Work that one out later

England 35 v Japan 15
Autumn Rugby Union International
Saturday 17 November 2018
Played at Twickenham

England 2 v Croatia 1
UEFA Nations League A, Group 4
Sunday 18 November 2018
Played at Wembley

May to May Brewery Visits - 63

Twitter @ball_sup
www.twitter.com/ball_sup
Untappd ball_sup

One Swallow and all that. But, that must surely be a bit of vindication for the UEFA Nations League. Reward. Jeopardy. Consequence. At 56 minutes, nil nil. England are staying up, Croatia are going down. Croatia score. Croatia are going to the Final Four, England are going down. England equalise. Croatia are staying up, England are going down. Twelve Minutes left. Croatia need to score to get to the Final Four. England need to score to get to the Final Four. Or, Croatia can shut up shop, and stay in the Top League, without winning it. All to play for. What you gonna do?

Fucking win it is what. That's the Game. Football. Right there. Vindicated or not, I went mental as Kane netted. Then 5+3 of game management. Gentlemen. To. The. Corners.

England started very brightly. I was disappointed not to be winning it by half time. Four at the back & Pickford, happy to pass the ball amongst them. And to Dier & Delph coming deep for it. Really, the only time we looked under threat was when the passes went awry. If you're going to play that confident, play it around at the back game, the passes have to be decisive. A fella in the row behind me got it spot on.

“You can't play - we can work that one out later - passes”

Rashford was a constant threat. Running at defenders. He has got pace. That'll help. He has got a good touch. That'll help. He does see space. That'll help. But, crucially, he's got intent as well. He's going there. No doubt. See if you can stop him.

Croatia got things a bit more sorted after half time. And, I think some England players began to tire. And, Barkley was a bit tentative as he was on a yellow. I'd have kept Rashford on. But, Southgate juggled it about a bit with the Subs. And, in that sense it worked.

The after the match celebration & Final Four in Portugal inaugural planning meeting was held in The Long Arm, Pub & Brewery on Worship Street in EC2. Not a bad choice for what we would call Sunday teatime. Nice & quiet & eminently doable. The Brewing Kit is over & down one side. There own beers effectively come from dispensing tanks. One of mine was coming out a frothhhhh. The bar lady simply went down to the tank and vented it to let some gas out. It was a nice, welcoming place to get at it after the game. Sundays, all day, is Happy Hour on their own brews. FFS - a Stein for the price of a pint. Good offer in a not good way.

There were five of their own on keg & a guest Thornbridge Lager. For me, the best of the bunch was….

Long Arm, Thicc n Juicy, American Pale at 4.2%.

None of the beers were right up there inspiring. But, all were decent enough. This one did have the merest hint of peach. Maybe a bit too Tate & Lyle sweet. But, the bitterness came off that nicely. I went back to it for a Stein to cap off.

Up The England.

746/1552