England fans rock on the River Rhine
- 21 Jun 06, 01:37 PM
COLOGNE TRAIN STATION - It was tough getting any sleep last night. England fans were partying in the Cathedral square, right outside our hotel.
They were in full voice til about 4am and then started again at 6. As I opened my curtains this morning, I could see some of their St George flags still blowing - Stoke City, Hull City boys on Tour: Gaz, Phil, Pete and Darren and Worksop Owls.
I was at the game last night, such a privilege. I was perfectly placed, looking right down the barrel for . But what struck me was England's lack of width - and that has been the real buzzword out here around the in-form teams.
As soon as the ball left Cole's foot, you could feel this expectation in the crowd, a sense that something great was about to happen...
You know that feeling when time seems to stand still and life goes into slow motion?
Well watching Cole unleash his strike, it was just like that. The ball seemed to hang in the air for an eternity, the crowd were hushed, and then it honed into the top corner like an exocet missile. I couldn't believe it til the net billowed. It's a moment I'll always remember.
Aside from the result and two great goals, on a negative note England seemed to struggle to get wide unlike many of the top teams I've seen.
Playing Owen Hargeaves gave the midfield more balance, allowing Cole and Lampard to get forward. But this team plays very narrow; Cole cuts inside to great effect but England don't seem to use the flanks all that well; the fullbacks weren't overlapping all that often.
When I watched Argentina, Sorin was haring up the flank from left back while for the Dutch, Robben and Van Persie got wide to good effect.
If England are going to progress, I think they're going to have to vary their play, be more daring, lose the cautious tag.
Now, a word on the England fans. They poured out of every street and square in Cologne yesterday. At the fan festival in town, the game was shown on giant screens.
Driving past, it reminded me of a rock concert at Knebworth, a sea of red and white. Thousands upon thousand of people crammed around the screen/stage to worship at the temple of football. Fans said to me they couldn't afford to pay touts 400 euros for a ticket but the party on the banks of the River Rhine made up for it.
It seems like there are two World Cups going on, the one for those who can afford tickets and the one for those that can't.
I've been lucky enough to go to a fair few games and been around the Brazilian fans, French, the Italians, the Spanish to name only a few. And the only team to rival the English fans in terms of sheer volume - and I mean in numbers not pints - is Holland.
Signing off now as my train to Nuremberg has just arrived. I feel like the littlest hobo, another train another town.
Tschuss.
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I've been to 3 games so far and i agree, there are certainly 2 parties going on. Some of my photos show this and can be found here:
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I feel once again obliged to inform you lot at ±«Óãtv that there were 100,000 Swedes in Berlin for the game against Paraguay. More than any other country so far in the World Cup, thus more than both England and Holland.
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I had the misfortune to see it on ITV. I couldn't believe how negative Southfield was. Spent most of the evening remembering past in-glories and speculating on how bad Owen's injury could be..
I pity M'borough. Getting such a negative bloke as a manager will see them relegated forthwith.....
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I just got back from 12 days in Germany without catching a "live" game. There are definitely two parties for those that managed to get tickets officially and those than can afford the unofficial channels. I could've bought tickets for 450 euros for the England v Trinidad game and a colossal 900(!) euros for the Brazil v Australia game in Munich. And we haven't even reached the knock out phase yet. The Allianz Arena certainly looks great.... from the outside.
I met lots of Germans and, well, people from everywhere, who hadn't got any tickets or maybe just a ticket for a single game though the ballots. So if you have managed to get tickets, then enjoy the games but consider yourselves very lucky or start to replenish the bank account!
The "fan miles" and Fan Fest areas are great fun. The Munich Fan Fest area was excellent - a grass bowl next to the Olympic Stadium with the large screen (which worked most of the time) framed by a lake. The cups of weisbier were great..great enough to tempt us back ticketless for the quarter finals...to a city not hosting a game but with a great setting, great beer and great football.
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Why do England fans have to drink so much and/or smoke so much weed?
