Messi, Ronaldo, then Neymar as well.
Brazil was knocked out - Belgium’s broken their spell.
Kevin De Bruyne had shattered the dreams
of one of the World Cup’s most successful teams.
Five times Cup Winners, now ‘back on the plane’.
So everything hinged on last Saturday’s game.
Town centres had emptied by quarter to three
as we all settled down to the game on TV
in clubs, pubs, and front rooms, as out came the teams
for a place in the semis of 2018.
 
Harry Kane, Jordon Henderson, Harry Maguire,
Kyle Walker, John Stones, Ashley Young, Keiron Dier.
Jordan Pickford in goal, Jesse Lingard mid-field,
Keiron Trippier out on the right,
Raheem Sterling’s attacks on the Swedish left back
meant Augustinsson had to play tight.
 
Then our left back, Maguire, delighted us all
as he out-jumped the others and headed the ball.
The cross from the corner he forcefully met
and the whole nation cheered as it slammed in the net.
Then next Dele Alli repeated the trick
as the ball came across from a wide corner kick,
securing our place in the semis at last
(a feat only managed three times in the past)
 
We must now beat Croatia and then there’s a chance
of a win in the final against Belgium or France!!