World Cup Nonsense

[Nigel]

'Disgraceful. Preposterous. Disastrous.'

So writes James Lawton in today's Independent.

To which perhaps a few more choice adjectives spring to mind:

Unimaginative.
Disappointing.
And yet somehow still characteristically and all too wretchedly heroic.

'The great delusion,' is Lawton's quote of Eriksson, summing up the tournament's outcome. Of course he meant 'disillusionment,' but simultaneously managed to hit it just perfectly.


I'm on a post- World Cup tour this week. Aberdeen today, Rotterdam tomorrow. The Scots were taking England's defeat manfully, with their Brazil shirts still in pleasing abundance. The alcoholic Scotsman begging by the station on Guild Street had only attracted 2p of donations into his own yellow and blue hat as I walked by, and he got no more support from me.

'The Nation Unites Behind Murray', screamed The Herald. Hmmmm.


Holland tomorrow. At least we are united in our vanquishment with the Clog-Boys (to quote Sweder). And we finished our game against Portugal with one more player than they did. Even if with a whole lot less credit and rather more worldwide derision of our smug underachievement.

'We've got to play for penalties, now,' said Lawro after Rooney was sent off. 'Yes, indeed,' agreed Screaming Lord Motson of Rumpledsheepskin.


'Die Englaender sind kaputt,' murmured the German breeze, blowing England's deluded dream into the Gelsenkirchen gutter.

I'll just have to stick to supporting West Ham from now on. At least we know we're crap. Doomed heroism with no delusions - and that's the football life I choose.

Omigod.