Wednesday 23 June 2010

SHAMELESSLY PARTISAN

National excitement was in the air today as England prepared for their crucial match against Slovenia. Pubs were packed. Some folk skivved off work. Football-related discussions could be overheard in shops among the most unlikely of people. Everyone had an opinion. Mostly it went along the lines of "Rooney-is-rubbish-and-why-doesn't-Capello-play-Joe-Cole?"

I'd even decorated my car (and that's my Dad in the background!).

Well, it was a tense and nail-biting ninety-three minutes and Slovenia proved worthy opponents, but eventually the final whistle blew and we could all start singing:



"Three Lions on a shirt,
Jules Rimet still gleaming
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming."

SO, the big question remains. Will England bring home the World Cup again?

And who do you think is going to be in the final?

7 comments:

  1. Good luck!

    I'm afraid I can't offer an intelligent opinion - our 'football' is quite different. But I have to say that while the World Cup is not front page news here, there are positive signs of interest.

    We hockey-loving Chicagoans are still celebrating the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup. Others - eternal optimists or masochists, depending on your point of view - are still waiting for the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series. It's been 102 years since the last title...

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  2. I'm afraid I find the World Cup so predictable and unfair - England will return to their usual [terrible] form against Germany ... and despite winning last night, Australia crash out! And I refuse to watch it ever again until the refs are compelled to view video-replays before making controversial decisions - like any other civilised sport. The diving and fakery just isn't fair play...

    However, until then, I extend the hand of international friendship and fair dinkum competion invting all your bloggers - from the USA, Italy (half the country now it seems), Argentina, England and not forgetting Arbroath - to come to beautiful Outback New South Wales and participate in the next Lightning Ridge Great Goat Race Championship (click on the link above for info and past photos).
    Kyle
    ps Anyone with a caprine allergy can of course compete in the wheelie bin races instead.

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  3. But Dan, the USA ARE THROUGH TO THE NEXT ROUND!

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  4. The pessimist in me wants to say "not England!" The optimist in me says "England".

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  5. Dear Sharon. How perceptive your correspondent Kyle from New South Wales is! Here in Arbroath we are football mad. Our town has a mascot which is a Rampant Goat - so no caprine allergies here, Kyle. Would you like to come and watch us play at some point? Yours, Arthur

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  6. Arthur - heartening to learn of the esteem in which our cloven-footed friends are held in Scotland. You may have heard that south of the border from you, Rammie the Mascot for Derby County FC had got himself in a little spot of bother ... although, as per my previous post I can sympathise entirely with what drove his, in this instance, misplaced ire ... [see link above]
    Has your rampant goat ever apologised for any over enthusiastic interventions? I would be intrigued to hear the details if so ...
    Kyle

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  7. I'm actually quite glad England have finished 2nd in the group as now we have two big matches coming up. If we beat Germany, and we should, then we can finally have revenge over that overweight self-obsessed cheat Diego Maradona

    England to crash out in the semi finals!

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