Eric Cantona » News

Cantona calls for English cap on imports

Linus — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:44:20 +0000

Eric Cantona, arguably the most influential foreign player of the Premier League era, has warned that England will fail to make future World Cups unless a cap is placed on imports.

Cantona said: “Yes, (a cap) is important. You can have foreign players; but three, four or five.”

“You must also have good, young English players because they will play with great foreign players and improve with them.”

“They will have a chance to play with the first team and they will play to win the Premier League; big games with a lot of pressure, they will play in Europe and they will have experience of the game.”

“Now, even the small teams, they have so many foreigners. Capello would once have had hundreds of players he could choose, but now how many English players play in the Premier League?”

“If it keeps going, in 10 years time it will be very, very difficult. I’m sure England will not qualify for the European Championship or the World Cup, because you need to have players who play at the highest level so you have to be careful.”

Cantona, who was credited by Sir Alex Ferguson with inspiring and improving United’s ‘golden generation’ of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, fears that a talent drought in the younger ranks of English football is now beginning to tell.

He said: “England have good players from the last generation, but they need to have very good young players and why don’t they have good young players?”

“You still have the old generation, like (Steven) Gerrard and these kind of players. When they were young, there were not so many foreigners.”

“Now Liverpool or Arsenal have 11 foreign players, so where are the young English players? Arsenal and Liverpool never play with English players!”

“These kind of teams need to work on young players – it’s very important for England, for the national team.”

“It’s very important for the whole national team to have young players involved in the greatest teams because they will play in very strong competitions, they will play to win the Premier League, in Europe and they will improve every time.”

Cantona: France was enroute to Cannibalism

Linus — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Eric Cantona says France’s World Cup meltdown was a blessing in disguise for the nation’s footballers.

Cantona, who won 45 caps for France, has claimed the team’s in-fighting might have turned fatal had they not flown home after the group stages.

He told the Sunday Mirror: “It is a good thing that the France team returned when it did.”

“Had they stayed out there another week, they would have ended up eating one another.”

“Thankfully we have avoided an outbreak of cannibalism.”

Cantona also welcomed the arrival of Laurent Blanc, himself a former United player, as Raymond Domenech’s replacement.

He added: “Laurent is a great coach. He will lift the France team out of its current troubles.”

Cantona dismisses Manchester City’s title challenge

Linus — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:00:42 +0000

Eric Cantona has dismissed Manchester City’s Premier League title bid, despite their colossal spending spree this summer.

Cantona had a good spell playing against the Blues during his playing days for United but their new found financial might could mean they would be ready to mount a challenge for the Premier League title. While Sir Alex Ferguson has so far only bought youngsters Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling, Roberto Mancini has already signed David Silva, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng & Kolarov — with more signings expected.

Cantona insisted that Manchester City remained off the pace – referring to Michael Owen and Paul Scholes’ last minute winners in meetings between the two sides last season.

“If they (City) play a game against United for 89 minutes, maybe they’ll have a chance!” Cantona joked.”

“But I think United have a team that is experienced and they have young players also – they still work on young players.”

“Chelsea don’t look so good, Liverpool seem to have problems. Arsenal? Maybe.”

Sky Sports kicks back at rivals with Eric Cantona ads

Linus — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:14 +0000

Eric Cantona will front Sky Sports new advertising campaign as it hits back against rivals BT & Virgin Media.

The “no compromise” campaign, which starts with TV advertising breaking today, features Cantona appearing to walk right through famous moments in sport such as Liverpool’s comeback to win the Champions League final against AC Milan in 2005.

“Anything can happen in sport,” says Cantona at the end of the TV ad. “The only certainty is you’ll get all of Sky Sports on Sky.”

Four billboards attempt to drive home Sky’s superiority over rivals with big pictures of Cantona and lines including “The unmissable should be just that”, “Compromise is not an option” and “What’s the point of greatness if you cannot watch it?”

Matt Smith wants Eric Cantona on Doctor Who

Linus — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:12:54 +0000

Matt Smith has revealed that he is hoping Eric Cantona will guest star in the next series of Doctor Who.

