Bend It Like Beckham
June 25, 2006 at 6:34 pm (J333)
How do you hold up under the expectations of the entire world and hit a free kick like this? Don’t count England out yet. When Beckham hit it, I was sitting in my reclining chair in my bedroom, my baby girl Micah on my lap, Sam on the ground playing a game on Kafi’s computer. I stifled my “whoooo” so as not to frighten the chirrens. It was a great moment.
Nick said,
June 26, 2006 at 1:04 am
Saw some of the game. England are my sentimental favorites, but they simply do not scare me. They have had an easy ride to this point, and I would have said that the bus will stop for them in the quarters, where they would have had to face either the Netherlands or Portugal, two teams who would have run them off the field. But after seeing their game (man, was it ugly), I’d have to say that England is leading a charmed life. Portugal will come into the game with 2 starters out for red cards, another injured (and Cristiano Ronaldo is one of their best players), and their captain Luis Figo facing a possible ban after the head butt he dished out. He may have only gotten a yellow on the field, but it shoudl have been a straight red, and FIFA is pretty hard on things like that. It does not mean that England can play at their present sloppy level, but it weakens a tough Portuguese side.
Here is a major WHATIF: What if this ref took on the USA-Italy game? I still think that Rossi would have gotten a straight red (and FIFA still gives the 4-match ban). But Pablo Mastroeni would have only gotten a yellow for his late tackle, he plays in the Ghana match; no way he loses the ball and gives up a cheapie goal putting the US on the back foot; Reyna is playing the distributor role he is better suited for, and the limp US attack has a bit more punch to it, and who knows? We may be having a different conversation now. Just goes to show that the element of chance is rather big in the world’s biggest event.
RC said,
June 26, 2006 at 6:50 am
there’s a huge element of chance, yes, in the biggest sporting event in the world
and England does not scare me is one great way to describe what they’ve been doing
you know how people complain that soccer is boring? imagine England - somehow - making it all the way through to the final with some BORING soccer… imagine the English fans STILL not being satisfied with such a result… i can
i’m very bummed out with the US effort, and my whatifs are, well… i still think we should have been super aggressive on offense… i know that at the World Cup you have to be cautious defensively, but it looks like the winners know how to sustain an attack
Nick said,
June 27, 2006 at 12:13 am
I agree with your last paragraph, but to be SUPER aggressive, you need the right personnel. The US did not have it. The only forward I think who might be ready for that role wouldbe Johnson, but he will need some help up front. Donovan is a midfielder, and McBride is out of gas. They have the midfielders in COnvey and Dempsey (he needs to go to EUrope for a couple of years, then he will become a major star. You saw it here first). Beasley needs a head adjustment. And Adu is the wild card.
You are also right on target about England and their fans too. Look, they will be elated if England make it to the final, but they are a discriminating lot. Believe it or not, they share this sentiment with the Brazilians: they dont exactly appreciate winning ugly. The Italians dont care how they win, for all their talk, but the English and Brazilians do. You must do it in style. The Portugal match will reveal what they are made of.
But believe me; I have never found soccer boring. It is as real a metaphor for life as I have found in the sporting world. It’s why I am a fan(atic).