ChuckleBantam
06-10-2006, 06:34 AM
Here it is, 10th June. England versus Paraguay. I'm writing this on the back of less than four hours kip. I honestly can't sleep because I am so excited about this afternoon. I'm 37 years old and at this precise moment in time I feel like a seven year old on Christmas Eve. I actually feel sick, the Butterflies are that intense.
I love the World Cup. I really do. It is the highlight of the Chuckle Sporting World. The days between England games are occupied with thoughts of nothing else and when the inevitable disappointment comes, be it the groups or semi finals, it whacks me like a sledgehammer. I can honestly say that when Waddle's Penalty flew over the bar in Turin in 1990, that the feeling was akin to mourning a loved one, I cried and cried buckets. I felt cold and I don't think there has been a day since where that game hasn't entered my thoughts for a second or two. That game and that tournement 16 ears ago also made England winning the World. Cup my life's ambition and my main desire.
Since then, we've had 94, the less said about that the better. 98, ended with a whimper typical of any team led by Glenn Hoddle and 02 we were undone by the conditions, it has to be said ill preperation and a fluke goal. This tournement in 2006 was always going to represent our main chance in the modern game to replicate 1966. Played "locally" in a country with similar climate and conditions to our own and for the first time in my living memory a squad crammed with quality and a first XI to match and if were honest, better than anyone in the competition.
I am usually filled with overblown and probably ridiculous optimism when on the threshold of the beginning of an England campaign in the finals. I'm usually full of typical Chuckle big gobbiness and general boorish braggart behavior when these days come round. Yet this time I'm not. Despite as stated above, that we have the quality to mount a serious challenge, I cannot and have not started my usual gobshite chest beating.
I'm not saying I'm pessimistic about our chances, just that there is something upstairs making me hold back. It maybe nerves, I dunno but something at the back of my mind is causing concern. I honestly think it's the weight of expectancy that's eminating from the country, the car flags, the fact that the country will grind to a practical standstill etc maybe a bit too much. I hope it doesn't get to the boys and I hope they can handle the pressure. I've not gone into doom and gloom mode at all, just a tad concerned about it going tits up early doors.
As it stands, right now, at 7.30 am on Saturday 10th June, I can see England going all the way and I can see England going out in the group stages in equal measure.
So...this in mind, It is vital, that we get off to a flyer against Paraguay this afternoon. We do not need and cannot afford our traditional slow start in a major finals. We have to show the cnuts we mean business early doors!! With Germany winning and Poland losing their first games, that makes Gerry already almost certainties to win Group A so the huge huge incentive is already there to win our group for what would hopefully be a very favourable second round tie and to avoid the hosts so early in the contest, which is something we really need to do. Given that the Swedes are starting against the so called group whipping boys, there is no excuse for us not turning on the style against Paraguay and try get a couple of goals chalked in the goals for column. This would then of take us into our tie with Trinidad on a high which can only be a bonus.
Of course, come quarter to four this aft, all what I've written above may be irellevent and we'll all have that, it's do it the hard way or were out, feeling that is almost obligatory when waiting for the second and third group games in an England major finals campaign. I'm sure we all agree that's a feeling we can all do without this time around.
Whatever happens, I have to wish the boys all the best. They stand on the edge of immortality or on the edge of ridicule. The only people that can actually physically do anything about which of those two path's they take is themselves. Good thing or bad thing, the whole fooking nation is behind them and sat on the edge of their seats. As stated above, I think that can be a disadvantage to our chances, but it's up to the boys to turn that wave of emotion and desire into an advantage and to ride on it all the way into Berlin on July 9th.
So, to ALL fellow Claret and Banterers wherever you may be. I hope you all have a great time today and enjoy the game and experience this day brings. I hope we all have reason to be in celebratory hugs and sing song mode at full time. Whatever happens, I am going to get as pissed as a fart!!
Good Luck Sven, Becks and the Boys! Do us Proud!!!
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41728000/jpg/_41728432_eng_squad220x300.jpg
I love the World Cup. I really do. It is the highlight of the Chuckle Sporting World. The days between England games are occupied with thoughts of nothing else and when the inevitable disappointment comes, be it the groups or semi finals, it whacks me like a sledgehammer. I can honestly say that when Waddle's Penalty flew over the bar in Turin in 1990, that the feeling was akin to mourning a loved one, I cried and cried buckets. I felt cold and I don't think there has been a day since where that game hasn't entered my thoughts for a second or two. That game and that tournement 16 ears ago also made England winning the World. Cup my life's ambition and my main desire.
Since then, we've had 94, the less said about that the better. 98, ended with a whimper typical of any team led by Glenn Hoddle and 02 we were undone by the conditions, it has to be said ill preperation and a fluke goal. This tournement in 2006 was always going to represent our main chance in the modern game to replicate 1966. Played "locally" in a country with similar climate and conditions to our own and for the first time in my living memory a squad crammed with quality and a first XI to match and if were honest, better than anyone in the competition.
I am usually filled with overblown and probably ridiculous optimism when on the threshold of the beginning of an England campaign in the finals. I'm usually full of typical Chuckle big gobbiness and general boorish braggart behavior when these days come round. Yet this time I'm not. Despite as stated above, that we have the quality to mount a serious challenge, I cannot and have not started my usual gobshite chest beating.
I'm not saying I'm pessimistic about our chances, just that there is something upstairs making me hold back. It maybe nerves, I dunno but something at the back of my mind is causing concern. I honestly think it's the weight of expectancy that's eminating from the country, the car flags, the fact that the country will grind to a practical standstill etc maybe a bit too much. I hope it doesn't get to the boys and I hope they can handle the pressure. I've not gone into doom and gloom mode at all, just a tad concerned about it going tits up early doors.
As it stands, right now, at 7.30 am on Saturday 10th June, I can see England going all the way and I can see England going out in the group stages in equal measure.
So...this in mind, It is vital, that we get off to a flyer against Paraguay this afternoon. We do not need and cannot afford our traditional slow start in a major finals. We have to show the cnuts we mean business early doors!! With Germany winning and Poland losing their first games, that makes Gerry already almost certainties to win Group A so the huge huge incentive is already there to win our group for what would hopefully be a very favourable second round tie and to avoid the hosts so early in the contest, which is something we really need to do. Given that the Swedes are starting against the so called group whipping boys, there is no excuse for us not turning on the style against Paraguay and try get a couple of goals chalked in the goals for column. This would then of take us into our tie with Trinidad on a high which can only be a bonus.
Of course, come quarter to four this aft, all what I've written above may be irellevent and we'll all have that, it's do it the hard way or were out, feeling that is almost obligatory when waiting for the second and third group games in an England major finals campaign. I'm sure we all agree that's a feeling we can all do without this time around.
Whatever happens, I have to wish the boys all the best. They stand on the edge of immortality or on the edge of ridicule. The only people that can actually physically do anything about which of those two path's they take is themselves. Good thing or bad thing, the whole fooking nation is behind them and sat on the edge of their seats. As stated above, I think that can be a disadvantage to our chances, but it's up to the boys to turn that wave of emotion and desire into an advantage and to ride on it all the way into Berlin on July 9th.
So, to ALL fellow Claret and Banterers wherever you may be. I hope you all have a great time today and enjoy the game and experience this day brings. I hope we all have reason to be in celebratory hugs and sing song mode at full time. Whatever happens, I am going to get as pissed as a fart!!
Good Luck Sven, Becks and the Boys! Do us Proud!!!
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41728000/jpg/_41728432_eng_squad220x300.jpg