Football Poets

World Cup 2010 – Day 6

¶ 1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Chile 1 Honduras 0 (Group H)

¶ 2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Whilst others, in ornate costume,
Retraced the steps of Leopold Bloom,
I sat down in a darkened room
To watch Honduras – Chile.

¶ 3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 They promised us a cavalcade
Of goals – we wouldn’t be dismayed.
I munched upon a sandwich made
Of cheese and piccalilly.

¶ 4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 But though the Chileans liked to pass,
The final ball too oft lacked class.
Although moves started well, alas,
They all became too frilly.

¶ 5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 The hapless Seychelles referee
Did not allow the play run free,
Blew for every fall and he
Gave cards out willy-nilly.

¶ 6 Leave a comment on verse 6 0 First blood to the team in red.
Now the goals will come, they said.
Poncé stooped down low to head
And looked extremely silly.

¶ 7 Leave a comment on verse 7 0 Sadly things did not get better,
Chile lacked a real goal-getter.
Disgruntled, I got up to get a
Large wedge of Caerphilly.

¶ 8 Leave a comment on verse 8 0 Spain 0 Switzerland 1 (Group H)

¶ 9 Leave a comment on verse 9 0 There wasn’t much expected from the Swiss,
(I mentioned to my elder brother, Chris)
Their play is dull,
Predictable,
They set their stall
Behind the ball
And keep men back
While in attack.
In Jukebox Jury terms, they’d be a miss.
There wasn’t much expected from the Swiss.

¶ 10 Leave a comment on verse 10 0 Spain deserved to go down to the Swiss
For squand’ring opportunities like this.
They’re full of guile,
They’ve flair and style,
Each measured pass
Across the grass
Is slick and brisk
And takes a risk
But where’s the final ball that brings such bliss?
Yes, Spain deserved to go down to the Swiss.

¶ 11 Leave a comment on verse 11 0 Nobody gave tuppence for the Swiss
Or thought they’d show a metamorphosis.
We thought they’d play
‘Gainst Spain and pray
They’d get a snore-
Filled goalless draw.
We’d not reproach
Their poor paid coach
For tactics that
Make champagne flat.
No, they did not deserve our Judas kiss,
Though nobody gave tuppence for the Swiss.

¶ 12 Leave a comment on verse 12 0 South Africa 0 Uruguay 3 (Group A)

¶ 13 Leave a comment on verse 13 0 With twenty minutes left, they started leaving.
Two goals down, the die was cast, they reckoned.
Entertaining no hopes of retrieving
A goal and maybe pushing for a second.
Forlan in attack was free and fecund.
Too early did the so-called fans start grieving.
As failure to get past the group stage beckoned,
With twenty minutes left they started leaving.

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