To the delight of landlords up and down the country, England have progressed to the knock-out stages of the FIFA World Cup, South Africa 2010. A nation rejoiced as Jermain Defoe scored to book England’s place in the last sixteen. With several “official” statistic offices predicting the worst employee sick rates since time began, our office I’m glad to say was both fully staffed and operating (well Kelly, Lewin and myself were at least).
The day began with predictions of scores, line-ups, possible outcomes and laughing at yet more news of the French squad’s farcical demise. Then it was time to go and do some work. Mike Lewin headed to Telford whilst I was charged with fixing a few issues at Shrewsbury Town. This is a site I always look forward to visiting but especially now due to a particular optimist about England’s chances, he shall remain nameless but he knows who he is. Then once I’ve finished it’s back to the office for Tea and medals, oh sorry, last night’s warmed up Chicken Tikka Massala.
As kick-off approached, Mark became visibly more excitied. Pacing around the office, wearing the carpet out, Kelly was asking where we’d be watching the game and Nathan just wasn’t bothered. Mean while Mike had returned from Telford and was getting stuck in to the first of four, yes four, ham rolls. I was keeping myself busy checking up on the latest news from the world of Formula One and who was the next player being linked with a move to Wolves.
At 2.30pm, Minty asks me and Lewin to pop into his office and subsequently assigns a job to each of us. Thankfully he is made to pay for his sins as, at 2.45pm, a gentleman arrives for a meeting – hahahaha Minty is going to miss the start!
So we decide this is as good a time as any to setup the equipment to let us view the match. We plug the laptop in to the wall and wire our 19 inch, flat screen TV to the laptop. Perfect, everything is working and we can see Brian Blessed bellowing a modified version of that epic monologue from Shakespeare’s Henry V.
Then disaster, Kelly, unimpressed with the size of the picture, asks if we can stretch the image on the screen. Queue Lewin to alter the settings and to paraphrase an advert, bang and the picture is gone. Nothing. A blank, black screen, where not 30 seconds before, old Big Ears was leading us into the most important England match since the last one.
Then (I imagine to the theme from Thunderbirds), Wes to the rescue. In a flash the picture is restored, Lewin is mocked and balance is brought to the Galaxy, just in time to see the starting line ups. Slovenia, fielding an ex Baggie, are read out, to an indifferent reaction both in the BBC studio and here in the office. But now comes the moment that everybody has their own opinion on, who has Capello gone with?
To the suprise of many in the office and I’m sure, quite a few around the country, Joe Cole has been left out, again. Jermain Defoe has replaced the resurgant Donkey upfront, Matty Upson has come in, in place of the suspended Carragher and Aaron Lennon has been dropped in favour of James Milner. The formation therefore left little for the imagination, although Steve Gerrard out on the wing was, perhaps, a little out of the ordinary. As the team’s walked out and lined up for their respective national anthems, a noticable lull, descended upon the office, which was only broken to laugh at the England stars “singing” God Save the Queen.
England, wearing red, perhaps trying to emulate Bobby Moore and co, started brightly. Milner looked sharp and was getting in some crosses that had been sadly lacking in England’s previous group games. Defoe was making clever runs and making space, whilst Rooney still seemed to lack that hunger that saw him score 26 Premier League goals the previous season. As the game wore on, Slovenia started making more of an impression and a couple of smart saves from the experienced David James ensure the English stayed on level terms. Then in the 22nd minute, good passing between Johnson, Lampard and Barry led to Milner getting the ball on the right wing and delivering yet another pin-point cross and this time Defoe was able to get on the end of it and turn the ball home, despite the best efforts of the Slovenian goalkeeper. A scream from the staff at DarwinITC was nearly enough to knock poor Nathan off his quiet perch in the corner.
England pushed on with Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney and Terry all going close and Handanovic making some terrific saves to deny them. Then England had the ball in the net again! Defoe had got a second, only to be ruled out as Rooney, who put Defoe in, was judged to be offside. The second half marched slowly towards the games conclusion, every Slovenian free-kick or corner was complimented by a statement of “they’re gunna score here” or “one all” from Mark. Years of following Wolves have led to me being just as cynical and if I’m honest, I didn’t hold out much hope. But my faith needn’t have been wavering as John Terry made a salmon-like leap to make a block when, really, Slovenia should have equalised.
That meant England finished second in the group and would play the winners of Group D. A fate that was to be decided later in the evening when Germany played Ghana. For now though, England, the country and DarwinITC celebrated a much needed victory and ran the rule over who could have done better and who deserves to start on Sunday.
Now knowing our fate, England have a long road ahead of them, starting with Germany, the old enemy, on Sunday. If progression from that game is achieved then it’s likely England will face another old foe, Diego Maradonna’s Argentina. If Fabio can inspire a victory over the Argie’s then a Semi final tie against Spain, Portugal or Brazil should mean that if we can beat any of those sides, surely England will win the World Cup and we can all have a day off work to celebrate… If Minty permits.