Yaaaay! England won!!… the rights to enter the ‘easy’ half of the draw for the rest of the World Cup. And depending on how long that ‘rest of’ may be will decide if the manager’s decision to ‘rest’ 8 of his starting players for a game that ‘didn’t matter’ was a brilliant one or possibly the penultimate one he makes as England manger. He still has at least one match guaranteed to play. Though I am a big fan of Gareth, approaching man-crush status.

My own preparation for yesterday’s big match was a long one, starting at 5.30 in the morning for early training. Ok, Lila was in-da-house and woke up, giggling, calling, happy-as-fucking-Larry at 5.30 in the morning. There simply is no ‘rolling over and going back to sleep’ when such a thing occurs. Firstly she certainly won’t let you and also you’d miss the wonder. Sleep’s overrated anyway. Though doesn’t feel it when so brutally disturbed.

And there’s no doubt that by finishing second in our group rather than top, we have an ‘easier run to the final’ but that is a statement beyond any normal limits of ‘presumptuous’. Because the price paid is that all that winning mentality will have slipped, regardless of any justifications after the fact. Like, it will be easier to progress. Like, we were only playing a ‘b-team’. The players, at the end of last night’s match, weren’t punching the air in jubilation for not having to meet Brasil, France, Argentina or Uruguay until the final. No. They were upset and despondent at having lost a match. And that is a feeling that lingers and destabilises.

But heh, by the time we play Columbia our star players will return, having rested for over a week. So we can get the Spurs boys back. And its ‘only Columbia’. Who are, by all accounts, a fairly useful team.

I missed last night’s game. Saw the beginning, thought we looked quite good, I love seeing the kids trying to impress. Then I went to Tai Chi. Because football is all well and good (as I constantly tell Mel) but my martial arts will ensure my physical wellbeing, my spiritual harmony and my never-ending quest to hurt people really badly.

Happy Friday

A xxxx