Up The Cup

I have been quiet again for about 2 weeks. There have been many events worthy of comment but somehow I have let them pass. The football World Cup is now well under way in South Africa. England has played their first match and - as we should have expected - they were less than convincing against the USA. In fact, they were pretty awful. An uninspired 1 - 1 draw was the conclusions of a game that had the excitement of watching paint dry. The American goal was the result of a simple schoolboy error by the goal keeper, Robert Green, who fumbled a rolling ball that bounced from his hands and trickled unstopped over the line into the net. He was defended by his captain Steven Gerrard - as he should have been - but perhaps something more reassuring than "It wasn't his fault" was needed. It was his fault. However, in mitigation, it seems that the balls being used in South Africa are rather troublesome and more than one goal keeper has made a bad error. The rather different characteristics of these balls has been known for six months and the more professional teams - Germany, Brazil, etc - have been using them in preparations before they set off for southern Africa. Our team is not so much professional as expensive. They cost a lot but they behave like amateurs. I suppose that most of them will be glad when this fandango is over and they can get back to league stuff and collecting their salaries. Favourites for the semi-finals? Germany, Brazil, Holland and ........... one other, I don't know who yet.

The other worrying problem that our expensive manager - £5 million per year - has to deal with is injuries. Why do our players seem to be almost permanently injured. Until the Incident of Beckham's Foot, I had never heard of a metatarsal. Is it that they play too much? Possibly. Poor lifestyles? Yes, very possible. Poor diet? Again probable for some players.

Soon, the nation will be able to take down the flags and that over 10 Downing Street will be flown at half mast. Better all this than having to face up to the horror of national celebrations, if by some sporting fluke they actually win the cup and we have visits to Downing Street, rides in open topped buses and more flag flying.

Someone suggested all these flags with red crosses on them made the nation look like one big field hospital.