Sports

Beers, Cheers as England Fans Go Wild over World Cup Win

Published

6 years ago

July 7, 2018

Eric

Fans back home erupted in celebration and the beer went flying as England reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 28 years on Saturday.

At Flat Iron Square in London, where 650 people crammed in to watch on a giant screen, the party began with beer showers and chants of “Football’s coming home” after the 2-0 win over Sweden in Russia.

Friends leapt on one another’s shoulders to belt out the song from the 1996 European Championships, an uplifting Britpop anthem of maintaining hope against precedent.

“I’ve been going thirsty to the well of pain for a long time,” said long-suffering fan Stephen Walter, 42, from north London.

“Now we’re a well-organised team, there’s a good feeling all round, the flags are flying again. The stars seem to be aligned!”

Steve Richardson, 50, a sales director from Cambridge in eastern England, said he told his 22-year-old son he would “never experience this again in his lifetime, let alone mine.

“We could actually win this. This is exactly what the country needs. I absolutely believe we will be world champions.

“I’ve seen it for 50 years and we’ve always fallen. This is it!”

– Three long decades –

The last time England reached a World Cup semi-final was at Italy 1990, when 16 of the current squad were not even born.

It was closer in time to England’s 1966 World Cup triumph than today.

Margaret Thatcher was Britain’s prime minister. Phones were coin-operated, came in red boxes and people queued to use them.

The 1990 squad starred Gary Lineker, John Barnes, Chris Waddle and Paul Gascoigne. Peter Shilton, England’s goalkeeper then, is now 68.

In Flat Iron Square, in scenes mirrored across the country, many had the England flag — Saint George’s red cross on white — painted on their cheeks, and while many men wore replica England shirts, many more stripped off in the baking 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) heat.

An air horn went off to cheers at the first appearance of the teams in the tunnel and “God Save The Queen” was belted out in a full-throated rendition.

A tight first quarter quietened the mood but the place erupted in the 30th minute when Harry Maguire headed in England’s opening goal with beer flying everywhere, gallons raining down as people roared in celebration.

At half-time, Camilla Mosley, 24, from London, said: “If we win the World Cup, I will shower in beer for the rest of the year.”

– ‘England till I die!’ –

She did not have to wait long for the next dousing when Dele Alli doubled England’s lead and the drinks went flying once again and people clambered on the tables as they bounced around in delight.

The goal triggered chants of “I’m England till I die” and as full-time approached, any nervousness evaporated and the party could really begin.

At the final whistle, people bounced erupted in wild jubilation once again, with beer, clothes, barriers and bodies tumbling to another deafening chorus of “Football’s coming home!” as flares went off and passing truck drivers honked their horns.

“I’ve never seen us so good. This is something different. The whole nation is going crazy. It’s chaos. I’ve never been so soaked in beer!” said south Londoner Tony, who turns 28 on Sunday.

Adam Clayton, 38, wearing a replica of Gascoigne’s 19 shirt from the 1990 World Cup, recalled the long wait to let rip.

“Words can’t describe it. It’s insane. I think it is actually coming home! I seriously believe so! Many a tear. We’ve had a nice run of the draw, which is right for England after the terrible times we’ve had,” the Arsenal fan said.

Public relations worker Tania Burnham, 27, said: “The atmosphere is amazing. I’m covered in beer, but I’ll take it because it’s coming home.”

AFP

Sports

PSG Bundle Barcelona Out of Champions League

Published

3 days ago

April 17, 2024

Eric

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have kicked 10-man Barcelona out of the Champions League as they qualified for the semi-final after winning 4-1 at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona had won the first leg 3-2 in Paris, but PSG won 6-4 on aggregate to qualify for the semi-finals.

Kylian Mbappe grabbed a brace in the encounter to see PSG through.

A Superb work from Lamine Yamal squared the ball to Raphinha, who beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with a brilliant shot into the bottom right corner to give Barcelona a 12th minute lead.

In the 29th minute, Ronald Araujo made an ugly tackle on his opponent and was sent off by the referee leaving the homers with 10 men to play the entire duration.

PSG capitalised on their advantage and equalised in the 40th minute. A former Barcelona player, Ousmane Dembele equalised for the visitors.

Bradley Barcola played the ball to Dembele, who showed great determination to get to the ball before a couple of defenders and from inside the box he shot into the top right corner of the net to make it 1-1.

PSG made it 1-2 in the 54th minute from a fantastic finish by Vitinha from just outside the box. He wasted little time in getting away a bullet of a shot that flew past the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner of the net.

Mbappe added another goal for PSG from the penalty spot in the 61st minute. He put the ball into the top left corner past the outstretched arm of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

A minute to duration time, PSG made it 1-4. Mbappe fired the rebound into the bottom right corner after the ball broke to him in the box.

Sports

IGP Salutes Exceptional Performances of Police Athletes at 2023 African Games

Published

1 week ago

April 11, 2024

Eric

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, has commended the exceptional performances of the Police Athletes who distinguished themselves, as Nigeria’s ambassadors at the recently concluded 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana.

The IGP notes that their remarkable performances across various sporting events have brought immense pride to the Force and the country at large.

While receiving the athletes, the IGP, who was represented by the Force Director of Sports (FSO), CP Patrick A. Atayero, likened the African Games to a continental Olympics, and harped on the significance of young and talented Police Sports Men and Women showcasing their skills, passion, determination and courage on such a prestigious stage to emerge Medalists. He emphasized that the success of Police Athletes at the 13th African Games which held from 8th to 26th March, 2024, shortly after the 14th Biennial Police Games (Oluyole 2024) that concluded on 2nd March in Ibadan, is a veritable testament to the effectiveness of the sports development initiatives of the Force.

The medalists – Inspr. Aisha Adamu, Sgt. Mohammed Inuwa, Sgt. Emmanuel Bala, Sgt. Matthew Deshi, Corporal Chika Blessing, Corporal Nathaniel Samson, Corporal Victor Ikechukwu, Corporal Eweh Emmanuel, Corporal Collins Obi, Corporal Godwin Sunday, Corporal Emmanuel Ochayi, Corporal Aminu Garba, PC Olayiwola Zainab, PC Mabel David, PC Precious Joel, PC Esther Peter, and Bello Tunde Muiz (Education Officer II), demonstrated exceptional dexterity in Arm wrestling, Athletics, Badminton, Mixed Martial Arts, Swimming and Hockey. These Police Athletes garnered 1 Gold, 2 Silver and 5 Bronze totalling 8 Medals, for Nigeria at the Continental Sports Fiesta.

The Inspector General of Police appreciates all Police Athletes for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to sporting excellence, national unity and development in all spheres in Nigeria. He reiterates that their collective success serves as an inspiration to other Police Officers and fellow aspiring Athletes and inestimable potentials across the nation.

Sports

Super Falcons Draw Goalless with South Africa, Quality for Paris Olympics

Published

1 week ago

April 9, 2024

Eric

Nigeria’s female national football team, Super Falcons have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Nigeria beat South Africa 1-0 on aggregate to reach the Summer Olympics.

Rasheedat Ajibade scored from the spot in the first leg of the qualifiers in Abuja on Friday.

That goal was enough for the Super Falcons to pick one of Africa’s tickets for the women’s football event of the Paris Olympics as the second leg tie ended goaless in South Africa.

The last time Nigeria’s Super Falcons reached the Olympics was 16 years ago.