Wouldn't necessarily say it's optimism, though I've said on here loads that I love Southgate and would love it if he brought some relative success. I fancy us for the quarter finals but wouldnt surprise me if we free tonight as it feels like we always do with our opener. It's more excitement for me, if you can't get up for your countries opening World Cup game then you're following the wrong sport, no?
Thing is, I love the World Cup, and have enjoyed every one of them since 1970. I don't remember 1966, but I do remember the aftermath, including my dad buying me a blue bomber/trackie top like the ones the England team wore, in the days when "Merchandise" in sport was an alien concept. 1970 hurt like ****, still does. The best WC game I have ever seen, and arguably the best International game of all time, was the 1974 Final, Germany vs Holland; and England didn't even qualify for that WC (or the next one). I was still scarred (still am) from watching the Polish keeper break English hearts at Wembley 3 years after ze Germans broke them in Mexico, but I recognised that that Holland team, like the Brazil one of 4 years previous, was sprinkled with stardust. Edit; and Holland ****ing lost, so there really is no justice in this world. So it's complicated, it's not all about England, and sometimes I enjoy the football more when there is no England and no pain. That 30 years of hurt, now become 52 years, isn't just a line in a song; the hurt is real, from Gordon Banks' food poisoning to Gazza's tears, to Beckham's sending off, to Seaman getting lobbed by Ronaldinho...it's ****ing raw. Raw as Stuart Pierce's roar of agony and relief when he slayed his own demons in the shoot-out vs Spain in 96. Cmon England!!! Don't **** it up again you ****ers!
Beautiful Archers, brought a tear to my eye! I think those of us whose first World Cup experience was seeing England win it deserve special sympathy, given we’ve had to live through all that you’ve posted since!
Confirmed team as reported in the Telegraph. Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; Trippier, Henderson, Young; Dele, Lingard; Kane, Sterling
Oh and for those of you who are struggling to get up for this then this should get the blood pumping:
Yes mate And 10 years after England won the WC, Saints won the FA Cup; and I thought life would always be punctuated by events like that...
No Italy, but doing my normal build up. Bolognese (the way mama used to cook!) and a bottle of Chainti. Yep ready now & excited. COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!
Just heading back from Winchester to watch the match. Time to unite behind England like this guy: please log in to view this image
