What is it about penalties?
- 1 Jul 06, 04:30 PM
GELSENKIRCHEN - Terrible, just terrible. I am sick to the stomach.
England's defeat to Portugal on penalties induces not only a distressing feeling of deja vu but also a slight nausea.
Two years ago I wrote this article - change a few words and it is as relevant today as it was then.
As I write this the England players are doing their lap of the stadium, Svan-Goran Eriksson is with them - for the last time.
I thought his team played well against Portugal, especially after the red card, but I get the feeling the press will now judge his reign as a disappointment.
It could have all been so different, certainly the day got off to an interesting start.
I woke up at a service station, sweaty and grimy, and set off for the final 100 kilometres to our campsite and the blessed salvation of a shower.
Alas, as we closed in on the junction from which we were due to turn off, the traffic abruptly stopped and lay strectched out before us, motionless, as far as the eye could see.
When people get out of their cars and gaze into the distance on the fast lane of the autbahn you know you have a problem.
Fast forward 90 minutes and Ricco and I are on a train from Dortmund bound for Gelsenkirchen talking to a smartly-dressed German guy.
As we depart he offers us a lift to the stadium in the car he has waiting. I accept, Ricco heads off into the centre.
On the way to the, ahem, limo people stare at him, I see him signing an autograph. Who is this guy?
I ask and he replies "an actor". I ask his name and he tells me it is Joachim Krol and that he has been in many movies, on stage and TV.
As we get in the limo he buys some beers and offers me one and then talks me through the history of the area, for it is close to where he was born.
I need a bank and he insists we drive around and around until we find one, he tries but fails to get a ticket for Ricco.
He wishes me all the best and seems genuinely pleased with the 'Fletch and Ricco' T-shirt that Ricco gave him.
Needless to say England fans were to be seen everywhere. On every corner as we drove to the stadium, at every traffic light, in every available spot of shade, in every bar. Everywhere
It took a while for me to find the Portugal fans inside the ground such was the dominance of the red and white.
With the roof closed at the AufSchalke Arena the heat was intense - their was a scramble among journalists for the free supply of water at half-time and it must have been horrible for the players.
Yet England held firm for so long when down to 10 men and I thought Owen Hargreaves was different class, winning over the England fans.
As the officials sorted out the penalty shoot-out Que Sera was played over the tannoy.
However, when it comes to penalties the only thing that seems certain is England's elimination.
It is now 30 minutes after England were knocked out and still many fans are sat in their seats, stunned, unable to leave.
They were magnificent during the match - and I hope they will be magnanimous in defeat in Gelsenkirchen this evening.
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