It's a shame the English can't be more like the Swedes. Unlike Frankfurt and Nürnberg, I found the atmosphere after the game last night somewhat aggressive. There was one pub in particular where it was just a question of time before it kicked off. We got out of the area sharpish. Sure enough, this morning on the news the first pictures I saw were from outside this pub.
Do songs like "No surrender to the IRA" and "10 German bombers" have anything to do with football?
I'm worried about what will happen when England finally go out, so I'm not going to anymore England games.
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I've been watching the games in the Philippines. We are six hours ahead of German time hence it is a 3am kick-off here - you need to be a fan!
A couple of things I don't understand: how can Sven play Crouch without a winger? Surely Lennon is a must.
Why are the commentators so negative when discussing England. In the 'good old days' of Auntie Beeb they would have been sacked forthwith and quite right too!
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> of their St George flags still blowing
At least the colours fit to Cologne. The Cologne flag is white and red. Coincidental also the Frankfurt and Nuremberg colours are white and red.
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typical england bashing again eh!
many other euro nations drink just as much and smoke just as much as the english do, why criticise us for doing so? dont tarnish all england fans with the same brush. just because a few pubs may have had a more aggro feel doesnt mean that others do. there is over 100,000 english fans, and 99% are fun loving and just there for a good time. EVERY country has its negative elements, yet its continually mentioned about englands bad fans yet other countries who also cause trouble never get mentioned!
as for those songs mentioned! they are a part of what some die hard fans call 'support'/'pride,patriotism' against those who are traditionally the nations enemies, not everyone has to agree with them,dont criticise something that you dont understand. once again, all sides have a few disagreeable songs. its simple, you dont like the english support, dont hang around it.
england have the most and loudest most patriotic fans in the world and people continually attempt to deface them and discredit them!
oh why oh why cant the english be more like the swedes........................................knocked out in the 2nd round!
ENGLAND TIL I DIE
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I hardly got any sleep at all last night either, not because football fans were singing outside my bedroom window, but because I found myself worrying about the England performance I had watched that evening! It's certainly not an easy ride being an England fan. Why can't we ever just score a goal, then another and a few more for good measure. It would certainly make it easier on the nerves!!
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You are very lucky that you have the opportunity of getting closer to the fans from different countries with different views, opinion and culture. England’s first goal by Joe Cole was a spectacular goal. It is a matter of feeling bad as England failed to keep the lead in the match but England is, no doubt, now in a god form and making a sharp way for going ahead. England fans are always special with their madness for Football. I should give thanks to the German authority for making a football concert through setting up big screen.
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You are very lucky that you have the opportunity of getting closer to the fans from different countries with different views, opinion and culture. England’s first goal by Joe Cole was a spectacular goal. It is a matter of feeling bad as England failed to keep the lead in the match but England is, no doubt, now in a god form and making a sharp way for going ahead. England fans are always special with their madness for Football. I should give thanks to the German authority for making a football concert through setting up big screen.
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If you read my post correctly, you will note that my point was there was an undertone of aggressivity in Köln that was not at all present in Frankfurt or Nürnberg. And I'm talking about in the town and not in the stadium. Strangely enough I found the atmosphere in the stadium in Köln even better than in the other 2 stadia.
Maybe I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but I saw ...
... a German guy trying to get of the train smacked around the back of the head and then goaded by England fans.
... a polite Swede being openly insulted while trying to discuss the game wiuth me on the way home.
... bottles just being thrown and smashed on the streets.
... and as i mentioned before this 10 German bombers song. FYI i also witnessed this song in Nürnberg and found it completely harmless. It's not what you sing it's how you sing it.
We'll see what happens when England go out, eh?
England 'til I die, also.
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Well having been to germany to watch 3 games, england fans certainly rock! I was lucky enough to be sitting 10 meters from Prince William. See for yourselves, i have posted all my worldcup photos here!
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I'll be watching the England game on Sunday in Sweden. I've worn my England cowboy hat, wristband and shirt for all the games now and I will be on Sunday - not because I'm being antagonistic, but because I can't be responsible for England losing if I don't wear my hat, wristband and shirt!!
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