image: supersport.co.za

Luis Aragonés is still refusing to apologise for calling Thierry Henry "a black shit" in October 2004. When asked whether he would apologise to Henry before tonight's second round game between France and Spain, the Spanish coach gave this rather bizarre reply:

"No, no, don't go down that road. Henry knows through Reyes, through everything. I won't talk about it for another second. It's a topic that isn't worth talking about. Why? Because it's not like that. I have black, Gypsy and Japanese friends, including one whose job is to determine the sex of poultry."

I suppose that could be interpreted as saying he's already apologised in private and sees no need to do so again in public, though the reference to Reyes suggests he asked the Arsenal man to pass on some second hand sorries. Wouldn't it just be easier and better for Aragonés to apologise in public? And what on earth does determining the sex of poultry have to do with it? Here's hoping Henry scores a hat-trick tonight.