This is a true story. Sadly.
An acquaintance has Covid at the moment, and is feeling pretty rubbish (as you would).
The acquaintance still went along to see Peter Kaye’s show at the Arena in Sheffield last night.
Joining 12,499 other people in a big metal box.
Why?
Well, selfishness, obviously.
The acquaintance has excused themselves on the socials by using the phrase “laughter is the best medicine”.
I despair.
Apparently, the show was very good, though. So there’s that.
Everyone is still talking about the penalty. And that’s rather sad, as there was so much more to the game than just that one moment. And I know that I was guilty of this yesterday, so I’m going to add a bit more context.
Also, this is a subjective decision because referees are human.
Sure, everyone still talks about Maradona’s handball in 1986 or Frank Lampard’s “goal” in Bloemfontein in 2010 or Thierry Henry’s handball in 2009 as match-defining moments, but those were objectively incorrect calls (because referees are human).
There’s no dispute on those ones.
This one could have gone either way. It went England’s.
And I still think that was right.
But then, if you look beyond that one moment, was this really an unfair result?
No.
England had:
Greater xG
More big chances
More shots
More shots on target
58% possession
More touches in the opposition box
92% accurate pass rate (!)
11 of the top 15 players on the pitch by OPTA ratings
The Dutch got three corners.
And it’s a pity that this clearly dominant performance has been overlooked in the post-match analysis, when it’s a game that they obviously deserved to win. Sure, “the only stat that matters is goals scored”, but they did that as well, and it’s not hard to see that England were the better team on the night.
So let’s stop talking about the penalty decision now, please.
Onward and upward to Sunday evening.
So England are through to another Euros final. I don’t think they’ll be favourites to win it, but then a lot of people didn’t think that they would even get out of the group, so we can all be wrong, can’t we?
I didn’t watch. Not my thing watching the national team. Not my thing to enjoy games where I’m only slightly invested in the outcome. So I watched an amazing documentary about the Sami people of Lapland. Some incredible scenery and cinematography. And this place. Breathtaking.
I woke up this morning to the result, sadly completely overshadowed by the controversy of one single decision on the penalty.
One (English) footy group saying no. Another (local) one saying yes. A few individual opinions. It even caused a rift in the referees forum that I occasionally visit. They – all qualified FA refs – came down 80-20 in favour of the decision. And the more replays I see of it (and the more I read the laws of the game), the more I’m convinced it was right.
It was not a “good defensive block” that was penalised.
If you don’t want to be penalised for a good defensive block, then:
1) Don’t do it studs up.
2) Do make contact with the ball.
3) Don’t make contact with the opponents leg.
4) If you can’t manage any of the above, do it outside the box, so it’s only a free kick, not a penalty.
And if it had have been outside the box, there would have been a free kick given and there would have been absolutely none of the fuss about any of this.
I know not everyone agrees with me. It’s one of those where if it gets given against you, you’re furious, and if it’s not given for you, you’re also pretty pissed off.
A no win situation.
Not like the match.
Will I watch the final on Sunday?
Depends what’s on the other channel.
Reminded of this song earlier in the week, as it’s going to be/has been (depending on when you’re reading this) one of the tunes discussed on the new 6 Music “Song Exploder” programme.
And it’s such a powerful song.
Incredible lyrics. I wish I could write like this.
But I’m also very glad I don’t have to.
Sometimes, people send me stuff and I just have to blog it.
It’s UK election day today, and there’s basically no question in my mind who would be best at leading the country:
If you know, you know.
And, because I did a Manx post here and I did a Tour de France post here, this week, I was sent a suggestion that I had to combine the two and do a Mark Cavendish post here today.
I don’t follow cycling, but apparently he did a thing yesterday. And yes, he did:
Incredible scenes.
3:20 if you want to cut to (beyond) the chase.
And with many apologies for the errant apostrophe in the thumbnail.
Thanks Footy Group