We were out. 95 minutes on the clock and not a single shot on target.
Declan Rice came close, hitting the post from outside the area but the same tactical deficiencies that I've talked about throughout this tournament were present again. It was shit. Complete and utter dog shit. But it was nearly over. I could end this torment and felt the sense of relief that it would be the last time I'd have to put up with Gareth Southgate's England. A feeling of melancholy, like the that of a loved one passing away after a long, suffering illness.
Deservedly 1-0 down at Half Time to an Ivan Schranz goal, every fan, pundit and probably player expected changes. But Southgate decided against it, eventually forced into a change after Kieran Trippier got injured in the 66th minute.
It was the same, dire, uncreative, boring, clueless shit. 84 minutes - Eze comes on for Mainoo. Mainoo did well but hardly the gung ho change required with 5 minutes to go.
Obviously nothing changed and the board goes up - 6 additional minutes. 6 more minutes of misery and Southgate still with no idea what to do.
94 minutes - Ivan Toney comes on for Phil Foden. More attacking but what's the point? 2 minutes to go.
We were clueless. Desperately clueless. We wanted to attack but didn't know how. A throw in in the corner, tossed in and easily cleared. The clock hits 95, the final minute of the game.
Another throw, this time Guehi winning the flick on and then time seemed to stand still... the ball bounced up... Bellingham moving away from goal with only one option... his feet slowly left the ground... his right foot slowly rising to meet the ball and I could feel myself rising to my feet... it felt inevitable...
GGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bedlam.
There's no feeling like it. The feeling that all hope is lost and to come back from the brink.
My boys trying to sleep upstairs... did I care? Did it even cross my mind? (Apparently, the 3-yo-gorilla heard me shout and thought I was shouting at him to stop pissing about so he ran back to bed and went to sleep 🤣 )
Extra Time and almost instantly, we got our 2nd shot on target... Eze clipping the ball in, Toney nodding it accross into a dangerous area and the anonymous Harry Kane did what he does best... heading home for the winning goal.
It was shit.
It was utter, utter shit.
And I'm pissed that I have to go through this again in 6 days time.
Now it's time to watch some proper football with Spain taking on Georgia and an opportunity to calm down.
Oh, and I made a cheesecake during the 2nd half. It was so bad that I didn't want to feel that the time had been entirely wasted.
I'll share an update tomorrow - apparently this recipe requires freezing before adding chocolate shavings.
Highlights
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