French coach Laurent Blanc had to think on his feet after a Chinese journalist’s question was only partially translated.
“I think the translator took a loo break and only translated the final part of the question,” Blanc mused.
The reporter had among other things asked what the team’ goal was at the event and his own transition from being “le president” in his heyday as France center half to being in the dugout these days.
Blanc said he was sure the different parts of the question were not linked and in any case “what was the question again?”
Dance away
Traveling Manchester City supporters will be out to encourage Poland-based England to put on their dancing shoes and dance the (sky) blues at the Euros. City fans were inspired by a Europa League trip in 2010 to Polish side Lech Poznan, whose fans dance the “Kolejorz,” holding on to each other’s shoulders and jumping in the air together. City followers adopted the idea and now shout out “Let’s all do the Poznan.”
Sheva - travel agent
Ukrainian football legend Andrei Shevchenko appears even more interested in promoting his country than talking about his side’s Euro 2012 chances. “Above all I’d like to welcome all of you to my country and to Kiev. It is a marvellous city,” said the former European footballer of the year, who then failed to add much of substance at his news conference - save to say “it’s an honor to play this tournament before my home fans.”
Iran women banned
from Euro 2012 TV events
Women in Iran are being banned from watching live public screenings of Euro 2012 football games because of an “inappropriate” environment where men could become rowdy, a deputy police commander said yesterdday.
“It is an inappropriate situation when men and women watch football in (movie) theaters together,” said Bahman Kargar, Iran’s deputy police commander in charge of social affairs, according to the ISNA news agency.
“Men, while watching football, get excited and sometimes utter vulgar curses or tell dirty jokes,” he said. “It is not within the dignity of women to watch football with men. Women should thank the police” for the ban. The Euro 2012 games underway in Poland and Ukraine are being aired on state television in football-mad Iran.
They are also being shown in movie theaters as a continuation of a practice that became popular for couples and families during the 2010 World Cup and the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
Something lost in translation
