Poems tagged ‘Euro 2024.’
Football (Nearly) Came Home
Who cares if it wasn’t a pen, against the Dutch,
When luck rolls its dice, we’ve not had much,
Maradona’s handball in ’86,
A dirty trick that history couldn’t fix,
In France 98, all our hopes were marred,
When Beckham was shown that fateful red card,
Sol Campbell’s winning goal, cruelly denied,
And another glorious victory died,
Then Lampard’s shot, over the line by a yard,
All these decisions leaving mental scars,
But through the tears and endless debate,
We’ve learned to forgive, and quell our hate,
So let the past be past, just let it be,
For we’ve always believed in destiny,
Let’s all raise a glass, as we sing and cheer,
Football (nearly) came home this year.
Turkey, Georgia, Portugal and Czech Republic
Sheer Turkish delight
With Georgia on our minds
A hat-trick of goals
Turkey devour
Early Christmas feast
In lively German markets
Portugal deservedly through
But only just
Ageless veteran
Ronaldo handsome
Of face and build
Matinee idol
Czech mate
A final throw of the dice
Last minute winner
There’s no easy games here…
In the Euros’ first week, the tension was tight,
No easy games, every team had to fight.
Portugal edged the Czech’s, just by a hair,
A 2-1 victory, nerves in the air.
Denmark and Slovenia, an entertaining draw,
One goal each, leaving fans wanting more.
England met Serbia, a 1-0 affair,
The Three Lions squeaked by, after a scare.
Italy faced Albania, a game tight as can be,
A 2-1 result, but no room for glee.
Holland met Poland in a thrilling affair,
Another 2-1, both teams did their share.
France nudged past Austria, a 1-0 feat,
An own goal gave them victory, barely tasted sweet.
Belgium faltered, Slovakia took pride,
A shocking 1-0, with the Belgians denied.
So in the first week of action, the drama’s begun,
There’s no easy games here, well, maybe just one.
Germany beat Scotland, five-one, with ease,
Leaving the tartan army down on their knees.
The next round of games are now underway,
Every team will be hopeful of extending their stay.
Fans will enjoy more bratwurst and beer,
But let’s not forget, there’s no easy games here.
Euro 2024: Round 1: Mbappé bopped
“There is little difference
between obstacle and opportunity.
The wise are able to turn both
to their advantage”. Machiavelli
We just need Foden
to turn both defenders
slide an inch perfect pass
into the onrushing Kane…..
and all will be right, in our world again
Failing that
it’ll be back to our bed-time reading
about Reacher
or some obscure teacher
and their sour-puss side-notes
designed more to get up-votes
rather than really delve
into the intricacies
of Proust or Beaudelaire
My take is
as I carry on my everlasting love affair
that no-one can finish
as well as Giroud the grandee:
for opportunity knocks
while Mbappé recuperates
sipping brandy
Germans Set The Bar E24 #1
Germans set the bar
deadly class and swagger sees
Scotland left in shread
About This Site
Welcome to Football Poets -- a club for all football poets, lovers of football and lovers of (alternative) poetry. Discover poets in every league from respected internationals at the top of their game to young hopefuls in the school playground.
Publish your football poems here and then discuss them with your team mates and fans. We're archived by The British Library, so your masterpieces are in the safe hands of a world-class keeper. What a result!
My Account
Latest Poems
steve mingle
23rd May 2025
Mike Bartram
22nd May 2025
joe morris
22nd May 2025
Gacina Bozidar
20th May 2025
Denys E. W. Jones
19th May 2025
joe morris
18th May 2025
Mike Bartram
14th May 2025
joe morris
12th May 2025
Mike Bartram
8th May 2025
joe morris
8th May 2025
Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
24th April 2025 at 1:05 pm
Hey Denys..love this
“You may be a miner working down a pit.
You may be a rock star playing sold out gigs.
You may be a fireman putting out a blaze.
You may be an inmate chalking off the days. ”
Not just Dylan but maybe an unintentional nod to and shades of Ian Dury’s enigmatic ‘What A Waste’ rhythmic scanning..eg:
I could be the driver in an articulated lorry
I could be a poet I wouldn’t need to worry
I could be a teacher in a classroom full of scholars
I could be the sergeant in a squadron full of wallahs
What a waste
What a waste
Was lucky enough to meet and interview him twice.
Best wishes from Forest Green to Genoa C
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8th March 2025 at 2:34 pm
Thanks Crispin
I’ve been to FGR a couple of times in the past – great food! Barnet look like they have the NL sewn up for this season, but I wish you well for promotion next season.
Regards, Beth
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11th January 2025 at 8:13 am
TO ADD THIS TO THIS POEM’S COMMENT:WELCOME BACK DAVID MOYES!!!
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27th November 2024 at 5:55 am
‘You’re Supposed To Be At Home’ is an excellent and moving poem Denys.
You start off thinking it’s just about another oft-sung chant, one we personally heard a lot last season throughout our second relegation in a row here at Forest Green(FGR) ! I always love poems where you think they are saying one thing and then they suddenly pull you deeper to somewhere or something else else.
I’m currently helping in a local school for FGR in a voluntary capacity using football to help young students with reading. At an upcoming session we will tackle racism, just like we did in workshops at football schools and grounds when we first started this site 24 years ago. I’m gonna try and weave your poem into a session.
We’ve added it to the Anti- Racism/Kick It Out section under Crispin’s Corner.
Best C
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26th November 2024 at 1:59 pm
Great poem and great to see you back Wyn.
Don’t leave it so long next time my friend!
More please.
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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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