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I watched some more football....
Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 11:59 amSo last night I watched another football game.
Rarely have I been so unexcited or uninspired by an England win. More worryingly, having accidentally won an ordinary group, with a shaky defence and a great deal of luck, the press are beginning to stir and suggest well, you know what they are beginning to suggest. I can’t bring myself to type it.
I don’t mind Rooney suggesting possibilities: he’s a player and you really, really want them to think positively, but the press should know better (Hah!).
Today’s Times even, suggests that qualification for the quarter finals was built upon grudging defence and a slice of outrageous luck. Well, they are partially right. That sums up last night’s display, but prior to that England have been unable to hold on to a lead for some time (though yes, they did huff and puff their way back against Sweden to win). Had the team faced stronger opposition – it would all have been much different. The French ought to have been more of a challenge, but they are fading (as their 2-0 defeat to Sweden showed), but even as Les Bleus fade, they still asked more questions of England in the opening game than England did of them.
As to the outrageous fortune last night: argue it either way. The ball looked to be over the line, so Ukraine can feel unjustly robbed of an equaliser, but there was a suspicion of offside, too. So maybe they were robbed or maybe justice was done.
I bet you the FA goes quiet on the question of goal line technology for a while, though. At least until a dubious decision next goes against England.
I have no idea how good a tea Italy are, the people England will face in the quarter finals on Sunday. Two things I do know though: 1) I’m glad we’ve avoided the Spanish (for now at least), and 2) the Italians will contrive to have a far more glamorous cut to their playing strips than will England in their oddly shapeless all-white.
Rarely have I been so unexcited or uninspired by an England win. More worryingly, having accidentally won an ordinary group, with a shaky defence and a great deal of luck, the press are beginning to stir and suggest well, you know what they are beginning to suggest. I can’t bring myself to type it.
I don’t mind Rooney suggesting possibilities: he’s a player and you really, really want them to think positively, but the press should know better (Hah!).
Today’s Times even, suggests that qualification for the quarter finals was built upon grudging defence and a slice of outrageous luck. Well, they are partially right. That sums up last night’s display, but prior to that England have been unable to hold on to a lead for some time (though yes, they did huff and puff their way back against Sweden to win). Had the team faced stronger opposition – it would all have been much different. The French ought to have been more of a challenge, but they are fading (as their 2-0 defeat to Sweden showed), but even as Les Bleus fade, they still asked more questions of England in the opening game than England did of them.
As to the outrageous fortune last night: argue it either way. The ball looked to be over the line, so Ukraine can feel unjustly robbed of an equaliser, but there was a suspicion of offside, too. So maybe they were robbed or maybe justice was done.
I bet you the FA goes quiet on the question of goal line technology for a while, though. At least until a dubious decision next goes against England.
I have no idea how good a tea Italy are, the people England will face in the quarter finals on Sunday. Two things I do know though: 1) I’m glad we’ve avoided the Spanish (for now at least), and 2) the Italians will contrive to have a far more glamorous cut to their playing strips than will England in their oddly shapeless all-white.