TF’s intrepid correspondent Chiz takes us on his football road trip from Mexico City to Miami via Cancun and more trains, planes and Ubers - what a journey - with beer and football!
‘There’ll Be No F****** Rowing In New York!’
We woke up on Monday morning to a stunning view from the top of our hotel, knowing we had another night in Mexico City.
However, the morning was taken up with planning - do we head straight to Miami or head somewhere else for a couple of nights first. Lots of debate and research saw us booking flights to Cancun in an all inclusive hotel for 2 nights for some R&R….never mind the players we were starting to feel it too!
But before that we had to head into Mexico and see if the locals were going to be as friendly in defeat as they were last night.
It started to sink in we had Norway on Saturday and I was hoping we’d have Brazil, for two reasons really, one playing Brazil is special and we could see Bruno - but also because I honestly thought it would be an easier game for us.
Norway left me feeling a little uneasy!
We watched the Spain v Portugal and the USA v Belgium games in a great bar in an area calledRoma Norte, and tried to make friends and influence people by giving the locals a few renditions ofWonderwall!
They were definitely two good games to watch in Mexico City!!
We had a great night and headed back to the hotel as we had an early start for Cancun the next day.
Cancun was decent, the hotel great and it had a big outside screen for the footy with a mini stand that you could sit in and watch from - so they had definitely embraced the World Cup. I’m not sure from now on though - we met a group of lads from Newcastle for a beer. We were the only plonkers to check into an all Inclusive, have a few then head out into the strip and pay for drinks. The hotel was still less than half the prices of those in Boston and NYC so I suppose by now it felt cheap.
We gave Cancun strip a good hammering and spent the next day chilling on the beach by the hotel but the all inclusive drink was too hard to refuse and so by later in the afternoon we were in the pool with our drinks having a pool party - we definitely got our monies worth on the second day.
Next day saw an earlier start with a 6.30am breakfast, before heading to the airport for our flights to Miami.
Craig (one of lads had been there for a few days ahead of us) so as soon as we checked into hotel he led us off to South Beach and we watched France v Morocco game.
We watched it in The Clevelander which was a grea place for footy with plenty of England fans singing and dancing outside in the pool area…after a wander we hit the bars…..Cuban restaurant, more bars…a very lively place!!
Friday saw us chilling on the rooftop pool (great view by the way) before heading out for the Spain v Belgium game and then a few beers and we then headed off to the Baseball!
TheMiami Marlins were playing theCleveland Guardiansand plan was to go for 30-60 mins then head back into Miami as the England Travel club had organised $20 tickets which included a drink.
But when we got there it was a great night out as loads of England fans were there and we had a great song song - I don’t think the baseball players and fans knew what had hit them….we all stood in the section where the bar was where you could see the game….unfortunately the Marlins lost 3-2 but think all the locals and players who were there were treated to a different sort of night!
We found a taxi guy straight outside who took us into Miami South Beach whilst playing tunes on his iPad and turning his car into a mobile disco!
You would have thought we’d had enough of the Azteca but oh no, we went to a great bar by the same name and partied the night away!!
On the day of the game we went for a lunch towards the ground to an Italian (12 of us). There was a lot of confusion on how we would get to ground. It’s a nightmare these stadiums are so far away from anywhere remotely decent. We spent 40 mins in an uber to get closer to the Italian (nearer the ground) and then after the restaurant another 50 - 60 mins to the stadium then a walk to for 20 mins….they need to take a leaf out of SJP’s book because that was mental!
We got a beer ok though and went straight to seats as 30 mins before KO.
The atmosphere was building and Norwegians started rowing to a chorus of“there’ll be no fucking rowing in New York”……
My pals Finny (his son Cam), Jack Mac and Joe finally arrived in the stadium.
They’d had a 36 hrs travel ordeal. They’d driven to Edinburgh for a flight to JFK - all had been great! Then cue disaster! Jet Blue flight cancelled to Miami and the next one was Sunday.
The airline was were less than helpful apparently - so they then had to Uber it to Newark and then a flight form Newark to Jacksonville. Once they landed they couldn’t rent a car as it was too late!! So the next morning after a very short sleep (if any) they headed back to rental place got a car and then drove the mere 5/6 hrs to Fort Lauderdale - then an Uber straight to ground - got kicked out of that near ground and told had to walk - only then to be told had to get a shuttle bus…..but they all still turned up smiling, 15/20 mins before KO waiting for what lay ahead!
