Now the excitement is mounting
Who can deny
But the signs are quite subtle
And not as you’d think.
Merchandising’s not yet born
There’s no cars bearing English flags
Or for that matter German
But TV and papers are full of the game.
It’s in the shops
On everyone’s lips.
There’s World Cup Willie cups and bits
But barely a sign of replica kits
And only ever worn by kids.
Flags came out but mostly at matches
And the flag of choice is the Union Jack
With barely a sign of red on white;
St. George’s Cross, the cross of hurt.
The day is soon here
The game begun
The TV gathers
Everyone.
We watch with neighbours from down the hall;
Ugo his dad and his
German mother.
Tension mounts with the familiar chant:
Clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap
Clap, clap, clap, clap
England!
The Germans score first
Through Helmut Haller
It’s the first time England
Have been behind.
But on 19 minutes
We’re right back in it
Moore with a cross
A header from Hurst
And it’s one apiece.
We’ve waited so long
The time goes quickly
But half time comes
With no more goals.
One one, all even.
The first half over
We don’t know yet
What’s still to come.
Andrew Green's Poems 