Warming up Nicely

I know some people watched the final EU referendum debate on Channel 4 but if they’re football fans and they still chose that over the Ireland game, there’s something very wrong with them. Ireland are a decent but limited football team but the way they went about trying to beat the Italians was superb. I don’t think there’s any way that Ireland would’ve beaten a full strength Italian team but then I didn’t think they’d beat the Italian reserve team and they did. To score one minute after missing the most glorious chance of the game and for the goal to be made by the guy who missed it was beautiful.
And then it was just a case of hanging on. The fact that Italy didn’t actually need a goal probably helped but they’ve still got their pride and Antonio Conte does not look like a man who takes defeat lightly. When the final whistle went, proof if any were needed that this was an incredible performance came when the camera caught Roy Keane with a big beaming smile on his face. And seeing Gianluigi Buffon looking genuinely happy as he congratulated Martin O’Neil was a nice touch as well. So England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland are all in the last sixteen. I almost felt sorry for Scotland for a couple of seconds. But that feeling passed fairly quickly.
The early games were just brilliant. Hungary have been one of the surprises of the tournament and they took the game to Portugal. But Ronaldo finally sorted his head out, scored two and the Portuguese scraped into the last sixteen. But the real story happened in the other game where Iceland nicked a last minute winner against Austria. If you get a chance, try and watch the Icelandic commentary on their winning goal. It’s excitable.
So now we know who will play who in the last sixteen and there are some tasty ties. I’m not sure some of the football on display for Wales v Northern Ireland will be of the highest quality but the atmosphere will be something very special. Croatia v Portugal will be a proper match and Belgium v Hungary is not a foregone conclusion. Seeing the Irish take on France will be worth it just to see Thierry Henry’s face if the Irish somehow nick it. Particularly if it’s a dodgy handball goal. We’ll get to see the first proper heavyweight clash as Italy take on Spain. And finally, England will take on Iceland in a re-run of the Cod Wars of the 1960s.
So much to look forward to but first, we have to contemplate two days without any football. Which is a relief for my family but a nightmare for the rest of us. Surely there’s a kick about happening somewhere.