8.2.13 Oh Fuck, We Think We're Good

England v Brazil

What a disastrous result - beating Brazil 2-1 in the friendly at Wembley!  The fact that it was a 'friendly' will be of no consequence to the people who want to believe that suddenly England has a world class squad of players, and can take over the world with scintillating play.  Let's just have a common-sense recap on what actually happened yesterday.

Walcott did well with a bit of pace, and the ball came loose to the edge of the box where Wayne Rooney side-footed it into the net.  Brazil managed to piss about quite a lot, and miss opportunities to score, including a sitter for Neymar. They finally equalised after trying just a bit harder, but Lampard scored with a well placed shot (though the fact that it crept inside the post was as much down to luck as brilliance).

As for the penalty save, I think that even I could have fallen five feet to my left and stopped a rather weak penalty kick.  I do agree that England played quite well, but let's please not get carried away.  This is not proof that we can win the World Cup, nor is it a basis to believe we won't be watching an awful display in the next match. There's no doubt in my mind that we will forever retain the ability to make silly mistakes and allow the opposition to score. There will always be a perverse urge to pass the ball (for no good reason) to someone who's being tightly marked, or back to the keeper so he can fuck up.

Andy Townsend was the real star of the evening, with a few good quotes. Some of the discussion and comments after the match provided further amusement.

Roy Keane: "He was so brave to put his arm out."  This was a quite pathetic comment.  Joe Hart is a fucking goalkeeper, and it's his job to put his arm out!

Commentator: "Swashbuckling stuff from England."  What a useless turn of phrase.

Andy Townsend: "It's never easy sometimes."  Thanks for that pearl of wisdom, Andy, whatever you're trying to say with that effort.

Andy Townsend: "Defenders can drop off and just go to sleep."  I think you're taking the cliches and analogies a bit too far!

Frank Lampard: "The lads who played all 90 minutes deserve a lot of credit as they can't half move the ball.  They pop up in little holes behind you and there was a lot of work-rate there - and we got the win."  This is simply complete bollocks, Frank.

Roy Hodgson: "Apart from a mad spell at the start of the second half when we lost the ball, the team dealt well with Brazil's questions."  Roy, it was not a fucking quiz.


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