...we're English, we don't expect to win.....

I would say I was gutted by our abrupt, boring and spiritless World Cup "adventure" but the reality is that I am relieved. I don't think the Germans played brilliantly, if they had, we'd have lost by a far greater margin. I am thankful we aren't facing Argentina, we'd have lost by at least 10 goals. Don't get me wrong, I think the Germans played beautifully, they were fast and surgical in their annihilation of our National team but they had some fear in the early stages of the match, they treated us with a respect that we didn't deserve.
To sum up the dismal England performance, Richard Littlejohn said it best, "Thank Heaven The Few didn't defend as badly as England's footballers in Bloemfontein at the weekend, otherwise we'd all be speaking German."
I don't blame the manager, I think John Terry's remarks tell their own tale, ironic that it was his defending that failed the team and ultimately the pride of the Country, possibly his mutinous stirrings didn't help. Maybe I am being a little hard on him, after all it is only a game but we don't mind defeat so long as we see some heart and soul. The US fought to the end, Chile and Mexico showed latin spirit and refused to bow down, even when beaten. It's not the losing, it's the fact that we all expected a great game, we're English, we don't expect to win but we do expect every man to do his duty, particularly against the Germans.
Luckily for me, I went to Waddesdon Manor to watch the football. It meant that rather than sit there and feel sick to my stomach, I could go and take some nice photographs. I have spoken about Waddesdon Manor before, it is always worth visiting, the Manor is impressive and despite it's relatively short history, it has had its share of famous visitors. The gardens are sculpted works of art and you are actually allowed to walk on the grass. It doesn't get too crowded so on a sunny day, take a picnic.
I am back to running with a vengeance. This morning we did a speed trial over a mile and put in our fastest time to date. I was flagging so seriously that I nearly told my little whippet daughter to go ahead without me. Where I found the reserves of strength, I'll never know but I am paying the price now.
Tomorrow I am hoping to put in 7 miles but we'll see, I am not great in the mornings at the moment and the heat may deter me, so determined is my resolve!

Anyway, to finish on a more positive note....Go Ghana!! At least the last remaining African team can show me that my faith in them is not lost and even if they do lose, they can go out with their heads held high, they came, they saw and they believed they could do it...who am I to argue?