Engerland

Show in the evening, show in the morning, and 4 football games to watch in one day! It's too much for one man. I know which one I'd prefer, but sometimes is not the same with what I have to do. I've even fallen behind with my WC accounts for the first time - this will happen again for sure, but on this particular occasion, there you go, I'm recovering.

I'm also writing this straight after the previous post, but breaking them into two for easier reading.

Portugal  - DR Congo 1-1

Yes, I want Portugal to win, I think Congo will be the African surprise team, and I really wanted to see the game. I did watch bits on my phone, but not enough to get a feel of which was the better team. Neither, probably, at least according to the score. And there will be endless chatter about how Mbappe, Haaland and Messi had phenomenal games the day before while Ronaldo wasn't able to make his mark on this game, but this isn't showboasting. God, even Harry Kane got a nod in this conversation. Nothing changed in the groups equation, Portugal can and probably will win the group, but this was as anti-climactic as any. I should be glad, hopefully I'll get to see the good ones.

England - Croatia 4-2

No. Just... no

Ah, England. Did you know England is playing? Well, how can you not? I did say I want England to get out of the group stage or score a goal, and that bird has flown already. I don't like England games where they win and score a lot of goals because people tend to be noisy and destructive. I have to admit though, it didn't feel like that yesterday. Maybe I was protected, inside the Battersea Power Station bubble of consumerism, maybe supporters have become aware of the damaging impact of England wins, maybe a combination of the two, but it felt very much like a normal day yesterday. No singing on the tube. no carpets of rubbish on the streets, who knows, maybe even domestic violence quotas stayed within regular limits.

So ok, I will then participate in the joy of an emphatic English victory over an ageing, but still very good Croatian team. Happy for Harry Kane, two goals, good on ya 'arry! Am I happy that Rashford scored? Rashford who? After the Barcelona betrayal, he's got a lot of work to do to ransom our love. This is no prodigal son return story, this is a Judas story. He should be fed with the pods that the pigs eat and maybe, just maybe, after a 30-goals season, we might take him back. Or just sell him now and forget he exists, ideally.

Ghana - Panama 1-0

I got home close to half time and told myself I'll watch the second half. Did some of that, but naturally I fell asleep before the Ghanian goal, 90'+5, sounds like another heartbreak. The Panama team seemed to be attacking more, Ghana is by far the better team on paper, but this was not a classic by any measure.

Uzbekistan - Colombia 1-3

Speaking of not classics... 

Funnily enough, the 3 am start in the UK worked for the timezones of both countries. Late evening in Colombia, early morning in Uzbekistan. Didn't work for me at all, I saw the beginning of it, but that's that. 

I know nothing of Uzbek football, but apparently it is the top amongst the central Asian republics. No FC Arkadag stories in Uzbekistan and apparently the top club, Paktahor FC, is actually a decent club. I'm happy, therefore, for their first participation and first goal in the World Cup, but yeah, losing 3-1 to Colombia makes sense. I do hope I'll watch their next game.

But for now, let's go see the first half of Czechia - South Africa.