Episode One: The Phantom Supporter(s)

Let me start at the beginning. Back when England were playing Trinidad and Tobago, somewhere between kick off and Rooney coming on, I overheard this crazy conversation between Jess and her work pals with regard to Star Wars (it's all I had to look forward to the summer before, even after the disappointment of two previous major outings - sound familiar?!). Anyway, Jess, bless her, joins in, and like a fly to one of those luminous blue electric lights that hang on the wall in restaurant kitchens, I'm drawn in. The conversation centres around the fact that none of the company present, keen film buffs the lot of them, had ever seen all six Star Wars films back to back. That's understandable right? I mean, they are not the greatest set of films ever and there are at least two hours a piece? And yet, there is something instinctly appealing about them and the impact they had on my growing up.... ...so several pints, a great Terry save, and a couple of late goals courtesy of Crouch and Gerrard later, we agree to get the thing organised (someone even offers their house - complete with BIG screen - as a base for the weekend) Fast forward two months - I start a blog about footie and the impending Euro qualifiers and their impact on the home nations and - BAM! - it dawns on me (after the first two entries) the first weekend of the entire project is when Jess and I have agreed to the once in a lifetime project... I feel conflict - the good and dark sides of my consciousness are in turmoil, fear of missing out on either turns to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.... ....and Andorra does look like a turkey shoot! So I am turned to the dark side... ...which is fine at first, but then I really start to sweat about my blog! And I feel I'm really letting myself down right at the start. Anyway, two Star Wars films later I'm happy to forget, until after a walk to the shops for extra supplies, we see some kids in a neighbouring house gathered around the TV - they are not so cynical as to be put off a damp summer. My phone beeps - it's Scott - "6-0: let's see what your lot can do"! I need to know! So I am tested on three fronts - loyalty to my nation, and loyalty to the self-imposed impartiality of this project - not to mention loyalty to completing the Star Wars saga! We manage to get back into the film festival groove and I don't share these conflicted thoughts with the present company - although if ever there was a time to discuss the issues of conflict and loyalty I'm probably not in the worst company based on what we are watching! The Empire rises, and falls, and life goes on...

So what did I miss? By all accounts it's a good start for England and Scotland, a strong performance (although ultimately a disappointment at wasted chances) for Toshack's Wales and a shocking disappointment at least for Lawrie Sanchez at his Northern Ireland team's performance. Scotland probably have the most to be pleased with, their best performance (goal-tally wise) for 37 years although they certainly face tougher tests than "the rock". England are getting into a groove although the defence was never really tested. Can we be so euphoric about the equivalent of Chelsea v Basingstoke? Andorra (it's a twin principality, if you hadn't heard!) ranks 132 out of 139 football nations. Macedonia, or even Croatia, could prove to be their first major test. Wales have something to take away and they cannot afford to squander home advantages as they have done in previous campaigns and one can only hope that Sanchez is proved right and Northern Ireland do improve against the bigger teams as they triumphed over England last year - Spain could prove a significant test for the new era at Windsor Park.

And what have I learnt? It takes approximately five 330ml bottles of Kronenburg to make it through a George Lucas production and I've got to take this more seriously if anyone else is going to take it seriously. So, we have Lithuania v Scotland and Macedonia v England back to back on Wednesday to look forward to, as well as Northern Ireland v Spain. And this time there are no prior engagements, and no excuses.... the force is strong with this one...