Drink, Draw, Lose

England U21 1 v France U21 2
UEFA Under 21 Championship 2019, Group C
Tuesday 18 June 2019
Played at Stadium Dino Manuzzi, Cesena

2018/19 Football Season Brewery Visits - 105

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Different Italian Beer Ticks = 9

Firstly, a disclaimer. I have piled into Italian Craft Beer before. For England v San Marino in 2013 and San Marino & Turin in 2015. But, my ticking lists were in their infancy & ain't survived. So, I'm starting from ONE on this trip.

And, it's a big, firm welcome back to SmallBall. Essentially last seen at the 2018 Toulon Tournament. I'm a fan. Not for everyone. I get that. It's easy to book hotels. It's easy to book a flight to the tournament. And, not have one home. As you wait to see how far England progress. Tickets are cheap (or free if it's Toulon). It's an all around calmer experience than full on first team FIFA & UEFA tournaments. Less Cocaine. More Lacoste than Stone Island. And, do not take that as pompous. I'm OK with a bit of Bollocks. Just, I'm not expecting any out here.

Twelve team tournament. Sigh. Should be Eight Mate. Works better. Three groups of four. Three winners to the Semis. The becoming the norm UEFA Fucking Best Loser Spreadsheet to decide the fourth Semi-ites. Anyway, all done & dusted in a fortnight. Proper SmallBall.

The usual idiosyncratic start to drinking in Italy. I know not what I'd done to the waitress in Fob, Rimini. I confessed I didn't speak Italian. Sorry. But, I was all smiley. I asked her a Geeky Brewery question using Google Translate on my phone. She decided she wasn't going to "understand" Ale Cart Sign Language. TWO. Holds two fingers up. (In Victory mode, not Fuck Off mode). SMALL. Holds hands close together parallel to the bar top. BEERS. Pleeeeaaaase. No, she professed no idea. May I Pay Please. Makes sign of scribbling on pad & holds money out. No. Paying seemed an alien idea to her. Great stand off while I continued to smile. Obvs, she broke first & went and got the bill. But, she put up a great fight.

Thing is. No need. Three Belorussian Fellas on the next table. (I stalked them on Untappd). She was more than able to understand Belorussian Ale Sign Language, just not English. I didn't get it.

Fob looked very busy as we approached it down a side street. Seemed like dozens perched on the pavement tables. And, an overspill onto people's front steps across the street. Oh dear. Hope there's room inside. Whaaat? Of course there is. Because. Most of those drinkers outside, are outside because as well as the Craft Ale, they also have to have a simultaneous tug on some Draw. Welcome to Rimini, a Drinker's Town (and Draw).

The Outstanding Italian Beer Of The Trip to date can go to;
Mazapégul, Befana Befana, Imperial Stout on keg at a delightful 7.7% in La Cantinetta, Rimini.

Obvs, I've got to get the dig in. A much more welcoming place than Fob. The fella was happy to take me along the keg fonts & explain what was what. The stout was really good. Moreish. There was a lot of coffee. Which sometimes puts me off. In this 'un, the coffee was always there, but didn't dominate. The only downside was a slightly sour smell. Otherwise, it was thick & treacle rich. Superb.

Well. Disappointing result. In disappointing circumstances. And the three group format may make for some dead games. Unless England can snatch something out of a fire. Partly, the arse has dropped out of Blogging match reports. Because, you can see most games back on the Tele in Ingerland. So, what's the point in me saying owt? A Dean Henderson penalty save. A lovely jinking Phil Foden goal on 54. Another French penno hit the post on 63. With Hamza Choudhury sent off. Last year, he was my guy, so I have to say, Dean Henderson performing Circus Act miracles. And some great defensive blocking from his muckers. It wasn't exactly do or die rearguard stuff. But, you really felt the Young Lions might get it over the line. Then, FFS, an equaliser on 89 & an O.G. winner on 90+5.

I'm a big Dom Solanke fan. But, he did nothing. A bit isolated in that formation maybe. But, he was jumping under balls. Not channel running & watching Gray & Sessegnon get free wide, way ahead of him. Then, at one up, ten men, we throw Dom C-L & Abraham on. Odd that. We'd had a few chances in the first half. Ten men makes it difficult. France threw a lot at it. The Stats have them ahead. In the calm light of day, they deserved that win. But, the way it unfolded seems harsh.

Quite a good family atmosphere in the ground. AC Cesena went bust in 2018. So, lots of the Kids, Mums, Dad's & Wannabee Ultras wanted/needed to sing Cesena songs. Fair do. The UEFA Stewards natch misjudged the family mood. On the off chance someone launched an inappropriate projectile, the pitch side stewards were wearing comedy builders Hard Hats. No. Really.

Stats
I have now Blogged from 812 games in 1,764 days