Semi Final
By this stage, the country has been closed down. The only hum is from that of a black and white television in the corner. Huddled around it are families and cousins and friends of friends. Nobody knows each other. They sit and they wait, stale bag of chips in hand, for Howard Webb to start the semi finals. Here we will face the winner of Group B, so take a stab in the dark from Germany, Holland or Portugal. Each of these three will have to be on the top of their game just to get out of the group, never mind winning the tournament. But theyve all got their fancy football with their fancy footballers. And what with Cristiano Ronaldo unable to play because he chipped his nail polish, Ireland will walk through. James McClean is the most exciting thing to happen to Ireland since Jedward. His first season was incredible (McClean, not Jedward) and it is here he takes the step to the next level, to Keith Andrews standard. Hes going to be a handful in the future, and what better way to announce your talent on a world stage by knocking out the tournament favourites. Also, Jonny Walters will have his moustache back by this stage. And that deserves a trophy in itself.