By Myles Palmer
Australia v France is producing a lot of bad karma for the world champions.
A helluva lot of aggro,controversy and bad karma.
Maybe France’s chickens will come home to roost when they get knocked out in the first round next summer.
Arsenal’s petition against this fixture was a bold move. And an unprecedented move.
I was 100% behind Arsene Wenger’s objection to a 46-hour round trip flight to Melbourne for a friendly just before the Spurs v Arsenal game.
It’s stupid. It’s unnecessary. It’s bad planning. It’s arrogant.
There are 50 empty stadiums in Europe that could have been used for a friendly and most of them are two hours away from Paris.
Now I’m told they have customised an Air France jumbo for the trip.
Le superstars will sit in Business Class.
First Class seats have been ripped out to provide a lounge where they can chat and play cards.
And Economy has been turned into a massage parlour where their legs and backs can be rubbed down.
France are getting a £1 million fee to play the Aussies, who are tuning up for a play-off. Against Uruguay, probably.
But customizing this jumbo and chartering it for one match is costing them £600,000!
We knew that football is now showbiz. But this is the first time a team has had a Rolling Stones-style tour jet!
Will the same jumbo be used for the World Cup? Will it be used by the rugby team? Rented out to foreign teams?
Thierry Henry’s ankle swelled up like a melon after he was injured in the Charlton game.
But France insisted to went to Paris to see their team doctor.
Arsenal were worried about Thierry’s health. They did not want him to fly for fear of thrombosis.
SO THEY SENT HIM TO PARIS ON EUROSTAR.
The doc looked at his ankle and sent him back to London.
Will he be fit for White Hart Lane?
Yes.So will Freddie.
8th November 2001.