Post by staggerstag on Jun 30, 2024 14:03:07 GMT
“Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time,” said Voltaire, whose most well known work is Candide, published in turn as Candide : or, All for the Best, Candide : or, The Optimist and Candide : or, Optimism. He also said 'God is not on the side of the big battalions, but on the side of those who shoot best.' And that, thankfully, is what we are in possession of, a good shooter; we've got Harry Kane.
It's been a turgid start, slow, sideways and turgid as in 'They were like turgid animals who did things mechanically.' Never mind Confucius and his “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” That's fine if you have no opponent snapping at your heels. Moliere may have a point with “The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.” But his tree is not in a race with the tree beside it. We're in a fight here, a real live do-or-go-home fight, and I call upon Harold of Walthamstow to present himself on the battlefields of Germany to lead his country to certain victory in the Name of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. (Yeah yeah ok, I know)
So move your ass, Harry. This is where it gets going. Points without performance was bearable earlier in order to reach this stage. Now, a continuation of group stage performance will not do. If you think you can sit back and play it sideways and back with the odd hoof upfield against Slovakia you are not right in the head.
England come into the game as 7/2 tournament favourites on account of a relatively easier, on paper, path to the Final than other favourites; that and a lot of the usual jingoistic betting, or flutters, in the UK which will always keep England's odds low no matter how dismally they may play and are still in with a chance of winning it. Slovakia are the 3rd rank outsiders at 200/1. For the match itself, the list of odds aren't worth quoting. However, the 8/1 offered for a 90 minute Slovakia win may give some punters food for thought.
Yesterday Italy and Denmark were the first casualties of the knockouts and today from four, Spain, Georgia, England, Slovakia, another two will go.
Southgate said yesterday : “There’s definitely an excitement and a good feel around the group over the last few days. It also coincided with being able to have a day off the training pitch on Wednesday and relaxing a little bit. A bit of golf. Stuff like that. It’s not always science.
“We’re surrounded by science and data in our world now and sport is about joy and enjoyment. Sometimes in a tournament it the football is all you’ve got to think about and you need other stuff to talk about and enjoy and focus on. I feel we’ve been through a good few days in that sense. A nice balance of thorough preparation but also some time to switch off.”
That's alright. Just remember to switch on again. Really switch on.
Edit : I am hearing Mainoo is likely to start, which means Gallagher will be sacrificed. We'll see.
The England bus has just arrived. First off it is Kane who strides purposefully into the arena.
It's been a turgid start, slow, sideways and turgid as in 'They were like turgid animals who did things mechanically.' Never mind Confucius and his “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” That's fine if you have no opponent snapping at your heels. Moliere may have a point with “The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.” But his tree is not in a race with the tree beside it. We're in a fight here, a real live do-or-go-home fight, and I call upon Harold of Walthamstow to present himself on the battlefields of Germany to lead his country to certain victory in the Name of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. (Yeah yeah ok, I know)
So move your ass, Harry. This is where it gets going. Points without performance was bearable earlier in order to reach this stage. Now, a continuation of group stage performance will not do. If you think you can sit back and play it sideways and back with the odd hoof upfield against Slovakia you are not right in the head.
England come into the game as 7/2 tournament favourites on account of a relatively easier, on paper, path to the Final than other favourites; that and a lot of the usual jingoistic betting, or flutters, in the UK which will always keep England's odds low no matter how dismally they may play and are still in with a chance of winning it. Slovakia are the 3rd rank outsiders at 200/1. For the match itself, the list of odds aren't worth quoting. However, the 8/1 offered for a 90 minute Slovakia win may give some punters food for thought.
Yesterday Italy and Denmark were the first casualties of the knockouts and today from four, Spain, Georgia, England, Slovakia, another two will go.
Southgate said yesterday : “There’s definitely an excitement and a good feel around the group over the last few days. It also coincided with being able to have a day off the training pitch on Wednesday and relaxing a little bit. A bit of golf. Stuff like that. It’s not always science.
“We’re surrounded by science and data in our world now and sport is about joy and enjoyment. Sometimes in a tournament it the football is all you’ve got to think about and you need other stuff to talk about and enjoy and focus on. I feel we’ve been through a good few days in that sense. A nice balance of thorough preparation but also some time to switch off.”
That's alright. Just remember to switch on again. Really switch on.
Edit : I am hearing Mainoo is likely to start, which means Gallagher will be sacrificed. We'll see.
The England bus has just arrived. First off it is Kane who strides purposefully into the arena.
