Poems tagged ‘England 2018 World Cup’
WC2018 Day 24 : 3rd/4th
Third or fourth
Does it really matter?
Should it matter?
For there is no head-upon-a-platter
For failure
Then what of the prize money?
I’m not being funny
But there is only 2 million FIFA shekels
In the difference
As to the game:
Southgate tinkered, Martinez went for the max;
Belgium had more attacks
And more goals
Than Albion’s tired souls
England’s Rose caught asleep at the wheel
And allowed Meunier to steal
And convert Chadli’s expert cross;
Les Diablo Rouges, continue to boss
The first 45.
Second half is better for England
But they let in a 2nd goal
A nightmare scene
When Hazard cuts across Phil Jones
Mirroring Trump’s faux pas with the Queen!
Off with his head!
Awesome Belgique take third
Belgium 2-0 England
Thomas Meunier put Belgium ahead
Sliding in ahead of Danny Rose
With only a mere four minutes in
It seemed the whole team had froze
England had chances to square
Alderweireld clears from Dier
Harry Maguire heads wide
By then the boys had lost their fire
Eden Hazard wraps it up
By then the Reds were spurred
Got the better of Jones to beat Pickford
Well done Belgium on third
14 07 18
number7
© Emdad Rahman
England are out!
England are out
Semi Final: Croatia 2-1 England
Until Russia eighteen
Its been Charlton and Lineker
With his first ever England goal
We now add Kieran Trippier
Chance after chance
England sloppy on the pitch
Croatia sense blood
One one by Perisic
Croatia up the tempo
There’s still time for a glitch
Three Lions look jaded
Final nail by Mandzukic
11 07 18
number7
© Emdad Rahman
WC2018 Day 23 – reflection
From laps to lapse
So what happened?
What went wrong?
What was it killed our anthem
Our unifying song?
Was it because
I watched it in a different place?
Or that you
Didn’t wear your lucky shirt?
Was it that we grew
So over-excited
That we forgot the 52 years of hurt?
Was it that we didn’t shout loud enough?
Or that we didn’t care?
Was it because we were wearing waistcoats
That didn’t match our hair?
Or was it just
Two lapses of concentration
From those out on the pitch?
For all our unstinting support
Was it just a case of, aberrant mental glitch?
Defenders that switched off
At vital moments?
Tired legs and aching lungs
Depriving the brain
Of a scintilla of oxygen
That slowed the mind
And dulled reaction time
When danger beckoned?….
Twas not to be –
An outcome fecund.
Great Expectations. It’s Looking Good.
Tis a hard one to swallow I know
Though the after match manners
Of three wannabe OTT managers
In the ITV studio, helped soften the blow.
So…we’re out, beaten, dusted an done
But…all down to the waist-coated one
We’ve experienced a month in the sun
Of hope, where before there was none.
Time to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off
Get our show back on the right road
After bearing witness to this little lot?
Anything is possible…we know.
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joe morris
17th November 2024
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17th November 2024
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Latest Comments
13th September 2024 at 6:14 pm
Welcome to Football Poets Beth
Great evocative poem Beth….
More please !
Haiku always welcome.
Hope we (FGR) get to play you again soon
Best
Crispin
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26th July 2024 at 6:25 pm
Great poem Mike Bartram. Eddie was a legend, affectionately known in Liverpool as, “the first hooligan.” Even the hoolies were well dressed in those days. The amazing thing was he was only 26 when that picture was taken. He’d played for Everton youth team and was well known to the players. He never got arrested. They threw him out and he climbed back in, just in time for Derek Temples winner.
I used the picture of him being tackled to the ground on the front cover of my book, “Once Upon a rhyme in Football.” It’s worth looking on youtube and finding the re-enactment of the Wembley scene. Frank Skinner and Baddiel went around to Eddies home in the 1990’s and acted it out on the green outside. It’s hilarious, especially all the effort they put in to get Eddie sober enough to shoot the scene.
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10th July 2024 at 6:07 pm
Hi Crispin,
I don’t know if you’ve see the picture in social media today…
a picture of a teenage Lionel Messi cradling a baby in Africa as part of a photoshoot…. the family had won a lottery to have their baby pictured with him….
the photographer has just revealed that the baby is actually in fact Lamine Yamal!!!!
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26th May 2024 at 2:30 pm
Hi Denys…
Re Man City:
OK it was 20 years ago but Criag Wilson did write this and a few others on them back in 04/05.
BTW I’m more Forest Green Rover since 2014 (and Chelsea) these days . I drum and am a standing season ticket holder .
Best
Crispin
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29th April 2024 at 2:47 pm
Hi Denys,
Yes Richard Williams you’re a brilliant wordsmith, my friend. When I first saw your football poetry I thought it was the superb Guardian sports and music writer. I once had the honour of sitting next to Richard Williams while at the Independent on the sports desk. He writes about music and sport with immense knowledge and authority. I’ve read a couple of Richard’s books recently. Great writer rather like you Richard Williams the Pompey fan. Congratulations on promotion.
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28th April 2024 at 5:59 pm
Thanks Denys. Yes your replay poem was superb.
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26th April 2024 at 4:46 pm
Nice work, Joe. You were quick off the mark with that! Good one from Richard Williams too I see.
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25th April 2024 at 7:33 pm
Hi Denys,
Thanks mate. I’ll do it now.
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25th April 2024 at 1:56 pm
Thanks Joe,
you might like to write a poem yourself on the same subject…
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23rd April 2024 at 4:03 pm
Hi Denys
With you all the way on the abolition of FA Cup replays. What are they doing to the game?
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