please empty your brain below
Best make it three hours to cover the inevitable extra time and penalties.

I was once walking through Victoria Park during an England game when someone asked me what the score was, because I "looked like the kind of person who'd know". I guessed based on the number of cheers I'd heard from nearby pubs, and would have been right if it hadn't been for a disallowed goal.

martin | 30.06.21 - 7:25 a.m. | #

20 years ago. Finally reached Singapore, having backpacked from Bangkok, know England play that day. Spent hours looking for a suitable bar for later, work out time difference. Return to hostel, knackered, fall asleep. Next Day! Missed game, ask receptionist the result, "England one." I heard. "...and Germany?" "England one" "Yes, yes, and Germany scored?" "England one..." "Yes, I understand, and Germany scored how many?" "One." I only found out later what he meant.

PJS | 30.06.21 - 7:47 a.m. | #

Ah yes, I was one of those shoppers in Tesco - a lovely, quiet and peaceful experience - unusual for 5pm on a weekday!

James Scantlebury | 30.06.21 - 8:03 a.m. | #

Not having an interest in football I did hear a car wildly hooting, at first I wondered why then I guessed it was probably because England had scoored a winning goal.
As for 1966 when England beat Germany in the World Cup, I was in a small boat travelling from Capri to Naples (having missed the last of the days regular ferry service) In a small boat full of Italians all apparently keen on football which they were listening to radio when England scored it was difficult for me to explain my lack of interest. I was the only English person on that boat.

John | 30.06.21 - 8:10 a.m. | #

The reverse psychology is strong in this post...

Steve | 30.06.21 - 8:17 a.m. | #

Well, there are two Eid's I believe, but only one England v Germany. Thankfully.

cau1khead | 30.06.21 - 8:43 a.m. | #

I had a ticket for Court One at Wimbledon, I was watching Medvedev from Russia play Struff from Germany. Word got around of the two goals at the same time as Struff (who had lost the first two sets) was making a comeback in the third, he was getting support from the crowd urging on the underdog. Therefore at around 6.40 last night I found myself at a major sporting venue in England where a German was being cheered on!

David | 30.06.21 - 9:05 a.m. | #

I’m surprised you didn’t notice a reaction to the second goal. I was bang in the middle of Hackney Marshes - with hardly a soul in sight - when it went in, and you could hear ghostly cheers from all around.

(In fact, I thought the score was 3-0 at that point - the cheer I had assumed signalled a second goal was actually for Thomas Muller’s near-miss a few minutes earlier).

CJS | 30.06.21 - 9:34 a.m. | #

You missed a good game.

David | 30.06.21 - 9:57 a.m. | #

Hopefully you'll be able to do 3 more pub walks with the same result.

Mikey C | 30.06.21 - 10:04 a.m. | #

I was pleased to find B&Q very quiet when the football was on. I managed to keep track of the score by hearing background cheering.

Proof of England's win came on my way home as a group of rowdy lads left a pub waving England flags, shouting homophobic abuse across the street and then loudly singing a racist song about Germans. I hate how football can bring out the worst in some people, including saying stuff they probably wouldn't think of saying in other circumstances.

Anders | 30.06.21 - 10:44 a.m. | #

It's the Galvanisers Union not Arms...and looks like (from their Instagram page) that they are finally preparing to reopen which is good as it's one of the nicest pubs in the area despite its not-very-promising looking location next to the dual carriageway.

dg writes: Updated, thanks. And ooh yes, advertising for a completely new set of staff, as of yesterday.

lockedintheattic | 30.06.21 - 10:46 a.m. | #

Not that us football fans are ridiculously superstitious or anything, but I hope you realise that if you don't replicate this activity on Saturday evening, and England are beaten, it WILL be your fault!

Frank F | 30.06.21 - 11:32 a.m. | #

In the '90s I lived in a 4th floor flat in Soho. The small club in the basement was patronised by hospitality workers of Italian descent, so it was fairly easy to follow certain games just by opening the window. I fully enjoy the football, but yesterday's game completely overshadowed (to my mind) a more magnificent and far, far more thrilling British sporting achievement at the Tour de France. But perhaps the idea of a once great, aging, written off Brit victorious again through sheer force of will having battled demons and disaster, attracts less flag waving because his success comes as the spearhead of an effort of the closest possible European collective trust and co-operation. Sad remoaner grumping noises..

JPmac | 30.06.21 - 11:57 a.m. | #

On The Lord Tredegar. The big screen is out the back, in the extension next to the beer garden. So the front of the pub is empty (and may actually be closed for service at present). Press on through to the back.

Nameless 14 | 30.06.21 - 12:08 p.m. | #

It is funny to see DG assuming Ukraine will progress already.

Patrickov | 30.06.21 - 1:17 p.m. | #

Saturday 10 June 2006. England were playing Paraguay in something called the World Cup. A group of us went for a nice walk in the Peak District.

The weather was amazing. The Peak District was deserted too. England may have beaten Paraguy by 1 goal to nil. But the true winners that day were walkers.

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 30.06.21 - 1:39 p.m. | #

Loved this wander, DG! Out of those pubs, pre-pandemic I think my preference would have been The Beehive. Post pandemic, polite pub-goers sound desirable, so perhaps the Morgan Arms. Although taking advantage of The Lord Tredegar's emptiness to investigate its jukebox is also appealing. The Lighthouse sounds lovely, but I'm wary of that sharp intake of breath, as it'll all sail out again, although hopefully covid-free. And yes, another two hour walk like this please for Saturday!

Jayne | 30.06.21 - 8:36 p.m. | #

I had been a couple of hours away for work, and rather than try and find somewhere to watch what I assumed would be a boring game, I listened on the radio whilst driving back along a spookily empty M4, stoping at a spookily empty large supermarket on the way. Agree that doing other things whilst England are playing a tournament match is a very good idea!

Rich (no not that one, the other one) | 01.07.21 - 8:23 a.m. | #

Oh, was there a game on yesterday? I was out all day!!

I'm vaguely aware that some ball kicking tournament has been going on, but I couldn't say who's in it or what it's all all about!

Cornish Cockney | 01.07.21 - 12:25 p.m. | #

I'd love to see a best of DG, maybe voted by readers from a suggested list of yours. This would get one of my votes - brilliant idea, brilliant execution.

Me and my wife went out for our daily walk round the back streets of Whitechapel an hour later than usual. I must have said three times how surprised I was at what an hour's difference makes to the traffic, it being so quiet. On return to our block of flats I hear the neighbours and realise...

Colin | Homepage | 04.07.21 - 2:36 p.m. | #











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