Time to relax

I love football. But there’s a certain part of me – and it really isn’t my fault – that makes being a football fan very painful indeed.

I am English.

Watching the English national team play can certainly be exciting. But we – that’s me and around 50 million others – know that at some point we’ll end up disappointed, bitter and incredibly frustrated when England lose against a team they should defeat.

The England team is a phenomenon. The fans have high expectations and who can blame them? After all, the squad is full of stars who are very successful for brilliant club teams, like Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal. But when it comes to playing for England, they somehow manage to mess it all up. Sometimes, I think that even I could do a better job! If we’re not losing on penalties to German or Portugal, we’re struggling against teams like Norway, Ecuador and Trinidad and Tobago. Horrible!

But this weekend, things will be different.

On Saturday, England play against Ukraine in a World Cup qualifying match. Germany are playing too, against Russia. But while German fans will be anxious about their team’s big game, which will probably decide if they automatically qualify for the World Cup Finals in South Africa next year, it really doesn't matter how England play. Why? Because we’ve already made it to South Africa! For the first time in years, I will be able to watch my team and know that I won’t be frustrated at the end of the match.

And I’ll enjoy it. I’ll sit down on my sofa and watch, knowing that England’s “stars” can play as badly as they like and still not make a mess of things. It’s a moment I’ll savour – after all, I’m sure the pain, frustration and disappointment will be back before I know it. In South Africa at the latest, where I predict a match between Germany and England. And that really could end in tears.