An Englishman Abroad: Euro 2016

Head of Content Keith Ingham writes about enjoying the Euros while abroad in Ibiza.

I'm abroad and it's summer football, Euro 2016 in France no less. The finest footballers in Europe pitting their skills against each other for the prize of being named European Champions.

We left the comforts of home nearly ten days ago when the hopes of England were in the balance. They still are, but at least a dismal group exit won't affect the current European referendum.
Mark my words it's so different watching your country abroad than it is at home. We do it with a few smiles on our faces because we are away from home, it's warm and the weather always has an influence on Brits abroad.

Well it does if your in Ibiza and not in France where gangs of Eastern European thugs aren't chasing you around the town with every weapon known to man.

I shared the 'Battle of Britain' with friends we'd met here, English and Welsh sharing laughs, joy and despair, not a cross word spoken by any of us. We were out for a game of football between home nations and isn't that what footballs all about? Sharing time with friends and drinking beer!

My thoughts on England; we're not bad at keeping the ball but when it comes to the final third it just seems to be the wrong pass, or in Jack Wiltshire's case, one of the opponents players.

If we're lucky we'll get through to the quarter finals then anything can happen. Bless him, old Woy doesn't do the simple things and may pay the price for the changes he made against Slovakia.

The fixtures will be out by the time my son gets off his sun bed and publishes this, they will have been released. He's away also but in Tenerife so his experiences of the competition may differ from mine.

(Editors note- life's great, beers good and I'm dining in a convertible Cadillac tonight, England who?)

Now to Leeds, we'll start to plan for next season and hopefully with a few additions it might be a good season under Mr Monk, it's an important time for Leeds and we need to be on the front foot from the day we know who we play and when.

Newcastle away April 15th - jolly boys outing in the toon already planned!

Here's the fixture list;

Back to Euro 2016, not seen the best games whilst abroad; Spain impressed then fell apart against Croatia, Germans are just Germans and like a well oiled machine, they'll be in the last four.

Italy don't seem to know which is their best eleven and the exploits of Northern Ireland, Iceland and Wales have surprised a few. Portugal; Ronaldo et al seem to be determined to do it the hardest way possible with Ron not having the best of tournaments but it's only the group stages. Disappointed so far with the standard of football played.

I'll be home by the time England next kick a ball in the tournament against as yet to be decided opponents; Austria, Iceland, Hungary or Portugal yet to finish their group games and if I've read it correctly it will be the team who finishes second will play us.

Last tournament I was away was the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. I asked my then girlfriend Linda to marry me after a bloody good session on the beer after a 2-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago.

Nothing as dramatic this time but I've still enjoyed being abroad when the footy is on.

It's good but it's still not Leeds!

MOT

By Keith Ingham

If you have any stories about being abroad for this seasons Euros, then drop us an email on weallloveleeds92@yahoo.com and we will post your story too!