World Cup 2006
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Harry Harris - Chief Football Writer - The Express
Bags packed, fingers crossed
My bags are packed, I’m ready to go. I’ve got the Nationwide giant flag, a flashing electronic T-shirt that my five year old daughter Poppy thinks is classy, my Three Lions Samsung Mobile phone, cans of beer from Carling and a Magnum of Vintage Champagne signed by the Boys of 66 courtesy of Gillette, and I’m heading off to Frankfurt for England’s opener.
No World Cup could be more heavily sponsored, and I’m going under cover to find out how the other half live.
Samsung Mobile have organised a trip as lavish as anything the FA have put on for their £200m worth of superstars, and I will be watching the England game against Paraguay in corporate style and splendour.
For five World Cups I have been sitting there in the press box, first with biro and note book, then with lap top, and now it will be with a glass of bubbly. Perhaps, after all those years of toil, it’s time I enjoyed a touch of luxury.
The only trouble is that, having watched in 66 as a lad of just 14 and covered my first World Cup for the Daily Mirror in Mexico 1986, that England has a notorious problem with their opening game.
I can remember the opener against Portugal in Monterey when the opposition refused to train all week leading up to the big kick off in a squabble over World Cup bonuses.
The Portugal team hotel was just across the desert from where the England team were billeted in the middle of nowhere in the mountains and the English media would troop across to see the mayhem taking place and the rows getting so fierce that, at one point, the players threatened to go home.
Then came the big match. Bryan Robson went over on his dodgy shoulder, Ray Wilkins threw the ball in the direction of the ref and got sent off (in the days when it was a national disgrace to be dismissed in an England shirt) and England lost.
Of course, they eventually went out to the Hand of God goal in the Azteca, but I still worry about England’s historically slow starts. However, I do have a feeling that, even without Wayne Rooney, England will give a good account of themselves against Paraguay.
I shall most definitely be raising a glass or two to that on Saturday night.
Related Links
Harry Harris archive
- 1. Harry Harris writes for ntlworld
- 2. Can England do it This Time?
- 3. There's only one Metatarsal
- 4. England best for talent
- 5. Bags packed, fingers crossed
- 6. Thrills, spills and intrigue
- 7. Prawn sarnies, cap controversy and Swedish sentiment
- 8. Swedish endurance in Soho
- 9. Scolari has some explaining to do
- 10. Give Rooney the armband
- 11. A triumph for Germany