The minute that Colombian equaliser went in, I hope you can forgive TLF for pretty much immediately starting on a heart rending and doom-laden blog about the dismal inevitability of further failure and four more years of hurt. We have after all been here before.
Thirty minutes later and with penalties on the agenda things weren’t getting any better. The laptop had been abandoned, Mr TLF was refusing to engage any further and TLF had resorted to sitting on the kitchen floor, rocking slightly with only a bear in a mask (see Panama) and Five Live for company, seemed the only thing left to do. And remarkably after over many years, witnessing 5 epic Ingurland penalty failures (I missed the Italia 90 one; at a Rolling Stones gig), there was finally something to celebrate. To be honest it was all a bit much, a mixture of disbelief and relief. The monkey is off the back, Gareth Southgate is redeemed, and Jordan Pickford is a hero. Were there tears? Might have been, but just a few – rationing them for something special/disastrous (delete as applicable).
Of course, the real reason we won is because we were the more gentlemanly side. At least that is what I must assume if we follow Chris Waddle logic: “Colombia don’t deserve anything for the way they have conducted themselves on the pitch.”
I wasn’t aware we were watching the Etiquette Cup, but I think we know what he means. Colombia have some decent players and can play reasonable football so why they had to resort to that level of histrionics and mardiness is beyond me. Laughably their captain Falcao has claimed the ref was biased and it was ‘shameful’ that this happens in the last 16 of the World Cup. I think what is shameful is just under four minutes of remonstrating with the ref over a penalty, two of his team mates scuffing up the penalty spot and one of his coaching staff having a snidey little bump into Raheem Sterling as the teams came off at half time.
And yes, the view from my high horse is lovely thank you very much. I do of course acknowledge that Ingurland players were not as pure as the driven cold stuff last night. My favourite moment in that regard was the laughable idea (thank you Glenn Hoddle) that it was ok when Harry Maguire took a little blatant fall in Columbia’s penalty box, because he got up again very quickly.
Our opponents on Saturday will be Sweden, who beat Switzerland 1-0, in a game that depending on which media outlet you believe was utterly missable, or quite entertaining. I am going to vote for the former on the grounds that I did miss it. Apparently listening to football matches or even having a minimised TV screen on your laptop, is frowned upon in meetings. So much for a forward thinking, agile employer. People don’t score against Sweden often and I could reel off the teams they beat to get to Russia, but I will save it until Friday’s preview where a healthy dose of TLF pessimism will be on display.
There is no football today or tomorrow. For once I’m not complaining; I think my liver, Mr TLF, my bank balance and the nation’s collective nerves are quite pleased.
You have 48 hours to do all those things you’ve been meaning to do… feeding the cat, reading a book, watching something that isn’t sport related, engaging in conversation with your partner, writing that novel you always knew you had in you or perhaps sitting on a Thameslink train going nowhere for more time than is good for anyone. You can probably guess which one was chosen for TLF. Still gave me time to finish this.
Farringdon Fox
Love a sticker album pun
Website of the day
Missing in Footy Album
254 World Cup players did not make it into the official Panini sticker album. This project invites artists from around the world to fill in the gaps. Clever idea and some great work
http://davewilldesign.com/mifa