Outside of tournaments this is pretty rare. I love being English but the national team leaves me cold as it is (in the main) populated by half-arsed egoists, reported on by saboteurs and followed by lumpen idiots. The game was rubbish, the opposition were abysmal and awed, the performance was lazy and the commentary was barely above moronic: "this 442 so much more fluid than at the World Cup" cooed Clive 'That Night In Barcelona' Tyldesley about the exact same discredited throwback of a formation which looked so pedestrian and stilted against a decent side. The difference, of course, was the absence of a decent side to play against. And even this shower were threatening in spells before the new national hero Joe Hart saved our bacon. No, England are going nowhere. They'll progress through this gift of a group no doubt, but at least Cardiff away might be interesting.
The high spot was, of course, the Peter Saville designed kits with 1982-style royal blue shorts, blue numbering, minimalist socks, Henley collar and some really quite fruity touches on the shoulders. I might buy one ready for 2012's unexpected capitulation in the Quarter Finals of the European Championships. But I'll wait for Mike Ashley to reduce the price to £20 first.
