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Reuben Joe Joseph
Reuben Joe Joseph

FIFA U-17 WC

WC diaries: Tales from the press room

moriyama-fukuoka Japanese coach Yoshiro Moriyama (left) and player Shimpei Fukuoka speaks during a press conference ahead of their FIFA U-17 World Cup match against England in Kolkata | AP

As much as a press conference is for the press, it often gives a journalist very little to work with. It operates as the media’s window to squeeze the juiciest quotes out of the coach/player, but often leaves one with the usual. Note: There is a difference between sensationalising the news and giving an interesting insight into the team and their preparation. I prefer the latter.

At the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the on-field excitement is rarely carried over to the press room. Standard answers to most questions can be very frustrating.

“I haven’t yet decided who will play tomorrow.” Sure, you haven’t.

“The opponents are very strong.” They wouldn’t be at a World Cup if they weren’t.

“We want to win this game.” Because losing is so mainstream?

“The team showed great character.” Okay, now you’re just quoting Brendan Rodgers.

I can’t complain though. A presser is a necessity and gives the basic information one would require ahead of a game. But, imagine how much better it would it be if there was a Jose Mourinho or a Zlatan Ibrahimovic to break the routine.

The English media are known to be ruthless, in football at least, and managers dread facing them. Over time, players and coaches have learned to tackle the most unexpected questions with carefully worded responses.

But, being an U-17 tournament, the players were almost always flanked by the team’s media manager to ensure that the youngster didn’t let slip anything controversial or any inside information. The players, though, were surprisingly mature enough, or rather well trained, to handle queries as diplomatically as their coaches.

Often, the coach or player does not really answer the actual question and circumvents it, forcing the journalist to read between the lines. But, in an international tournament like this one, where countries come from different corners of the world, it’s hard to say whether the question or the answer is lost in translation. (English-speaking coaches are inexcusable, though.)

The translator’s job is not an easy one, but one can feel the essence of the question/answer being watered down when translated back and forth, and the interaction loses its flavour.

One interesting departure from the monotony was when Japanese coach Yoshiro Moriyama was asked whether England winger Jadon Sancho’s absence would affect his team’s preparation. 

Also read: Jadon Sancho departs ahead of knockout stage

The media was dying to know whether the English star had left, and the Japanese presser was held just before the English one.

“I don’t believe he left,” said a jolly Moriyama, with a chuckle. “I saw him at the hotel today and I think he will play tomorrow,” he said and the room roared with laughter. It got everyone buzzing only for the English coach to arrive next and douse the flames, confirming the boy’s departure.

Sancho’s exit came as a disappointment, but at least we had a good laugh.

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