Maybe it's me, or maybe the build up's been low key - but the FIFA fever hasn't kicked in yet. Hmm, right now I just feel "World Cup, World Schmup".
Maybe I'm still disillusioned with Hingerland cos they failed to get into the European Championships in 2008. On the other handI have to admit I really enjoyed it as I was supporting Spain and it was amazing to support a team which played great football ...and actually won the bloody thing!
So, maybe it's because Hingerland did qualify...
The last couple of friendlies we played against Mexico and Japan were quite tremendously underwhelming - after a pretty good qualifying peformance the team seems to be reverting to the traditional "rabbit-headlight, what's-that-round-bouncy-thing, who-are those-guys-with-the-same-shirt-as-me mode" just in time for the finals.
In fact so far the most interesting thing has been the excuses which are being honed and polished by the commentators from Sky, BBC, ITV, etc, to explain any up and coming dismal games - some old excuses and some new ones:
1. The ball. Yes, the ball!!! They've gone and changed it so it performs perfectly and will benefit all the skillful players!!! Noooooooooooooooooooooooo....
2. The heat. Yes, the heat!!! It must be such a standard excuse that the 'experts' haven't yet noticed that it's winter in South Africa. Nooooooooooooooooooooooo...
3. The altitude. Yes, the altitude!!! The stadiums have all been built on hills!!!! Nooooooooooooo...
4. The homesickness. Yes, the homesickness!!! Some of these players have .. children, young children, and these players have been away from them for, oh, 3 days so far!!!! Noooooooooooooohoooooohoooooo...
Funny how the excuses apply exclusively the the English players ...anyway, we will be able to see if any of these excuses qualify for the semis or even the final.
So, this is the start of my coverage for 2010 - if you want to stroll along memory lane and read my coverage of 2006 then have a look here and then scroll to the posts from the end of May 2006...
Oh, and finally, for now, it is good to see on the BBC that the rules for the penalty shoot-outs have been amended. The penalty taker will not be able to do any feinting at the end of his run-up to fool the goalkeeper - and, so that English fans won't have to do any fainting, England players will now be allowed to take each penalty 3 times...
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3 comments:
I've been avoiding reading this post all day (can't think why). The French players seem to be doing a world tour of exotic places to acclimatise themselves to South African conditions. As you say, they all seem to have forgotten that it is winter over there...
Wimps the lot of them! So, who is your household supporting anyway?
ENGLAND and FRANCE, I'll be in the middle to referee the fights.
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