Skip to main content

Staring down the barrel

Thanks Stevey for saving me having to do any big rundown of the last 2 days' games. I think you captured all of the highlights bar one. This was Alberto Parreira's post match interview after the glorious (but inconsequential) win against France. I watched, hoping that he was going to unleash a Roberto Carlos-esque powerful volley (of vitriol) about Domenech's spoilt child antics, but instead he praised the achievements and spirit of his South African team. At the end of the interview he did leave a little teaser though, failing to pronounce the final syllable of this sentence: "Everyone can be really proud of this country". Was he making a clever linguistic-bluff reference to Domenech? If so, clever stuff.

And so onto today. My office has declared early closing to facilitate football watching, and whilst I'd have appreciated a 12:30pm finish every day for the past 10, I'll take anything I can get. And so will begin my ultimate score avoidance efforts to date. I will jump on my train home at precisely kick off time, then travel home past hundreds of people brandishing mobile score-update devices, passing pubs showing the football, and to home where I will begin the delayed-play vigil.

I am optimistic but terrified. Nothing but a good performance will do. I can't cope with our continued presence in the tournament unless we actually contribute something worthwhile and entertaining to it. Take France for example, at least they did badly in style. I had thought Terry's "big I am" was the start of our challenge to the French for best meltdown, but Capello seems to have nipped it in the bud. I will laugh if Dawson lines up in his place, surely the ultimate insult to any centre-back!

So, come on England. as Delia would say; "Let's be 'avin you".

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Arriving late at the far post...........

Well, out from behind a rock I come. Like Batman responding to the spotlight over Gotham, the sight of Alexi Lalas relaxing on ESPN's swanky new World Cup set spouting 'knowledge' of the beautiful game immediately triggered me into action. A personal excitement for me is the returning punditry on this side of the pond of one Roberto Martinez. 4 years ago, I listened to this polite young man with light enthusiasm....now I find myself hanging onto every word from Bobby Brown Shoes. A supremely classy guy, just hoping for the "and Neymar is close to signing, which is phenonemal (Bobby's most used word - quite impressive for a Spanish native) " Sooo, what have I missed so far (Brazil own goal aside).... - Roy Hodgson in old man sunglasses - An amazing lack of planning from team England organizing a friendly in Florida at 5pm in June and being surprised as a thunderstorm - Scapegoating of a key England player (Rooney) before a ball is kicked in anger - Overplay...

Stunning games and goals

Last night's games really lived up to their billing. Brazil and Chile was a great game - both teams going at it, the threat of goals ever-present and the threat of red cards also seemingly high. Chile looked the better team on balance, but the home advantage seemed to lift Brazil and they always carried a threat. The theme of course; one which is endemic across the tournament, is that neither defence looked very strong. In the end, the width of the post denied Chile in the shoot-out, as had the crossbar in the final minute of extra time. A really crappy way to go out of the tournament, but they can be proud of their efforts. Few will be disappointed to see Brazil still in the tournament, as things always go a bit flat once the hosts bow out. I'll also enjoy those anthems carrying on. If anything sums up England's utter failure in big competitions of late, it is the passionless mumblings we do in the anthems, which sets the tone for the game afterwards. The second game o...

Money and mouth

Rising to stevey's challenge here are my quarter final tips. My money has also been placed where my mouth is, so I could be a bit poorer by Saturday night. Holland v Brazil: I predict and upset, Holland to go through thanks to Sneijder's magnificence. Uruguay v Ghana: I think Ghana look Strong. Athletic. Talented. Hungry. That's enough buzzwords to guarantee a win. Spain v Paraguay: nearest thing that there could ever be to a "by" to the next round. Spain. So easy that even Torres might score. Germany v Argentina: Shock horror, this will see all four South American teams crashing out. Germany, with Deutsche Bundesbahn style efficiency will make England fans feel that little bit better by defeating Argentina.