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WC 2022 QF4: Fine margins

World Cup Willie

Saturday, December 10th, 2022

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Sat 10/12/2022
France 2-1 England

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 For me, that was even stevens
Two great teams, giving it their all
Just what you want
When it comes to the very best of football

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 But then….
Where there’s nothing to choose
But fine margins….
You want every call
To be on the money
Nothing funny
In terms of bias
Or belligerence
To effect
The winning difference

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 It should have been all about “Hatrick Harry”
But only 1 goal, I hear you parry…
1 scored, 1 missed, 1 not given
But I’m driven, by fairness, by sticking to the rules
Not to treating those of us that have played, as albion-stricken fools

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 When the most obvious penalty, has to be given by VAR
(and where was the red? Oh how my heart bled)
It backs up that feeling from earlier
When Harry the burlier
Was felled from behind
Granted, a close call
But when offside is defined
By a 3-D plane
Then so should it be
When a wrap to the knee
Fells
A forward weaving their spells……

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 If I were forced
To opine, without recourse to the man in black
And the back-ups, who obviously lack….

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Kudos the to the French
I do hope they go on and win it
Perhaps only, so that we can spin it…
We went toe to toe
With Mbappe et al
Walker his equal
And oh for a sequel…
Pickford plucky, Stones supreme, Maguire transformed
Shaw adept, Henderson sound
Bellingham and Rice, their composure continues to confound
Foden fenced in, but Saka so skippy
And all back to Harry… if only…..
T’would all have been…
Yippeee!

Notes

I was always of the mindset that Southgate didn’t have the credentials coming into the England job…
But now I say “Stay on Gareth”.
He has galvanised an England squad into serious contenders. Yes, we’ve won nothing yet, but I believe Southgate has earned his spurs.

France 2-1 England

IMHO
England not given a penalty that should have been.
My son pointed out Harry’s feet were just outside the box, but he was taken out at the calf / knee and his body weight and body parts were over the line – if VAR draws a 3-D plane to call out offside, the usage of technology must be consistent and do the same to favour attacking play…. I never wanted VAR and still don’t!!!!

France’s first goal: in real time looked like a foul on Saka as we were attacking:
In slo-mo, less than 100%, but given in every other game!
At least 3 fouls on Saka not given, drained every confidence I had in the fairness of the refereeing: and I’m a firm believer in backing the refs!

Anyhoo… a great game, 2 great teams, I bet the French will leave the tournament feeling that was their toughest game…

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Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/wc-2022-qf4-fine-margins/