Thursday 30th May 2002
 Most of the foreign
aerosols have now arrived in Japan, and their pungent
aroma fills the air! The tension is so high, you could cut it
with a knife (although you'd probably be arrested). Roppongi,
Tokyo's Mecca of bars and strip-joints, has become a melting
pot of international footie fans. Unlike the other Mecca, this
one's fuelled by alcohol, tanker-loads of the stuff! The Irish
pubs are filled with heated debate about the great Roy Keane
shenanigans, they're also filled with Scots like Suicidal
Ronnie and his wee pals. They've decided to take shelter
in "Paddy Foley's", undoubtedly a wiser choice than "The Frog
and Toad", just down the frog and toad.
 So far leading up to
the competition we're all one big happy family, Germans
supping ale in British pubs, English asking "Can I have it
cooked?" in sushi bars and Ecuadorians filling their sombreros
with Turkish kebabs. Only the Slovenians are not partying;
they're staying in the hotel, with two men on the door and one
at each window.
The world's media are circling
overhead, drooling, salivating, just waiting for an Englishman
to pick up a bottle by the wrong end. The local press, in
particular, just want to hear about hoodlums. They have an
unhealthy fascination with this "exclusively English"
ritual recklessness - although they have real trouble saying
it!
It seems likely Sven'll be standing me down now, I
was fifth squad reserve, just behind Lord Parlour of
Islington. I was selected from hundreds of Englishmen living
in Japan, for three reasons; my uncommonly robust
metatarsals, I already had my own boots, and I promised not to
fly home with the hump.
 The police presence
around Tokyo is building up. I honestly believe there will be
unfair attention paid to the England fans. These officers may
be smaller than the visiting fans, but they are
accomplished martial artists and carry guns. I
personally will be on my best behaviour!
The Japanese
in general are very respectful and reserved people (until they
pick up a microphone), they'll feel very intimidated by rowdy,
tattoo-chested football fans. Tattoos have an aggressive
connotation in Japan, I'm lucky, I have one, but they'll
have to turn me upside-down to see it - no, it's not there,
it's on my foot! Despite the reputation of the England fans,
the Japanese love the England team, so if they ask "Does
Ingrand need good ruck?", don't take them
literally!
I've spoken to a few taxi drivers recently
and their preparations range from, how best to get out of
Japan for a month, to learning stock phrases in English,
Korean, Spanish and French. Presumably those Korean fans will
have had their fixture lists tampered with!
So this is
it, time to get stuck in. I'm hopping on a train to Saitama on
Sunday to see how Becks and the boys can perform when the
pressure's really on. Although normally I worship Freddie
Ljungberg, I'll not cry too many tears if he's not fit for the
crucial clash on Sunday!
PS. The rain's holding off,
but it's getting hotter and sweatier by the
minute!
|
