Ryan Babel

[Kinell]

While some players have sat on sunbeds and got a tan over the summer, Babel has sat on the bench for Holland in every game so far and will walk away with a winners or runners up medal.

If you were in his shoes would you have any mixed feelings at having made no contribution during the tournament and receiving a medal?

[Kinell]

P.s. I'm over joyed for Dirk as it's nice to see some reward for his consistent commitment. But when it comes to Babel I think more along the lines of Josemi in Istanbul.

[Leyton388]

No He is part of the Squad/team. He played in the qualifiers and is at the WC. takes part in all the training sessions. Wouldn't bother me at all.

Nar only messing it would feel hollow

[EwarWoo]

I think he'd have to be pissed at not getting to play, at least for a small part, at the actual finals.

But as tj says, he's very much a part of the squad even if he hasn't had the opportunity for a run out, that's outside his control, and he has no reason to feel bad about taking the medal.

[Mostar]

At the end of the day his name will be written in the football history whether he played or not. Not too shabby (or should I say shaggy)..

[BrooklynRed]

Same goes for Pepe Reina-- and I won't begrudge him one little bit...

[Nick77]

Same goes for Pepe Reina-- and I won't begrudge him one little bit...

On current form I would say Pepe is better than Casillas at the moment imo...

[BrooklynRed]

On current form I would say Pepe is better than Casillas at the moment imo...

sure, but the original post said:

"While some players have sat on sunbeds and got a tan over the summer, Babel has sat on the bench for Holland in every game so far and will walk away with a winners or runners up medal.

If you were in his shoes would you have any mixed feelings at having made no contribution during the tournament and receiving a medal?"

no mention of his relative quality, so I think the Pepe comparison applies here...

[Zapater]

A few people credited Angelo Peruzzi with Italy's 06 win, a number of the playes said he was pretty much the most influential figure in the dressing room. He was an excellent keeper, too bad that Buffon is better, so I do think that being in the squad merits a medal.

People seem to forget, it's not just the 11 on the pitch that have to do the hard work, in football the entire squad slogs it out at training each day, listens to tactical instructions etc, just because they aren't on the pitch doesn't mean they're not deserving. Especially because if the circumstances alter, even ever so slightly the shoe could be on the other foot.

Anyway, pretty chuffed that Reina, Kuyt, Babel, Torres, Arbeloa and Alonso will end up with medals of some capacity.

[doogle]

A few people credited Angelo Peruzzi with Italy's 06 win, a number of the playes said he was pretty much the most influential figure in the dressing room. He was an excellent keeper, too bad that Buffon is better, so I do think that being in the squad merits a medal.

People seem to forget, it's not just the 11 on the pitch that have to do the hard work, in football the entire squad slogs it out at training each day, listens to tactical instructions etc, just because they aren't on the pitch doesn't mean they're not deserving. Especially because if the circumstances alter, even ever so slightly the shoe could be on the other foot.

Anyway, pretty chuffed that Reina, Kuyt, Babel, Torres, Arbeloa and Alonso will end up with medals of some capacity.

why have we not won more silver

[JohnDoe]

The new Diomede?

[Matt]

When the camera cut to the bench at various times, I think I saw Babel smile once, so I would say he's had the time of his life.

[the rev leeroy brown]

babel deserves his medal just as much as reina deserves his. i'm against the domestic ruling whereby if you are not in the cup final squad you dont get a medal even if you play every other game. the world cup started 2 years back so as long as you played some part in qualifiying you should get a medal.

[Exiled_red]

Former Liverpool player Ryan Babel makes sexist remark to Twitter user
• Attacker told social media user ‘to grow tits instead of speaking about football’
• Al-Ain player adds that he will not ‘argue with a girl about football’

The former Liverpool attacker Ryan Babel could find himself in hot water following a sexist remark to a Twitter user, subsequently refusing to “argue with a girl about football” and posting what he claims to be his personal phone number.

Babel, now playing with Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates, told the user to “grow some tits instead of speaking about football” after she questioned why he disliked the Real Madrid manager, Rafael Benítez.

The 28-year-old former Holland international followed up the comment with a succession of tweets attempting to defend himself. “At least let your brother or your boyfriend make the comment then we can argue,” he wrote, adding: “Look i’m not this guy anymore who should be careful what i say, regardless if its childish or not.. I’m coming for you if i feel like it.”

This is not the first time that Babel has become embroiled in a Twitter spat. He was fined £10,000 by the Football Association in 2011 after responding to Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford by posting a mocked-up photo on his Twitter site of the referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...remark-twitter