I'm in the mood for the Euros. There, I said it.
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 1:17PM From this to now giddy giggles and skipping. I'm going to have to avoid actually looking at the team sheet before kick off and if I can do that then I might have some success in watching the whole game through and actually giving a ****. I prefer the days of delusion when we believed we might win it. The build up to this England game (even with all the controversy) lacks the chest pumping pride and excitement of previous tournaments (I lied about the giddy giggles and skipping - I'm saving them for Apple's WWDC 2012 which kicks off around 6pm GMT and might end up being a worthy escape).
So yes, nobody is expecting us to do much. We're pedestrian at best. Dour and unsexy. Workman like but with the occasional piece of trickery and guile. France unbeaten in twenty-one with plenty to prove. We could still surprise everyone and actually get a result and then that belief might return. Or they could brush us aside which would mean the tabloids unleash headline hell. What's been institutionalised over the decades is that it's all or nothing supporting England, the expectation was that we would always be in with a shout to win it (get knocked out at the QF stage). Maybe beating France will ignite that chest pumping. I'm waffling. I'm trying really hard to find some genuine passion from somewhere. If John Terry scores I might actually throw myself at the tv in protest, with grenade in mouth.
Maybe I should just admit my opinion hasn't really changed, I just want it to change and the fact that I can't even get hyped up about my country sums up how the delusion has transcended to disillusionment. Once upon a time, I'd not have questioned any of it. When your club team is struggling you don't disown or turn your back or lose that love for them (if you're not a glory hunter - although not sure glory hunting comes into it with a national side. You can't pick your nation, you are your nation, at least you're meant to be). Once upon a time I had as much love for the Three Lions that I have for the Cockerel. It's all gone very wrong somewhere and the fact I can't answer it leaves me conflicted still.
This is hardly a rousing pre-match battle cry is it? Sorry. So good luck England, good luck Roy.
Here's to dicking the French. It's got to be worth tuning in just for the off chance that might happen.
Reader Comments (25)
You make us sound like Stoke - plucky and workmanlike capable of pulling off the odd upset but never going to win anything... Why didnt we just give the job to Pulis?? Milner on the right - really? And Azablud sat at home?? Move along theres nothing to see here....
You know what i feel exactly the same, there was a time when England was right up there with almost the some love as i have for Spurs... I say almost coz nothing will ever match that, but it's gone, i don't know whether or not it will return, i guess it all depends on how we perform this time round, of course i will be watching and cheering us on, but it aint the same as years gone by.
From Roy's start looks like we are going to play like the Republic did last night but with better players and less passion. Hold on, hold on, stay solid, hold on, nick a goal is the plan. Bit of a problem if they score first but then we can launch it to Carroll. Young is our main danger man in a Darren Bent sort of way :) If we get lucky we get out of the group but any proper team with take us apart at the joints.
The odd thing is that England could actually play quite nicely, Carrick, Scholes, Cole, Lennon as our midfield, of course it would not win but when do we ever and at least we would go down in style for once rather than look like defensive hoof merchants which is most of our post Venables record.
Haven't followed International football for a few years now, the last decent world cup was 1990, its just so bloody boring! and with Azza sat smoking a big cigar on a sun bed in Marbella with some tangerine babe getting him drinks every now and then, there is just no excitement in this team, nothing fcuking zero.
I'm only going to watch to get a fix of football! How many weeks until the season starts?
I have ZERO love for the England team at the moment..... Normally in the dilemma of working vs skiving away early, the early departure would always win. Not this time! I'm actually staying at work and not even recording the game to watch it later.
LOVE SPURS HATE ENGLAND
Not given a toss about the national side since Japan/Korea in 2002. England coaches continue to pick players on reputation and what club they ply their trade for and overlooking players who deserve to be in the side on form and talent.
Until this situation changes then I'll quite happily cheer for anyone but England.
I'd rather see Spurs win a pre-season friendly than England win a World Cup.
So if this latest ITK rumour is to be believed and we are bought out by mega rich billionaire arab businessmen I wonder if they will insist that the drum be re-introduced immediately?
