M25 Sea Bass

England 1 v Croatia 0 

EURO 2020, Group D 

Sunday 13 June 2021 

Played at Wembley 

England WIN. But, I'm afraid I need to bring you DOWN with a Disclaimer. These aren't really the EUROs & this isn't proper football. Sure, it's not as bad as the half paced, no one gives one fuck let alone two, made for TV, behind closed doors, snot test ersatz football that we have had to endure. But, the EUROs should be played in front of full house crowds. With Continental Carrier Bag Firms Congregating. I'm made up to get a ticket. To see my country play. To get at it. But, it's only Semi Ball at the mo'.

A word for the players too. Seasons truncated. Schedules shoehorned. Another day, another game. Week in, week out. They're done man. Where we should be building up to a glorious crescendo, it's just a grind.

England WIN.

Two O'clock kick off. On a Sunday. With seated table service only in pubs. And the need to get up to Wembley early for the ID (didn't happen), Covid Status, and Bluetooth Ticket checks. The Carrier Bag Firm decided to deploy The Alma. One of the great London Drinking secrets. (Although not now maybe once my 18 followers get wind of it). The Alma is a market pub. The Alma is a Brewery Tap for One Mile End. The Alma is a hotel. The Alma has a variety of licencing law exemptions. It's 9:45am on a Sunday. Crucially The Alma is OPEN.

This is Islington on a Sunday. So it's Farmer's Market. According to one of the Alma locals, the bye laws require all traders to source their products from within the M25.

"See him. See him. He's selling fucking Sea Bass. Where's he fucking catching Sea Bass within the M25?"

Fella's got a point.

There was no Cask on. And the Stout and the Helles proved to be unavailable. Still leaving seven pukka craft keg (if you include Beavertown). Outstanding Alma Beer Of The Morning was;

Big Smoke Brew Co, Rare Magic, Pale Ale at 4%.

That looked absolutely glorious. Like you'd need a knife n fork, or at least a spoon to make any progress. Full bodied. Juicy without being overpowering. A lot of hop forward bitter marmalade. And it all slowly mellows out. Superb.

I thought England did OK there. Very, very lively early on. Threat after threat. With the Croats locked in their own half. But, remember Phil, this is international football. The Croats will work it out. Stifling will occur. So it all settled down to look like a nil nil draw during the half time chinwag. There's common sense in the set up. And the set up takes a lot of criticism. Two midfielders trying to wrestle & gain control (say Rice & Phillips). Three midfielders swapping & changing & looking to make things happen (say Mount, Foden & Sterling). One up top. With dial it up & dial it down options on the bench. Different game. Different day. Different player shines. Today - Kalvin Phillips - immense. 

Once the Stifling arrives, you're not going to get many chances. Get one. Take one. Raheem Sterling. One other point I'd make is England have a lot of leaders out there. All slightly different qualities, but all mesh together nicely. Up & running in The Nearly EUROs.

The post match tactical debrief was in The Three Johns. Again, no Cask. But a very good pukka keg list. 

Outstanding Three Johns Beer Of The Late Afternoon;

Double-Barrelled Brewery, Back To Life at 6.3%. Billed as West Coast IPA (I'm seeing more of them reappearing at the moment). To be honest, it didn't quite live up to that. Tinned fruit salad smell. Hops hold back a bit at first. Bitterness develops very slowly. But, it's quite powerful as you swirl it. Got a bit of Tizer if you look for the sugar.

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