Ahhhh the Euros!

While I don't follow football I've long enjoyed watching the groups stages of both the Euros and the World Cup.

I think this goes back to when I was doing my Masters degree... we had a shared postgrad room with a tiny, tiny portable TV in, this must have been the year 2002. No one was around over summer so I borrowed that T.V. I was in a new shared house and the people I was to share with were yet to move in.

And I remember feeling a little burnt out that summer, so I just lay on the sofa for many a morning while watching 3 group stage matches a day and drinking Tea and Coffee, and occasionally doing some work.

It was in Japan that year, so in UK time the matches were earlyish morning to afternoon.

And ever since I've always made a point of lunching out for at least a couple of days during the group stages.

This year it's been perfect.. New job, staying in a hotel, back inn my room by 19.00 and then football on!

It's the perfect chill-out while your having an evening munch.

England games are, of course, painful, especially this year, but the commentary banter by Linekar and Shearer and whoever else, is typically enjoyable.

Even if England puts out three lack lustre performances and still win their group, but that's OK no expectations is better!

Personally I think I prefer watching OTHER teams, which I have 0 emotional investment in.... Spain Croatia, come on Croatia!

I've got it on in the background now, Spain have made 10 changes because they are through already with two wins!

Only in the first stage of tournament football!

It's all about the first stages....

At least in the Euros, after this it becomes sudden death and then it all gets a bit cagey and tense, and most of the lesser teams are out, which are part of the fun!

In World Cup the first two rounds works as qualifying is still points based.

I like what they've done this year which is have the final group stages at the same time, so no team gets an advantage by getting the penultimate result a couple of hours in advance.

I also quite like the cultural event - lads in the pub and England flags out, having grown up in a working class estate, I don't find this at all threatening, although I do feel for the DV victims!

Screenshot 2024-06-24 at 19.10.32.png

Euros - Final Thoughts....

It's especially nice NOT caring too much about the result, I mean don't get me wrong it's nice to see England progressing, but it's not the be all and end all for me.

Overall it's a nice opportunity to just have a couple of weeks off and chill over a few beers with a few mates in the pub with some footy on, or just by yourself and switch yer brain off for a while!

Nice!

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16 comments
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Snooze-fest, I gained several hours of my life back by NOT watching England!

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One does feel glad one isn't that into it, at least the final half of yesterday saw England keep the ball, which is something!

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The last group stage matches in groups have been scheduled at the same time for over 40 years now. Luckily, I think it changed after the disastrous draw between Germany and Austria in the World Cup of 1982. They both advanced with a draw, so they just played the ball around for 90 minutes. It has been called "The disgrace of Gijon".

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I've not watched much of it, but this is about the only footie I see. I don't find it that exciting to watch as goals are so rare. You end up with penalties deciding a lot of the later matches.

I got Slovenia in the work sweepstake, so I doubt I'll win anything.

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It's enjoyable enough every couple of years for a week or two. One of the downsides of no work is no sweepstake, I used to quite enjoy those!

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Ha I'm much the same. I like the atmosphere, but don't particularly care. Am watching this year, as our own Romania doesn't qualify to the Euros often. But other than that, it's whoever plays best imo. I do prefer the latter stages though, they have more stake. No one goes home until we do something here, goddamit :))

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How are they doing...?!?

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Surprisingly good tbh. They re playing Netherlands on Tuesday, so we're probably fucked, but no one expected them to get this far honestly, so it's alright.

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England's matches have been awful so far but with the great players that the team has I expect them to reach really far in this Euro, it's hard to tell though since Southgate seems to be a really bad DT 😅

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Southgate has had a good run the last couple of tournaments, but something's not quite right this time around, for sure!

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