Blimey,
Definitely did not think that my next post would be after watching a masterful English walloping of Panama, while soaking in a joyous heatwave in the motherland, making the grim north feel like the south of France.... the “Hope-ometer” reading is now almost at Italia 90 levels. Sure, the opposition was a team just happy to be there - evidenced by the wonderful reactions to their goal - but quite the rarity to see an England team dispatch a minnow as professionally as they did.
There are still cautious tones to be heard. Harry can’t finish off his hat-tricks by simply getting in the way every game, and channeling my inner Gareth, I refuse to get too carried away just yet. I am extremely intrigued on how loose Mr Southgate is going to get by the end of the tournament. Right now, he continues to persist with the waistcoat like a best man who has been told to hold it together as there’s still some official photos to be taken. I’m starting to visualize a July evening in Moscow with a sweaty Gareth, having shedded waistcoat, tie and top two buttons belting out C’mon Eileen.... but for now we have to settle for the Steve Davis look. Interesting.
The other impressive part of the Engurland display was it came after Belgium laid down a marker the prior day. It was a bit like watching a better Everton under Martinez, Lukaku scored at will when given acres of space, while at the back, the risk of a clean sheet never looked likely. To some extent, with qualification assured, Thursday’s game will be a bust as players get rested etc, but with little pressure on the line, could be a very open game.
Looking ahead (when was the last time we could do that after two games!), I think Columbia are the team to avoid. Due to jet lag & travel, I missed both Jorge and the game. YouTube highlights have been my best friend, and they look as good as Poland have been poor...the latter probably the disappointment of the tournament.
In other news, the Russian “training methods” wore off, and they looked a lot more like the Russia we all expected. While Uruguay could bully and growl their way to the final. Egypt deserve no sympathy. The cruel way they didn’t play their 45 yr old goalie from the off was just not on. He promptly got the gig for the last game, and saved a pen.
Group B is also done with and I’m undecided on what to think. Hierro seems to get way too giddy when Spain score a goal. He needs to watch some Del Bosque videos. Only smile politely after goal number 5 please. Could be a close game vs the hosts, assuming the latter go back to the ‘training lab’.
Portugal crept through also against an unlucky Iran team, but the game was overshadowed by VAR. The bbc pundits couldn’t wait to unload on it, like high schoolers finding an essay question on the one topic they revised the prior night, ignoring the fact Spain scored a fine late goal that was initially chalked off. A bit more of a professional perspective would have noted more insightfully that we were witnessing that solid staple of a World Cup - a batsh*t crazy referee. Was great to see that even the technology couldn’t keep this from happening. Maddening and entertaining all at the same time.... Paraguayan officiating representation will be discreetly absent from the knockout stages...
Next up Mr Messi. Surely they can’t qualify ... can they.....
Definitely did not think that my next post would be after watching a masterful English walloping of Panama, while soaking in a joyous heatwave in the motherland, making the grim north feel like the south of France.... the “Hope-ometer” reading is now almost at Italia 90 levels. Sure, the opposition was a team just happy to be there - evidenced by the wonderful reactions to their goal - but quite the rarity to see an England team dispatch a minnow as professionally as they did.
There are still cautious tones to be heard. Harry can’t finish off his hat-tricks by simply getting in the way every game, and channeling my inner Gareth, I refuse to get too carried away just yet. I am extremely intrigued on how loose Mr Southgate is going to get by the end of the tournament. Right now, he continues to persist with the waistcoat like a best man who has been told to hold it together as there’s still some official photos to be taken. I’m starting to visualize a July evening in Moscow with a sweaty Gareth, having shedded waistcoat, tie and top two buttons belting out C’mon Eileen.... but for now we have to settle for the Steve Davis look. Interesting.
The other impressive part of the Engurland display was it came after Belgium laid down a marker the prior day. It was a bit like watching a better Everton under Martinez, Lukaku scored at will when given acres of space, while at the back, the risk of a clean sheet never looked likely. To some extent, with qualification assured, Thursday’s game will be a bust as players get rested etc, but with little pressure on the line, could be a very open game.
Looking ahead (when was the last time we could do that after two games!), I think Columbia are the team to avoid. Due to jet lag & travel, I missed both Jorge and the game. YouTube highlights have been my best friend, and they look as good as Poland have been poor...the latter probably the disappointment of the tournament.
In other news, the Russian “training methods” wore off, and they looked a lot more like the Russia we all expected. While Uruguay could bully and growl their way to the final. Egypt deserve no sympathy. The cruel way they didn’t play their 45 yr old goalie from the off was just not on. He promptly got the gig for the last game, and saved a pen.
Group B is also done with and I’m undecided on what to think. Hierro seems to get way too giddy when Spain score a goal. He needs to watch some Del Bosque videos. Only smile politely after goal number 5 please. Could be a close game vs the hosts, assuming the latter go back to the ‘training lab’.
Portugal crept through also against an unlucky Iran team, but the game was overshadowed by VAR. The bbc pundits couldn’t wait to unload on it, like high schoolers finding an essay question on the one topic they revised the prior night, ignoring the fact Spain scored a fine late goal that was initially chalked off. A bit more of a professional perspective would have noted more insightfully that we were witnessing that solid staple of a World Cup - a batsh*t crazy referee. Was great to see that even the technology couldn’t keep this from happening. Maddening and entertaining all at the same time.... Paraguayan officiating representation will be discreetly absent from the knockout stages...
Next up Mr Messi. Surely they can’t qualify ... can they.....
I think they can qualify Stevie, and I think they will....
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