As the saying almost goes, a weekend of two halves. The occupants of TLF Towers did of course do their level best to achieve some consistency. Moscow Mules were made and consumed on a daily basis, badinage was exchanged, bets of varying success were made, and commentators were sworn at. My visiting friend Iain noted how odd it is that all those who I berate seem to have the same middle name, for example Martin ‘effing’ Keown and his ridiculous, ‘people will be fearful of England. They won’t want to meet them.’ Although perhaps I am being unfair and this was a reference not to the squad’s footballing prowess but their table manners and he meant you wouldn’t want to meet them for dinner.
There was some early disappointment when after a major wall chart update session, TLF spotted a school boy error – one team playing twice in the round of 16. Fortunately Mr TLF came to the rescue with a cut-to-size piece of sticky label and Mexico won’t now have to face Sweden as well as Brazil.
Away from TLF churlishness, Satday proved to be an inspiring and breath taking day, and not just because a very profitable double paid out. The lucky poulet continued to shine its silvery magnificence in the direction of France, with Mbappe becoming the first teenager to score two goals in a World Cup match since Pele in 1958. After that seven goal fest, there was an inevitable worry that the second game of the day would be a bit dull, interrupted by occasional thuggery with Ronaldo scoring the winner, while his shorts disappeared up his bum.
How wrong a TLF can be. Uruguay a team that used to be the antithesis of Lear’s more sinn’d against than sinning, have changed. Their manager, Oscar Tabarez has now been in charge for 12 years, and he has clearly worked out that together his team can achieve more by keeping their feet down and their teeth to themselves. Their first yellow card of the tournament only came in their defeat of Portugal, but it was the goals that caught the eye. Great movement and passing for the first followed by that glorious curling effort from Cavani. Obviously if I hadn’t bet on them and they hadn’t been playing Portugal I would have been less buoyant about the scoreline, but that’s World Cup football hypocrisy for you.
I’m sorry to see Spain go. There were not my sweepstake team, nor to be honest has they illuminated the tournament since that draw with Portugal but I was hoping that Koke would do something match changing so I could get in a headline using the hokey coke. Equally frustrating was that it has taken me until they get knocked out to realise who their manager, Hierro reminds me of. Give him grey hair put him in a homeguard uniform and all of a sudden, and younger readers may wish to look away now for fear of not understanding WHAT I am taking about, there it is; Sergeant Wilson from Dad’s Army.
And there was something quite Warmington Sea about their lack of ideas as to how to get past the rather large bus that Russia had set up. Last time we looked number of passes was not relevant for getting through to the quarter finals.
As my wise Mummy TLF said, penalty shoot outs are like buses, you wait for one and then two turn up at once. Hard to take sides at this point as the day’s double was out the window (rescued by a secret bet for Russia/Spain draw at 90 mins) and to be honest it was all a bit wearing after the joy and bonhomie of the previous day. In the end it was the Lesta related extra time penalty saving Kasper Schmeichel that won TLF over. And in typical Lesta related fashion, hope quickly turned to despair. The better team through, but not as impressive as they had been during the knockout stages.
If things went bonkers today and Belgium and Brazil went out, the competition would be bewildering and many would people would get a bit too excited about Ingurland’s chances before they have even made it out of the last sixteen. I did wonder if Mexico might push Brazil. They certainly caught the eye when they beat Germany in Group F, but now we know Germany are pants.
TLF is a bit confused and should probably…
STEP AWAY FROM THE NEWLY INSTALLED SKYBET APP.
Saddest news of the weekend, was the loss of Peter Firmin, creator of some TV classics including the Clangers and Ivor the Engine. Happy memories of my childhood. RIP fine gentleman.
The soup dragon and the Magnificent Mouse Organ will never be forgotten
Bagpuss Fox
Daily web link – this week TLF shares some of the world cup inspired stuff that has her made her smile
If you didn’t see these photos in Satday’s Grauniad then they are well worth a look; different nationalities, who live in England watching their teams in Moscow. Great pictures. Sorry if the link doesn’t work – WordPress very mardy today. Go on their website and hunt them down – worth it.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/30/watch-the-world-cup-last-10-minutes-christian-sinibaldi