'Twas down by the pitch side, they met Uruguayans and Italians
who made it look like donkeys playing stallions
I watched for a while the tails they were chasing
Glory no, Glory no, to the bold Englishmen
As the opening groups in the 2014 World Cup, staged in Brazil, start to wind up their business we now know most of the final 16 teams who will line up in the knock out phase. There are some who have been knocked out even before the official knock out stage, including England and reigning champions (for a few weeks more), Spain.
While the allegation of under achieving can with justification be hurled the way of Spain, the same cannot be said for England. They achieved more or less what they were expected to achieve: nothing. Few anticipated this side to do well. All but the delusional and the incurable optimists - perhaps the difference is more imaginary than real - could emit surprise when Roy Hodgson's side lost in their opening two games, making the result of the third match academic. It was mere salting on the cake when the English were held to a 0-0 draw by Costa Rica.
Roy Hodgson has bona fide managerial skills which if they never strut the stage at this level of soccer are still apparent. That particular acumen came to the fore well before a ball was even kicked in the tournament when he lowered the English soccer public's expectations. In many previous competitions there was something that could almost have passed as shock when the side were eliminated earlier than the public thought dignified. Now that the dreadful penny has dropped and virtually every penny dreadful bar The Sun have arose from the slumber of 66 and smelt some Brazilian coffee, there is a realization that any half decent Yorkshire pub side has to fancy its chances against England.
The Sun, perhaps because of its name has tried to keep the torch lit for good old Blighty and Tommy Atkins. Juiced up on jingoism the paper can't come to terms with an empire where the sun never set but which is now thrust back into some remote corner of Europe where it can only draw down drizzle and a talent to match. Short on accuracy and long on audacity the red top rag emblazoned its pages with graphics of Rooney, Sturridge and Sterling superimposed with vampire fangs under the headline “Let’s have Suarez for dinner lads! Time to bite back!” Suarez alone appeared to be listening to the entreaty for more bite. The consummate connoisseur of Italian cuisine remained unperturbed and carried on as normal.
The fools the fools the fools
Suarez has left them for dead
While England fields these knaves
England on field shall never be...at Greece
One solid reason, at least, for Hodgson not wanting to get as close to The Sun as Icarus did. Best not to be exposed to its rays of wisdom, only to endure the let-down that accompanies the meltdown.
The trip to Brazil was not exactly a pointless journey, given that England did get one point from their three matches but only a pedant would labour that particular truism. They could have put the time to better use, giving free donkey rides to kids on Rio beaches, at least come home with a sense of achievement.
The upshot is, even for England supporters, fewer donkeys means more hay for the horses. And with the minnows like England out, the serious footballing sides like Costa Rica, Mexico, Greece, Colombia and Chile can get down to the real business of making hay while the real sun shines, serving up a feast of good soccer.
'Tis fifty long years since Bobby Moore stood a beaming
Players with panache, they set hope a gleaming
I see them today, midst their delusions and dreaming
Glory no, Glory no, to the bold Englishmen
The Germans have now effectively three sides still in the competition. Germany, the USA under Clinsman has a swathe of German passport holders in its side and of course they own Greece.
ReplyDeletelarry, if the paddys made it to brazil thatd be four. anyway, im going to tullamore on saturday evening to see the cats and the tribesmen battle it out in what will be an unreal game. prediction - galway to send the cats home with their tails between their legs - gaillimh abu.
ReplyDeleteAM,
ReplyDeleteliked the article a lot.....Chris Evans on his morning radio show summed up the expectations of the England team when weeks before the competition started he stated to his regular sports pundit...what's the point of all this sure they'll all be back home within a fortnight, and he doesn't follow football!!!
The problem with England is that what they perceive as reality is often not the case! In general the English public are constantly conditioned to believe that they are the best and that everyone else are usurpers....I suppose some part of a legacy of having an empire composed of third world countries who at one time they could bully....we see this clearly with the Scottish referendum where the Scots are being portrayed as being totally inept to govern themselves...yet the Scots all received an English backed education!!!!
And all of this attitude is constantly portrayed in their vision of their football team whose composition of players are constantly hailed as world class when nothing could be further from the truth...so when failure comes, it's always someone or something else that is at fault ....never the reality.
Grouch
ReplyDeletehope you are correct. Reeling back the years is a Kilkenny history video ffs. I'll be in Galway in October. Plenty of notice for you, to meet up or clear-out lol
Was in Galway a few weeks back for a stag, mighty city. Great game that too - some exchange of points between King Henry and Canning at the death! As for the article nice one Mackers, I think we all get a little satisfaction when the crushing reality that England are shite hits home for those arrogant fools. Works a charm every time!
ReplyDeleteThey could have put the time to better use, giving free donkey rides to kids on Rio beaches
ReplyDeleteThe Columbians have already cornered that market
u will be very welcome in saordonia larry, there might even be a mobile there by then, yes bres great game but heartbreak this evening, tipp next week, in tipp, ffs!
ReplyDeleteHere is a strange football related story about hippo's. In 1994 Andrés Escobar was shot dead because he scored an own goal that seen Columbia eliiminated just as they were warming up. That was about a year after the other famous Escobar, Pablo got killed in a shoot out out with the police. Pablo built himself a zoo and imported all sorts of beasts..The story goes some hippo's escaped into the jungle and are living there happier than Larry.
ReplyDeleteGrouch
ReplyDeleteWill forward you hotel details come October. I like to book into nice hotels when I can afford it as it gives me pleasure to watch other residents distaste and disapproval! See you in the lobby, come in your best rags.
larry, as a marxist-lennonist myself, i always travel first class and stay in five stars.
ReplyDeleteGrouch
ReplyDeleteonly way to travel. We Irish get a sniff of anything like a fair crack and all complaints before are forgotten. Show Paddy the money .... job done!