Poems tagged ‘Japan’
WC2018 Day 18
Priority haiku
Wild Boar football team
Trapped in underground caves
Hang in there boys!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brazil 2-0 Mexico
Samba stars shake hips
Neymar, Willian lead the dance
Brazil dominate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Neymar notches stat
Two hundred twenty seven
All time top scorers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Belgium 3-2 Japan
surprise two nil lead
Red Devils claw back from brink
Blue Samurai blues
Brazil & Mexico Through haiku -WC Day 18
Brazil 2-0 Mexico
like some yellow tide
strolling to that samba beat
will this be their time?
always second best
Mexico do eve’rything
ev’rything but score
Neymar rolls and cries
but relentless as a train
Willian the key
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Belgium 3-2 Japan
battling on supreme
Samurai lay down their swords
to that late late strike
from a tricky start
brave Japan dictate in vain
falling at the last
heads held high they leave
memories of might have beens
and clean stadiums*
World Cup day 18
Brazil storm into Quarters
Brazil 2-0 Mexico
Brazil cruise to the Quarters
Samba boys are looking whole
The world’s most expensive baller
He scores and sets up a goal
One nil is not quite enough
They’re stubborn are Mexico
Neymar turns playmaker
Teeing up Bobby Firmino
El Tri are out of the cup
Played out of the ground
Seven times in a row
They’re out in the second round
02 07 18
number7
© emdad rahman
Red Devils comeback breaks Japan hearts
Belgium 3-2 Japan
Nihon were in dreamland
What s finish from Haraguchi
More brilliance to follow
He’sutdone by Takashi Inui
Martinez looked to the heavens
Fellaini and Chadli roll the dice
Vertonghen’s looping header
Fellaini never does nice
There’s 32 seconds remaining
Red charge pegs the Samurai Blue
Chadli strikes the Japanese heart
Comeback complete 3-2
02 07 18
number7
© emdad rahman
Three One Nils & a One Two Haiku- WC Day 15
Three One Nils & a One Two Haiku
three goals in three games
one nil one nil and one nil…
and then a one two !
Senegal 0-1 Columbia
this is what I love
two great continents who bring
rhythm and passion
oh what fans they have
like some Womad festival
colour dance and song
so what should we fear?
will Rodriguez recover?
Cuadrado looks hot
Japan 0-1 Poland
once again they win
teams already going home
Samurai won’t mind
into the sixteen
just like England and Belg’yum
syllables but just
Poland wake at last
Lewandowski’s thoughts will turn
to his future team
England 0-1 Belgium
in this evening light
we played out a tame affair
with a second team
though our fate is sealed
Rashford-Loftus Cheek aside
what did we learn here ?
when the chips are down
can one really plot a route?
only time will tell
Panama 1-2 Tunisia
with nothing to lose
both sides give their fans a lift
and a fond farewell
love the enegy
that both sides bring and display…
sad to see them go
how dull would it be
without sides like Panama
and Tunisia?
World Cup day 15
Day 15
Fair Play sends Senegal home
Senegal 0-1 Colombia
The second most populous nation
In South America
They came from close and far
Together in a World Cup bazaar
When Yerry Mina rises
It sends alarm bells ringing
When the towering stopper rises
The Tricolour are singing
Poland’s surprise win
Makes Los Cafeteros’ day
The Lions Of Teranga terminated
Heartbreak with the Fair Play
Walking football Japan proceed
Japan 0-1 Poland
Jan Bednarek struck
In a game that was abysmal
But coach Akira Nishino
Was grinning at the whistle
Despite losing to Poland
Japan are glad
Nippon go through
Scraping through in Volgograd
The end of this game
Was somewhat a car crash
Both teams walking it
Incurring a fans backlash
Januzaj stunner sends Belgique top
England 0-1 Belgium
Southgate rang the changes
Eight new faces enter the ground
No matter what happens tonight
Both teams are in the next round
All outfield players have featured
In terms of match play
We need to go beyond this loss
Look ahead to Tuesday
Belgium with a few close ones
Some say we were poor
Januzaj with a stunner
Come on England is our roar
Khazri shines as Tunisia bow out
Panama 1-2 Tunisia
A second-half strike
From Sunderland’s Khazri
Sends the Tunisians home
With a World Cup victory
Rodriguez’s shot deflected
Off Yassine Meriah
Ben Youssef equals
Thanks Khazri the Tunisian Tsar
Khazri is the heartbeat
Of this energetic side
He meets Haddadi’s cross
2,500th goal in his stride
28 06 18
number7
© emdad rahman
On England Japan Senegal & Colombia haiku-WC Day 11
England 6-1 Panama
as we fire in six
time to dream or say that it’s….
