Henry, that Puyol “Flop,” and Those Missing Awards

November 30th, 2006 | by: Laurie |

We found out yesterday that Thierry Henry has been passed over for yet another award. This one FIFA Player of the Year, in favor of finalists Ronaldinho, Cannavaro, and, yes, Zidane. (Does anybody really think that Zidane had a better year than Henry? So why is he on the list and Henry’s not?)

First off, I want to say that I really like Henry, but my brain keeps going back to World Cup, especially to the France-Spain game, and to Henry’s Interview in “FourFourTwo” afterwards where he explains “the controversial flop against Puyol.”

Watch the clip. Read the interview. Tell me what you think. Was this justified, given the situation and everything that happened before it? Did it affect Henry’s reputation?

And if this had anything to do with Henry’s lack of end-of-year awards…

Well, then why is my favorite poster child for Impulse Control Issues on the Player of the Year shortlist?

From An Henry Interview in the Magazine “Four-Four-Two.”

On the controversial flop against Puyol and Spain that led to the decisive goal for France: “OK, this is a very simple one. Carlos Puyol is a nice guy but there was foul after foul after foul, and the referee didn’t have the guts to do what needed doing. In the end I was actually being penalised because I wasn’t going down. It was the same in the Champions League Final: he committed two really big fouls on me, but I didn’t go down and he didn’t get the card he deserved. After a while I turned to the referee and said, “OK, you can wave play on, but you have the power to come back to the foul once the ball is out of play.” He said, “Yes, but you didn’t go down.” What’s that got to do with it?

First half of our match at the World Cup, when the ball’s not even near us, Puyol comes across and elbows me. I look at the referee and he says, “You have the advantage, play on.” In the second half, same thing. He puts his hand in my face at one stage—nothing. I said, “Next time, I’ll fall.”

For the incident the question refers to, I’m running for a ball that Pernia should get easily because I’m a bit late on it. I see Puyol move across to block me and I try to run around him but he takes that extra step to block me. Now I like basketball, where blocking has its place, but not in football. What with the Champions League Final, that was the last block on me by Puyol and I went down. Maybe it’s not good, but after a while you realise you aren’t doing yourself any favours by staying on your feet. For me, it’s justified.”

France World Cup Blog RSS Feed

http://italy.theoffside.com Martha

You know, what bothers me far more than his dive (I mean, let’s call a spade a spade here) is that the same people who give Henry regular tongue baths for his class and intelligence will turn around and bash any Italian who walks by for diving. (Not that you would ever do this Laurie. But, you know, your people. Those darn France fans.) Arg, I say. The injustice!
http://france.worldcupblog.org/ Laurie

Martha, I will respond to this seriously. I will. Just as soon as I can make myself stop blushing over your “tongue baths” imagery.

Must think…kittens. Soft, little, furry kittens…
http://italy.theoffside.com Martha

Ha! Note to self: When expressing disgruntlement, use cold, metallic images.

This probably won’t help, but you need to see it, if you haven’t.
BIB

Thank God Henry doesn’t play for Italy he would have been red carded and banned for three games but he plays for those self-righteous French saints…they are such honest good boys. We should all strive to be just like them…excuse me I have to take a dump all of a sudden.
BIB

sorry i’m just bitter today.
http://italy.theoffside.com Martha

I like BIB.
Yevy

Puyol stuck his arm out to block Henry’s path – textbook foul. Should Henry stay on his feet and allow Puyol to gain an undeserved advantage? Of course not, that would be silly. Should Henry pretend he got hit in the face and try to draw an undeserved card on Puyol? No, and he should get carded himself if he gets caught.

Martha and BIB: it’s called reputation. Once it’s ruined it’s awful hard to repair. And the reputation of calcio in my lifetime is that of ugly, dirty futbol.
http://france.worldcupblog.org/ Laurie

This may be a surprise, but I don’t really disagree with you guys. Even BIB-who’s-having-a-bad-day. This whole incident still really, really, really pisses me off. Because, dammit, my French boys don’t dive!

(And regardless of whether or not a foul was committed, going down backwards holding your face when the contact was sideways to your chest IS a dive.)

Before World Cup, I think France had a reputation as a pretty straight-up team. (The occasional stomping or headbutt notwithstanding.) But it doesn’t take many incidents like this to undo a good reputation for the entire freakin’ team. Especially in this YouTube age. And that’s what really makes me angry.

So if because of this Henry is now looking at some empty spaces on the 2006 shelf of his trophy case…

Well, Titi, actions have consequences.
http://france.worldcupblog.org/ Laurie

Oh, and Martha, thanks for the video link. I have added it to my already-disturbingly-large collection of Zidane video clips.

(Hey, it’s not my fault! Those who are near and dear to me know that I truly believe diamonds are overrated. If you love me, shower me with French football videos.):-)