Football Poets

WC2018 Day -1 haiku

history haiku

58 Sweden

Pelé boy wonder
Garrincha wing wizard
routing Swedish hosts

62 Chile

Vava, Garrincha
Earthquake stricken yet on time
Chile such cool hosts

66 England

hat-trick hero Hurst
Ramsey’s wingless wonders
home advantage

70 Mexico

Seleção success
team goal of the century
Pelé to the fore

74 Germany

Cryuff turn, Dutch courage
Brave Jack Taylor first min pen
Mueller claws it back

78 Argentina

Kempes, Ardiles
ticker tape entrances
Junta advantage

82 Spain

Rossi on rampage
Tardelli’s frenzied pash dash
Italy hat-trick

86 Mexico

Hand of God
Mexican wave unveiling
Maradona foremost

90 Italy

Gazza’s tears breaks hearts
Placido’s vocals in tune
Brehme pen success

94 USA

penalty shoot-out
Baggio blasts sky high – lands
in Hudson River

98 France

Ronaldo riddle
Starting or not? Lost the plot?
Zidane headed pair

2002 Japan & South Korea

Hosts so humble
Ronaldo redemption rules
Asiatic first

2006 Germany

Rooney red, Ron wink
Zidane floors Materazzi
bows out as loser

2010 South Africa

Sokker Africa
Vuvuzelas and sunshine
Iniesta smile

2014 Brazil

Germans score seven
vanishing foam used by refs
hosts wish they could

2018 Russia

open tournament
prediction: poised Germany
England: no-hopers

~ # ~

#WC2018 generic Haiku

bright sun radiates
shorts slip on so easily
World Cup fever starts!

wise words on the web
artist alights on the pitch
ball enters the net

sun, moon, stars, align
superstars create and shine
stage set for goalfest

keeper shouts “away!”
ten discordant reactions
frenemies within

everybody
wants to believe it is in
GLT says no

screaming, arms aloft
conviction guaranteed
VAR says no

no-one on the post
quick corner creates havoc
could’ve should’ve

strolls around the park
photogenic and spreads play
darling of the paps

bench-warmer
enters the fray and scores
game changer

shirts, shorts and socks
couturiers run amok
colour by design

formation planning
blanket defence to smother
park the bus

hopes on young shoulders
unburdened by past failures
swivel, shoot, score

proud moments
representing your country
kit included

holding hands
sponsored match mascots
jail otherwise

prettiness required
catwalk stars must shine so bright
Mondial make-up

Lamps: over the line
Diego’s dirty digits
both: truisms

run up to World Cup
undefeated in friendlies
hope springs eternal

football at its best
Nation unto Nation joust
every four years

colour, passion, skill
endeavour, tacticians, rules
fifty shades of play

Form. Storm. Norm. Perform.
Goal: non-elimination
Setting high standards

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