There’s no football. It has been decreed that: just as the new football season gets properly under way and the old excitements, hopes and… ok, anxieties return anew, they stop everything for ‘international breaks’. Those great games of absolutely no interest whatsoever to anyone which give our star players and bestest idols an extra chance to get injured. Or jet-lagged. Or sometimes… both. I really don’t care that England played Ukraine, in Poland, for obvious reasons, that that’s where most Ukrainians can now be found. And it was a draw. Well, was it really? That’s fascinating. My team are second in the league and I’m supposed to be interested in some qualifying game for a tournament years away.

So I watched some rugby. The lord giveth and the lord taketh away. He took away (meaningful) football and gaveth a shit-load of amazing World Cup rugby. France beat New Zealand. France are the favourites, but only in terms of betting. In terms of ‘nations being loved’, they remain irretrievably rooted to the bottom. They even took time to boo President Macron as he made his welcoming address. Almost as rude as it is totally deserved. But the pundits consoled any All Blacks listening after the match (which was absolutely brilliant) by stating that South Africa lost their opening match in the last World Cup, but still went on to win it.

They didn’t tell that to Romanian fans after losing their first match, which I thought a bit inconsiderate. They only lost to Ireland (also favourites) 82-8. But there’s everything left to play for. (What’s the Romanian for: ‘just go home now’??)

Then England came out to play, the team everyone in the world cares about over and beyond all others. And were underdogs against Argentina, itself a great insult. Unless you’re Argentinian. Our super flanker Tom Curry returned after a long injury and we were thrilled to have him back. For the three minutes he lasted until being sent off by a referee obviously being bribed by Far Eastern gambling syndicates. But playing with 14 men against 15 for the remaining 73 minutes seemed to galvanise the England team into the most fantastic mind-set. They were brilliant. On the other side of the ball, the Argies were simply abysmal. Thank God. The worst performance by them since Maradona was around to inspire them. Since Eva Peron was buried. So now I’m all fired up to win the whole thing.

Meanwhile, over in New York, Coco Gauff won the American Open for gels. I kind’a forgot that, despite seemingly being around for decades, she’s only 19 still. And plays the game… as well as I do. Some might say even better, others ‘what the fuck are you on???’, but I’m glad she won. Not so sure I’ll be thrilled by either Djokovic or Medvedev winning the mens.

So there you are. They take away our football but we shall survive!!!

Happy Sunday

A xxxx