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Opinion

Newcastle fans have the strangest relationship with the Euros

8 years ago
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The Euros are here, a massive build-up to the games in France and on the pitch the opening matches have arguably been a step-up on many previous tournaments.

The matches have been relatively open and after eight games, we are still yet to see a goalless one.

Newcastle fans though are maybe the ones with the strangest relationship to this summer’s competition.

In a region where club football is always prized above everything else, it may be no surprise that we see things a little differently, though in this competition it has reached a real extreme.

Leaving aside for a moment how well England do or don’t do, my main focus is on the Newcastle players playing at the tournament.

Which in our case is Moussa Sissoko.

Ever since the days of Alan Shearer came to an end, the involvement of Newcastle players in international tournaments has been minimal.

Such as Jonas Gutierrez left-back appearances for Argentina in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Yohan Cabaye appearing in the 2012 Euros and Tim Krul’s penalty shootout for Holland in Brazil 2014.

With the likes of Rob Elliot, Andros Townsend and Paul Dummett missing out as squad members of their respective countries this time, we are left with a bizarre situation.

The only direct interest Newcastle fans have, involves most supporters being desperate for their own player to fail.

Is there any other club that comes anywhere close to this?

Newcastle fans willing Moussa Sissoko to be punished in the belief he hasn’t given Newcastle everything in recent seasons, then having the cheek to insist he leaves after he was a big cause of the relegation.

Newcastle supporters are seemingly desperate for Sissoko to be left rotting on the bench for France and failing that, when he comes onto the pitch that he makes a right mess of it.

On Friday night, Moussa Sissoko got the final of the five minutes of injury time.

He came on at 1-0 up and immediately kicked the ball into touch with nobody near him and under no pressure.

However, he then made a great lung-bursting run from inside his own half before seeing a decent left-foot shot go not too far wide.

One of these instances was gleefully passed around social media on video by Newcastle fans, no guessing which one it was…

Rafa Benitez has insisted he will try to do everything he can to keep Moussa Sissoko at St James Park.

All very strange, a player who obviously cares so little about Newcastle United or the fans, with the feeling very strongly reciprocated.

Maybe the best thing all round is that through gritted teeth, Newcastle supporters will Moussa Sissoko on to score a hat-trick in the Euros final and be sold at an outrageously inflated price as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona battle each other for his signature.

I think I have had my fill of hating the club’s owner without then having to do the same with our ‘star’ player, whether he is playing for club or country.

[get_involved]

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