Joga bonito. Are you ready for some futbol?
The World Cup started last Friday. And it's caught my attention even better than March Madness. I usually take a day off at the start of the NCAA basketball tourney to just sit and watch game after game and cheer on the little guy. And usually there will be lots of exciting games - an upset or two, and many near upsets. But mostly everything goes to form.
Now this World Cup has got my heart pounding constantly. Sure there have been a snoozer or two (the US getting demolished by the Czechs for one). But how about the Aussies coming back from a goal down against Japan and scoring three in an eight minute span at the end of the game? Or Togo getting their first ever World Cup goal and actually leading the Koreans? The Swiss came oh so close to putting one in against the French and taking three points in their opener. Even Brazil's opening match was tense.
Then this afternoon (night in Germany), the Germans and the Poles began the second set of matches in group play. An incredible heartbreaker. The Poles were holding off the Germans who just couldn't finish in spite of getting some terrific chances. And on several counters the Poles had the German defense off balance and nearly snuck in a goal. But both defenses were strong. It looked like it was going to end in a zero-zero draw.
In the 75th minute, on a foul I (a referee myself) did not think warranted a yellow, a Polish defender picked up his second yellow of the match - red card! you're outta here! - and suddenly Poland is down a man. The German attack becomes relentless. The Poles bend, but don't break.
Their keeper, Boruc, is unbelievable, making three super saves on some sure goals. The game goes to stoppage time tied. And then, a cross from the right, Neuville finally times his run correctly, stays onside, slips just inside the defender, and gets the sole of his boot on the cross. The ball hits the back of the net and you can hear hearts break around the world. The underdog has come within a minute and a half of getting out alive, but alas, today it wasn't meant to be. Germany 1 Poland 0.
posted by Wake of the Flood at 4:00 PM
6 Comments:
Not that I know anything about soccer, but I like the whole universality of it.
I missed the game, but your description was excellent. Thanks.
in stoppage time? that bites for the Poles.
Hey, are we rooting for Italy to beat the Czechs now? Is that what we need? or for the Czechs to hammer Italy? providing of course the US wins both their remaining games.
I think Ciao!
Not into soccer myself--Played it when I was younger though. My church pastor is big into soccer as he is from England, so I've been hearing a bit about it from him as well. If only I had cable and could watch the games myself... Thanks for the lovely commentary.
Kurt, the only real hope for the US now is for the Czech's to win all their matches, the US to win their remaining two, and for the Italians and Ghanians to tie. Otherwise the probability is that it will go to goal difference as the first tie breaker for who goes through to the second round. And already being three goals in the hole hurts big time with only two more matches to make up the difference. And Ghana looked strong against the Italians.
This group wasn't labeled The Group of Death but now the commentators have started describing it as such after having seen how good the Ghanian squad truly is. Every team in this group could do damage to the hopes of the favorites when we get to the knockout rounds.
Ooops. Meant to say Ghana and Czechs to tie. The Italians already beat Ghana. Of course if the Czechs win through then that solves that. The danger lies in if the US beats the Italians, and the Czechs beat Ghana and we get to the last set of games, the Czechs will have already won the group and might lay down against Italy and lose, allowing the Italians to go through to the second round. And the US goes home.
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