Poems tagged ‘Croatia’
VARcically Les Bleus ~haiku
France 4-2 Croatia
spoiling things again
VAR the villain here
on this final night
never lying down
oh how brave Croatia fought
when injustice reigned
never at their best
once again Les Bleus emerge
trophy in their hands
yes they have the skills
in Pogba and Mbappe
but only in bursts
one strange ending this
to a wild enthralling month
here in Russian rain
Incredible Les Bleus take football home: France 4-2 Croatia
Twas France who struck gold first
Sucker own goal by Mandzukic
Croatia throw caution to the wind
One one soon by Perisic
Moscow hadn’t had enough yet
It was Perisic who would make
Nestor Pitana’s VAR penalty
Griezmann makes no mistake
Howitzer from Paul Pogba
On the hour it’s Mbappe
Making this teen a final scorer
Ever since a guy called Pele
15 07 18
number7
© emdad rahman
England are out!
England are out
Semi Final: Croatia 2-1 England
Until Russia eighteen
Its been Charlton and Lineker
With his first ever England goal
We now add Kieran Trippier
Chance after chance
England sloppy on the pitch
Croatia sense blood
One one by Perisic
Croatia up the tempo
There’s still time for a glitch
Three Lions look jaded
Final nail by Mandzukic
11 07 18
number7
© Emdad Rahman
No Time Now For Tears
no time now for tears
we went further than we hoped
so much to applaud
from euphoria
to the first cold light of day
let us not be sad
time to stand up proud
chances come and chances go
we will learn and grow
margins are so fine
in control then all at sea
but how close we came
well done to the fans
sacrificing everything
just to make it there
whatever you say
England filled a Summer month
with such hope and joy
tumble dried and out
but with so much faith restored
thank you for it all
what a ride it’s been
you made football come alive
you brought passion home
in the end we know
we exceeded wildest dreams
we can build from this
one image remains
England clapping all their fans
singing back to them
Past-Present
BELGIUM
“La roja de Martinez”
is what Spain
were once
CROATIA
“Vatreni”
is what HUNGARY
with PusKas were once
ENGLAND
Three Lions is what
Netherlands were once with
Edgar Davids
FRANCE
Les Blues is
what Yugoslavia were once
with Dejan Savicevic Dejo
WC2018 Day 21 – haiku
ENGERRRRRRRRLAN!!
England 2-0 Sweden; haiku
Harry scores the first
Familiar name on scoresheet
Maguire not Kane tho
Dele Alli heads
Ball nestles in onion bag
A much needed goal
For every goal
Millions of pints go
Flying through the air
In total control
Is this really England?!?
Nation loving it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Croatia 2-2 Russia; haiku
Penalty shoot-out
Modric and his merry men
Croatia stun hosts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Better than World Cup haiku
Cave Divers are go!
International Rescue
For Wild Boar FC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wild Boar FC
Need a goal or two –
Not the ball nestling in the net
But short term targets to keep hopes up
As the water rises, knee deep;
“my favourite food”
“not too much homework please”
“don’t forget my birthday”;
Now it’s taking true teamwork
To get everyone out alive
Divers and experts collaborating
While tv reports elaborating
On the plans and attempts so far…
International Rescue for real
Can We Start To Dream?
can we start to dream
or are we fooling ourselves…..
why not all the way?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweden 0-2 England
whatever you say
England swept the Swedes apart
with this new belief
just like Duracell
who cares if Raheem can’t score
he just runs and runs
just two steps away
way beyond our widest dreams
could this be our time?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Russia 2-2 Croatia (4-3 AET)
politics aside
Russian faces in the crowd
show a different side
oh how close they came
always in it til the end
and those cruel pens
Manzukic et al
somehow keep their tired heads
for this spot kick win
World Cup day 21
England are in the semi finals
Sweden 0-2 England
Gareth Southgate joins the ranks
Of Sir Alf and Sir Bobby
For the first time in 28 years
England are in the semi
Red Henderson controlled the flow
Playing to the English choir
England ahead from a set piece
It’s that man Harry Maguire
A hat trick of saves from Pickford
Trippier and Lingard combined
Delle Alli heads in at the far post
Last four sealed, delivered, signed
Croats break Russian hearts
Russia (3) 2-2 (4) Croatia (AET)
It’s the World Cup that keeps giving
Tis the tale of Mother Russia
When Subasic is caught napping
Cheryshev whips in a blinder
Kramaric squares
Vida tightens the rope
Fernandes the boy from Brazil
Gives Mother Russia hope
Not the greatest ever shootout
Fernandes goes to zero
Who will be the difference?
Modric is the nations hero
07 07 18
number7
© emdad rahman
On Day Seventeen.
Spain v Russia.
I’m backing The (former) USSR(sic)
In the shoot-out
Buenas Noches Espana.
**************************
Denmark v Croatia
A lottery
Morphed into refereed psychology
Denmark succumb to mind-games.
**************************************
Russia & Croatia Shoot Outs haiku-Day 17
such contrasting games
endless passing – huff and puff
in the end it’s pens
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spain 1-1 Russia
Russia win 4-3 on penalties
mastering defence
Russian grit defies the odds
Spain are down and out
passing us to sleep
Spain’s obsession is undone
tika taxi home
they may not be great
maybe they can’t pass all night
but Russia are through
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Croatia 1-1 Denmark
Croatia win 3-2 on penalites
from its crazy start
how this battle swayed and swung
til its bitter end
somehow you just knew
in this see saw to and fro
spot kicks would decide
whatever you say
shoot outs are a lottery
but the only way
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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!
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Crispin’s Corner
In Memoriam
Kick It Out & Christmas Truce
Latest Comments
28th July 2026 at 9:40 pm
Hi Denys. Thanks for your kind words. I could have mentioned Dixie Dean but decided not to.
Best wishes, mate
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26th July 2026 at 3:47 pm
Great knowledge of Everton history, Joe.
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23rd July 2026 at 6:54 pm
Hi Jason,
Sorry I forgot to congratulate you on your excellent poem as well.
Keep well
Joe
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23rd July 2026 at 6:43 pm
Hi Jason,
Thanks so much for your kind words about Kevin Keegan, a footballer of legendary status and deeply missed.
Best wishes
Joe
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23rd July 2026 at 12:01 pm
Thank you, Crispin. I will defo encorage my bunch to contribute and will of course clear it with staff room.
Many thanks
Jase
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22nd July 2026 at 6:48 pm
Great poem Jase.
You are a man of my own heart …
And great to hear that you your students poems from our site.
Keep on and more please
if ever some of your students write anything suitable for here and most importantly they give you permission to publish them, you can always do so under your name referencing their names and the school..and year.
Best Crispin
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22nd July 2026 at 10:29 am
I think this is best thing I have read so far about the legend. Thanks
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22nd July 2026 at 10:22 am
One of the greats, inspired my generation of school kids in the 80s
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23rd May 2026 at 3:35 pm
Hi Crispin,
Thanks for the featured poem for the Arsenal Premier League victory. I love that photo showing the Arsenal ladies and fans in full rattle and rosette mode. I’ve seen it before quite a few times and, I think, a bit iconic. I think it was before the Gunners victory against Liverpool in the 1950 FA Cup Final. Great photograph.
Thanks
Joe
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8th May 2026 at 4:21 pm
Thanks for that Joe. Yes it’s been some season we had a blip but came out of it and finished strong. A mate of mine supports West Ham here in Coventry and my next door neighbour is a Spurs supporter, and both are getting edgy ! I like the Championship though as it’s competitive and has some good teams, players, and fans. Anyway we are back in the top flight and who knows what will happen ?
Cheers. Kev.
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