HobNobs at the DMZ

England U20 1 v Mexico U20 0

FIFA U20 World Cup, Quarter Final

Played at Cheonan Sports Complex, South Korea

Monday 5 June 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

28 Korean Beer Ticks

After the Round Of 16 in Jeonju, the Carrier Bag Firm headed back to Seoul. Primarily so that we could do a Demilitarised Zone tour. We took the two-in-one coffee sachets & some Chocolate HobNobs. In the hope we could get the North Koreans, the United Nations & the US Army around a table & get it all sorted. Not to be I'm afraid.

The legs so far have been Seoul Jeonju Seoul Jeonju Cheonan Suwon Seoul Jeonju Seoul Cheonan. Having moaned like fuck about “three laps round France” in EURO 2016. I now find myself having an intricate knowledge of the Korean Train System. And. Lo. England get it over the line. So. Back down to Jeonju for the fourth & final time. Ain't complaining.

At the second attempt, we found Magpie Brewing Co. in Kyungridan OPEN (hurrah). There were 7 of their own on keg.
Magpie Brewing Co., American IPA on keg at 6.5%.
Magpie Brewing Co., Pale Ale on keg at 4.5%.
Magpie Brewing Co., Porter on keg at 5.5%.

The IPA was good, the Pale a little underpowered. But, I'm saying that Porter was the best of the bunch. Quite sweet. But backed up by lots of red fruit & some smoke.

And, back to the booth in Samsung. Where. As if I ain't struggling enough. I got served the wrong & DUPLICATE beer tick. I was proud of myself, as I gave it the usual. No worries, I'll have it as it's an honest mistake. So, the true tick was;
the booth, 72 Seconds Rye IPA on keg at 6.2%.

Not nearly enough fruit off the rye for me. Although it was nicely hopped. In other ticking, I swept up;
burger B, Pit-a-Pat IPA on keg at 5.9% (house beer of a Burger Chain).
Korea Craft Brewery, Ark, Black Swan on keg at 4.5%.
That Ark was a nicely balanced Stout. Liquorice, red fruit, bitter finish.

We also went Gangnam Style at the booth Gangnam 2nd.
the booth, Kieuk IPA on keg at 4.5%
the booth/Evil Twin collab, Gyunglidan Hipster Ale on keg at 4.5%
Seriously disappointing that collab. Nothing to it.

We went to celebrate that marvellous England win in the very appropriately named BEER HUNTERS bar in Cheonan. Up the lift to the fifth floor. Fucking derelict. So. We piled into the already ticked the booth/Mikkeller Taedonggang​ Pale on keg in Tap Five.

England were well worth that win. But, it was nervy. And it was tight. Calvert-Lewin didn't start. But came on as sub. At one nil up. Moments before the red card for Josh Onomah. At one stage, I worried they might take Dom straight back off to rejiggle the 10 men. As Mexico chased the game, gaps opened. IMHO DCL will have been disappointed not to score from the good few chances he had. That would have settled it a bit. But, to be honest, a lot of the Mexico stuff was huff n puff. And England were sucking it up somewhat easily.

England started very well in both halves. Lookman in particular in the first. Solanke was a threat throughout. Lewis Cook is a great player. But, he was frustratingly out of the game in patches. Good. Solid performance all round. But, we needed more goals to tie it up.

Mad schedule. QF Monday, SF Thursday, Final Sunday (or 3rd/4th play off if it comes to it). Killer ​schedule. FIFA should have missed out that pointless Round Of 16. Here we go. World Cup Semi Final.

488/1021