I have the fear

[caddyman]

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".

Comments

[ellefurtle.livejournal.com]

So you have Jonah and your imaginary friend helping you....

Oh dear.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

I agree, but taking Walcott and then not even giving him a run out as sub is even more stupid. He either believes in the boy or he doesn't!