England 2 v Denmark 1
(after extra time)
EURO 2020 Semi Final
Wednesday 7 July 2021
Played at Wembley
Ashleigh Barty beat
Angelique Kerber
by 2 Sets to 0
6-3 7-6
Ladies' Singles, Semi Finals
Karolina Pliskova beat
Aryna Sabalenka
by 2 Sets to 1
5-7 6-4 6-4
Ladies' Singles, Semi Finals
Neal Skupski & Desirae Crawczyk beat
Jean-Julien Rojer
by 2 Sets to 0
7-6 6-2
Mixed Doubles, Quarter Finals
All Wimbledon Centre Court
Thursday 8 July 2021
As I write, I have still not seen the foul on Sterling on the tele. Live, it was at the other end of the ground to me. I have no wish to forensically examine what happened. Move on. It was much easier to see Sterling injecting pace into the game. Driving on. That's the Helicopter View (have you ever been in Wembley Block 511, mate?).
Anyway. If pushed, I can easily do the forensics without seeing it on the box. Here's a hard truth. Do you think the penalty for the thing on Raheem was soft? Do you think England were lucky? Have a really good think about that. Kane has fucking missed the penalty anyway, so it's not worth worrying about. Two goals from open play is what I've Eye Spied.
Wembley for these games has become chaotic. And, this particular football fan welcomes chaos. Chaos is the default setting. Sure, it's all a bit macho. Sure, it's all a bit Heineken out of Cans. But, it's not violent. And, it's certainly not fucking forensic. The Stewards have basically given up in the ground. Deploy everyone to stop people getting on the pitch. But, in the gangways & aisles, just a cheery head shaking smile from the odd Steward who has got a bit lost and has been informed, and not for the first time, that It's Coming Home.
Me, I thought that was a step up in performance. Calm & assured in defence and on the ball, for the most part. With a bit of inevitable panic. These are the Semis of a major tournament. Denmark have earned the right. They're gonna put you under pressure. You deal with it how you can. But, that was a team out there. Kyle Walker is not haring down the right, tracking back & shielding off his man for "The Nation". He's doing it for John Stones. Declan Rice is not closing off every angle & pressing his man for "the ordinary bloke in the Chip Shop". He's doing it for Bukayo Saka. A team. Sure, that won't stop me shouting - that tackle, made in fucking Shirecliffe. Or - Declan Rice, Declan Rice. But, they're doing it for each other, not me.
A bit more prepared to play through the lines I thought. Looking for the pass. Sometimes, the movement was too much. Control the ball. Have a Radar Glance. See the White Shirt, knock it, where's he fucking gone now? Maguire, Stones & Walker stepping through the line with ball at feet, very occasionally driving. Enjoyed that.
So, another EUROs/Wimbledon double header. The Carrier Bag Firm had to be calmly settled & internet ready for a 1pm Balloon Up when our EURO Final tickets were due on sale. (The Centre Court programme started at 1:30). So, one of those annoying bits of baloney where you're in danger of not enjoying one major event you've struggled to get tickets for, because all your emotional energy is invested in struggling to get tickets for another major event. We decided to find a bar, sit down, and deploy alcohol.
Part of The Pergola Bar has become The Sipsmith Gin Bar. And the Baseline Bar is the Champagne outflow. Pimm's & Beer widely available across loads of bars in all the different sizes & vessels. Stella is the main offering. Camden Pale also popping up all over the shop. One bar was serving Bass on Cask. And, one Camden Off Menu IPA on Keg at 5.8%. That'll do. A great hit for "a sports ground". A beer that's got a bit about it. Indeed, I thought the bitterness was building to go a bit further, but it just hovered out of reach. (Something about a deceptive lob to the baseline….needs work).
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