World Cup 2018: A beautiful dilemma and the mystery of Gareth Southgate’s doppelganger solved
Loyalties will be divided in the Douthwaite home when England take on Sweden in the quarter-final of the 2018 World Cup, currently being played in Russia. Kick-off for the big match is 4pm this Saturday (7th).
AS much as I can’t stand the show pony antics of some of the players – the diving, squealing and whining – I still can’t help but watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
There is a certain artistry that these footballers produce that is great to watch. And of course there is always the drama, especially when England is involved.
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Which brings me to my football-keen mate – I wouldn’t go as far as to say ‘mad’, he’s too busy for that – Ross Douthwaite of Ramsgate.
Ross also bears a passing resemblance to England coach Gareth Southgate.
It would be even more so had he not shaved off the ‘Gate-beard’ a few years ago.
Some have wondered if Gareth is actually Ross is disguise… hence the reason for England’s surprising success so far.
Although Ross was born in South Africa, his mother Sheila was born in England.
His father Brian, who was 16 years old when England won the World Cup for the only time in 1966, was born in Pretoria and met Sheila while at Bible College in England.
To complicate matters even more, Ross’s sisters’ ‘better halves’ are foreigners: Megan and Seth are in America and Hayley and Brendan in Australia, although Brendan’s a New Zealander.
While it’s fairly traumatic being an English football fan at the best of times, Ross has nevertheless generally supported the 3 Lions through thin and thin and thinner.
But in a surprise move, he’ll be in yellow and blue kit this Saturday, supporting Sweden!
In 2004, Ross married Anna Bengtsson from Sweden, enabling him to have not one, but two teams that perennially disappoint to support. Three, if you count Bafana Bafana.
You can’t blame him for his current predicament.
Who would ever have predicted that England and Sweden would meet in the quarter-finals of this year’s World Cup?
It’s a Swedish side sans retired superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic which is playing with fantastic, but unusual flair.
The English team, now without the likes of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have also given beleaguered fans reason to believe by breaking their World Cup penalty shootout curse against all historical odds.
They’ve lost their previous three shootouts and generally have a history of botching it on the big stage. Of course, that will most likely still happen, but for now there’s hope.
So this Saturday, Anna will be wearing yellow, of that there is no doubt. And boy, is she competitive. If Sweden play with the fire she exhibits in a game of ‘Straff’ Uno, they’ll win 4-0.
Brian will be in English colours, which are now a Tiger Woods-like red (the new white for England) on strict instructions from Sheila. “He has no choice,” laughed Ross.
What about the children in the house, and in particular Ross’s son Joshua?
He obviously can’t shout for South Africa – they haven’t qualfied for a World Cup for an age and may not ever again, it feels like.
Joshua has already been seen wearing yellow and shouting for Sverige… and the news is he’s keeping the yellow shirt on.
Whatever the case it’s sure to be a cracking game. “It’s a win-win situation really,” smiled Ross.
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