2010 Soccer World Cup Summary
Or, “Der Ball ist rund und das Spiel dauert 90 Minuten"
June 26,
2010
It's where heroes are made and dreams are lost. It's where grown men cry and occasionally take their shirts off and roll around on top of each other. It's universal. It's addictive. And at times, it can be heart-breaking.
The FIFA Soccer World Cup comes around once every four years; it unites nations behind their team and it unites the world behind a black and white ball. I was in Germany four years ago during the weeks leading up to it when we were the host. I remember German flags everywhere; soccer cakes in bakery windows; and the media (news, commercials, papers) flooded with soccer-related stories.
Of course, I grew up with soccer blood (the color? black, red and gold). My sisters played semi-professionally, one as a goalie, one as a striker, and I watched Bundesliga matches, or listened to them on NDR2. It's my country's national sport, so if you don't know about offsides, red cards and penalty kicks...you won't be able to contribute much to the conversation.
Germany plays England tomorrow...my flag is hanging in the window. The alarm is set. I'm nervous as all get-out.
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June 27, 2010
Wembley has been vindicated. I never thought I would see the day. It's a story that has divided two nations for 44 years, and depending on who you talk to, England's ball did (yeah, right) or did not cross the line in the 1966 World Cup final. Well, call it karma, divine intervention or the neutralizing powers of the Universe - but today the injustice of Wembley has been equalized. England's goal was clearly across the line, but the equalizer was not given. I can't help but feel a little Schadenfreude. I called dad a world away and said 'that one was in!' and his response: 'like the opposite of Wembley! After 44 years!' I guess soccer can unite families, too.
Karma was really at work in this game, in more ways than one. Thomas Mueller gave a selfless assist to Lukas Podolski (even though he could have shot on goal himself), only to be rewarded with two goals of his own later on. One thing I like about this young German team? They're not as cocky as some of the other teams and it's paying off. Let's see where we go from here.
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July 3, 2010
A heck of a quarter final, a heck of a German Mannschaft! 4-nil...and so much fun to watch. You know Argentina sucks when a German DEFENDER can play up front and score a goal. Just saying. I honestly don't know what all the fuss about Messi is about: not a single goal this world cup and I hardly ever saw him do anything talented during this match. Maybe the long hair is slowing this team down...I'd be willing to pay for haircuts all around; Locks of Love could really benefit.
First goal after three minutes by Thomas Mueller. It's a real shame he'll have to sit out in the semis. Ridiculous yellow card in my book. Miroslav Klose shoots two, bringing him equal with Gerd Mueller in all-time World Cup goals, and only one behind Ronaldo. My favorite goal of the match will always remain Arne Friedrich, a defender scoring his very first international goal in 76 caps at the ripe old age of 31.
I could not be more proud of my nation's team. Vier-Null. Fear is right. I'm banking on Klose and Oezil to make up for Mueller next week. We have as much a chance of winning this as anyone else. This young, fearless, talented German squad is just amazing. The third match with four German goals in this cup. Are we on a roll? Wednesday will show more...stay tuned.
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July 7, 2010
And then comes the darkness, the numbness after a loss. All you could do was sit there and watch the minutes tick by. Now all you can do is stare at the TV in disbelief, replaying the game in your mind. It's like a death, really. So now you have to work through the 5 stages of grief.
(1) Denial: I just can't believe it. There's no way we lost to Spain again. It can't be true.
(2) Anger: I hate all Spanish people, all Spanish food, including sangria, and I am no longer sending students to Spain. I hope they lose on Sunday.
(3) Bargaining: if only Mueller hadn't gotten that ridiculous yellow card in the last match, we would have had out best scorer. Please let us redo it.
(4) Depression: I want to cry and curl up in bed. I'm so sad for all my wonderful players, especially those who won't have another chance at the Cup in 4 years. Maybe I'll have a beer. A good GERMAN beer. Or two.
(5) Acceptance - this may come in four years in Brazil, because there is always hope for a better tomorrow. In the meantime, yes, I will probably watch yet another 3rd place match for my boys.
Oh, the heartbreak. The highs and the lows of this strange pastime. I don't even have the courage to call my dad. In moments of disappointment, it's all on how we rise again and do it over - stronger, better. Let's hope this trend begins on Saturday and we see the boys shine one more time. And four years from now? Yeah, I'll be watching this gut-wrenching, nerve-wrecking, heart-breaking tournament again.