…only Panama?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Japan 2-2 Senegal
clean and playing fair
Samurai leave ev’ry ground
looking spick and span
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Poland 0-3 Colombia
Colombia shine
with Falcao and Cuadrado…
Poland’s time is up
On the Eleventh Day…
Ingerland
Knock Panama into a cocked hat,
I raise my cap to Gareth and the chaps.
**************************
Los Cafeteros
Go to The Poles
It’s a landslide.
**********************
Japan
With the reliable Honda driving them on
Step up a gear to earn a draw with Senegal.
World Cup day 11
Kane hat trick breaks records
England 6-1 Panama
Despite the searing heat
It’s a Sunday English rout
Stones heads & Kane from the spot
Panama are on the way out
Stones again from a training set piece
After Lingard’s curler sublime
Kane hammers a second from the spot
Spurs Hat trick and Southgate calls time
Felipe Baloy made history
The Canal Men with a grateful huddle
Panama’s first World Cup goal
All they really wanted was a cuddle
Warriors share the spoils
Japan 2-2 Senegal
Both Japan and Senegal
Control their own fate
The Taranga Lions pegged
When Nihon left it late
Senegal use brawn and beauty
To feed Sadio Mane
Takashi Inui’s slick shot
Outshone by Moussa Wague
But Japan have their oldest squad
The wily Honda joins the attack
With wisdom and knowledge
He drags his team back
Sorry Poland pack their bags
Poland 0-3 Colombia
When the Colombians clicked
Poland were dreadfully below par
With some of the best football
Of the tournament so far
In came the short cross
James on it from the get go
Yerry Mina from close range
Falcao buries one low
Lewandowski starved of service
How he need a Quintero
Poland crash out in Kazan
With a third from Cuadrado
24 06 18
number7
© emdad rahman
Japan Senegal & Russian Joy haiku-WC Day 6
Colombia 1-2 Japan
in this yellow sea
Cafeteros self implode
Samurai stand strong
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Poland 1-2 Senegal
Lions pride ensures
with the most bizarre of goals
Africa’s first win
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Russia 3-1 Egypt
first here to advance
like some Phoenix from the flames
Reds march ever on
World Cup day 6
Colombia Red mist eases Japan home
Colombia 1-2 Japan
Nightmare start to the World Cup
Colombia found it too hot
Sanchez dismissed for handling
Shinji Kagawa’s shot
After the first red at this World Cup
Kagawa from the spot too quick
And the second fastest in history
Upstaged by Quintero’s free kick
Despite Rodriguez’s introduction
Osako’s header too good to resist
Japan rallied to hold the lead
Thanks to Keisuke Honda’s assist
Senegal are trending
Poland 1-2 Senegal
Cionek and Krychowiak scoring
Niang beat a former Arsenal goalie
Slotting into an empty net
Skipping past Bednarek and Szczesny
He’s the youngest at this World Cup
Aliou Cisse is a pioneer
He holds another distinction
Being the only black gaffer here
Definitely the World Cups best fans
Senegal is now trending
This is why you ride with Les Lions
This is Africa’s first Russia win
Hosts seal Egypt fate
Russia 3-1 Egypt
Heart break for Fathi the full back
His finish was simply great
With the Cups fifth own goal
One short of France 98
Cheryshev and Dzyuba make it three
Salah’s penalty on the dot
Rifled in with a full blast
Making no mistake from the spot
In the battle of the forwards
It’s Cheryshev who rules as king
Mother Russia now march on
It’ll be more than a three game fling
19 06 18
number7
© Emdad Rahman
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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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joe morris
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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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