River Medlock from Oxford Road

I am not really a fan of watching sport. I used to quite enjoy watching international Rugby but then England won the world cup in 2003 and the forty or so seconds leading up to Wilkinson's winning drop goal* was so perfect that I never felt the need to watch rugby again.

Consequently, the football that is currently on has rather passed me by, although Dan has taken an interest and gamely tried to keep me up to date with it. (To be honest, I don't even know what the competition is.)

Anyway, I was convinced by Hannah, in cahoots with the Minx, to go and watch the game this evening, between England and Germany. To be honest, I was swayed by the fact it was being shown at The Deaf Institute.

As you're probably aware, it was nil-nil for the first seventy-five minutes, and then England scored. Jesus, it was like being thrown into a zoo. I mean, I've watched international rugby down the pub and people are clearly invested in the game, and get excited when a try is scored, but this was something else. And not in a good way (at all).

It was worse when England scored again and then shortly after that, the camera showed a young German girl sitting on her father's knee and crying. Well, the mob I was cooped up with thought this was fine stuff and started whooping and cheering all over again. It was just gross.

Anyway, happily, the game finished shortly after that and we walked back along the Oxford Road, all the way to a new Italian restaurant that has just opened in Salford. And, guys, some wine and good food in lovely company made it all better.

But I'm still never watching England play football again.

*It's quite extraordinary rugby. As the ball is released from the ruck, one of the pack takes it straight back in, which seems madness until you appreciate that he did it to free the scrum-half off the ground so that he could make the pass to Wilkinson. Check it out here from 5:42. (I've just watched it four times in a row and I have shivers going up and down my spine.)