The Sun-Herald

Ref, Blow Your Whistle!

So, that was 2008.

Highlights? Talking points? There's a few.

Australia's 2018 World Cup bid is official
Frank Lowy takes on his possibly most-ambitious project yet. He's talked $45 million out of the Federal government to fund a campaign to convince the rest of the world (OK, 13 guys in suits) that Australia matters. Can he do it?

David Beckham™ joined AC Milan
It's only "on loan", mind you. Ha. Who would have guessed that Beckham™ would not conquer America? Who would have guessed his wife wouldn't either? Who would have guessed the superstar footballer would soon realise Los Angeles Galaxy are just not very good? Who would have guessed a stint at Milan was good economic sense for the "Beckham™ Brand"? All of us? Oh.

Sydney FC Continue to entertain
Just not on the pitch (unless you love horror movies). When the club was launched, a stated aim was to be "world class" (whatever that means). Who would have thought that aspiration would be related to drama? And you know the problem with drama? It can soon become tedious. Very tedious.

The not-so squeaky clean A-League
What do you mean a player from a Grand Final teams assaulted a referee at full-time and was banned by FIFA? What do you mean three players, including a former Socceroo captain and the skipper of an A-League club, were caught betting on games?

Cristiano Ronaldo is going to Real Madrid
No he's not. Yes he is. No he's not. Yes he is. No he's not. He's a slave. No he's not. He's trying to break a contract. Yes he is. No he's not. Shoot me now.

Mark Bosnich is back!
Who would have guessed that six years after playing his last competitive game for Chelsea Mark Bosnich would have made a comeback of sorts in Gosford, a few hours north of Sydney, for a team called the "Mariners". Certainly not Bozza. Even face down in a bowl of cocaine that kind of comeback would have seemed a little far-fetched. But it happened and these aren't the drugs talking.

Spain won Euro 2008
Hooray! A team wins a major tournament with style and a touch of romance. What do you mean 'What about Greece in 2004'? Exactly.

Abu Dhabi's royal family paid $450 million for Manchester City
Ha! Currently third from bottom in the Premier League, let's hope they kept the receipt.

Adelaide United made the Asian Champions League Final
But then forgot to turn up. Still, smashed 5-0 by Gamba Osaka was no worse an international embarrassment than that other 'advertisement' for the country, the movie Australia. Forza South Australia!

Joe Kinnear is announced as Newcastle United manager
He begins his first press conference with a five-minute rant at journalists that contains 52 expletives.

Australia's football team was "unlucky" at the Beijing Olympics
Yada yada yada. In fact, we just weren't good enough.

The Socceroos embark on a genuine World Cup qualifying campaign
They play poorly and still win!

A female footballer quits the game for porn
Eva Roob, once of German professional team Nuremburg, discovers there's more money to be made in the adult entertainment industry. But what if a male player did the same? Would anyone care?