Harry and the things better left unsaid.
Despite having one, the truth is, I try not to think about groins too often. Let’s face it, one minute you’re obsessing, the next you want to ‘play for Palermo’.
But if there is a groin that has united the nation, that has made us want to dip our hands into the jar of massage oil and slather them all over that special part of a man’s world, stroking with the fierce intensity of an Eastern European healer yet with the soothing love of a friend, it would have to be Harry’s.
Despite everything we know about Harry, his occasional reluctance to play for the Socceroos, the difficulty of getting him to do an interview with the Diegos, the injuries, the rumours that he was known as “Prince Harry” at Leeds, the seeming isolation from other squad members that sometimes filters through and the spectre that “brand Harry” needs to be guarded at all cost, Australia rightly loves him and his groin.
Harry’s anger over Robbie Slater’s article in The Sunday Telegraph this past week claiming that someone in the squad used the “F” word to express the view that Harry should move on, coupled with Slater’s opinion that Harry should not have been picked given the injuries that plagued his season, courted a passionate response from the player.
Harry picked up the phone and then got into a heated ‘On Air’ slanging match with Slater. It made compelling, and maybe even a little bit embarrassing, television. Slater asserted his right to an opinion and Harry demanded that he name his source, questioning the veracity of the rumour. The low point was Harry’s accusation that Slater was motivated by jealousy.
Though a tad misdirected, what I respected was Kewell’s passion. This was not a manufactured, pre scripted response, this was a bloke sticking up for himself and maybe even all Socceroos. The reality is that Kewell’s phone call probably gave more legs to the issue than Slater’s piece, so the fact that Harry put it ‘out there’ speaks volumes.
Though Slater has every right to cast his opinion about Harry’s selection, it seems that the real sore point concerning the whole incident was that Slater went public with information that should’ve remained inside the camp. Robbie, a former Socceroo with lots of contacts in and around the team, looks to have broken a code of silence that protects all players. By quoting a player, doesn’t Robbie destabilise the peace of mind of the whole squad, not just Harry’s? And does he have dirt on other players that should also come out? In the history of Slater’s time with the Socceroos and beyond, there must be much that was left unsaid for the good of the team.
There is no doubt that Harry Kewell is one of Australia’s most gifted footballers and that a fit, fired up Kewell is exactly what every fan and player wants to see in the squad, Robbie Slater included. If Harry wasn’t fit enough to play, if there is a ‘circus’ that follows him, that’s not necessarily his call. Nothing the Socceroos did pre-tournament was mind blowing and the whole squad courted attention and scrutiny. And when they got it after the Germany game, none of them managed it well.
When the squad for the Ghana game was announced, despite Tim Cahill’s absence, the excitement was palpable. Harry didn’t do that much, but having him there made the team dangerous. Losing him was devastating. He was gutted, we all were.
From the time of the 2006 campaign and after an injury ravaged and disappointing stint at Liverpool (I have to say that his last season, despite the lack of goals, was his best with the Reds), I think Harry has always looked like he loves playing for the Socceroos and has put his body and career on the line for his country. This might be driven by his interest in protecting his brand, but I think it’s also tied with his love for the game.
From my position Harry, the brand and player, though at times aloof, has been professional and I admire his attitude on the pitch. While I don’t know what happens off it, inside camp or at training, we should judge him from the way he plays.
Harry being told ‘where to go’ is certainly good gossip, it may even be true, but I think it ultimately disrespects and undermines a player who has worked hard for his country. Robbie certainly had a spicy quote, but he could’ve made his point without it. Ouch.
Vinnie Venezuela
