sports

World Cup Fever: 2010 Edition

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The World Cup is back and I am just so so happy. This event is a special anchor for me in my life – I’ve been playing footie since I was six – so before we get into this year’s edition of the Coupe du Mondel, let me quickly go over some high level thoughts from the others before I get to 2010’s first weekend:
1990 – I start to officially care about the World Cup as this is the first one the US participates in since the 1950. I, like the rest of the part of America that actually cares about soccer (maybe 1% of the population), is happy to simply be there and only am sort of embarrassed when the Czechs beat the US 5-1. I am in Niagara Falls for the final and remember people marching around the streets with the West German flag after they win the championship
1994 – I am super enthused about how WC fevor hits the US and the nation stops to care, a little. “Los Gringos” advances to the second round and the Columbian responsible (Columbia loses to the US on an own goal) is murdered back home a week later. The US is able to parlay this success into the founding of Major League Soccer – which is (thankfully) still alive and kicking over 15 years later.
1998 – I am luckily in Europe for the most of the event and watch games in England and Ireland before catching the semis and final back in the States. I catch a ferry back from the Aran Islands to Galway in time to watch the US lose to Iran with other ex-pats and am dismayed. Three Lions taking on Vindaloo was better than the event itself.
2002 – I’m out of work recovering from a bad car accident and keep myself busy by making and updating a fan site and by watching as many matches in a bar as possible. You would be surprised how many people are awake at 3 AM and 5 AM to watch footie. The US’s amazing run to the quarter finals gives me hope for the future and a great distraction to enjoy while I’m convalescing.
2006 – I watch USA bomb out in the first round though enjoy an amazingly great day in NYC (see this post from 2006 for more details). I watch England lose on penalty kicks to Portugal in the San Diego airport and watch the final at a beach bungalow in the Diego with friends.

2010 – So far, so good. My office trash talks up a storm with the London office and wins free breakfast when the US “wins” 1-1.
usa_ties_england
I watched the USA / England game at home on Sat with wife and child and was delighted by the effort shown by the Ameriks. Even though they fell behind, they were composed, they showed poise and fought hard. Hells bells – they even almost won when Jozy hit the post towards the end of the match.
On Sunday I was able to watch the first half of Germany / Australia match at Carlow East – nothing beats WC matches in a bar talking to total strangers about all things footie. My friend for five minutes (aka the dude sitting next to me at the bar) told me to watch out for Kuyt on the Netherlands and sure enough he scored their second goal today. I cannot wait for Friday – I just hope the Ameriks get 3 points (or 1 at the least considering that Slovenia beat Algeria and has 3 points already) out of the deal.

humor

World Cup at the White House

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Our government’s reaction to English keeper Robert Green’s error during this past Saturday’s Group C opening match, which allowed the American squad to tie the England in their match this past Saturday, is below:
WorldCup_WhiteHouse_Viewing
‘ Nuff said.
Via Anthony