2004 Linoflax

Was supposed to be heading up Glasgow today for Euros - tickets for Czech Republic Vs Croatia, doing a bit scouting on England's opposition. Had a nice weekend planned, just me and the eldest son, cheap hotel and rail sourced - typical  it all went south - but sadly need to wait another year.

Spare a thought for the jacket I purchased for the trip, first time in yonks I've bought something for a specific awayday. Felt good. Nice lightweight khaki Linoflax number from 2004 - wonder if it went to Portugal '04?

England v Sweden

At the end of the day it wouldn't be a true England tournament performance if we didn't do things the hard way. Or use the phrase 'at the end of the day'. The English were to prevail against the swedes and get the victory - it was a foregone conclusion according to messrs Hansen, Shearer and Dixon prior to the match. What insider knowledge they had I'm unsure given they were sat in Salford.

Same old England for the majority of it though. Blind optimism after a well taken header by Carroll followed by typical sloppy showing from the lions, losing possession too easily and failing to dictate the pace of play. After scoring the first it was similar to going a goal up against the French, defence sitting too deep and not closing down anyone on the edge of the area. Managed to limp to half time. 1-0.

For a team supposedly building from the back with a strong defence, England didn't half look shaky and the part time Swedes exposed this twice. The first goal was a comedy of errors and the second from static grounded defenders and lack of communication from the keeper. Any confidence gained by resolute defending vs. France, gone in two moments of madness against the unfancied Swedes. 1-2.

But then Hodgson showed tactical guile bringing on Theo Walcott. The lad has been waiting for his chance in a tournament to come. But on the flip side of that, England have been waiting for him to arrive at a tournament. Still living off his hatrick against Croatia in an ill fated qualification campaign, Mark Lawrenson rightly said 'it's time to shine'. And shine he did. Second touch he hit a decent effort on target which completely eluded eight yellow shirts and wrong footed the keeper. 2-2. Shortly after that he dashed through the defence to play a quick square ball for Welbeck to expertly bundle home. 3-2.

Four points out of six will surely see us through, but after this performance it's back to pessimism. If we play like this against the likes of Spain or Germany, what'll happen? Food for thought. However back to tonight, a victory is a victory even if you do things the hard way, and England showed us just why we love them and hate them in the space of 90 minutes.

England v France

Well that was better than expected eh? Roy Hodgson's Three Lions putting in a fairly solid performance against the French. Well taken goal by Lescott, Young and Welbeck bright as buttons up front, Parker running himself into the ground and Milner going close. Not a vintage performance by any means, old England habits dying hard as we struggled to keep possession and switched off for Nasri's goal, but definitely a better result than all the doom and gloom merchants had predicted. We'd have all taken a point from this at the start of the day.

The start of the day had the wife making a point at me - I'd put some chicken legs in late last night to cook off, but went on xbox, forgot and then woke up to her calling me a fucking idiot and finding little Egyptian mummies in the roasting bag, the house smelling of an open grave and the oven spluttering. Definitely taking a point from her, never mind the French. Then after she'd left us lads to it, we popped out and lugged a crate of Carling Zest home from Sainsburys under the bairns buggy. Then resplendent in our matching 2010-11 England 'non competiton' replica home shirts, we sat playing and whiling the afternoon away waiting for the big moment. Well I did, but Jakey is 18 months old and didn't really grasp the whole 'first tournament' thing. Plus he had a bit of a dicky tum and a cold so was a bit twisty by 5pm. Although did get a decent photo of him stood for God Save the Queen, although disappointing he had to have his dummy in. Twist.

Then as a family it was pizza, a beer each (fruit shoot for the bairn) and viewing a decent England tournament opener. One point on the board, we'll see what happens in the other match tonight and then two easy (on paper) games against Sweden and the Ukraine. Will it be same old excruciating England or the start of when things finally change...

Euros Skeptic

Euro 92 - Swedes 2 Turnips 1

English disease in Malmo

96 - Penalty defeat to Germans again

The nearly men

Tears of a Clown

2000 - Exit Finger

2004 - Rooney goes home injured...

And the hopes of a nation go with that Penalty.

2008 - Mishap

Didn't even make it.