6 necessities for England football fans this summer
So here we go again, it’s time for Euro 2012 - the garlic mayo on this summer’s Jubilee and Olympic kebab. Something has to leave a bad taste in the mouth after all….
Roy Hodgson’s squad have touched down in Poland and, after making sure big locks have been added to the hotel rooms of John Terry and Wayne Rooney, will begin their quest for a first ever European Championship title on Monday with their opening game against France.
Expectations, thankfully, are lower than normal. In part due to the fact that half the country’s best players are sitting on a beach somewhere sipping Pina Coladas and nursing injuries, but also because you’d have to be from Mars not to realise that Spain, Germany and Holland (to name but three) are just far better teams.
Of course, it won’t stop England’s 51 million supporters being unwittingly lured into an optimistic trance by the media before hopes and dreams are crushed in the usual clinical manner. Get your money on a quarter-final exit on penalties…
Anyway, so what if Roy’s boys aren’t going to win in Poland and Ukraine, we can still enjoy ourselves. Quidblog rounds up a few of the vital ingredients to ensure you’re prepared for a month of football action.
The shirt
It wouldn’t be an English summer without hordes of inebriated blokes spilling out of pubs sporting beer-soaked polyester. Whether you prefer a retro homage to the long-sleeved red version worn by Bobby Moore and his World Cup winners of 1966, the rather smart blue away kit or the St George cross inspired home shirt, the one thing you'll be expected to wear with pride this summer is a replica shirt.
It's a tough call deciding where the current incarnation ranks in the fashion stakes compared to its forerunners, but with SportsDirect.com currently holding a massive sale, it's tough to argue with the price!
The TV
If you don’t fancy sharing the England football experience with a load of mouthy strangers in a public house, your next best bet is to set up a cinematic experience of your own at home. A massive HD TV is a fine means of replicating the vibrancy of a stadium atmosphere and not a bad way of luring all your mates over for a beer or two. If you’re ready to blow the budget, how about treating yourself to the Samsung Series 8 55-inch HD 3D TV? It’s so state of the art you can control it using voice commands…although who knows what might get said when Andy Carroll misses a sitter from a yard out!
Currys are currently running a great Euro 2012 inspired offer. In addition to the 1.5% cashback you can earn on a new TV or laptop through Quidco, if your new purchase is over £549 you can also earn £10 cashback for every goal that England score in the tournament. On the off chance they emulate the winning France side of 1984 that could mean £140 in your pocket after the tournament!
The food
It may not feel like it, but we’re in the middle of summer. As such whether it’s pouring with rain, blowing a gale or even snowing, it is your duty as a Brit to get the barbecue out of the shed. If you’re inviting your mates over to share in a meat feast before or after the footy, first make sure you know what you’re doing and second buy good quality ingredients.
Donald Russell, Britain’s leading mail order meat supplier, offer a broad and uncompromising range of traditional cuts delivered straight to your door. Order before June 30th and you could take advantage of a 57% discount on their delicious steak selection which also comes with 11% cashback and free delivery. That’s two sirloin steaks, one ribeye steak, two Pavé Rump Steaks, four Pavé Medallions and 12 mini steak burgers capable of feeding seven hungry mouths all for less than £30!
The app
With matches flowing thick and fast, it’s quite often difficult to keep track of the latest results and upcoming fixtures. While all eyes will be on England’s games on Monday 11th against France, Friday 15th versus Sweden and their final group showdown on Tuesday 19th June with Ukraine, there are also 28 other games, including the final on July 1st, to watch.
Thankfully, UEFA’s official Euro 2012 app has all the information you could possibly want housed in one free download. Not only can you stay up to date with all the latest scores, fitness news, player interviews and stats, the app also has glossy photo galleries, video action and travel advice while also syncing with UEFA’s social media content. Available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone, it’s a must for all supporters – the only thing it doesn’t do is predict a win for the boys with Three Lions on their chest.
The bookie
If England do go out in the group stage, there’s a possibility you may find your interest in the tournament waning. Never fear though, a solution is at hand! Nothing sparks interest in meaningless matches, like a little wager. If you’re too lazy to head down to the bookies before each game, make sure you sign up for a betting account online and take advantage of the burgeoning in-play betting markets on offer where you can bet on everything from the number of corners to the next goal scorer.
Open a new account with William Hill and you’ll get a free £25 bet on Euro 2012 and an extra £20 cashback in your pocket if you deposit a tenner in your account. If you’re keen to take advantage of other great offers, check out the deals on offer from Paddy Power, Betfair, Ladbrokes and more.
The booze
Watching England crash out of a major tournament just isn’t the same without a warm pint of euro-lager in the hand. Make sure you’re not caught out before the Three Lions' first game by making sure you stock up for the tournament with a selection of beverages from the 24 countries taking part.
The Belgians didn’t qualify so you’ll have to forego the Stella Artois, but with Heineken (Holland), Becks (Germany), Budvar (Czech Republic), Carlsberg (Holland), Estrella Dam (Spain), Kronenbourg (France), Peroni (Italy), Mythos (Greece), Tyskie (Poland), Lvivske (Ukraine), Baltika (Russia), Superbok (Portugal), Ozujsko (Croatia), Guinness (Ireland) and Sofiero (Sweden) you’ve plenty to choose from.
If you can’t be bothered to lug all that booze home, check out the great home delivery options available from supermarket giants such as Tesco, Waitrose, Asda and Ocado.
How do you think England will fare at Euro 2012? Where will you be watching the matches? Have you got any pre-game superstitions? Let us know in the comment section below.
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