In the Country of the blind....and all that Jazz!
By Jemma Tappenden
June 13 2010
"In the Country of the blind the one eyed man is King". One might almost believe that English writer H.G. Wells had the hindsight in 1904 to scribe a reference to England's 2010 World Cup campaign. Make no mistake, England's involvement in South Africa has been well hyped now for months, but on the morning of Saturday 12th June 2010 as dawn broke an attitude of 'England Expects' was born.
There are two types of football fans. The blindly optimistic and hardened pessimist. I like to consider myself as balanced blend of both. Outwardly I'm everything a hardened pessimist should be. In matters of both club and country I never create a unfounded pedastal. It's not my style to declare England winners of the 2010 World Cup before a ball has even been kicked. However, inwardly there is an element of blind optimism dying to burst out.
Yesterday was a classic example. The hope and expectation was a notable presence in the pitt of my stomach from the time I awoke. So much so that I allowed myself to be swept away in the vibe of all that jazz and made a spontaneous trip to Asda to purchase a 6x9ft St Georges flag.
I even allowed myself to be swept up in a wave of excitment when my beloved suggested decorating our new flag with our club emblems, and so under-went two separate trips to The Hawthorns and then Molineux in order to collect club crests. This is a classic example of World Cup hype. Usually the very thought of anything sacred of Wolves appearing in the same vacinity as 'them lot down the road' would have Lady Wulfruna herself turning in her grave. But on this occassion I figured it was acceptable.
The streets were a sea of red and white, children with their faces painted, a whole generation of 60s hippies wearing replica shirts dreaming of a 44 year distant memory, 'Three Lions' replacing the usual thumping tones of Eminem and Jay-Z in many a done up Ford Fiesta and Citroen Saxo. And after 4 minutes a thumping Gerrard opener seemed to have all that jazz justified.
So who were the real victors of England's 1-1 draw with the USA? Well, if H.G. Wells is to be believed and the one eyed man really is king, those who never allowed their inner optimism to over-ride their hardened pessimist will have seen this coming. But the best thing about being blind as far as football is concerned is the 'bounce-back-ability'. Come Friday 18th June yesterday will be a distant memory, a vicious rumour....easily forgotten in the face of victory.
Whether the England camps belief that they can win the 2010 World Cup will turn out to be the biggest misbelief since Harland and Wolff allowed their unsinkable ship to leave Southampton docks in 1912, only time will tell. But will I wake up with the same expectation, hope and belief in 5 days time?? You bet your bottom American dollar I will.
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I will watch and learn, and occasionally be brave enough to comment
Good luck England - I was born in 1966 - time to win the World Cup again me thinks.
But unfortunately not. We do run the Albion one though, and should you be brave enough to look you can get to it on the network navigation bar top right.
Do you have an England shirt for Friday night? Compulsary wear lol.