Mega rich DEAD billionaire arab business man. ITK and copy and paste are on key today.
It is sad but this lukewarm attitude to England, echoed by so many fans, is the result of many factors. probably the most influential being the FA and the way they have managed the game in this country at the expense of encouraging the production of technically skilled English players and allowing the game to be sold to TV and mega buck owners. As a group the FA are about at the standard of Sepp Blatter--so out of touch and incompetent.
Hodgson is a decent manager--I see he and Harry about on a par-- and he will bring a disciplined appoach to England but the skill is lacking. I cannot believe we are still looking at Terry, Lampard, Barry (if he was injury free), etc. as being desirable for a squad after the farce of the last World Cup. I would not have been surprised if Heskey had been resurected!! So nothing will change until a radical re-organistion of the game is undertaken in this country and Bernstein and the rest are gone.
As unenthusiastic as I am about the England team in the Euros, I can't wait to see what Team GB can do at the Olympics.
We seem to want to love England for the same reasons we love Spurs.
Not because we are going to win anything but at least losing the damn thing in style.
Once you get the usual suspects under the decent but boring Roy Hodgeson
then the game is literally up.
They would have been mad to offer it to Harry and he would have been madder to take it
but he ain't boring: incompetent perhaps but not boring.
And Rio would have gone for 'footballing' reasons.
As far as I can see Rio isn't going because he's too good to sit on the bench:
so play him then.
Ridiculously patriotic intro from ITV!!
I'm slightly more enthusiastic after some decent games in the other groups, but still fuming at the FA, still bewildered by some of the under-performing players called up and not expecting too much.
'We seem to want to love England for the same reasons we love Spurs'
Agree with you there. Used to there being a lot of parallels with England and Spurs - several donkeys, one or two flair players and doing things the hard way, making the fans bite their nails and going out in heartbreaking and often controversial circumstances.
Totally agreed with you. As a Singaporean who served in the British Army back in the 70s, I have always supported England, but sad to say, this time round I just can't be bothered.
To be honest, regarding England. I couldn't give a barcleys. By the way, France have just scored. Same old, same old.
I watched it and tried really hard to care...then he brought on Henderson......roll on pre season and the battles to retain / buy.....
Mega rich DEAD billionaire arab business man.
Gadaffi?
Sadaam?
Osama Bin Dipper?
Wow, well done England....a point that quite a few did not expect. Proud.
Yes well done England - 1-0 up then defend on 18 yard line and look like you`ve never seen a football before. Holding up old traditions then.
This site has seen lively debate - Redknapp`s a cnut, Levy`s a cnut, Chelski are cnuts, L`arse are cnuts and so on.
Well here`s the truth of the matter, as I started to suspect during the last world cup.
I have tonight endured 180 minutes of international tournament football. The most remarkable event was a veteran striker with half a footballing brain running a total of 6 yards to score two goals and win a game.
What a total load of crap. The truth of the matter is WE are the cnuts for continuing to buy into this game. The lack of quality is painfully evident. But of course the players will continue to receive huge wages and we will continue to pay huge prices.
Love the shirt(s)! Bemoan the outcome...sounds awful familiar...
How can you not love England. It's exactly like being a Spurs fan only there's more of us to share in the misery!
Cetreham7 - spot on just like supporting Spurs. That`s why for the sake of our own health we need to distance ourselves from England this summer!
Has 'arry been given his marching orders yet? Time to replace Roy before the next match?
The FA f****d up our season, I hope England win FA. I have previously shed tears supporting England, the last being 1998 loss on penalties to Argentina. I haven't given a toss since.
And I hope Levy gets on with sacking Redknapp quickly. It would be really funny if he sacks him during the Euros. Would love to see 'arry's face on the BBC!!!
F*** Redknapp
F*** the FA
F*** Chelski
F*** Terry
F*** the Woolwich
F*** Campbell (had to throw him in for good measure)
Aaah, it felt good getting that off my chest.
COYS
Redcrapp keeps reminding us that Spurs have done well because the team finished fourth. Sorry, but am I missing something?
Is this man the only person in the English speaking world that hasn't realised that fourth spot counts for f@@k all this season.