Euro 2012 - a retrospective

With the semis upon us, the real football business might only be starting now but it's not too early to reflect on the highlights so far. And as I'm Irish, these highlights are going to have diddly squat to do with the football. Let's focus on an alternative best of from the tournament - the fans' songs. It's been ten years since the Green Army travelled to a major tournament. I had the pleasure of being there in Japan and Korea and a few classic songs have survived since then but even more emerged during our short stint in Poland. In no particular order, here we go, here we go....

(tunes linked in title)

1. We've Lost That Terry Phelan

Bullshit, he can be our wingman

We've lost that Terrrrrry Phelan,

Woah that Terrrrrry Phelan,

We've lost that Terrrrry Phelan,

Now he's gone, gone, gone

Woah oh oh

Ba dum, Ba dum.....

2. We All Dream Of A Team Of Gary Breens

Breen, #1 to #11, and the manager

verse
And number 1 was Gary Breen
And number 2 was Gary Breen
And number 3 was Gary Breen
And number 4 was Gary Breen

chorus x 2
We all dream of a team of Gary Breens,
A team of Gary Breens, A team of Gary Breens





3. And an Ooh Ahh Paul McGrath

The Legend, or God as they refer to him at Villa Park

On the 5th day of Christmas my true love said to me...
Fiiiiiiive, Paul McGraaaaaths
four Paul McGraths,
three Paul McGraths,
two Paul McGraths,
and an OOH AHH, Paul Mc Grath





4. Feelin Hot Hot Hot??

Olay, Olay,
Olay, Olay,
Olay, Olay,
Olay, Olay,
Ian HARTE! HARTE! HARTE!







5. Alive Alive Oh

Mad Stephen

First, the background story to this... Sept 2007

Alive Alive Ohhhh,
Alive Alive Ohhhh,
Stephen Ireland's grandmothers,
Alive Alive Ohhhh









6. I Just Can't Get Enough

I recorded this one on the tram to the Italy game...

 

...the chorus refrain says it all. 'Til the next time, be it Brazil 2014 or France 2016, hopefully not another 10 years! It's been emotional. Take it away Poland...
 

You'll Never Walk Alone

I was saddened to hear of the death of Irish fan James Nolan in Poland this week. Most fans had heard he was reported missing even before the half-time announcement at the Italy game on Monday. Part of you hoped he went off on a little misadventure and just lost contact with his friends. I can only hope his family and friends don't dwell on regret and instead find comfort in knowing he went to Poland on what must have been the trip of a lifetime for someone so young at 21. 21 short years but I'm sure he packed in some of his most memorable days yet while in Poland.

A reported 30,000 Irish travelled to Poland in the last two weeks. There was a bit of an extended clan feeling about anyone from home that you met out there, whether you had known them before or not, and I think for many of the fans that travelled there will be a feeling of a mate of a mate has been lost.

Candles placed in a sign of mourning at the river in Bydgoszcz

It was touching to hear of the response from locals in the town of Bydgoszcz where James went missing. An Irish flag flew at half-mast in front of the city hall and hundreds of residents gathered along the town's river to show their sympathy.

In a letter to UEFA President Michel Platini,  the Mayor of Bydgoszcz requested that a tribute be made at one of the games - "Let us pay tribute to the Irish – the best supporters of the tournament – and let it be a day of solidarity with those who are the most affected by this untimely death."


It's a tragic loss for James' family and friends but I'm sure they will take comfort in the wonderful support from the people of Bydgoszcz and Poland. It's a tragedy that has further strengthened the bond and respect between our countries. RIP mate.

Arrivederci Poland, and Dziekuje!

Well the Green Army have huffed and puffed for the last 10 days and now the Italians have blown us down. The fans kept their spirits high for the finale against Italia, unfortunately there was no glory on the pitch but we go home brimful of pride and with a renewed bond with the Polish people.

