COME ON ENGLAND!

[Karan]: So England play Algeria in the World Cup tonight, and the levels of expectations are high. To say the least.

I have been noting, with a great deal of interest - and some amusement too - the pleasure and the pain our serious football supporters are going through.  It seems to me that they want to believe so much in the team, their talent, ability and potential, but just dare not, possibly because of past disappointments.  I can only imagine what will happen if England do actually win the championship - it'll dwarf the England rugby world cup winner's parade; of that I'm sure!

There are people who I follow on Facebook and Twitter - men mostly - who are throwing themselves into work to take their minds off the anticipation and nerves, whilst others are unashamedly clock watching.  A friend of mine is so passionate about his football, that he is refusing point blank to collect the kids from school next Wednesday, when England are playing again, so his wife has had to make alternative arrangements - and this is a man who simply adores his children.  I do wonder how many people will be struck down with a mysterious 24 hour stomach bug on Tuesday night, and how many grandparents or far flung Aunts and Uncles will be drafted in for the school run.

Patriotism is a wonderful thing and must be encouraged and nutured - it's what made this country great, and football really brings it out in people doesn't it?  And it's not just a man thing either.  A friend of mine works for a husband and wife team, where the wife is insane about her football, whilst the husband loathes it and can't understand her fascination.  Ian and I both support England - in anything, not just the football - wait until the rugby or Wimbledon starts and we go nuts - but we only follow the football during the World Cup and Euro championships - assuming England qualify.  Ian, as a man, is largely unmoved by football ordinarily, but he'll be leaping to his feet as fast as the next man when England score tonight.

We have not gone so far as to display flags outside the house, or have them whistling above the car doors - much to our daughter's chagrin, but we have promised that if England get to the semi-finals, that we shall hang a flag out of a bedroom window to celebrate, just like everyone else in the street. 

From my very limited understanding of football in general - although I can explain the off-side rule! - I believe Algeria are the underdogs tonight and England are expected to win comfortably.  This makes me very nervous, because whenever England are expected to win comfortably, there is invariably an upset.  Is it not England's form to make the supporters sweat blood before prevailing eventually?

And another thing.  Can someone explain to me why Emile Heskey gets such a hard time, i.e.: "...if Heskey can play for England than so can I" - because from what I saw of him during the USA match on Saturday night, he ran his legs off and had several convincing shots at goal.  And is Green The Goalkeeper really going to continue blaming the ball?  The ball's the same for all goalkeepers isn't it?  Hmmmm, let's hope there's a redemptive performance for the remainder of the competition then.

No doubt passion and patriotism will inspire me to blog again about the football if England get to the final, but that's all from me for now.  Next stop, Wimbledon - where we have no Englishmen playing at all, more's the pity.  COME ON ENGLAND!