Thursday, 19 November 2009
Tigers in SA
No serving Hull City player has ever played at a World Cup finals. However, in these highfalutin, cosmopolitan times, a chance has come for a member of the current squad to make history.
The countries represented regularly by Richard Garcia, Kamel Ghilas and Seyi Olofinjana have all qualified. The presence of Australia, Algeria and Nigeria in next summer's finals gives one of these chaps, depending on selection and the order of fixtures, the chance to go on the club's record books forever.
And it really is about time. Until elevation to the Premier League, City's international involvement was restricted to players representing the home countries that rarely achieved anything - Wales and Northern Ireland have especially had their share of City stars over the years - and the odd colony, minuscule island group or Commonwealth nation.
It could have been more next summer but for the chronic bad luck suffered by the Republic of Ireland, robbing Kevin Kilbane, Paul McShane and Stephen Hunt of an opportunity. Other members of the City squad could go depending on an upsurge in their club form or, in the case of Jozy Altidore, a rubberstamping of a long term future at the KC.
Meanwhile, it's up to the players whose nations have qualified to make sure they stay fit and on form, but, initially, only for their club. The last thing we need is Olofinjana ducking out of 50-50s against Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City in case it ruins his World Cup dream...