TLF has writers block.
This is the third World Cup I have rambled about, (plus the 2016 Euros) and it has always been easy. There was a standard format – even though I should know better I’d always be slightly cynical but mainly hopeful and then Ingurland would be pants. Generally underwhelming, not very likeable and always leaving early and that was easy to write about.
But this!?Footballing success on the world stage, conducted in an appealing manner. Good grief I don’t know where to start.
Actually the match shirts. You know how they have the venue and the date embroidered under the badge? WHO does that? Does someone do it in the UK and then courier them over? Does the Ingurland backroom team include a couple of experts with a needle? Or when the players are bored with inflatable unicorn racing and playing darts with press do they show off their needlework skills?
Don’t worry that wasn’t my main focus on Satday. My main focus was to WORRY, despite the assurances of the man who owns the dry cleaners, and then to SHOUT a lot at the TV, wave my arms around and pace around the living room. And then at the end of it all collapse in an emotional heap, pausing only to put Three Lions on the CD player.
Mr TLF says I need a lot of space to watch football.
Friday was much easier, although a couple of sad goodbyes; no not Neymar and his tedious writhing (and yes Kylian Mbappe, we did see your little attempt to emulate the Brazilian diver) but two of my favourite stadiums – Nizhny Novgorod, purely for the name and also the Kazam stadium. Partly because that sounds like the magic word from my childhood; shazam! But also because it proved to be where lofty reputations went to fail; with Germany, Argentina and now Brazil all being knocked out there.
Brazil’s media were quite grumpy with their departure and described Belgium’s win as lucky. Apart from thinking that was utter b*llocks, I also thought Brazilian coach Tite’s post-match comments were lovely as he showed how to be dignified in defeat, “I don’t like to talk about luck. It’s an educated manner of putting down people’s skills. They were skilful. They finished well. There was no luck.”
One of the most enjoyable elements of listening to the Radio 5 dynamic duo, Ally Bruce-ball and Chris Sutton was their exploration of Russian idioms. Most apt on Friday was, “The day has gone under the cat’s tail.” For Uruguay’s goalie his day was well and truly under the feline’s appendage when he committed that 61st minute error for France’s second goal.
TLF didn’t get a chance to run her eye over our semi-final opponents. Too tired and emotional for any more football. I don’t suppose my lack of scouting will be a concern for Lord Gareth of Southgate. What will be will be this week and perhaps best leave it to the Bard on these occasions,
“Now all the youth of England are on fire,
And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies.”
Pavlova Fox