It could have been the greatest week in English sporting history, but turned into a week of coming second. The country is proud of its sporting heroes despite their failures.
First up was England against Russia in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. This was a game England could not afford to lose if they wished to keep qualification in their own hands. And, England even have the audacity to take the lead. Yet a few minutes of madness cost England dear, as Russia scored two.
Second on the menu was the Rugby World Cup Final. England’s rugby team had plunged the depths and somehow been resurrected, with dramatic victories over Australia and France. Defeating South Africa was one push too far. A few pointless penalties conceded (a slip from Tait, a trip by Moody) and a try that wasn’t given - though we all screamed Cueto over the try-line - would prove the difference between a very good South African side and a resurgent England.
Thirdly, along came the Brazilian Grand Prix, and Lewis Hamilton (starting second) only needing to finish in the top 5 to win the Formula One World Championship. It seemed almost impossible that he would not make it. However, he had messed up in China - where he scored 0 points. And from the start he seemed destined to mess up in Brazil, as Raikonnen and Alonso passed him from the grid, and then he went off the track and down to eighth after an attempted overtaking manoeuvre on Alonso. What actually killed him off was a mechanical problem that slowed his down for a while and cost him 30-40 seconds, and a further 10 places.
Three failures, one week. We may now not qualify for next summer’s football championships, but England will go into the Six Nations with renewed optimism, and Hamilton can try again to win the F1 world championship. Two glorious failures let down by a national football team that lacks the passion of the three lions.
UPDATE (2007/10/21 23.55): Make that four poor results for English sport, as Ronnie O'Sullivan loses the final of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix to Marco Fu.