Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Audacious, Culture, England, Football, Freddie, Music, My Childhood, Pride, Queen, Sport
Today, England play their first ever football final on foreign soil.
Do we deserve to be here?
Well, the fact we’re here means the answer has to be yes, however if truth be told, we owe a lot to luck.
And persistence.
And skill.
But mainly luck.
Because apart from one 45 minute spell, we have been pretty rubbish but that means nothing given we’re now just 90 minutes from history. Maybe not history for everyone else, but it definitely is for England, in terms of team and nation.
And while I think Spain will win it, it is quite the achievement. Especially for the manager, who has faced an endless barrage of abuse and yet leads us to the 2nd European Final in a row.
That said I hope we win.
Not just for the players and the country – though I fear what some of the fans may do whether we win or lose – but also for the new Government. Because nothing will piss off the Tories more than Labour coming in on a massive majority and then having the national men’s team win a major European football title, hahahaha.
But for the England team … I can’t imagine how they must be feeling today.
The conflict of emotions.
Fear and excitement.
Nerves and belief.
Pressure and energy.
But that said, I do have an idea of what they will feel like as they play and if they win.
Not because of anything I’ve done, but because of things I’ve witnessed.
From watching Queen achieve music immortality as they performed to the World at Live Aid back in 1985 through to watching Robert Plant – of Led Zeppelin – reaction as he watched Heart perform ‘Stairway To Heaven’ as part of his bands induction into the Kennedy Centre Honours List. It made such an impression on me that I wrote about it here and you can watch the film I’m referring to below.
Both still give me shivers even now, years later … so I cannot imagine what it must have felt like – or still feels like – for the artists. Just like I can’t imagine what the players tonight are experiencing or will experience, should they win. Or should they lose.
And that’s why I hope they – and the England fans around the World – remember that while 2nd place is never as good as first, it’s still an incredible achievement to find yourself in a position where you can make history.
Literally make history.
To achieve something that will be written about, referred to, commented on for decades, if not centuries. Fucking hell, that must be an utterly extroidinary and intense experience to try and deal with. To manage. And carry.
So good luck. I hope you pull it off England.
May the next 90 minutes be full of joy, rather than fear or regret.
Let’s go …