Internationals 11 February 2009

[MrsB]

[livvy145]

[MrsB]

I can see myself getting slated for this, but is rooney injured?

He injured his hamstring vs. Wigan on 14 January, so he was left out.

[Mike]

Didnt know how long it was until he was back.

[MrsB]

Lost in translation

Guardian, The Knowledge
9 May 2007

"During any English newspaper feature of a top Italian side, the reporter will inevitably use, at some point, the Italian translation of their colours in italics (eg Rossoneri for Milan)," points out Dean Anderson. "Do the clubs themselves refer regularly to these nicknames or are the reporters just showing off? Do foreign match reporters reciprocate and refer to the Gunners or the Reds, for example?"

The answer to your first question is yes, Dean - Italian newspapers and indeed fans themselves regularly refer to Italian clubs by their colours, which have long been used as rather uninventive nicknames. Even the Italian national side is regularly referred to as gli Azzurri ("the Blues").

Your second question is a little less straightforward, not least because "foreign" is rather a broad area. We can tell you that Italian and French journalists normally operate the same way - referring to Manchester United, for example, as i Red Devils and les Red Devils, respectively. But both do also occasionally translate nicknames, normally with clubs they report on less often. Bolton, for instance, are sometimes know as les Vagabonds (a rough translation of 'Wanderers') in France.

The same is broadly true in Spain, but our man Sid Lowe reckons the nation's press has something of an obsession with translating English names generally. "They're always translating the names of the English royal family, so it's Principe Guillermo or Principe Carlo, instead of Prince William or Prince Charles," says Sid. "Most bizarre of all, though, they always refer to the English football side as los Pross, even though nobody has been able to explain why. It's definitely not a Spanish word, and everyone seems to think it's what the English call themselves. The best explanation I've heard is that it has come from 'pros', as in 'professionals'."

In Germany, original and translated nicknames are used fairly equally but with a few added peculiarities. "Both original and translated nicknames are used in Germany," admits our correspondent Raphael Honigstein. "But one very peculiar - and totally infuriating - national habit is adding an English team's city after its name - as in Arsenal London or Chelsea London. Even news agencies routinely do it, and a lot of people are convinced these sides really exist. Thankfully we have not seen Tottenham Hotspur London or Aston Villa Birmingham yet."

[red g]

I actually think it has a nice balance about it. A lot depends on how well Agbonlahor adapts to the senior team as it does lack a bit of cutting edge.

The teams of the last 20 years have largely been disappointing. Too many stars who don't commit to the team.

would that be more down to bad management? rather than the players?

[DannyMan2006]

Come on England and the LFC Spaniards!

[Craig_H]

As long as Pepe, Riera, Alonso, Arbeloa and Nando come home safely without injury, that's all i give a **** about.

[dww]

would that be more down to bad management? rather than the players?

I'd suggest a little from column A, a little from column B.

[Craig_H]

Rio Ferdinand mysteriously injured. Quelle surprise.

[Craig_H]

deleted

[Gaz]

As long as Pepe, Riera, Alonso, Arbeloa and Nando come home safely without injury, that's all i give a **** about.

I second that, it's about time these mid season friendly's were scrapped, they serve no purpose whatsoever.

[Craig_H]

Have to admit though, if they can all gang up on David Villa and convince him to join Liverpool, that provides one aspect of their call-ups that i do not object to.

[certifiable]

We (Ireland) just got the jammiest peno decision I've ever seen in my life.
So crazy can't even make out what it was for

Commentators reckon a handball when it clearly came off top of his shoulder while robbie keane had been adjudged offside by linesman.

We deserved an equaliser, but Georgia have been robbed

Edit: 2-1 t0 ireland now. keano with a guided shoulder for the goal, what a player we should sign ....oh

[tiktu]

There is even bigger diver in Portugal's team than Ronaldo and funnily that player also plays for ManU. Couple of strong tackles on Ronaldo so far and the crying has started.