Pathetic excuse for a footballer… Kewell resurfaces ahead of World Cup

News has emerged today that perennial underachiever, Harry Kewell is hoping to be fit in time for Australia’s opening World Cup match versus Germany on June 16th. Whilst most people would think this is great news for the individual and the Socceroos, and had England been in the same position with Wayne Rooney we’d all be pleased with such a revelation. On the other hand, this is Harry Kewell…

Putting aside the distain that anybody connected with Leeds United will undoubtedly feel towards Mr Kewell and his current employers, that’s a story already told. Lets have a look at a man, cheating his way as a professional footballer.

Allow me to take you back to the Spring of 2005. Kewell’s employers at the time, Liverpool have defeated Italian giants Juventus to make it through to an all-English, Champions League Semi-final against Chelsea. At this point Harry informs the media and boss Rafa Benitez that he is back to full fitness, following an injury blighted season that had seen the Aussie make just 18 appearances. There is no doubt that a fit Harry Kewell is a major plus and with this in mind Benitez controversially selected him ahead of the Dietmar Hamann for The Champions League Final.

Sadly, with Liverpool 1-0 down early on in Istanbul, Kewell decided he could play no further part in the match due to injury and was replaced by Vladimir Smicer. Kewell left proceedings to a chorus of jeers from his own fans, suspicious to the validity of the injury. Harry reaffirmed afterwards that his injury was too severe to continue. Liverpool won the match via a penalty shoot-out after a dramatic come-back from 3-0 down – No thanks to Mr Kewell, who collected a winners medal.

It’s easy to pass those sequence of events as a cruel coincidence, but fast forward 12 months and Harry was at it again. Having enjoyed a decent season with Liverpool, scoring 3 goals in 27 appearances. He was selected to start in the F.A. Cup final against West Ham, he again left the game early due to ‘injury’ with The Reds trailing 2-1 at the time… again Liverpool won the match in a penalty shoot-out and Kewell collected another ill deserved medal. It was later revealed that Harry had torn his groin muscle, a very serious injury – he was fit for Australia’s World Cup campaign just a few weeks later.

Harry got injured again before Australia’s 2nd round game versus Italy and was out of the game for almost a year… returning to action, yep you guessed it! 2 weeks before Liverpool’s Champions League Final with AC Milan in Athens. He appeared as a 2nd half substitute and collected another honour to add to his collection, this time a runners up medal as Liverpool lost 2-1. He was injured again for the start of the 2007-08 season.

Harry returned to action in October to prove his fitness in the final year of his contract. Despite another injury, Liverpool offered the Aussie a new deal. Harry joined Galatasaray on a bosman free transfer the following Summer, cashing in again on another lucrative deal. More injuries followed and having spent 4 months of the current season on the sidelines, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ has convinced Socceroo’s coach Pim Verbeek that he is fit enough to be included in the 23 man squad. Perhaps if the German’s are 3-0 up at half time in the opening game, it will be the last we see of Harry Kewell… One can hope.

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Pathetic excuse for a footballer… Kewell resurfaces ahead of World Cup