Football Poets

he used to be compared sometimes
to Gobbo out of Noddy
he’d stand their all close shaven
his look was never shoddy
it came together suddenly
it altered points of view
a manager type masterstroke
brought […]

Europe holds the cards
France and Belgium semis bound
in this mad World Cup

Uruguay 0-2 France

such a strong display
France begin to look the part
wil they go the course?

always in control
one sweet […]

there’s a question that’s burning inside me
and it’s burning inside you I’m sure
we’ve been hoping and longing for years now
and we’ve felt it a few times before
now the pundits are rating our chances
and […]

It’s almost as if
today doesn’t exist –
work will be perfunctory
tea breaks and coffee breaks
will take just that little bit longer
as that gnawing doubt/hope paradox
gets stronger and stron […]

It takes many years of hurt
To learn how to blurt……
Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!

~ # ~

small steps
on a long road
cobbled with miss-haps
yet hopefully
studded with glory

~ # ~ […]

usual story
penalty dilemma / curse
Pickford’s big strong hand!

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nerves were frayed, Kane calm
senses working overtime
ecstasy a […]

Sweden England next
hopefully play-actingless
and a finer game

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Sweden 1-0 Switzerland

Zlatanless but through
One deflection is enough
To cut this Swiss roll

furnished with […]

From the best of times
To the worst of times, and then!
The best time ever!

Gareth Southgate W1A Penno haiku

‘We own the process.’
I’ve no idea what that means –
But I’m glad we do.

England facing
A rising tide
Of public expectation

Wild Boar FC
Face a rising tide
In monsoon season

Diving could yet be
The key to both

Priority haiku

Wild Boar football team
Trapped in underground caves
Hang in there boys!

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Brazil 2-0 Mexico

Samba stars shake hips
Neymar, Willian lead the dance
Brazil […]

Brazil 2-0 Mexico

like some yellow tide
strolling to that samba beat
will this be their time?

always second best
Mexico do eve’rything
ev’rything but score

Neymar rolls and cries
but relentless as […]

Tap tap spread tap spread
Spain’s patience never wears thin
Mine does

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Too much play sideways
Not enough forward drive
Spain pay p […]

Messi Ronaldo
Lack of versed supporting cast
Exeunt stage left

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Changing of the guard
Two goals versus two assists
Mbappe trumps Leo

such contrasting games
endless passing – huff and puff
in the end it’s pens

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Spain 1-1 Russia
Russia win 4-3 on penalties

mastering defence
Russian grit defies the odds […]

The World Cup in America, nineteen ninety four,
USA – Colombia, do you recall the score?
While over in the Rose Bowl, with fever running high,
back on the streets, of Medellin, it’s near to do or die. […]

rivalries aside
for Ronaldo and Messi
time to say farewell

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

France 4-3 Argentina

in this Russian heat
two proud nations lock their horns
France emerge and stay

this new […]

The curtain rose up in Russia
In a number of different ways,
And the actors from many countries
Lined up on the world-wide stage.
One month to perform
Watched from near and afar,
A constellation of […]

False formation

I need an angle
to describe the tangle
of daily matches

do I relate it back
to last weekend’s garden endeavours
when hacking away

at the thorny brambles
of fruit-bushes running w […]