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And then there were two

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 We got Portugal-Angola
With Italy-Ukraine
Just how after applying
We managed to stay sane

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Remains quite a mystery
World Cup ticketing this time out
Nothing short of disgraceful
A sys-tem up-the spout

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 The only consolation
Was the match with Ukraine
And touts looking desperate
Though lacking no shame

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Supply beat demand
No killing was made
The tout problem however
Is unlikely to fade

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Next up the sweepstake
Choices choices, who to back?
France can’t score goals against minnows
Klinsmann’s team, does it lack?

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 Spain only ever reach the quarters!
Is this England’s year?
The Dutch look quite lively
Czech Republic’s lacking fear

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 It won’t be Brazil,
Of that I was sure
If it was them again
The game could become quite a bore

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 Italy’s rocked by match-rigging
But that’s what happened last time
Paolo Rossi’s Brazilian hat-trick
Back then quite divine…

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 The best World Cup ever
They started as saying
Only to complain later
That some stars are not playing

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 Thirty two teams first kicked off
Only two now remain
But the whinging and complaining
Is not on the wane

11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 Too cautious, too careful
We want end-to-end!
The ball’s designed after all
To send ‘keepers ’round the bend

12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 And it was a good start
Goals aplenty, galore!
And players with passion
That wanted to score

13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 There perhaps has since been
Too much amateur dramatic
Since knock-out got going
Games which were a tad static

14 Leave a comment on verse 14 0 Lack of goals and the diving!
It spoils our World Cup!
We were hoping to savour
To appreciate, to sup

15 Leave a comment on verse 15 0 Vintage artistry full flowing
After a fantastic first stage
An app-ell-ation con-trô-lée,
So it’s difficult to gage…

16 Leave a comment on verse 16 0 …If year 2006
Will still be in our cellar
Or will our knives still be out
For Ronaldo, that fella

17 Leave a comment on verse 17 0 His diving and winking
Lack of professionalism and grace
A sense of fair play
Would-have-not-been out of place

18 Leave a comment on verse 18 0 (Will he play at Old Trafford?
Team spirit com-pro-mised
Poor Fergie, more trouble
A World Cup despised)

19 Leave a comment on verse 19 0 But let’s not forget
That despite all our hopes
England were lacking
Even if the thought chokes

20 Leave a comment on verse 20 0 Our best chance in years
We all wanted to believe
That finally Three Lions
Would finally achieve

21 Leave a comment on verse 21 0 It wasn’t our year
We were not good enough
Only one man up front
Called our manager’s bluff

22 Leave a comment on verse 22 0 One more heave was required
Our captain responded
Ecuador lost
But our luck then rebounded

23 Leave a comment on verse 23 0 Along came that angst
Of the ultimate feat
From a mere ten yards
Just the ‘keeper to beat

24 Leave a comment on verse 24 0 It also looked likely
That “golden boy” would respond
To well placed provocation
While he thought he was wronged

25 Leave a comment on verse 25 0 But to a stamp in the goolies
Refs will always see red
One day he will learn
To respond with his head

26 Leave a comment on verse 26 0 Shearer and Hansen
Along with O’Neill
All three at the ready
With their comments, their “spiel”

27 Leave a comment on verse 27 0 They know Three Lions blew it
Their best chance in years
Barely disguised anger
As the team hold back tears

28 Leave a comment on verse 28 0 Blaming Christiano Ronaldo
His lack of fair-play
Fails to disguise
England’s lack of display

29 Leave a comment on verse 29 0 Dissing Sven is too easy
Though he’s partly to blame
An approach far too cautious
Four years on, just the same

30 Leave a comment on verse 30 0 He had the knack in the dug-out
Of showing disgust
But when willing to win
He did lack killer lust

31 Leave a comment on verse 31 0 (If only there was
A World Cup for whinging
Or perhaps even better
A World Cup for bingeing

32 Leave a comment on verse 32 0 We’ll win it outright
Eight jars to one
No penalty shoot outs
To ruin our fun)…

33 Leave a comment on verse 33 0 ***

34 Leave a comment on verse 34 0 Highlights this time?
A strong Argentina
Who might have done better
In a different arena

35 Leave a comment on verse 35 0 The Germans, the Italians?
It was end-to-end stuff
And you felt for Jens Lehmann
That finale was tough!

36 Leave a comment on verse 36 0 Previously Italy were lucky
With their last kick of the game
After again yet more diving!
Yes more of the same!

37 Leave a comment on verse 37 0 Australia felt cheated
But they will be back
Gus Hiddink’s bound for Russia
Did he get the sack?

38 Leave a comment on verse 38 0 The knock-out stage’s best games
With Mexico-Argentina
Was match France-Brazil
With the French looking keener

39 Leave a comment on verse 39 0 France at the beginning
Had no where Togo
And needed a performance
Against a team threatening no show

40 Leave a comment on verse 40 0 Just how they have managed
To make the final, the end
Is somewhat surprising
To understand, comprehend

41 Leave a comment on verse 41 0 Old Europe, old Europe
Not so old after all
Standing shoulder to shoulder
After answering the call

42 Leave a comment on verse 42 0 Their Lisbon strategy came a cropper
But two years on outre-rhin
They have a real chance
To meet with destin

43 Leave a comment on verse 43 0 Fans want a finale
A match most divine
But please Henri, no more diving
For a per-fect 5.9

44 Leave a comment on verse 44 0 And so to Berlin
Here’s hoping they play
Chevaliers des cieux tricolores
Take our breath a-way!

45 Leave a comment on verse 45 0 But if Italia do
Finally lift up the cup
I’ll be the first at the alter
To pay homage, take a sup

46 Leave a comment on verse 46 0 Footballing history
Is not on their side
Despite their performances
Their passion, their pride

47 Leave a comment on verse 47 0 France-Italy brings back memories
Wiltord, Trézéguet
And Del Piero missing chances
That he rues to this day

48 Leave a comment on verse 48 0 And before that Platini
Strokes the ball past poor Zoff
And Bruno Conti, substituted
Kicking bottles in a huff

49 Leave a comment on verse 49 0 Penalty shootouts in the quarters
Again France go through
Di Biagio hits the crossbar
Falls on grass feeling blue

50 Leave a comment on verse 50 0 Italy might be due
For footballing success
But as we all know
They historically suffer duress

51 Leave a comment on verse 51 0 This might be their moment
And one things for sure
We all hope for drama
Fair-play, a high score

52 Leave a comment on verse 52 0 The cream of world football
Will be on display
But will it be pizza or gigot
Come mid-evening Sunday?

53 Leave a comment on verse 53 0 Here’s one bald prediction
France will win it 3-1
But what do I know about football?
‘Part from the fact that it’s fun!

54 Leave a comment on verse 54 0 Wherever you are watching
I hope you’ll be thrilled
And here’s hoping four years from now
It’ll be England that’s billed…

55 Leave a comment on verse 55 0 And if you are still wondering
Why it’s so difficult to tell
Why the final’s important
Well… just ask Marcel…

56 Leave a comment on verse 56 0 (insert picture)

Notes

I just write poetry for fun.

I also went to the 1998 World Cup Final and will never forget that warm July night and a great game of football.

There were thousands of people on the street and for all the right reasons.

I can’t quite believe les Tricolores have made it to a second final in three attempts!

Anyway…

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/and-then-there-were-two/