In the final few days the Poles really have embraced the Irish fans. In terms of the tournament, the Irish didn't have much to cheer going into their last match and so most green hearts went red. At least Poland had a chance to advance in their final group game. Just as the locals in Poznan had perfected the "Stand Up, For The Boys In Green" chant, the Irish adopted the Polish version of the tune with "Polska, Biało Czerwoni". Somehow, I doubt we got the pronunciation as good as their English, but it's the effort that counts! *Some recorded lessons below*

Alas, it wasn't to be for Poland either as they too bowed out on the night. However, neither the Irish nor the Poles let it spoil the carnival atmosphere that had taken over Poznan's main square all week. Top Hosts! One Polish word I think I have perfected? Dziekuje!

 

Low Lie The Great Highs

Lepo and the extended family at The PGE Arena Gdańsk

I was emotionally and mentally prepared for what might happen when Ireland faced World Champions Spain last night - simply a different class. Four Spanish goals could not, and did not, bring a tear to the eye, just a subdued resignation as a football fan. What did move me was the one voice of the thousands of Irish for the final minutes of the match. While the Irish footballers couldn't match the harmony of the Spanish play, the fans showed they too are a different class. Football was transcended in those minutes, the Spanish section never attempting to interrupt with their own songs and they even clapped in unison with the Irish fans.

In the aftermath of the game, I learned Roy Keane made some slightly cynical comments on the Irish fans happy to just turn up for the "sing-along". Of course we would love to see our country compete with the best but not fulfilling huge expectations should not be deemed a failure. There's more to life than football. You'll live a frustrated life if everything has to be measured by success. I take Pride (In The Name Of Love). For me, Eamon Dunphy summed up the occasion with a more open mind than Roy....  
     "We've been beaten by an outstanding side, one of the best teams in world football...the people have been willing to buy into it and have a bit of fun which we need in these tough times...you can only admire them (the fans) and I think they've done the country a power of good"

The Croats Shine in Poznan

Lepo gets lucky at the Municipal Stadium in Poznań

Disappointing result tonight but Croatia were probably the better team, I was in the odd position of sitting between the Irish and Croat section but the Croats were great craic, and here is the beautiful Lana that swapped jerseys with me at the end :-)

On an overcast day Poznan square comes alight with fans

Despite the loss, it was a memorable day as the Irish fans congregated in the center of Poznan square early on with huge excitement and buzz brewing. The Croats also came out in large numbers and there was great camaraderie between both sets of fans.

And so we finally made our way in our droves to the stadium for the late evening kick-off, a continuous flow of packed trams that became disco parties. On our half hour journey, the Irish bellowed out tribal songs for the Boys In Green but it wasn't limited to football chants. When a pleasant old lady outside by a bus stop waved to us we broke into a few verses of The Beatles "She Loves You, Yeah, Yeah". Then a young local man making his way home from work made the timely mistake of phoning someone before he got off the tram. He could only laugh as a dozen voices around him drowned out his conversation with Steve Wonders' "I Just Call To Say I Love You". We even had a heartfelt rendition (not my upload) of the theme from Home & Away and the ABC - no, not the Jackson 5 hit, but the actual "ABCDEFG... now I know my ABC, won't you come and sing with me?". Yes, it was that crazy!

I have a couple of videos of the above but the one I most want to share is the from outside the stadium about half an hour before kick-off. It was like thousands of grown-up kids counting down the minutes (after a ten year wait) to Christmas...

Ich bin ein Bearliner

Greetings from Berlin. The van plan didn't work out for Lepo so he's hitching a ride to Poznan with his big mate Bear. There's green jerseys everywhere around here. On to Poznan we go!!!

Tickets in the Pot

Huzzah, the rainbow has set and the tickets have arrived, and Lepo is Poland bound with the Green Army. Stay tuned here for some reporting with a different view, on the ground in Polska from Ireland's smallest biggest fan.

To quote Christy Moore, with a little poetic license....

It was in the year of Twenty-Twelve in the lovely month of June
When the gadflies were swarming and dogs howling at the moon
With golden coins and sandwiches for Poland we began
Lepo packed his Polish phrasebook and jumpleads for the van.

Some of the lads had never been away from home before
'Twas the first time Charmer put his foot outside of Baile Mór
Before we left for Europe we knew we'd need a plan
So we all agreed that Lepo was the man to drive the van.

.....to be continued