EURO 2024

Despising all this national hysteria, with every media outlet and channel spouting gibberish about, and undying love for, football. Even Radio 4 FFS.

Bring back the old days, I say, when Thatcher told the world that football fans were the scum of the earth. In 1980, I first worked in a London ad agency. Forest were champions of Europe but of my 60-odd colleagues, only two were football fans. Me and a Dutch feller who supported Ajax. Everybody else followed rugby (or rugger), cricket and tennis. This annoyed me at the time. But I actually dislike the “we’re all footy fans here” bollocks even more. This is my game, not yours. Fuck off.

As RD always used to say, watching England play is much like wearing your wife's clothing. It's an activity best enjoyed at home on your own.

As a massive Wokey, yes and no.

Yes, when many people talk about England, they often do mean "The England Men's National Soccer Team". But that's the whole kneejerk assumption that other people are challenging. Default = men's version is, generally, a sexist assumption. Women's football isn't a different sport at all.

(I had a long boring online feud with a Leicester fan once, who insisted that Leicester was a two-club city because they had Leicester City and Leicester Tigers...)

However, I agree when you say "outside other context". And the context of this conversation is England Men's progress in the Euros. So, I think there is something different about this and, say, the old "British winner at Wimbledon" thing. Context is everything.

I have no words for this fucking abomination.

My mate who works at the FA won a staff ballot for a final ticket last week. Flew out on a chartered plane this morning with a bunch of folk including Jill Scott apparently.

I will have a Spaniard an Argentine, three Croatians, an Armenian, a Bolivian and Two Jews over for the game today. I suspect some of them will be happy when Spain win but I will not be a bad loser as I am all for bringing the world together in these here feral times. (Apart from the Argie of course because they are cheating cunts and I will never forgive them for the hand of god. Ironically I can’t help bringing up the Falklands every time she gets cocky,,,,)

Chicago: Diversified.

Played golf at stupid o'clock this morning, been drinking vodka in the pool for the last three hours. My body is ready.

Agreed. Shaw is playing really well.

Kane and Mainoo the only passengers. For different reasons.

Rodri injured would be huge

Decided as of next week I'm going to start saying that Bellingham is shit, stifles the team, and has no energy. In 10-12 years my analysis will come true and I'll be happy to tell you all I've been saying it for years and I'm mega brainy.

Is this rumoured? I'm in a loud pub that's currently playing rock anthems