On June 30, we discovered Euro 2016 to be inspiring songwriting and campaigns grounded in economic common sense. Just no jokes. Well, not for a certain curmudgeonly coach.
GARETH UNLEASH THE DRAGON!
Wales have written a glorious chapter in their football history by reaching the Euro 2016 quarter-finals at their first major tournament for 58 years. Along the way, they are amassing a hefty songbook.
Rock icons Manic Street Preachers penned their official tournament song, Together Stronger (C mon Wales), while their anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau arguably lays an emotional charge before kick-off unlike any other at Euro 2016.
Gareth Bale s three goals in as many group games before prompting Gareth McAuley s decisive own-goal in the last-16 game with Northern Ireland have now paved the way for a musical homage from the city where he plies his trade.
Emmet Crowley, a British music lecturer at Madrid university Alfonso Xel Sabio and his Costa Rican wife Pahola have composed a tribute to Bale. Gareth, Gareth, he drawls . The canon fires, rips the world apart. Gareth, Gareth, Ev’ry shot straight from the heart.
Pahola has already penned a song about Keylor Navas, so what s next for the Real Madrid squad? A Modric mamba, some Pepe punk or a bit of Ronaldo and Ramos rock n roll?
HAMBURG PREACH GRIGGONOMICS
It sends a chill down our spine to ponder what this diary might have looked like without Will Grigg stories. We might have even had to try hard to find some stories.
Anyway, Northern Ireland s highly flammable phenomenon is a transfer target for fans of Bundesliga club Hamburg. It all comes down to Grigg s infectious terrace song, given the striker failed to play a minute at Euro 2016. That or Wigan Athletic are big in Hamburg. Either way, a fan petition has attracted thousands of signatures.
A petition to sign Will Grigg has been started by fans.