World Cup Grumbles

Well, that was a pretty good month. I was worried it was going to be similar to Euro 2016, with not many goals, cagey defensive games, teams playing for a draw, and an unworthy winner (sorry Portugal and CR7, but you got lucky). OK, there were still a few defensive games, and many still played for draws, but we had plenty of goals, France were (probably) then best team in the tournament, and at least the most consistent. Most importantly, despite the good football, I still had two main points to complain about, so here are my highlights.

STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGLAND

Well, what where expecting from England. Last 16, maybe quarters at a push? Well, OK we were probably helped by Germany flopping out, and somehow finally learning how to win a penalty shootout, but congratulations England on exceeding expectations, giving us something to cheer about for once, and coming so close to the final. Yet, despite all the positive vibes during the tournament, the instant the final whistle blew against Croatia, the negative police (and I know this because I’m normally part of it), crawled out from wherever they’d been hiding. I’ve no problem with people having a whinge, but those of you complaining about us celebrating “mediocrity” …. It was the best we’ve done for 28 years, most of you would have taken 4^th place before the tournament started, and this is still a young, talented squad with their best years still ahead of them. With a couple of exceptions, they’ll still be in contention for Qatar squad in four years.

My main problem has been with those who’ve criticised fans celebrating England getting to the semi-finals, in particular, surprise surprise, Piers Morgan. Somebody I regularly roll my eyes at when I hear his voice, Morgan is saying that the team shouldn’t be treated as heroes. We aren’t Moron, and alright, we weren’t brilliant throughout the tournament, and we had very few shots, three of Kane’s goals were penalties, and we ultimately fell short, but particularly for us millennials, this was our Italia 90, and for the first time I can remember for a long time, people in England excited about international football. As Susanna Reid quipped on Good Morning Britain (Well apparently, I’m never up that early), “They’ve done more to unite the country than Theresa May!” Nice one Susanna, keep winding that prat up!

Sweden vs South Korea: Was this the best shirt of choice from the referee?

WHAT COLOUR CLASH?

The only thing that annoys me nearly as much as players wearing out of position squad numbers (Khalid Boulahrouz, Glen Johnson and Wilfried Bony, to name but a few), is when teams wear the away kit, when there is no clash. Even worse, there were quite a few instances this time, of BOTH teams wearing this away kit. Now, sometimes this is to make it easier for colourblind viewers, and in one case, for a colourblind player (Thomas Delaney of Denmark), That is fine, and a totally valid reason, but reportedly, some teams were choosing to wear their away kits just so they got a run out and sell more. THAT. IS. PATHETIC. Have some pride in your home colours! Also, to FIFA, a bit of consistency please! Why is red and yellow only sometimes considered a clash, and how did you let (as pictured above) the game between Sweden and South Korea (yellow and white) go ahead, particularly with a referee wearing luminous green? It was only just distinguishable from the Sweden shirts, and furthermore, surely red would be easier than white for a difference in that case? The main other one that annoyed me, was the third place play off, where both England and Belgium wore their away kits, having both worn their home kits when they played in the group stage. CONSISTENCY?! That’s what I’m after FIFA, just let them wear their home kits both times? Particularly when it means one teams away kit is the same colour as the others home kit! It was very confusing seeing Belgium playing in yellow, as opposed to England's red. I can understand it is sometimes unavoidable to see both teams in the away kit, but not when the reason is to boost kit sales! Rant Over. Speak again soon.