E20/Final: England v Italy 8pm 11 July 21

Don't really blame the Jocks not supporting England. Back in the 1970's when Scotland figured in the 1974 and 1978 World Cups both of which England missed out on, I most definitely supported Scotland. They made a right pigs ear of both mind, and then as I got older I realised that support for other home nations was not reciprocated by the blokes in skirts.

What sealed it for me was going to Wembley in 1980 or 1981 for England v Scotland (0-1). The behaviour of the Scottiah fans was disgraceful. Drunk, spewing, urinating on the terraces, and those able to stand wanted to fight everybody! Since then I have passionately wanted Scotland to lose any game they have played.

Tomorrow I would have been supporting Italy had England not made the final. After 5 happy years working in Italy and having many Italian friends from that time I have a great admiration for Italian football. One of my best memories from my time there was the summer of 2006 and the World Cup in Germany. I was living at Passignano on the shore of Lake Trasimeno in Umbria. The atmosphere by the lake was tremendous every evening for 3 weeks with giant screens all around the town outside bars and restaurants, and when Italy was playing it was manic. Italy of course won the World Cup for the fourth time beating Gemany in the semi and then France in the final. Not much sleep with car horns blaring throughout the night. Great memories.

Having said that I think England will win tomorrow. The team spirit and organisation plus the youthful energy of the England team will be too much for the aging old guard of Italy. The important aspect and perhaps the turning point will be England keeping their heads and ignoring the dark arts of the Italian style of play.

Tomorrow will be England's moment.

For Italy it will be "No Pirlo No Party" 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿⚽️🇮🇹

[/a] - sadly not everyone will be supporting England in the British Isles[/quote]

Let’s take the trophy on a tour of Scotland ⚽️

Of course I want England to win but I am still of the mindset that everything is an anti-climax after Ashton Gate. An England victory cannot compensate for the sense of disappointment I feel or ameliorate my grieving. Things will get better when the season starts.

My artist friend George Davis composed this poem.

Man and ball.
The chance to pass for Kane to score
The chance to hear all Wembley roar
Our coloured flags in hope we wave
To brighten all our darker days
When hope was in such short supply
And England struggled to get by.
Who would have thought that man and ball
Could help us realise that all
Those angels that have seen us through
With gowns and love and PPE
For care of all who share this land
Whatever colour they may be
Are those for whom we take the knee.
When stepping out on hallowed turf
To win or lose for what it’s worth
The nation owes a debt to them
For making us feel at one again.
The memories this team can forge
Will live for many all their days
With pride they wear the lion crest
For Harry England and St George.
Fate in the end decides we know
If skill or slip will lead to fame
But few will say when this is done
That football is but just a game.
FGD 2021.

Let's hope we can hear the bloody thing instead of it getting booed down by the usual suspect morons who make me ashamed to be English.

Yes. This aspect I absolutely can’t stand. Thoroughly disrespectful.