あああ、またそんな作り話がはじまります。これからイギリスの国民が悪夢に悩まされるだね～

And so, the feverish, wildly over-expectant dreaming begins again. Has four years really passed so quickly? And do we really have to go through all that agony again so soon?

フットボール・ラブはどうせ涙に終わるものなのよ。

World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

England vs USA; Algeria; Slovenia.

Japan vs Holland; Denmark; Cameroon.

This, posted on the BBC website, is typical of the reaction that you will find in many a pub and fish-and-chip shop in England today. These people need professional help. And yet…

“England will win the World Cup by finishing top of their group with nine points! We will then beat Serbia, France, Brazil and Spain on our way to World Cup victory! Wayne Rooney will finish with the Golden Boot and the Government will declare a national holiday! Already counting down to South Africa 2010! Come on England!”

Here’s the full draw:

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, Those Cheating Froggies

Group B: Fat Diego’s Barmy Army, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece

Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Group D: The Hun, Australia, Serbia, Ghana

Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon

Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia (they must be well-chuffed in Rome)

Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d’Ivoire, Portugal (The Group of Death)

Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

England have got an easy draw, though the USA game will bring back memories of the 1950 defeat (which the then England captain, Billy Wright, famously compared to ‘the MCC getting beaten by Germany at cricket’). And if I am not mistaken, didn’t the Yanks do for Spain in the Confederations Cup and only go out in the final to Brazil?

１０年Ｗ杯南アフリカ大会の１次リーグ組み合わせ抽選会が行われ、４大会連続出場の日本は、オランダ、カメルーン、デンマークと同組のＥ組に入った。

Things look a lot tougher for the Blue Samurai (what a daft nickname). The Dutch are no slouches (if England don’t win, I hope they do), and Cameroon are no pushovers at all. Along with Ghana and the Ivory Coast, they are tipped as potential winners. One commentator described them as ‘the Germany of Africa’. Yikes.

日本代表の岡田武史監督はドローが終わると、顔面を紅潮させながら報道陣の前に姿を見せた。口調は冷静だが「どの相手も簡単にはいかない。変な言い方になるけど、まあまあの組、悪くないという感じだ」と感想を口にした。

Japan Manager Okada described it as a ‘so-so’ group, but I reckon he’s just putting a brave face on things. The bookies rate the Dutch above France and Portugal, and the Indomitable Lions can count on plenty of partisan support. Oh, and of course they do have this fellow in their squad:

サミュエル・エトオです。

If you don’t know, it’s Samuel Eto’o of Barcelona FC and Inter Milan fame. He da man. Sorry to say it but I think he’ll take the samurai to the コイン・ランドリー.

Some bookmakers in England, drinking of the font of blind faith, now put England above Brazil (and second only to Spain) as contenders to carry off the cup. However, us England old-hands know only too well how it might end up:

Iain, Kev, are you reading this?