Tuesday 24 June 2014

Day 13 - Costa Rica v England

Pre-Match Thoughts
Why oh why, you may ask, am I watching this when the Uruguay v Italy game has more at stake? Well, call it perverse pleasure, as part of me wonders if England suffer another defeat, it'll cause Roy Hodgson to admit he is out of his depth and resign.

His team selection is uninspiring, with James Milner and Frank Lampard - two players at the core of the best part of ten years of misfiring England teams - presumably given a chance to say their goodbyes to the international scene. Wayne Rooney is dropped and Daniel Sturridge, now apparently Hodgson's Golden Boy, allowed to continue up top despite barely appearing against Uruguay. United defenders Chris Smalling and Phil Jones get a game, as did Luke Shaw, heavily linked with us the last month and thus providing one reason to watch.

Costa Rica only need a draw to go through top of the group, unless Uruguay win by a few goals - the South Americans need to beat Italy to progress themselves, with a draw suiting their opponents, who have the better goal difference.

First Half
Usual England bore so far, with Costa Rica coming close with a free kick smashing the bar. Sturridge remains ineffective as a lone front-runner (watch him score a couple now) while a few of the others don't seem to want to be there. With it 0-0 in the other game, Costa Rica are sitting pretty right now.

Second Half
Ah, I miss all the drama by staying loyal. While Italy commit suicide over on the other channel by getting a man sent off and losing to Uruguay, thus being knocked out in the first round for the second World Cup running, Luis Suarez once again has a mental black out and for the THIRD time in his career, bites another player. Fucking berserk.

Meanwhile, England drain all the hope from the universe with a performance so inept, the entire team should issue the nation with an apology.

Result
Nil fucking nil. With the other result, Costa Rica and Uruguay go through while Italy and England head on home.

My National Pride
I think England has the worst national anthem out of any country at the World Cup.

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