Taking the Mickey (or Pulling a Sicky)

Spotted at last night's game between France and Italy at the Stade de France: Michel Platini (see previous post). Did he get to that funeral at all? There is a pattern developing among former French internationals making their excuses. In June Youri Djorkaeff took leave mid-season from the New York Red Bulls in order to attend to a 'family crisis' only to be spotted celebrating France's World Cup quarter-final win against Brazil. As for the wisdom of expecting MP to foresake a World Cup final rematch for an FAI Cup draw, what was John Delaney on when he arranged the whole thing? The FAI, methinks, was getting its hopes up, just like a poor teenage girl at the hands of a caddish older man.