June 26,
2010It's where heroes are made and dreams are lost. It's where grown men cry and occasionally take their shirts off and roll around on top of each other. It's universal. It's addictive. And at times, it can be heart-breaking.
The FIFA Soccer World Cup comes around once every four years; it unites nations behind their team and it unites the world behind a black and white ball. I was in Germany four years ago during the weeks leading up to it when we were the host. I remember German flags everywhere; soccer cakes in bakery windows; and the media (news, commercials, papers) flooded with soccer-related stories.
Of course, I grew up with soccer blood (the color? black, red and gold). My sisters played semi-professionally, one as a goalie, one as a striker, and I watched Bundesliga matches, or listened to them on NDR2. It's my country's national sport, so if you don't know about offsides, red cards and penalty kicks...you won't be able to contribute much to the conversation.
Germany plays England tomorrow...my flag is hanging in the window. The alarm is set. I'm nervous as all get-out.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 27, 2010
Wembley has been vindicated. I never thought I would see the day. It's a story that has divided two nations for 44 years, and depending on who you talk to, England's ball did (yeah, right) or did not cross the line in the 1966 World Cup final. Well, call it karma, divine intervention or the neutralizing powers of the Universe - but today the injustice of Wembley has been equalized. England's goal was clearly across the line, but the equalizer was not given. I can't help but feel a little Schadenfreude. I called dad a world away and said 'that one was in!' and his response: 'like the opposite of Wembley! After 44 years!' I guess soccer can unite families, too.
Karma was really at work in this game, in more ways than one. Thomas Mueller gave a selfless assist to Lukas Podolski (even though he could have shot on goal himself), only to be rewarded with two goals of his own later on. One thing I like about this young German team? They're not as cocky as some of the other teams and it's paying off. Let's see where we go from here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 3, 2010
A heck of a quarter final, a heck of a German Mannschaft! 4-nil...and so much fun to watch. You know Argentina sucks when a German DEFENDER can play up front and score a goal. Just saying. I honestly don't know what all the fuss about Messi is about: not a single goal this world cup and I hardly ever saw him do anything talented during this match. Maybe the long hair is slowing this team down...I'd be willing to pay for haircuts all around; Locks of Love could really benefit.
First goal after three minutes by Thomas Mueller. It's a real shame he'll have to sit out in the semis. Ridiculous yellow card in my book. Miroslav Klose shoots two, bringing him equal with Gerd Mueller in all-time World Cup goals, and only one behind Ronaldo. My favorite goal of the match will always remain Arne Friedrich, a defender scoring his very first international goal in 76 caps at the ripe old age of 31.
I could not be more proud of my nation's team. Vier-Null. Fear is right. I'm banking on Klose and Oezil to make up for Mueller next week. We have as much a chance of winning this as anyone else. This young, fearless, talented German squad is just amazing. The third match with four German goals in this cup. Are we on a roll? Wednesday will show more...stay tuned.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 7, 2010
And then comes the darkness, the numbness after a loss. All you could do was sit there and watch the minutes tick by. Now all you can do is stare at the TV in disbelief, replaying the game in your mind. It's like a death, really. So now you have to work through the 5 stages of grief.
(1) Denial: I just can't believe it. There's no way we lost to Spain again. It can't be true.
(2) Anger: I hate all Spanish people, all Spanish food, including sangria, and I am no longer sending students to Spain. I hope they lose on Sunday.
(3) Bargaining: if only Mueller hadn't gotten that ridiculous yellow card in the last match, we would have had out best scorer. Please let us redo it.
(4) Depression: I want to cry and curl up in bed. I'm so sad for all my wonderful players, especially those who won't have another chance at the Cup in 4 years. Maybe I'll have a beer. A good GERMAN beer. Or two.
(5) Acceptance - this may come in four years in Brazil, because there is always hope for a better tomorrow. In the meantime, yes, I will probably watch yet another 3rd place match for my boys.
Oh, the heartbreak. The highs and the lows of this strange pastime. I don't even have the courage to call my dad. In moments of disappointment, it's all on how we rise again and do it over - stronger, better. Let's hope this trend begins on Saturday and we see the boys shine one more time. And four years from now? Yeah, I'll be watching this gut-wrenching, nerve-wrecking, heart-breaking tournament again.
Congratulations for making it through! I was pulling for Germany, though I hated to see the bad goal call on England. Could have been a different game. Good luck in the next round!
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