Poems tagged ‘World Cup’
Three Lions: One Thousand not out!
Eighteen Seventy Two it all began
England setting the benchmark
Ballynafeigh, Josy Barthel, Levski
A World Record at Hampden Park
Sir Alf’s Wingless Wonders
World Champions in Sixty Six
They all stood up at the Maracana
When Barnes pulled his box of tricks
I saw Maradona’s hand cause mayhem
I savoured Platt’s Belgian volley
Psycho Pearce bought the house down
Gazza’s tears and Euro stunner at Wembley
Neil Webb the thousandth player
Sir Stanley Matthews was a dream
Lampard, Shearer, Gerrard hard to bench
Time to name my Three Lions team
Banks, Parker, Rio, Cole
Bobby Moore with the long sleeves
Gazza, Robson, the younger Charlton
Rooney, Lineker, Greaves
14 11 19
number7
© emdad rahman
Football in Bosnia – Jerusalem of the Balkans
All around the fields of Saray
It’s the beautiful game they love to play
So kids, it’s time to step to the fray
And dance with this football attaché
Bosnia bred is the great Safet Susic
It’s first World Cup captain Emir Spahić
Dzeko, Kodro, Besic, Pjanić, Osim, Begović
Coventry City legend Muhamed Konjić
The Jerusalem of Europe’s folklore
Mass horror in Srebrenica and Sarajevo
Not since the Second World War
Such pain, but they fly high and soar
After the Dayton agreement and nine days
These Zmajevi would rise and amaze
Saraybosna have passed that horror phase
They play World Cup football nowadays
number7
© emdad rahman
Gordon Banks – England’s number one
Pele screamed “Gol”
Alberto and Jairzinho tricky
Banks saves heart and soul
Modestly terming it “lucky”
Brilliance from the World Cup winner
In the heat of Guadalajara
Chesterfield, Leicester, Stoke, FIFA
Named six times keeper of the year
Once the Kop lauded merrily
“Nice work, Gordon,” sang the ranks
Lap of honour with Bill Shankly
You’ll never walk alone Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks 1937-2019
12 02 19
number7
© emdad rahman
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
Awesome Belgique take third
Belgium 2-0 England
Thomas Meunier put Belgium ahead
Sliding in ahead of Danny Rose
With only a mere four minutes in
It seemed the whole team had froze
England had chances to square
Alderweireld clears from Dier
Harry Maguire heads wide
By then the boys had lost their fire
Eden Hazard wraps it up
By then the Reds were spurred
Got the better of Jones to beat Pickford
Well done Belgium on third
14 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
“Extra! Extra! Read All About It…
A sallow, inflatable prez
May (sic) think he’s some sort of a ledge
During a presidential visit to Trumpton this week
But he don’t come across
Like the sharp bit of M an S cloth, whose simply been boss
In The Soccer, tuned in with the fan on the street”.
Semi final: France reach third Final
France 1-0 Belgium
It was St Petersburg
Where there would fall one nation
France ending the Belgium run
And the golden generation
Like Deschamps they shut shop
The second half wasn’t vinyl
Samuel Umtiti sends
Les Bleus to another final
Pogba was immense
Today he dealt the grime
Working it for Les Bleus
It’s France for the third time
10 07 18
number7
© Emdad Rahman
World Cup Dream
I dreamt I won the World Cup,
For the England team.
I didn’t need ten other men,
It was just me, in my dream.
I showed eleven Brazilians
how the game should be played.
I scored three and they scored one,
and history was made.
My name was all over the papers
And all over the TV.
There was a rumour that, Anne Hathaway,
had fallen in Love with Me.
But it ended all too soon you see,
as soon as I woke up,
I found I was in my Bedroom
There wasn’t a World Cup.
But we’re in the Semi Final now,
So It doesn’t bother me.
As Harry Kane, and the other players
Can make this a reality.
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
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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!
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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