Smith, who plays the 11th incarnation of The Doctor, has already put forth the idea to head writer Steven Moffat.

He told the TV Times: “I’d like Eric to do one and I’ve mentioned it to Steven Moffat. Eric’s got to be bad!”

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Cantona: Looking For Eric is universal

James: Cantona was best at penalties

Linus — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:14:48 +0000

England goalkeeper David James has revealed what made Eric Cantona tick as a penalty taker.

He said: “You can’t save a penalty from a brilliant taker and Eric Cantona was the best. His technique was so good it was a joke.

“After he retired I found out his secret, he was watching the keeper. As soon as the keeper’s knee went, Cantona took the ball the other way and left him stranded. For any keeper a bent knee is a point of no return.

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Cantona: I’m Behind England

Linus — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:44:25 +0000

Eric Cantona has once again courted controversy by declaring that he will be supporting England at the World Cup in South Africa this summer, and not his native Les Bleus.

In an article in free newspaper Metro, Cantona said, “I will support England. I am half Marseilles, half English.” He also added that he wouldn’t be attending the World Cup in South Africa, but would be fully behind the English team as they strive to win their first trophy in over 40 years.

Cantona has won most of his trophies in England, and is lauded as one of the most iconic and talented players the Premier League has ever seen. He is also attributed to leading Manchester United to their glory years in the 1990s, and is so revered in Manchester they still chant his name at games.

Cantona Never Experienced Fergie’s Hairdryer

Linus — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:05:52 +0000

Eric Cantona is supposedly the only Manchester United player exempted from Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment.

Former Manchester United player Clayton Blackmore told Sport.co.uk in an exclusive interview that Cantona was never on the receiving end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s infamous ‘hairdryer treatment’ and that Ryan Giggs would just pip Cantona as the best player he ever played with.

He said: “Everybody had [the hairdryer] except Eric – I think he was the only one who never had it. Presumably because he never played badly!”

“Actually, it wasn’t so much playing badly as it was doing certain things wrong in a game. The hairdryer was a good way of letting you know not to do it next time.”

On the best player he ever played with, Blackmore said: “Eric came into it but I’ve got to go for Ryan [Giggs] for what he’s done in the game. He’s stayed at one club throughout and he’s still doing it now. It’s scary.”

Ferguson to present Cantona with Award tonight

Linus — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:00:03 +0000

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will honour Eric Cantona with the prestigious Legend of Football Award at the annual Football Extravaganza, which takes place this evening at the Hilton Park Lane.

Cantona is widely regarded as one of the best players in Manchester United’s illustrious history, collecting four Premier League titles and two FA Cups in his United career. Ferguson will present Cantona with his award on the 15th anniversary of the event in aid of Nordoff Robbins. Cantona was voted Manchester United’s player of the century and is still revered at Old Trafford where fans still chant “Ooh Aah Cantona”. He was voted PFA Player of the year in 1994 and the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1996.

Previous recipients of the Legend of Football Award at the annual Football Extravaganza include Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Robson, Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Alex Ferguson. Expected to be in attendance to see Cantona receive his award are a host of legends from the English football including Tony Adams, Sir Bobby Charlton, Alan Curbishley, Kenny Dalglish, Denis Law, Teddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer, all of whom are official patrons of the longest running annual charity football event.

Nike Commercial – French Légionnaire Synopsis

Linus — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:04:29 +0000

This is a Nike advertisement produced way back in 1997, but banned due to it being too similar to a scene from the movie Apocalypse Now.

Cantona first appears in a steamy Turkish bath Turkish bath and repeats the French Legionnaire’s oath of honour.

He says in French: “Legionnaire! You have volunteered to serve France with honour and fidelity.”

“Every Legionnaire is your brother and you owe him loyalty whatever his race or religion.”

In the final scene, Cantona strolls in with a towel around his waist before he whips it off and boldly heads for the shower butt-naked!

To view the video – Nike Commercial – French Légionnaire.