BEAUTY VS BEAST

It's a dilemma.

The artist in me believes that Spain deserves to win the Euro 2024 tournament based on the sheer Toreador swagger of their attacking football although the more pragmatic side of me acknowledges that moribund England surely have to win something at least once in my life, simply because they haven't managed to since the 1966 World Cup when Bobby Moore and his band of brothers held the solid gold 'Victory' trophy aloft at Wembley amongst a jubilant crowd. Not that any team is entitled to win anything simply by virtue of turning up in the final. Not Spain. Not England. No. It has to be earned. England had a spectacular chance to bring football home on the 11th July 2021 but failed to do so against an underwhelming Italian side that looked almost as surprised as their English counterparts at their unexpected soccer bank heist at Wembley, beating their opponents on penalties and leaving the host nation deflated.

But today is an opportunity to right that wrong and win away from home to bring 'it' home. So why then isn't my heart beating stronger for this team of lions? It has to be because they've played some of the most boring and characterless football I've ever seen and are managed by a guy whose tactics could send a glass eye to sleep. Nevertheless, I will concede that they may still win this thing in spite of themselves and if they perform magnificently this evening then all memories of the tasteless cardboard games leading up to this moment will be forgotten like bad takeaways.

And to be fair, the current Euros 2024 football tournament has been one of the poorest I can remember in my lifetime. There has been a turgid lethargy to most games with the exception of those including Spain or Turkey who have thankfully reminded us of the joy that can still exist in today's game where data technology, science and spreadsheets seems to inform so much of the decision making on the field and sadly not the eternal poetic spirit of working class streets in England and dusty favelas in South America that gave us such immortal players as Bobby Charlton, Pele and Diego Maradona.

There is also the question of what is more important. Winning at any cost no matter how boring the overall play is? Or the etching of eternal memories into the nation's collective consciousness with exquisite football. Can we have both? I believe we can. The current Spanish side have proved it with their dazzling exuberance and positional organisation, and yet, the happy balance of this potent combination has eluded England so far in this current Euro competition. We live in hope it finally turns up today, just like an old London bus.

So, my heart says Spain but my head says England and that's the way it should be. No one who is a serious lover of football can pretend that what we've seen from the national side has been of a high quality. It reminds me in many ways of certain tournaments past when the Italians have played scrappily all the way until the final. In Euro 2000, Italy had played poorly throughout the entire tournament until their final with France where they played like Gods with joy in their hearts and put on a football masterclass until ironically they were brought crashing down to earth and beaten by a golden goal by David Trezeguet in extra time. Still, they played like a team possessed and earned the respect of their fans. It proved that when the day of the final comes around, great football can finally stand up and deliver.

Putting aside my cynicism about England's current state of play and my not being able to take the Alan Partridge lookalike we have as manager seriously, I would like England to win for the kids of England. They don't have my world weary angst when it comes to football. All they see is winners and losers. It's as binary as it comes. After the shit show of Covid and the misery of our recent post pandemic divisive times, we might just ignite the hearts and legs of a few new Wayne Rooneys and Paul Gasgoines in the back streets and local parks of this country that can one day remind us once again what truly great football looks like.

Because, so far, from what I've seen from England this ain't it.

It can still come home though. ;-)