Poems tagged ‘Sweden’
Sweden England Next haiku
Sweden England next
hopefully play-actingless
and a finer game
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweden 1-0 Switzerland
Zlatanless but through
One deflection is enough
To cut this Swiss roll
furnished with success
flat pack four Ikea like
Sweden build their home
ten man Swiss compound
Blagult are still in the mix
England now await
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Colombia 1-1 England
England win 4-3 on penalties.
dear oh dear oh dear
where on Earth do we begin
to pen our relief?
nervy night again
no Rashford* or Loftus Cheek
we looked poor upfront
through but only just
penalty hoodoo undone
but we must improve
coming home the cry
suddenly on ev’ry lip
wiil it be in tears?
World Cup day 19
Forsberg sends Switzerland home
Sweden 1-0 Switzerland
Some thought the talisman
Retired in the autumn
Sweden are a team now
No Zlatan, no problem
Forsberg’s shot deflected
Helvetia chuck the towel
Swiss Lang is soon sent off
For a very late foul
Magical run runs
As the Swedes beat the Swiss
For the first time since 1994
It’s World Cup Quarters bliss
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Penalteam England are in the last eight
Colombia (3) 1-1 (4) England
When it comes to a spot kick
It’s that man Harry Kane
With seconds left on the clock
Yerry Mina inflicts the pain
We go to extra time
90 minutes and add ons are up
Sweat in gallons and nails are bit
This is the World Cup
Hendo and Bacca fail to net
Pickford, Dier, destiny on a date
We have news for you
England are in the last eight
03 07 18
number7
© emdad rahman
World Cup day 14
Swedes and Mexico go through
Mexico 0-3 Sweden
El Tri are in shock
As the Swedes seal top
Germany are sent packing
A huge World Cup flop
Augustinsson is first
Granqvist puts Sweden in control
The Scandinavians make sure
With Alvarez’s own goal
Janne Andersson’s Sweden
Were in third place before play
Surely Mexico will announce
A Korea Republic Day
Auf Widersehen champs
South Korea 2-0 Germany
Team DFB make shockwaves
As South Korea leave it late
Their worst World Cup
Since 1938
Yes you heard that right
The champs are sent away
Whilst Mexico will surely dedicate
A South Korea day
Kim and VAR score on ninety
Then Son doubles the pain
Some of Jogi’s selections
Now look totally in Sane
Brazil march on
Serbia 0-2 Brazil
Paulinho and the boys will shine
On Brazil our family agree
No chance of a shock here
So we switch on and enjoy ITV
No ones forgotten the nineties
I wanted them to suffer a rout
With Neymar leading the charge
To be frank I’m glad they’re out
Set piece second from Thiago
Neymar’s goal record still lean
Brazil top Group E
To face Mexico in the last 16
Ticos fight back but Swiss are through
Switzerland 2-2 Costa Rica
Kendall Watson for Costa Rica
It’s their first of this World Cup
There awaits a game against Sweden
Team Nati are group runners up
Dzemaili returned the favour
Switzerland go 1-1
Ticos heads drop
Drmic looked to have it won
Bryan Ruiz with his last kick
Sort of scores the spot kick he took
Bit lucky with the rebound
Off Sommers the Gourmet cook
27 06 18
number7
© emdad rahman
Germany Out ! Sweden/Mexico Through haiku-WC Day 14
South Korea 2-0 Germany 0
couldn’t make it up
this World Cup defies the odds
Germany crash out
who would’ve thought it
holders blow it at the end
it’s wide open now
tough for South Korea
they produce the best result
but still head off home
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mexico 0-3 Sweden
such emotion shown
ev’ry player ev’ry fan
as Incas survive
you just have to say
not often you lose three nil
and reach last sixteen
as Swedes cruise on through
Los Incas are there with them
thanks to South Korea
On Belgium Mexico & Germany haiku-WC Day 10
Belgium 5-2 Tunisia
five star masterclass
from Hazard and Lukaku
as Belgians ease on
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
South Korea 1-2 Mexico
In a sticky group
Mexico are sat the door
Hernandez the key
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Germany 2-1 Sweden
so predictable !
