Inside the Life of a World Cup Junkie

I’ve been remiss in my blog duties this past month. It stems from a very troubling problem that I have uncovered in myself: soccer-itis. I have been obsessed with the World Cup. The first two weeks, starting June 9th, one was able to watch three games a day, seven days a week. That took up quite a bit of time. These last two weeks have seen games played at a lower frequency and I have been able to do those things that I neglected the first weeks: grocery shop, laundry, see my girlfriend …. shower. I exaggerate slightly. My GF will be happy when Sunday’s final game is behind us.

Funny enough, I am not much of a sports fan. I don’t watch traditional American sports. Soccer was my childhood love though. As late as my junior year in high school I was playing it four seasons a year. I occasionally think that I should pick it up in some aging men’s league. Of course life and a second shift schedule seem to get in the way of that idea. This year though my love of the beautiful game was rekindled on the streets of London. Flags of the English national team were everywhere. Every newscast led with concerns over Wayne Rooney’s foot. We even got to see England play Hungary in a friendly match while sitting in a pub surrounded by English fans. That was it for me. I flew home with serious soccer fever.

Like most of the other five billion people on the planet who are watching the World Cup, I have put other concerns aside. Mexican presidential candidates put their campaigns on hold knowing nobody was listening. The Cote d’Ivoire put a civil war on hold. The French have forgotten how unhappy they are. I have been only partially successful at viewing the game without seeing it through a lens of geo-politics. I had trouble backing the American team not only because I had no confidence in their soccer skills on the world stage but also because I am troubled by so many things that I see in America. I rooted for African teams because the people of those countries need something uplifting in their lives. I wore official English national team jerseys because I feel an affinity for that country and its way of life. I found myself sneering at the Iranian team if simply because their president is a wacko.

For a time I wondered if the world could realign itself based on which country won the World Cup. Think of how fun things would be if the Brazilians won and got to be the world’s superpower for the next four years. We wouldn’t have to be quite so obsessed with work if any of the Europeans won. Then I had to admit that this great idea broke down when one wondered at the possibility of Iran or the Saudis getting world dominance for 4 minutes much less four years.

Suffice it to say, it’s been a wonderful month. I was shocked and dismayed when my number one team, the English, lost to the Portuguese. I was further upset when Germany lost to the Italians. What is most amazing about the outcome of this month long soccer fete is the team that I find myself rooting for in the final match this coming Sunday: The French. Armageddon must be close at hand.

Posted by The Webtoad at 02:54 PM | Comments (0)

Football for the Rest of the World

Imagine the Superbowl played out over an entire month. Every news show would lead with footbal news. Every store front would be decorated in the colors of the favorite team. Now imagine this played out in most every country of the world simultaneously. That is the World Cup.

At the end of May, my girlfriend and I were in England for a week where we caught World Cup fever (and I caught a cold that is just now subsiding). London and the Southeast of England is beautiful. Even more so when everything is donned with the English Flag (white background with red cross). While there I picked up a copy of The Spectator's special edition on the World Cup. In it I found an hilarious article entitled "How to Cope With The Hope". Apparently, England has a shot this year and that is much more difficult to deal with than knowing your team is doomed not to get out of group play.

Here in the USA, we have a team worthy of cheering for. Amazingly, they are ranked number four in world cup standings. A ranking that seems to have boggled any soccer minded individual that I have spoken with. Nonetheless, this years national team may make a good show of it. I am personally hedging my bets; I bought an official England away jersey.

This past weekend I went out in search of a good spot to watch the World Cup ( I should mention that the matches begin this Friday 6/9/06 and will conclude a month later). My first stop was as far as I needed to go. The Coat of Arms in Portsmouth will be showing about 60% of the games. In talking with the bartender, I was told that they expect a good turnout. I will be there Saturday morning just before 9am for England's opener against Paraguay.

Official World Cup Site

Posted by The Webtoad at 11:31 AM | Comments (0)