That was fun! Brentford finally found out when we’ll play the likes of Fulham, Aston Villa and Newcastle United on the same day that EURO 2016 went bonkers. In the best posible way. Ireland recorded a wonderful 1-0 win over Italy whilst Iceland continued their incredible journey and Hungary topped Group F. Cristiano? Hello, Cristiano…? Hello??
First up, the Euros. Iceland recorded a stunning last minute win over Austria that saw them leapfrog Portugal and take second place in their group. With it, comes a last 16 tie against England on Monday evening.
The Icelandic commentator, it would be fair to say, very much enjoyed the moment. There can’t be many who have yet to hear the winning goal but, in case not, here it is. Mark Burridge, eat your heart out….
Burridgegasmsonn?
The rest of the results saw the third place teams take order. Northern Ireland will face Wales on Saturday whilst Ireland’s reward for a 1-0 win over Italy will be the chance to take on hosts, France. Cue the inevitable, and understandable, Thierry Henry ‘handball’ references. Moreso, with the French pundit already lined up for that one.
It really was a wonderful moment for the Irish, despite Sam Matterface being the latest victim of the bug in the ITV water. Even with Glenn being kept on the pundits’ sofa for this one, it didn’t stop the normally reliable Sam coming out with comments that bordered dangerously on the Hoddlesque.
On Shane Long, “He may play for Southampton but he is no Saint” was the pick of the first half. This was later followed by the description of Italy’s Lorenzo Insigne as “Five foot four. He’s the same height as Victoria Beckham.”
Wow. It was a reference that was tenuous at best and, surely, was only used to win some secret ITV betting pool. I can only imagine Glenn Hoddle cringing in the studio as his use of “I think that’s a tactical move” to describe a substitution from England – Slovakia slipped to second place in the pecking order.
Whatever the explanation, we’re got more of the same on Monday night. England – Iceland is on ITV, folks. Cue wall to wall adverts for a certain frozen food store along with the inevitable defrosting of Kerry Catatonia and Peter Andre for some rush released adverts.
As for domestic matters, Brentford now know what we have in store and, it would be fair to say, the footballing gods have mostly smiled on us. Proceedings begin at a Huddersfield Town side that we put 9 goals past in two games last season. Scott Hogan must be licking his lips already.
Scott Hogan – after 18 months out, ran defences ragged
Newcastle United away is on a Saturday although the trip to Villa Park is an early Tuesday evening. Boxing Day, Cardiff City, is at home whilst the season ends with QPR (H), Fulham (A) before concluding at Griffin Park against Blackburn.
We’ve all got our favourites. We’ve all got those dates that have already been pencilled into the diary as ‘immovable’ (until Sky move them). We all know which games we are already missing due to pre-arranged ‘plans’.
In a wonderful display of symmetry, we welcome Ipswich Town for our opening home game of the campaign. I’m sure, Jonathan Douglas especially, will receive a warm welcome after last season. How is the foot now, Jota?
Green cards are being applied for and the diary filled in. With EURO2016 now through what has, if we are being honest, felt like a somewhat protracted group stage, the excitement level feels as though it has cranked up exponentially.
Roll on the weekend when it all continues.
Bru celebrated (too early) as Ipswich opened the scoring last season
Nick Bruzon
And finally…. : With Brentford now set to ‘go again’ The Last Word ‘season review’ : Ready. Steady. Go Again and the three year anthology : The Bees are going up remain available for download. Should anybody want to go over this nonsense, re-live a stunning few seasons of Championship life once more and remind ourselves how things turned out after that penalty’ you can do so now.
Here’s to more of the same over 2016/17. Thanks, as ever, for reading.
BrentfordFC 
Drooling over the fixtures and isn’t it great to have something to talk about. Back to back West London derby games x 2. Starting a season at the same stadium as we finished the last one, 2 trips to St James’ Park – one marginally bigger than the other, the extremes of “ha way the lads” to “aalright my cocker, have a zider”. Throw in Villa Park and Burton and it’s all good, we’ve come a long way.
As for Euro 16, well done Iceland and Ireland, I’ve never joined in with the plastics who follow the boys in green every time they qualify, and to be fair a lot of them and Scots have been dishing it out to England over the problems in Marseille and our inability to beat Russia and Slovakia. So taking that all into account I couldn’t have been more pleased for the Republic when that goal went in – they battled their hearts out and overcame vintage iffy Italian tactics and a useless referee to get out of a tough group. Brady and Hendricks really are top players – both in our division last season, Judgey is up there with them too, he would have graced that pitch last night. As for Iceland – incredible, hope Mathew / Rasmus are watching, as there are a few in these “lesser” teams that could well tick all the boxes and fit in nicely at TW8.
Time for England to turn up, Euro 16 starts now!