Back to Nashville for the 250 Independence Day Celebrations

Back in the minibus back to Nashville….

A 20 minute turnaround and straight out to watch the USA game followed by more drinks around Broadway.

An 06:30 start the next day, a classic American Breakfast and then a 4 hour off road adventure in 4×4 buggies across rural Tennessee. Another 20 minute shower and change (and dry out after torrential rain) then to Husk a very upmarket top restaurant in town then on to the craziest night on Broadway as the holiday weekend got going…

Then a boat out on the Cumberland River (picking us up on our private jetty) and out on to the lake. Swimming, beers, BBQs, Fireworks – an absolute belter of a day. One of the best in 40 years of watching England – despite a 04:00 start on Sunday to get to Mexico…

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England v DR Congo, Atlanta

Stifling heat and humidity so the covered Atlanta Stadium was very welcome. A noon kick off meant no long lunch too (although we were on the beers by 09:30). Could have been a disaster but somehow Harry Kane rescued us as we managed to beat Doctor Congo!

Match Report

England 2–1 DR Congo
World Cup Round of 32 – Atlanta

• Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
• Attendance: 68,239

Brief match summary
England came from behind to beat DR Congo 2–1 after a nervy display. DR Congo shocked them early through Brian Cipenga, and England struggled for long spells against a very organised side. Harry Kane then rescued it late on with two goals in the final quarter of the match to send England through to the last 16.  

Goalscorers

• 7’ – Brian Cipenga (DR Congo)
• 75’ – Harry Kane (England)
• 86’ – Harry Kane (England)  

England starting XI
Jordan Pickford; Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly, Djed Spence; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham; Noni Madueke, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford.  

DR Congo starting XI
Lionel Mpasi; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, Arthur Masuaku; Ngal’ayel Mukau, Samuel Moutoussamy, Noah Sadiki, Nathanaël Mbuku; Brian Cipenga, Yoane Wissa.  

England substitutes used

• 61’ – Anthony Gordon for Marcus Rashford
• 61’ – Bukayo Saka for Noni Madueke
• 70’ – Eberechi Eze for Djed Spence
• 81’ – Morgan Rogers for Elliot Anderson
• 81’ – Curtis Jones for Declan Rice  

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Atlanta Road Trip

Around a 4 hour drive down to Atlanta from Nashville (a bit longer with loo stops and lunch at the famous Buc-ee’s with the largest gas station we have ever seen).

Armed with a massive cooler full of iced beers we battled the traffic and arrived at our 72 storey hotel – and then straight out on the beers to the nearest dive bar with great live music and lots of Oasis once again…

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Nashville – Party City

Our newest favourite place on the planet! Nashville delivered…

Our host Jonny sorted everything (and won the golf and go karting).

Great bars, everywhere has live music and a very friendly place – so much better than Las Vegas for a stag/hen (and there’s loads of those!).

Onwards with a road trip to Atlanta…

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England v Panama, New Jersey / New York

A miserable day of wet weather (although still pretty warm) saw us head to New Jersey’s Met Life Stadium.

Started off with Chiz’s Birthday Brunch in a rooftop bar and then cheap 3rd party coaches to the stadium with dodgy parking around the back of the service entrance to the massive American Dream Shopping & Entertainment Mall (indoor theme park reminded me of Metro Land in Gateshead from 1988).

Match Report

• Result: England 2–0 Panama
• Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group L
• Venue: MetLife Stadium (officially “New York/New Jersey Stadium” for the tournament)
• Attendance: 80,663
• Date: Saturday 27 June 2026  

Match summary

• England laboured through a frustrating first half against a well-organised Panama side.
• The breakthrough finally arrived just after the hour when Jude Bellingham cleverly turned home a Bukayo Saka corner.
• Five minutes later, Bellingham burst down the left and crossed for Harry Kane to head in England’s second.
• England controlled the remainder of the game, finishing top of Group L and progressing to the Round of 32 with a 2–0 victory.  

Goals

• 62’ – ⚽ Jude Bellingham (assist: Bukayo Saka)
• 67’ – ⚽ Harry Kane (assist: Jude Bellingham)  

England starting XI

• Jordan Pickford
• Jarell Quansah
• Ezri Konsa
• Marc Guéhi
• Nico O’Reilly
• Elliot Anderson
• Jude Bellingham
• Bukayo Saka
• Morgan Rogers
• Marcus Rashford
• Harry Kane (captain)  

England substitutions

• 63’ Djed Spence ⬅️ Jarell Quansah
• 63’ Noni Madueke ⬅️ Bukayo Saka
• 71’ Eberechi Eze ⬅️ Jude Bellingham
• 84’ Ollie Watkins ⬅️ Harry Kane
• 84’ Jordan Henderson ⬅️ Elliot Anderson  

Panama starting XI

• Orlando Mosquera
• José Córdoba
• Fidel Escobar
• Cristian Martínez
• José Luis Rodríguez
• Tomás Rodríguez
• Édgar Yoel Bárcenas (captain)
• Carlos Harvey
• Andrés Andrade
• Amir Murillo
• Jorge Gutiérrez  

Panama substitutions

• Half-time José Fajardo ⬅️ Tomás Rodríguez
• 71’ Ismael Díaz ⬅️ Édgar Bárcenas
• 71’ Azarías Londoño ⬅️ José Luis Rodríguez
• 88’ Alberto Quintero ⬅️ Carlos Harvey
• 88’ Eric Davis ⬅️ Jorge Gutiérrez  

Player of the Match: Jude Bellingham — scored the opener, created Kane’s goal and was England’s standout performer in a much-improved second half.  

And from 16 years ago today… South Africa 2010 World Cup

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