British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Sunday he is pulling out all the stops to make sure the European summit in Seville does not scuttle his plans to watch England’s next World Cup match.
Blair, who was ”thrilled” by England’s 3-0 victory over Denmark in the second round, now said he is ”desperate” to make match-watching arrangements for Friday’s game.
”I have to say unfortunately I have got to attend an international conference and so I’m desperately trying to scrabble around looking for how I can refix the times.
”I hope so, because I have actually caught the games so far,” Blair, who is looking forward to a possible England-Brazil quarter-final, told BBC radio.
”We all talk about it as if it’s Brazil, we don’t know that but, England-Brazil, what a match that would be.”
England are set to play either Brazil or Belgium, who meet on Monday in the second round, on Friday in Shizuoka, Japan.
And Blair has put initial fears about England’s form behind him to feel confident about the team’s continued good run in the competition.
”The interesting thing to me is that the team looks so confident and strong at the moment. We all worried a bit after the second half against Sweden that maybe it was going to be difficult for them to sustain the quality that they are capable of, but, my goodness, they just get better and better.
”I think they did magnificently – they can be so proud of themselves.”
Blair also had kind words for Ireland, who were eliminated on Sunday by Spain after a drama-filled penalty shoot-out which handed them a 3-2 win.
”Spain are a very good team and to take them that close and almost win, I think the Irish can be really, really proud of themselves.
”I felt desperately sorry for them losing like that.” – Sapa-AFP