bradley headstone
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Posted: June 6th 2008
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Help…I can’t concentrate on the tournament.
Summer is here, unlike most of the red tops and those that have a mere passing and patently nationalistic interest in football, I’m really looking forward to the European Championships. While I’d love England to be there it was important that McLaren went and in truth I only really enjoy a tournament once England go out.
Euro 2000 I remember very fondly, the resolutely unfancied Italians having victory snatched from them by the arrogant French, great stuff. In 2004 England should’ve won it, they should’ve beaten France, they should’ve put Portugal away…Rooney’s foot I hear you sigh…Terry’s inability to mark Postiga I retort!
So here I sit a day before the big kick off and rather than engineering the shopping to start a little earlier to get me sat down in front of the box in good time I’m actually struggling to remember who Switzerland are playing in the game.
Two reasons, the ten-week-old Headstone junior whose engagement in everything from his own hands to a sort of mini giraffe with the unfortunate name of Alex Spak (his mother names his toys after people who appear on Newsnight or Question Time, he’s also go a Teddy bear called Andy Wadge). Perhaps more intrusive is the unavoidable Wedding season that has settled in.
One last week, sensibly clashing with no major footballing occasion, more by luck than judgement I suspect, though involving a Leeds2007 supporting groom, which should’ve provoked more controversy than it did. This weekend we are off to Brighton, so the big kick off will have to be judged by the papers on Sunday. This second wedding will have virtually no footballing point of reference at all. The groom is my hip-hop guru who without fail provides me with an infallible idea for my brother’s birthday, this year it was ‘Black Milk’, though he had to settle for the second choice of ‘Hellacopters!’
Come Monday I can really get down to it, Italy V Holland, blimey. I rather warm to the Italians. They always seem on the brink of melt down yet often have decent tournaments. Their Semi final against the Germans in last year’s world cup was a lesson in how the game should be played, one that those ‘Engerland’ fans booing Capello’s first outing will probably never learn. I’d quite like Croatia to do well too! Again they gave us a lesson in football and post-match interviews.
The Euros are usually capable of surprises, though I suspect that Greece will never happen again. So I’m going to settle down with Goalfood’s predictor to get myself in the mood and once I’m allowed, myself, junior and a foot tall cuddly rabbit call Wing Commander Sir Jock Stirrup are going to get on the sofa for the festival of football to come