Ivory Coast to Coast News Round-up

April 7th, 2010 | by: Elliott | Comments Off

Hey everyone – the national team news carousel sometimes spins one hundred miles an hour, and sometimes grinds to a screeching halt. Even though the tide looks tame, don’t be fooled – underneath a current threatens to drag you under all the way to the Bay of Bengal.

In that respect, here are some interesting links…

Sven Goran Eriksson said he absolutely leapt at the chance to be the coach of the Ivory Coast (AFP). No, that is figurative statement. He did not have to actually jump like the potential AC Milan signings at the Milan stat lab.

However, Sven has voiced some complaints that he only earns a six figure salary for less than half a year of work. Oh no! (Goal). He also makes less than the English boss. But, then again, he did not lead the team in qualifying. And is a temp. And, and, and…

Of course, this is considerably more than most impoverished Ivorians make. (Yahoo). But they don’t have intricate Wag-limit lawmaking experience, do they?

Sven’s agent jumped to his defense, noting that there was no “hard bargaining.” (Sky Sports) So the impoverished Ivorians should sleep well at night. Right?

Also, not everyone has been impressed by Sven’s post-Lazio coaching career (Football.co.uk). Apparently, things did not go well at Mexico. Also, some UK pundits were unhappy with the quarterfinals…

Still, this is his third World Cup (USA Today). Surely he can learn from past mistakes? Or build on past successes? Or his bifocals will distract the press as it looks to latch onto internal player dissent?

The Guardian has a good article and an excellent/amusing picture of Eriksson at the last World Cup which captures his notorious “wandering eye” (Guardian). This picture was probably the highlight of the last World Cup…