle on Robert Pires and then embarked upon one of the most hilarious strops of recent times, resulting in two FA charges. He failed to leave the pitch, largely because he was busy threatening the officials, pushing the ref. He was banned for 10 matches
- Crazy thespian Eric Cantona soured his brilliant career by becoming more famous for a kung-fu kick on Crystal Palace supporter (if you don't believe the accusations which followed) or right-wing extremist (if you do) Matthew Simmons. The pair exchanged punches and Cantona was banned for nine months
- After losing to Germany in the 2006 World Cup, Argentina weren't best pleased. They allegedly shouted at the German penalty takers before Argentina became incensed by Per Mertesacker (kicked by Leandro Cufre), Olivier Bierhoff, a German coach (verbally abused by Gabriel Heinze) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (victim of an attempted punch by Maxi Rodriguez). Accusations and counter-accusations have been made, but it was bloody funny regardless
- During a stressful afternoon at St Andrews (aren't they all), Arsenal skipper William Gallas went a little bit bonkers in the nut - and Briggy Smalls has confirmed that it qualified as a strop. Following the horrific injury picked up by Eduardo in that game, Arsenal struggled to retain control, eventually dropping two points to a late penalty. Gallas could be found sitting in his own half when the spot kick was taken, and kicked an advertising hoarding or two for good measure
- Briggy Smalls also reminded me that Everton legend Neville Southall had a 'moment' way back when I was first watching football. The portly goalkeeping great refused to join his team-mates in the dressing room after a first half 3-0 drubbing in 1990
(Photo: BBC News)
Posted by Chris Nee
6 comments:
I'll add a couple onto this if I may :)
First off, DiCanio's monumental strop for Sheffield Wednesday when he got sent off and pushed Paul Alcock.
Then there was the Portugal team in the Euros who went mental when they were defeated and saw several players slapped with hefty bans.
Of course you may.
Obviously there were a whole bunch that didn't quite make it. These were the ones that really made me chuckle.
How about John Hartson's 'stroppy moment' when he tried to extracate Eyal Berkovic's head from his torso via the medium of his boot.
And if you're thinking classic old school strops with a hint of English (and Scottish) gentleman about it, when Keegan and Bremner stripped off their shirt after being sent off in the charity shield :D
Samuel Kuffour's strop after Bayern let in their second goal against Man United in the 1999 European Cup Final stands out in my memory. At least he had good reason, I suppose...
Nice list Chris. Am guessing the crazy scenes after Valencia-Inter (I think?) a couple of seasons ago in Champs Lg didn't quite make the cut?
I judged Germany v Argentina to be a little more entertaining, though I couldn't really explain why!
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