At this point in the blogpost, I should own up and admit that I simply wanted to draw you in for past statistics have proven that any posts I have written about football have been relatively unpopular. My opening paragraph was just a cunning ruse for tonight's post is about football! Ha-ha! Gotcha!
Earlier on this evening, a big football match was played in Dortmund. It was the second semi-final of the European Nations Cup. England were playing The Netherlands and you know what? We won!
In the first half England were dominant even though The Netherlands took the lead with a great strike from Xavi Simons. A few minutes later our captain, Harry Kane smashed home a dubious penalty. In the second half, the pace of the game diminished and became very cagey - sometimes proceeding at walking pace.
As full-time approached. our manager, Gareth Southgate, took off Kane and Phil Foden - replacing them with Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Chelsea's Cole Palmer and in the 91st minute, Palmer threaded the ball to Watkins in the penalty area. He swivelled and smashed the ball into the net from a tight angle in spite of the close attentions of a Dutch defender. GOOOOOAL!
Now we will play Spain in the final which will take place in Berlin on Sunday evening. Spain have played brilliantly in the tournament so England are the underdogs - but you never know! Sometimes the underdogs are victorious. COME ON ENGLAND!
I got home form work in time to watch the match (3pm EST) and I have to admit - I was cheering for the Dutch. Their fans just seem to have the most fun - right up there with the Tartan Army and I have been watching Youtube videos of their marches to the various stadiums - just incredible!
ReplyDeleteOver here Canadians have been watching Copa America - Canada played way above what was expected and last night lost to the World Champion Argentinians in the semi-final - it was a great run.
Good luck on Sunday.
Supporting The Dutch! That is outrageous Margie. I shall inform your Head of State. But good effort by Canada in the Copa America. Reaching the semi-finals was brilliant and of course I was rooting for Canada!
DeleteI am not interested in football or sports but you got me to read your post.
ReplyDeleteHang on. Didn't you tell us you were a star ice hockey player?
DeleteI may have to watch THE football, just for a glimpse of Ollie Watkins?
ReplyDeleteIf you "hit on it" he might hit you back!
DeleteYes, you'll have a tough go with the Spanish squad. But anything can happen. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteMaybe the Spanish have peaked too early.
DeleteI wasn't watching last night, but my sister was (of course, and of course she was cheering for England). She kept me and my Mum updated via text messages. I must admit I was so tired after a long day at work with one meeting after the other that I turned my bedside table lamp off at around half 10, and was asleep when the match ended, so I saw the result only this morning.
ReplyDeleteAs for Sunday evening, it depends when the final starts; if it's 6:00 pm our time, I most likely won't be watching; if it starts at 9:00 pm, I might do.
It does start at 9pm! Remember to wear your England shirt!
DeleteI will - but I'll have to iron it first, it's been at the back of my wardrobe for years.
DeleteYou got me! I thought you were going to talk about Dortmund, then you switched to football and my eyes glazed over and I can't remember a single word you wrote.
ReplyDeleteDitto. But I think it ended with a bit of football patriotism.
DeleteJust remember, the rule is, if you've done anything good it's "another triumph for Great Britain!" And if you haven't it's "England loses again."
I am trying to keep to my recent resolution to base every comment on your blog on a Flanders & Swann song (or spoken introduction). Your recent poetic reference to convolvulus (to give her proper name) should rightly have elicited a reference to "Misalliance" but I missed a trick.
Though you are an intellectual Marcellous, you managed to leave a large, pointless space after your comment. Was it intended for notes?
DeleteAn accident. I could explain but it wouldn't even be as interesting as football.
DeleteYawn....
ReplyDeleteBedtime for Snoozy!
DeleteThe luck of the English? 😊
ReplyDeleteFoden hit the post and had a ball cleared off the line.
DeleteI picked up that you will play Spain in Berlin. That will be fun if your team can be kept away from the Berlin nightclubs.
ReplyDeleteWhat? Our lads are disciplined sportsmen!
DeleteMaybe there could be some young Herr Issyvoo on the team...
DeleteThis is so disappointing I have not bothered to read it. I had been hoping for a post about the football match.
ReplyDeleteHee-hee! You are a tease Old Talisker!
DeleteYawn,
ReplyDeleteCheeky monkey!
DeleteYou lost me at the "gotcha"... I was born with a sports filter which kicks in at the mentioning of almost any sport.
ReplyDeleteEven chess and darts?
DeleteI always thought of chess as a board game rather than a sport, and even as such it's never been my favourite. I can see the validity of calling it a sport though, because watching others play (or hearing them analyze it), my filter definitely kicks in! ;) As for darts, I've never been exposed to that much but strongly suspect the same applies there...
DeleteOh, I just watched the highlights and that was a great pass and goal! Congrats to England and hope they do well in the finals. I might watch it Sunday because it will be shown here at 2 pm in the afternoon. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWe need it Ellen. England have suffered so many disappointments through the years.
DeleteI feel that I have been subjected to a bait and switch and I am hoping that compensation will be made available for the mental anguish I am now experiencing.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta take it on the chin babe!
DeleteI knew it was going to be about the match. I didnt get to watch it as I was out at a Turkish restaurant with my choir friends, but could hear the whoops and cheers from the pub across the road and looked at my smartphone from time to time to catch up with the score. It must have been a very nail-biting finish. At the end of the match, every car that drove along our high street was making its exhaust backfire like fireworks!
ReplyDeleteWe weren't even playing Turkey!
Delete