[Berlin_Freeper]

Going to be a lot of fireworks over the next four weeks. Enjoy it my FRiend, it will go fast. :)

USA! USA! USA!

[Tredegar]

England are unlikely to win the World Cup but they have a made a dubious contribution to World Cup culture by churning out, with alarming regularity, a succession of rather bad songs, which were usually optimistic ditties, which were followed by predictable disappointment once the tournament actually started.

Take this effort from 1970, which saw Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton & Co, singing merrily, just before England headed off to defend their title. Sadly, it all went wrong in the quarter-finals against West Germany. It would be 12 years before England would reach the World Cup Finals again.

Still, can't beat a bit of optimism can you?

Back Home - 1970

[Tredegar]

When England finally returned to the World Cup big time in Spain 1982, they vowed that 'This Time' they would get it right. Things didn't quite go according to plan.

Kevin Keegan really seems to have taken his singing very seriously! Sadly injury kept him out of most of the tournament. He tried a pop career at one stage, with predictably disastrous results.

Incidentally, anyone who manages to sit through these England songs deserves at least the Victoria Cross. At least.

This Time - 1982

[Roman_War_Criminal]

I can’t cheer for a “USA” team made up of mercenaries.

This is by far the most God-awful USA team since 2010.