• Euro 2008 Day Five ii
    Switzerland 1 Turkey 2 On a night when the gods vented fury on high The Swiss and the Turks went to war. Beneath the most glowering and sinister sky They battled like two years before. This time ‘twas the Turks who came home safe and dry And pulled down the stage trap-door lever. The Swiss […]
  • Euro 2008 Day Five i
    Czech Republic 1 Portugal 3 The soap opera throws up another strange twist – Big Phil joins the cast of Westenders. Ronaldo scores one and provides an assist, Carvalho’s the King of Defenders. The acting as usual is truly sublime, The depiction of agony brilliant. The dialogue’s somewhat ahead of its time, The ref could […]
  • Euro 2008 Day Four i
    Spain 4 Russia 1 Raise the flag and hoist the lanyards! Football’s saved, thanks to the Spaniards! At last – a team that’s not afraid of Demonstrating what they’re made of. Full of flicks and feints and movement, Thankfully a vast improvement On the great defensive gameplan Of so many with the same plan. It’s […]
  • Euro 2008 Day Four ii
    Greece 0 Sweden 2 Centreback One to Centreback Two. Centreback Two to Centreback Three. Centreback Three, what will he do? He’ll turn and play it back with glee. Will Centreback Two now make a run? Or maybe he’ll try something new? Ah no. He’s passed to Centreback One, Who plays it back to Centreback Two. […]
  • Euro 2008 Day Three ii
    Netherlands 3 Italy 0 My dad explained it carefully When I was five years old. It wasn’t very difficult The way that I was told. One player nearer to the goal Just as the ball is played And you are very def-in-ite-ly Offside, I’m afraid. Of course, there’s technicalities Like – was the ball played […]