I have the fear

Well today is the day we find out if England have what it takes to progress in the World Cup. At 4pm they play unfancied Ecuador in the alarmingly-named "Round of Sixteen"¹. In theory, this should be a relatively easy game, but that is to be unfair to Ecuador who have progressed thus far after some interesting performances in the qualifiers, if not the group stage of the finals. England, on the other hand have displayed the occasional moments of flair and brilliance between long periods of joyless, unmotivated and uninspiring third-class football. The heat is a factor, and will be again today, but they should have acclimatised by now after close on three weeks.

Or so one would hope.

Injuries to the already small selection of strikers available following Eriksson's odd squad selection do little to boost confidence either.

We shall see. England should win; indeed they should sail through, but how many times have we heard that about this overpaid bunch of misfit millionaires?

Other than strictly footballing concerns, the omens remain bad closer to home. Not only will legendary jonah, colonel_maxim be watching the game, but he has invited the otherwise estimable and semi-mythical Henry² to the Athenaeum Club to watch the game. The combined aura of negativity may be too much for the benevolent powers exerted by yours truly, even when wearing an England shirt and absorbing alcohol like blotting paper.

We shall see.

¹To my fevered imagination this does not sound like part of a football tournament, rather it suggests a mediaeval dance troupe lead by Blondel or someone similar, boogieing on down to some sweet lyre and tambour riffs while the mead flows copiously. Either that or some kind of organised group orgy.

²For those of you who do not know, Henry is the avatar of the mostly silent ruletwo. Rule Two Originates from, I believe, The Bristol University War Games Society. where rule two of the constitution simply read, "It's all Henry's fault".

I have the fear

Well today is the day we find out if England have what it takes to progress in the World Cup. At 4pm they play unfancied Ecuador in the alarmingly-named "Round of Sixteen"¹. In theory, this should be a relatively easy game, but that is to be unfair to Ecuador who have progressed thus far after some interesting performances in the qualifiers, if not the group stage of the finals. England, on the other hand have displayed the occasional moments of flair and brilliance between long periods of joyless, unmotivated and uninspiring third-class football. The heat is a factor, and will be again today, but they should have acclimatised by now after close on three weeks.

Or so one would hope.

Injuries to the already small selection of strikers available following Eriksson's odd squad selection do little to boost confidence either.

We shall see. England should win; indeed they should sail through, but how many times have we heard that about this overpaid bunch of misfit millionaires?

Other than strictly footballing concerns, the omens remain bad closer to home. Not only will legendary jonah, colonel_maxim be watching the game, but he has invited the otherwise estimable and semi-mythical Henry² to the Athenaeum Club to watch the game. The combined aura of negativity may be too much for the benevolent powers exerted by yours truly, even when wearing an England shirt and absorbing alcohol like blotting paper.

We shall see.

¹To my fevered imagination this does not sound like part of a football tournament, rather it suggests a mediaeval dance troupe lead by Blondel or someone similar, boogieing on down to some sweet lyre and tambour riffs while the mead flows copiously. Either that or some kind of organised group orgy.

²For those of you who do not know, Henry is the avatar of the mostly silent ruletwo. Rule Two Originates from, I believe, The Bristol University War Games Society. where rule two of the constitution simply read, "It's all Henry's fault".

afternoon

God it's hot.

I'm hot.

Just 45 minutes now until kick off; I'm going to make myself a big drink of something fruity and listen to something VERY loud.

Tom Petty, I shouldn't wonder. I feel like rattling the glass with An American Girl (as it were).

afternoon

God it's hot.

I'm hot.

Just 45 minutes now until kick off; I'm going to make myself a big drink of something fruity and listen to something VERY loud.

Tom Petty, I shouldn't wonder. I feel like rattling the glass with An American Girl (as it were).

England 1 Ecuador 0

Dismal first half, slightly better in the second.

I blame myself; I forgot to wear the lucky England shirt before half time. We were much better after I had rectified this sartorial error.

David "Golden Balls" Beckham becomes the first English player to score in three different World Cup tournaments as we stagger with ungainly authority towards glory. England always manage one outstanding performance in every tournament; we haven't seen it yet so there remains ground for hope. We can keep blaming the heat, I suppose, but it's the same for everyone and they have been there long enough to acclimatise.

See, I can clutch at straws with the best of them.

The next England match is on 1 July; I am going to have to find some way of entertaining ellefurtle for the duration of the game, though the quarter finals may be far enough through the competition for her to start being interested. Who knows? The one thing I am certain of, is that I shall need tranquilisers if they keep this style of performance going for much longer.

Oh well, we're through to the quarters and I guess that's what counts. If only we could do it with a little panache for once. Holland and Portugal play tonight; probably have to watch that game to see which of the two we meet on Saturday.

Later, peeps.

England 1 Ecuador 0

Dismal first half, slightly better in the second.

I blame myself; I forgot to wear the lucky England shirt before half time. We were much better after I had rectified this sartorial error.

David "Golden Balls" Beckham becomes the first English player to score in three different World Cup tournaments as we stagger with ungainly authority towards glory. England always manage one outstanding performance in every tournament; we haven't seen it yet so there remains ground for hope. We can keep blaming the heat, I suppose, but it's the same for everyone and they have been there long enough to acclimatise.

See, I can clutch at straws with the best of them.

The next England match is on 1 July; I am going to have to find some way of entertaining ellefurtle for the duration of the game, though the quarter finals may be far enough through the competition for her to start being interested. Who knows? The one thing I am certain of, is that I shall need tranquilisers if they keep this style of performance going for much longer.

Oh well, we're through to the quarters and I guess that's what counts. If only we could do it with a little panache for once. Holland and Portugal play tonight; probably have to watch that game to see which of the two we meet on Saturday.

Later, peeps.

Portugal 1 Netherlands 0

Cor.

No, really. Cor.

Four players sent off, sixteen yellow cards and stand up fist fights.

That's entertainment. It ain't football, but it is entertainment.

And yet, between bad tempered outbursts, there was some decent play from both sides.

Cor.

Portugal 1 Netherlands 0

Cor.

No, really. Cor.

Four players sent off, sixteen yellow cards and stand up fist fights.

That's entertainment. It ain't football, but it is entertainment.

And yet, between bad tempered outbursts, there was some decent play from both sides.

Cor.