WHAT a fantastic day!

Having seen the Frogs dumped out of the tournament, myself and Mrs P have invited a few Paddys we've bumped into over the last week or so down too our beachside hut to bask in the glory of Mick's men reaching the last 16.

Only England winning tomorrow will top the atmosphere that is rocking our hut at the moment. There must be 15 soon to be very pissed Irishmen joined by an assortment of Koreans dancing without any semblance of coordination around the place, as the Pogues and U2 blast out over the stero, accompanied by a seemingly endless supply of the black stuff. God knows where they've got it from, but for once, and this will please Pieman's employers who are already certain to die of a collective heart attack once they clap eyes on my expenses, I have not had to foot the bill.

And in the corner, the obligatory re-run of the match is showing on the TV - Robbie Keane's great volley, Gary Breen's lovely finish and the Saudi keeper's pathetic attempt at keeping Damien Duff's scorching shot out of the net.

Although the Irish will be desperate to reach the quarters, the view among those currently trashing the hut is that they are going to milk the moment for everything it's worth, and bugger what happens at the weekend.

Earlier, in a slightly more sober atmosphere, I watched the Frogs' world come crashing down around them. Talk about from heroes to zeroes - what a dreadful excuse for a so-called world class team they've become.

As an Englishman, it is always pleasurable to see the French lose, but they've cocked it up in such a ridiculous fashion it defies belief. God, the bookies who had them down as second favourites must be laughing all the way to their bank managers right now, unless they're Irish, in which case they'll probably get pissed and go and see the bank manager tomorrow!

So to tomorrow...the word from Sven's men seems to be a case of as you were, except for international jet setter Trev coming in for the injured German exile, and the message...more of the same. thanks very much.

Will England do it? Of course they bloody well will...Pieman doesn't do negativity!!!

June 11, 2002 15:30