with that late Kroos thunderbolt
Germany are back
World Cup day 10
Lukaku and Hazard at the double
Belgium 5-2 Tunisia
Lukaku joins Ronaldo
In the race for the Golden Boot
Romelu does have an ace
It’s Hazard playing the flute
As the Belgians rout Tunisia
Both stars each wa brace
Dylan Bronn and Wahbi Khazri score
Tunisia sink with no trace
Eight goals in two games
Each Red Devil a star
Batshuayi makes it 5
The highest score game so far
23 06 18
number7
© emdad rahman
South Korea 1-2 Mexico
Carlos Vela was in mourning
His Grandad had cheered El Tri
Thereafter he’d left this mortal plain
After the win against Germany
Javier Hernandez with a milestone
Reaching fifty not out
Beating Jo Hyeon-woo at the near post
To hand the Taegeuk a knockout
Son in turn hammers a worldie
Football can be so mean
This puts El Tri on the verge
Of the World Cup last 16
23 06 18
number7
© emdad rahman
Kroos control as Germany fight back
Germany 2-1 Sweden
“Alles klar” proclaimed the Hoff
Toivonen caught them off guard
Until Reuss stepped it up
And Boateng got a red card
A last minute stunner it is then
Amidst the stadium din
Tony launches his Kroos missile
For a dramatic last gasp win
Thoughts for poor Jimmy Durmaz
Questioned for his right to live
For the foul that led to the win
You people need some perspective
23 06 18
number7
© emdad rahman
Sweden Belgium England Win haiku~WC Day 5
Sweden 1-0 South Korea
South Korea raise
more questions for V A R
on that Sweden pen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Belgium 3-0 Panama
Belgium at a stroll
like the sculptors they’ve become
carve new boys apart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tunisia 1-2 England
patience brings reward
England snatch a last gasp win
Kane you believe it?
World Cup day 5
Swedes start life without Zlatan
Sweden 1-0 South Korea
Ibrahimovic had said earlier
“The World Cup without me,
is not worth watching”
To some that’s a desperate plea
But the Blågult kept their nerve
With Son’s pace on the counter spin
It’s been a long sixty years
Since an opening day win
With no Zlatan in charge
Granqvist with the penalty
It’s now about Toivonen and Berg
Teamwork and unity
Belgique rule the roost
Belgium 3-0 Panama
Belgium stroll literally
Not to mention metaphorically
Mertens with a superb volley
To liven things up in Sochi
They took a while to get going
But Lukaku headed number two
De Bruyne supplies the magic
As his Red Devil’s plot to go through
Too strong for the newbies
Hard feeding the drip
Martinez tops Group Three
Lukaku with a deft chip
Captain Kane to the rescue
Tunisia 1-1 England
It was a dream start for England
First blood from Captain Kane
Kyle Walker turned street brawler
Sassi exacting penalty pain
We saw an attack of the midges
Attacking without rhyme or reason
Gifts from the Volga River
After all it is breeding season
You can’t keep a class striker down
Three Lions with miss after miss
Harry Kane seals it at the death
Volgograd to see the back of this
18 06 18
number7
© emdad rahman
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
My First World Cup in ‘58
The mists of time have not erased
The moments of those summer days
The images on our TV
In black and white they transfixed me
the beauty of the game back then
when you and I were only ten
And in our playgrounds we became
Garrincha ~Pelé ~Just Fontaine
In matches we would emulate
That first World Cup in 58
No choices like we have today
You watched whatever anyway
The four home nations were all there
And England’s hopes soon disappeared
But outside in the London heat
We held our World Cup on the street
With lost or worn out tennis balls
We chalked our goal posts on the walls
The neighbours used to remonstrate
That World Cup back in 58
The shoes I wrecked the knees I grazed
The kickabouts went on for days
With crazy scorelines every time
From fifteen nil to eighteen nine
On gravel and down at the park
We’d stay out there til after dark
The Summer football that we played
Will always last and never fade
When we would run to recreate
That World Cup back in ‘58
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About This Site
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!
Latest Poems
Phil Brennan
3rd August 2026
joe morris
2nd August 2026
Phil Brennan
30th July 2026
joe morris
30th July 2026
Jason Prasad
28th July 2026
Denys E. W. Jones
26th July 2026
joe morris
26th July 2026
Jason Prasad
22nd July 2026
joe morris
21st July 2026
Phil Brennan
21st July 2026
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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