The TLF football shirt collection representation was looking a bit thin at this year’s World Cup. With Italy and Holland failing to qualify some of my favourite shirts were skulking in the far recesses of the football shirt drawer. I know; the surprise is that there is only one drawer, but that’s cos the Lesta collection has its own item of furniture. Anyway this shirt shortage seemed the perfect excuse to invest in a new garment. And what could be more enticing than a replica of the icnonic 1978 Peru shirt. Make it so the Old Fashioned Football Company.
That does however cause a minor sartorial elegance dilemma today with the two teams meeting each other. Is it to be this?
It’s soooo lovely
Or is it to be this?
But so is this
Well it’s probably neither until I get home to watch the highlights.
Paws crossed for a Peruvian win. That kit comes from the first World Cup TLF can properly remember, we did a school project with Mrs Stephens, the only home nation to have qualified were Scotland and we had three Scottish kids at my junior school who were minor celebs until Scotland exited. Halcyon, happy days and at that age you didn’t realise that the country hosting the competition was a bit of a dictatorship with a dubious human rights record. That would never happen now would it?!
Where was I? Oh yes darkest Peru. Los Incas haven’t qualified for a world cup since then and their shirts and the 45,000 (forty five thousand) fans who have made it to Russia really deserve it. Meanwhile can Argentina not Mess(i) up against a decent looking Croatia side?
Yesterday didn’t prove to be the goalfest TLF suspected and fair play and my apologies to both Morocco and Iran for writing them off. Iran’s fans didn’t let up for the whole game although am not sure their wholesale purchase of vuvuzelas has gone down that well with the swathes of grumpy media types. Surprisingly I am starting to get a bit fond of Radio five’s Chris Sutton. He likes an underdog, a bit of no nonsense solid defending and could start a fight in a phone box. Last night he was asked by Mark Chapman if he could see Iran causing Portugal problems.
His response was a very stroppy, ‘Why don’t you??’
“I was asking a question not looking for a fight”, replied a weary Chapman.
Equally entertaining was watching Roy Keane and Slaven Bilic do their very impassive faces as Ian Wright mangled the English language during his pre-match thoughts. But even that is better than Robbie Savage in the shower. METAPHORICALLY obviously. TLF’s post gym routine has been ruined by the 8.30am radio five show presented by the welsh afghan hound. It is a 30 minute celebration of ignorance and all things shouty; even interesting guests cannot drag it to the quality level playing field. And there goes TLF getting in touch with her inner Chris Sutton.
Back to Iran before that brief media ramble or perhaps rant. Yesterday was for many Iranian female football fans the first time they have been able to go and watch their team. They are not allowed back home because they can’t be in the company of men. Next time I am moaning about the train journey to watch Lesta I’ll remind myself that at least I have a choice. And while I am on a minor equality riff congrats to Vicki Sparks, the first woman to commentate on a live World Cup match on British television.
Finally a massive thumbs up to CH&Co who run our catering at work. The canteen gave us a ‘World Cup Wednesday’ lunch and Polish goodness was enjoyed by all. And yes I know Poland weren’t playing on Wednesday. And yes of course I have suggested they choose recipes from one of the eight teams playing next Wednesday (am sure they were very grateful for my feedback). Oh yes, it all gets a bit serious next week with final games in each group played at the same time. I think this is for reasons of fairness rather than to maximise culinary options.
Bon apetit!
or Smacznego as they say in Polish
Happy Thursday and make mine a marmalade sandwich.
Yuri Fox
Dish of the day: Croatia
When all is going wrong on the pitch…keep your peka up!
A Lesson in Cooking Peka, the Signature Dish of Croatia’s Dalmatia Region
Chant of the day: Danish
Who ate all the pies?
Hvem spiste alle de tærter?