Ok, I don’t “only follow football during major international tournaments”, I’ve always follow football, (who doesn’t?) but a lot of the time, especially mid season, I can take it or leave it. I’m not obsessed. Also, I’ve supported Barnet and Tottenham since I was about five. Witness the 80s photos of me with Spurs players, or me wearing random Tottenham kits in my yoof. One of my youngest football upsets was Coventry defeating Spurs in the FA Cup Final… Bloody Gary Mabbutt.

I admit I’m an armchair fan, partly because I can’t afford it, partly because I’ve got no-one to go with and partly because as I said, I can take it or leave it. One of the reasons I didn’t go to White Hart Lane when I was young was because my Dad didn’t like football and none of my mates supported Spurs so it was never really brought up. But somehow I was dragged to every frigging Watford game under the sun.

But I digress… Supporting your country, to me, is something to get excited about, as it the fucking don World Cup. International football is the purest form of top-flight football there is left. There’s a lot less sponsorship, money can’t buy any player you want and the players don’t have to play for their country, but they do out of pride. When you’re a kid, your ultimate dream is to play for England, no matter who you supported.

I only stopped actively following football when I started to grow my hair and thinking everything “mainstream was crap maaan”. But bollocks. Just because I don’t wear football shirts down the pub, or could name a player from Middlesbrough (fact) doesn’t mean the validity of my football opinions should be in question. It’s hardly as if I’m talking about the weaknesses in Harry Redknapp’s recent opening formations with Portsmouth am I? I’d much rather question all the people my age that support Liverpool but aren’t Liverpudlian. It’s hardly a local team is it? Or maybe it’s because they won everything when you were young. You should have seen the celebrations down here after last year’s The Champions League victory… bloody joke.

Oi, Marshall, when was the last time you saw Barnet play?

jamie you need to support barnet.
i knew you would be happy last night with Barcelona winning!!!!

What do you think of the England squad? I’m still not sure about Crouch, but I’m not sure we’ve got anyone else (although Beattie could be better), I think if Rooney is fit then Owen and Rooney up front with the Giraffe-like Crouch on the bench is OK… but Owen and Crouch starting? I don’t like that

If Gerrard plays like he plays for Liverpool (definately a one man team) that will help… he doesn’t seem to know when he’s beaten! Cole (joe) on form, Terry and Campbell in defence instead of the lazy fraggle-like Ferdinand…

… yeah, should be a good World Cup for us… you’re right though, bound to go out on penalties