England's "dream" chance as Croatia drop out of Euro2008
- 7 May 08, 12:04 PM
Fabio Capello has been given the target of making the semi-finals in World Cup 2010 in exchange for his Β£6m contract. Dream on. Shorter term, however, England fans will have to endure a full month of silky-skilled humiliation as our entire TV network goes football crazy for Euro 2008, and we are not there.
For me it's just too much: so I have decided to experience the whole Euro footy tournament in a parallel world, into which I invite readers of Idle Scrawl/Xian Ren San Ji (confused? start here).
As of now, Croatia have just dropped out, England are back in and all their will be played here in the Newsnight office, using Subbuteo. The first fixture begins on 8 June, at 1800. In the meantime, Fabio and the squad will be warming up with a friendly against the EZLN guerillas of Chiapas, Mexico, who are still waiting to play their long-advertised fixture with Internazionale.
Now all we have to worry about is Wayne Rooney's hip as someone in the office has already stood on him - we are supergluing right now.
Comment number 1.
At 7th May 2008, midnightPantsman wrote:Don't you have a proper job Paul ?
Licence fee for this from News and Current affairs budget is a tad extravagent
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Comment number 2.
At 7th May 2008, Hank_Reardon wrote:unbelievable.
Words almost fail me.
Please anyone can you justify this.
We are still bombing children around the world based on a lie and all your seeing fit to do is play games.
What a laugh it must be working for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.
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Comment number 3.
At 7th May 2008, Paddy Nesbitt wrote:As we're financing this 'tournament' with our license fees, can we not have it shown on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 1 or something?
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Comment number 4.
At 8th May 2008, DouglasHackansaw wrote:I agree with the previous comment - Paul, do you have any idea who your audience is? Please leave and go to ITV, Sky or maybe Bid Up.
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Comment number 5.
At 8th May 2008, RMcCarroll wrote:Grow up kiddies, recognise a bit of fun when you see it. the blog is entitled idle scrawl after all. I doubt it costs anything, is probably done is spare time and might even be funny. and yet you see fit to whine, never leave playschool?
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Comment number 6.
At 8th May 2008, Hank_Reardon wrote:Fair point R McCarroll.
Seeing as we care not about the body bags of out troops as they are flown home to their families, or could care less that every day our civil liberties are taken away piece by piece.
Yeah call us children that we find it shocking that somebody who has climbed their way to one of the most important news programmes on a trusted broadcaster of global reach spends his time thinking up footy tournaments that should be being represented on the 'one show' at best.
The cost is the opportunity cost.
Not only is the footy man not doing his job, he is keeping someone else from doing it.
So go McCarroll pray for the day when news and entertainment are one.
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Comment number 7.
At 8th May 2008, Hank_Reardon wrote:I take it all back Paul, Your an economics guy from what i can see, so you probably realise the pointlessness in doing anything right now.
Roll on the tourny
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Comment number 8.
At 8th May 2008, midnightPantsman wrote:Well at least Jeremy cannot bleat on about cut backs in Newsnight when again as no one will have any sympathy
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Comment number 9.
At 8th May 2008, paulmason-newsnight wrote:Rest assured viewers, neither the time nor the money will be a cost to the licence fee. I will do it *after work* - that concept still exists even here in the Newsnight office - and I will be using my circa 1959 vintage Subbuteo set.
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Comment number 10.
At 8th May 2008, Ithryn wrote:as suspected, and common sense dictated,
however watch out those on high horses will still find something to complain about, im surprised people are not complaining about Kirsty's cameo on Dr Who as a frivolous waste of time that could be spent on serious 24-7 reporting
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Comment number 11.
At 9th Jun 2008, Cloe_F wrote:Well.. Was Rooney passed fit in time for 8 June? What was last night's final score?
CF
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