practically insurgent

I've decided to copy Inveresk Street Ingrate and make this a sort of politics/football kinda website. This could be because I lack the originality to come up with quality political blogging themes (last night's bad idea was 'a male feminist's guide to dating' eugh) or it could just be the temptation of EURO2008 - though will come to expect inexplicable posts about my true love, Ipswich Town FC.

Last night upset me. Not just because Turkey play fucking horrible football, nor even because all of the class players on the pitch last night were playing for Croatia. Even though the Croats play in those Ustashe colours and sport some of the nastiness nationalism on the continent. It upset me because Slaven Bilic is the fucking daddy. Just everything about him is what a football manager should be. There's a point at which self-assured comes out the other side of arrogance and takes on the qualities of 'he who has attained nirvana, understands all things and knows all things'. He has this, he instilled this in his team, he got them playing intricate but adventurous football, he out-thought managers across Europe, and he had the nerve to tell us lot that our team was a load of shit, rather than throw some platitudes out there. Outspoken, god-like self-possession. Not enough to prevent your centre-half getting under a long-ball and a swung left-leg someone sticking the ball in the top-corner. Till next time Mr.Bilic.

For tomorrow. I can't see Italy winning. Really, not even with Spain's record of choking. They're too good for this Italian side, which in the regular order of things is slow and pedestrian, but without Pirlo will lack anything resembling creativity, and without Gattuso will be without much bite. Plus, the defence looks ropey, and the best two strikers in the tournament will stretch them (as they have everyone else). What the hell is an Italy side without a well-organised back line anyway? I want it to happen anyway, I hate the idea that football teams somehow have this eternal soul that dictates their fortunes, like Spain will always manage to fuck it up, or Italy will always play shit and spawn their to the final. And remember, these days.... ser español ya no es excusa: es una responsabilidad!

e2a: whoops, changed it to tomorrow, coulda swore it was Spain v Italy tonight...