There’s a nicely sly moment in the turn-of-the-century comedy Meet The Parents when Ben Stiller’s Greg Focher gifts his future father-in-law, a CIA operative masquerading as a horticulturist, with a rare slow-blooming plant that takes six full months to flower. Robert De Niro, playing Jack Byrnes, can’t disguise his lack of interest in the plant. “Six months,” he says looking glumly at the pot of clay. “Well! I look forward to that.” Stephen Kenny, the Republic of Ireland soccer manager, could be forgiven for regarding the UK and Ireland’s bid to host Euro 2028 in much the same way.
“Ultimately it’s a money generator for the economy,” Kenny said politely when quizzed about the prospect at Ireland’s press conference before this evening’s Belgium game. In other words, Ireland helping to host the major soccer tournament has virtually zero association with where he is attempting to b …
- March 26, 2022
