This sunday my team Anderlecht play against Lokeren in the Belgian Supercup. But, to be honest, I couldn't care less. I'm still in WC modus and I have a serious post-Brasil depression. I'm really struggling with the fact that this experience will never be repeated again - Russia and Qatar..... not interested in going there and France 2016... that's not a football trip, because just across the border. First away game with Belgium is in september in Jerusalem... not sure if that game is actually going to be played in Israel. Wanted to go though.
If you go to Jerusalem you'd probably need to get a new passport to visit Qatar as well! Completely understand the low following Copa do Mundo no Brasil (the adverts on Radio 5 in the UK used this phrase in a wonderful accent and it keeps rolling around my head). Russia might actually be quite good. Least said about Qatar the better, just hoping it goes away. Brasil was always going to be the big one, I don't think anywhere can compare. Euro 2020 is also a write off due to the way it is being spread across the continent. I wish we in England had bid for that rather than allowing the Turkey as a single bid farce. For France just go to Bordeaux and Toulouse. Perhaps Nice and Marseille. At least then it is not quite such a short journey and culturally you're getting more southern European.
Just ask on entry that they don't stamp your passport when visiting Israel. Otherwise you will need a new passport to visit many Arab states and Iran.
Didn't bank on such an attractive friendly. So find myself at Plainmoor, 7.15pm on July 22nd for the first game of my 49th season of English football. Torquay United vs Plymouth Argyle. Local bragging rights definitely at stake as there will be no league fixtures in 14/15. COYG!!!
What next? Well there will always be football, but the question is real! I've been to many World Cups over last thirty years, most of them being great and every single one with its own flair, not really fair to compare them, but this one was somehow special and it will take a lot to beat it. We are still to decide if we would go to the next one ... luckily we have nearly 4 years to decide
2015: COPA AMERICA CHILE, WOMEN'S WORLD CUP CANADA, GOLD CUP, AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS , AFC ASIAN CUP 2016: EURO FRANCE, COPA AMERICA CENTARIO (TBD by Sept 2014), 2016 OFC NATION'S CUP 2017: CONFEDERATION'S CUP RUSSIA, AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS, GOLD CUP 2018: WORLD CUP RUSSIA. FRANCE WINNER
few more months one mate (the one who hasn't missed a world cup since '90, apart from '94 for obvious reasons) had his 60th last week. big party it was, and the whole group was there, some even came from abroad. at certain point girls separated, so we turned onto our main subject all six of us who went to brasil were there (and 8 out of 12 who went to france) and what came out is we're not doing it any more! it is over!! one mate will go to moscow for last two games, his son is finally old enough to join him, rest will buy UHDs and watch at home. of course things may change if our team qualifies, also depending on where they would play etc, but now with everyone between 45 and 60 , times have changed. those were great times, we saw great world cups in its golden age, and world cup also makes a lot of fun on TV, along with some barbecue and. drinks ......
two mates still went to russia and they of course do not regret it a bit, it is obviously great world cup, one of the better ones! third one will take his sons to the final as well, but the others stayed home, including myself. do we regret ist? sure a little bit, when you see all those images and hear the stories, but we‘ve been there, done that, many times, you have to draw the line once! or you are the rolling stones