The England fans way out numbered the Norwegians - but they did do their bit for the atmosphere to be fair - and gave as much as they got! The anthems were sung with respect for both teams!
The game started and we had the lion’s share of possession and the much higher passing stats. But the game was so slow and Norway were playing deep. We just kept slowing it down and so seemed to be playing into their hands.
Haaland, Berge and Ryerson (their right-back) started to bully our players, using their physical force and started to look like they were getting the better of us. They also looked more direct when the won possession.
They were certainly looking to put our back four under pressure. Our centre backs were seeing too much of the ball and not as clinical getting out from the back as we had been - Haaland was smelling blood.
On 36mins Schjelderup delivered the punch that had been coming. However was it a shot, a cross that turned good - could Pickford have done better? These were all the questions we were asking ourselves as the Norwegian fans went mental celebrating the goal.
We didn’t quite learn our lesson. Norway broke again and if Sorloth had slotted it to Haaland in instead of hanging onto it too long, we could have easily been 2-0 down.
The mood was turning in the stands and we were all starting to feel concerned that only one team looked up for it!
But then a moment of brilliance from Anderson and Bellingham gave us a goal from nothing! We later found out (much later that night) that their goal kick had hit the overhead tv cable and fallen kindly for Anderson who’s quick thinking let Bellingham get us back on even terms.
Well, I suppose we’ve had our fair share of bad luck as England fans. The hand of god, Lampard’s goal that never was, Beckham’s sending off and Sol Campbell’s goal in same game v Argentina in ‘98 - I could go on!
So I suppose it was apt that the hand of Spidercam hot wired Anderson and Bellingham!!
The beer at half time tasted all the better!
We were back in it! Game on!
We had huge hope now for the second half but that didn’t materialise. Norway had the better of us and kept possession well and kept us on the back foot. Losing Rice at half time made a big difference as there seemed to be massive gaps in the middle of the pitch and Norway were exploiting it.
We defended well though, with some great saves from Pickford along with some great blocks by the back four - but on 55 mins the ball was in the back of the net! What a sinking feeling that was as I thought only one team was going win from here!
But then a review by the ref meant it was disallowed, push by Haaland!
The relief was massive but we didn’t seem to grasp the opportunity.
Saka was slow getting into game (but got better) and to be fair to Tuchel he’s not afraid of changing things and James came on in the middle to try and plug the void Rice left. Then came Rogers and Spence later in normal time.
We started to look better and felt a momentum switch but couldn’t get it over the line in normal time.
One of the lads went to get a beer before extra time to settle his nerves but forgot they stop serving on 70 mins!!Argggghhhhh….
However, it didn’t need long for the mood to improve.
Bellingham - bosh!
What a game he was having - then 6 mins later a pen on Spence!! Surely this was it - but no, a review, shit it was overturned. We felt the nerves come back!!
Haaland went off for the second period of extra time for Larsson which surprised us all.
Cue Tuchel’s last throw of dice to defend the impending push from Norway!!
BDB came on again and was immense!! From Darlo to Miami in the World Cup, via the Azteca!! What a story and he did exactly what was needed - bully them like they had bullied us earlier in the game and he did that with a cherry on top!
We saw it through and everybody went mental! We were going to see a semi final of the World Cup!! Only our fourth ever and the third in my lifetime…..with potentially the Argies to come!
We celebrated with the players,Wonderwall is becoming the highlight of the day…..almost.
We then went just outside of the stadium to the fan park outside and decided to have a beer or two to soak up what had just happened - then it was a hot dash to the taxi queue (quite a wait) - then off to a sports bar half way back to Miami Beach to watch second half of the Argies scraping past the Swiss!
We then knew Weds was going be very tasty - feisty, full of memories (some good but mainly bad) and hopefully a game for the ages!
So back to Atlanta it is - but in true fashion for our group one thing is certain we wouldn’t be heading there direct -
how we get there I don’t know, how we get there I don’t care….all we know is England is on its way!!
CHIZ