Well, here we go again.Argentina v Eng-er-land. Already I’m clearing my throat and gargling as I prepare to roar on every Argentine attack and swear at every Eng-er-land effort.
What is wrong with me, what is wrong with you? Why do we want Eng-er-land trashed? I have two English daughters-in-law and three English grandchildren. English people are among the best I’ve encountered in my life. And yet the sight of Eng-er-land rejoicing over a win will make me sweary and edgy and given to bouts of teeth-gnashing. England is indeed the birthplace of soccer, but those chants about ‘Football Coming Home!’ make me groan and bite the furniture. And I suspect I’m far from alone.
Why do we want to see England trashed? I suppose it’s living next door to a far more powerful state. Then there’s England’s determination to keep us part of the UK. And of course, the idea of England laying claim to the Malvinas, even though Argentina is thousands of miles away from England and no distance from Argentina. There’s also that burning rage with its claim overseveral stars on the team – Harry Maguire, Declan Rice – it feels like betrayal. No, of course they made a sound decision to play for England, in terms of status and money, but it still feels like a stab in the back.
And I haven’t even mentioned Eng-er-land’s mockery of Ireland’s use of the granny rule, a perfectly legitimate rule for all players.
So yes, I’ll be swearing at the telly this evening, and so will you. My sole piece of mitigating evidence for cursing the England team: Roy Keane’s request that you show him a graceful loser and he’ll show a loser.
COME ON,YOU ARGIES!!!!
I have been supporting every team who play England for as long as I can remember. In 1970 I was a bit too young and innocent to roar on West Germany but since then I have been an honorary Pole, Italian, Spaniard, Argentinian, Brazilian, German, French citizen. If England (God forbid) pull it off, my TV will become exclusive to YouTube. No BBC no ITV. No mention of football until maybe Christmas. Which Christmas I’m not really sure. Who knows, it might produce another Irish cultural revival? We can rediscover our great writers and poets, loosen the bonds of English values and sport? Bit drastic but what is a (bitter) boy to do? Hopefully Roy will destroy the TV studio in one last defiant fit of pique, maybe with the assistance of big Duncan Ferguson? Now that would be worth seeing.