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World Cup 2006 Day Five

Peter Goulding

Thursday, June 15th, 2006

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 South Korea 2 Togo 1

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 And on Day Number Five
The World Cup sprang alive –
The build-up had been overbearing.
When they’d pulled out the balls,
There’d been whistles and calls
At the prospect of this perfect pairing.
They came from afar
To each tavern and bar
To each café and whisky-a-gogo,
And some chose to cheer
For the men from Korea,
Whilst the others were rooting for Togo.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 The ad-men were thrilled
And continued to build
Each expensive, ubiquitous hoarding.
Much more than Brazilians,
The audience of millions
Was doubtless supremely rewarding.
The battle was waged
And for months now had raged
On the choice of a corporate logo.
Oh, the ad-slots were dear
In this match where Korea
Faced the powerful warriors from Togo.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 Who needs a siesta?
This worldwide fiesta
Was better than people had painted.
And the Red Cross were busy
When people got dizzy
And six hundred thousand men fainted.
They were waltzing in Wales
In their top hats and tails
While in Poland they all did the pogo.
Yes the world gave a cheer
When the boys from Korea
Took the field ‘gainst the boyos from Togo.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 Well, the passions ran high,
And the roars ripped the sky
As the teams subsequently joined battle.
And every last fan,
Be they boy, girl or man
Got their hands on a klaxon or rattle.
They attempted to place
Giant flat screens in space,
But alas, it was deemed ‘twas a no-go.
Still, ‘twas patently clear
Half the world cheered Korea
While the other half all yelled for Togo.

6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 France 0 Switzerland 0

7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 If only we had qualified
Before the French or Swiss!
That could have been the Irish side
Out there in World Cup bliss.

8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 Lining out on this great day
The giant silver screen
Would have closed on John O’Shea,
Kilbane and Gary Breen.

9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 The stadium would be a sea
Of orange, green and white,
Heaving in mad ecstasy,
With stomach muscles tight.

10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 Back home, the day would come alive,
There’s nothing that could spoil it,
Except the constant need to dive
Into the downstairs toilet.

11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 In pubs from Cobh to Ballybay
The beer would flow like water.
Upon the tongue “Olé, Olé,”
Of every last supporter.

12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 Leprechauns would run around
With green and hairy faces,
And drunken bodies would abound
In most unlikely places.

13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 Perhaps its better we’re not there,
In Stuttgart and Westphalia,
At least this dull and stodgy fare
Did not cause organ failure.

14 Leave a comment on verse 14 0 Brazil 1 Croatia 0

15 Leave a comment on verse 15 0 All eyes on Ronaldinho
Every time he got the ball,
Waiting for that magic
To inspire and enthral.

16 Leave a comment on verse 16 0 Waiting for that shimmy
Or that subtle little flick,
The dummy that bewilders
As he rides a clumsy kick.

17 Leave a comment on verse 17 0 All eyes on Ronaldinho
And that grinning, toothy smile,
Waiting for another piece
Of skill to put on file.

18 Leave a comment on verse 18 0 Waiting for an overstep,
A weaving, mazy dribble,
Inviting the poor full-back
To lunge in and have a nibble.

19 Leave a comment on verse 19 0 All eyes on Ronaldinho
With that body lithe and slim,
He sure looked very odd with all
Those eyes glued onto him.

© Peter Goulding 15th June 2006

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/world-cup-2006-day-five/