28/06/06 It IS all over...!

ENGLAND 2006 World Champions...!



I've got this picture in my head of the top English commentators spending hour after hour racking their brains for an appropriately, iconic phrase to utter in the event of England winning the World Cup.
They must fantasise about coming up with another "They think it's all over..." Kenneth Wolstenholme special which will guarantee their commentary immortality.
They've each probably filled up many bins with scrumpled up bits of paper with rejected ideas on them.
There would be an obvious temptation to present an abridged version of Wolstenholme's commentary...
"Well, it now most certainly IS ALL OVER, and England are again football's World Champions!"...but that's a fairly easy option and not particularly memorable.
The lyrics of "3 Lions" could be appropriated to some degree...
"Well after 40 years of hurt, we've never stopped dreaming, and the dream has now become a reality! England are World Champions for the 2006 FIFA World Cup!"
Maybe a homage to previous heroes...
"And Sir Alf Ramsay will be looking down on this with a smile on his face as the referee blows his whistle to signal that England, yes England, at last, are World Champions..!"
Arise "Sir Sven...!"
I'd imagine Sir Geoff Hurst might have mixed feelings about it, as he's likely to be asked less often "Did the ball really cross the line?" and bore us for another 40 years on his 1966 memoirs.
His projected earnings will slump somewhat, and I suspect he will open less village fetes in 2007 that he has in any other year since 1966.
See, there's always a downside isn't there?
Theo Walcott OBE! Now that would be quite funny because they'd have to give the whole squad an honour.
I suspect he won't have kicked a ball in anger at the finals before he receives the award.
In fact, he hasn't kicked a ball in anger in the Premiership yet, so this would be a remarkable achievement for him.
It wasn't really fair that only a select few from the 1966 squad were honoured.
There'll be a huge reception at Downing Street with Tony Blair relentlessly milking the feelgood factor.
See, it wouldn't be all that bad.
I can't understand why more Scots people aren't so keen for England to do it.