We’ve all made a slip of the tongue in our time, whether you’re a pundit covering Euro 2020, or calling your teacher “Mum” in your schooldays.
It happens to us all. Fortunately, when most of us do it, it isn’t live on RTÉ, covering Scotland’s meeting with the Czech Republic on Monday.
Ronnie Whelan, an Irish footballing legend who spent 15 trophy-laden years with Liverpool, is a trusted pundit in Ireland, but his gaffes were met with some significant teasing. Showing where his club loyalties may lie, Whelan consistently referred to Scotland as “Celtic”.
Listen, he’s right in a sense; we’re the biggest club in Scotland, and the national squad is full of our players. However, we’re not convinced he meant to mention the Bhoys. The Czechs ran out 2-0 winners, with Patrick Schich’s second goal also earning hilarious coverage in America, via NBA pundit Stephen A. Smith.
Per Irish website Joe, Whelan said:
“In the first 15-20 minutes, the Czech Republic do not want to let Celtic get a goal.
“Celtic are really struggling to break them down.”
In fairness to pundit Ronnie Whelan, it’s easy to understand why he was distracted during Euro 2020 coverage
Perhaps Ronnie Whelan is keeping abreast of all the news coming out of Celtic just now. We’ve just hired a new manager, two of our best players look to be moving, and we have Champions League qualifiers coming up. Celtic are always big news, and maybe the Hoops presence in the Scotland camp had his mind occupied.
Or, it’s just a slip of the tongue. They happen to the best of us. At least he’s not making predictions that get called up on later, like Alan Hansen [BBC]. Or launching into an overwrought, incomprehensible comeback, like former Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas [Sky Sports].
The best Celtic/Ireland-adjacent moment in punditry, though? It has to be when, at the 1998 World Cup finals, Martin O’Neill absolutely rinsed Robbie Williams. Robbie was riding the crest of a wave after the success of ‘Angels’, but the future Celtic manager told him he “can’t write, and can’t play guitar” [BBC].
It was absolutely sensational, and completely out of nowhere.
So count yourself lucky, Ronnie; at least you’re not a former member of Take That, facing down a future Republic of Ireland manager.
READ MORE: Sort it out, Celtic – before it’s too late
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
