The World Cup 2006 HAS STARTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And sure, maybe you need to be anywhere outside of the USA to appreciate it, but even as an american I just... am overwhelmed by the fever that is sweeping the planet at this very moment, as Germany plays the opening game against Costa Rica. Being that it's IN Germany this year, we actually get to watch the games at decent times, unlike years that it's in random time zones like South Korea or Argentina.... (or when it's in Europe and you live in Australia and have to wake up at 3 in the morning to watch...) So.... lucky me, this year!!!!
I love soccer. But I REALLY love the World Cup, specifically because it's every 4 years. I kind of love the European Championships (every other 4 years)... not as much as the World Cup. It is the single most watched sporting event in the world. Much more than the Olympics.
2 of my former countries of residence are in the WC '06. USA and Australia. Granted neither are favourites to go all the way through, but this is their most strongest year yet (both of them), and in the betting pool at work, I have both of them through to the Semi-finals. Risky, yes. But in case of a dark horse showing, my bet is on one of the 2.
My adopted country, Holland, is actually very very likely to go far. I am so excited about that. They have a very strong team this year and what's most important: they're not fighting within the camp. Or so I'm told.
For the next 6 weeks my baby and I will enjoy bonding over football, following all the results, biting our nails over our respective betting pools, and most importantly: watching the Netherlands games at the Shelbourne bar amongst a sea of orange, where all the Dutchies in Cork go to watch their national pride & joy. It is indeed an exciting time. Moreover, we'll be heading off to NL next week to watch Holland play Ivory Coast. It'll be phenomenal, watching the Orange army, in a pub IN the land of the Orange. WITH our Orange friends, wallowing in the Orange sea. Much better atmosphere than here...
What's more? Ireland didn't qualify this year. No Ireland in the competition. Everyone here is so depressed about it. But since it's a country of football-maniacs, they have to support SOMEONE. Which is really funny to hear how everyone picks who they're going to follow.... many have decided upon Ivory Coast, as their national flag is the Irish one, in reverse. A lot are going for Poland, since there's so many Polish here now.... sort of a gesture of good will in an otherwise extremely racist country. A handful are going for England, since all the Irish lads have favourite English Premiership league teams, whose players will obviously be playing for their home country in the WC... but not many.... MOST Irish people are too closeminded to EVER support the English... annoying. And then there's those who just want to support the underdog to be silly. Like Togo. Or Trinidad & Tobago. The local pop radio station has fallen in behind T&T. Funny stuff.
I'm running the office betting pool, and the pot stands at € 300. I can't wait to score everyone's entry forms & predicted scores after each game. Nerd-alicious, I know. I picked Brazil to win, beating the Dutch in the semi-finals. Actually most people picked Brazil (obviously), with Argentina and Italy coming in as 2nd and 3rd favourites. We'll see, I guess....
let the games begin!!!!
And sure, maybe you need to be anywhere outside of the USA to appreciate it, but even as an american I just... am overwhelmed by the fever that is sweeping the planet at this very moment, as Germany plays the opening game against Costa Rica. Being that it's IN Germany this year, we actually get to watch the games at decent times, unlike years that it's in random time zones like South Korea or Argentina.... (or when it's in Europe and you live in Australia and have to wake up at 3 in the morning to watch...) So.... lucky me, this year!!!!
I love soccer. But I REALLY love the World Cup, specifically because it's every 4 years. I kind of love the European Championships (every other 4 years)... not as much as the World Cup. It is the single most watched sporting event in the world. Much more than the Olympics.
2 of my former countries of residence are in the WC '06. USA and Australia. Granted neither are favourites to go all the way through, but this is their most strongest year yet (both of them), and in the betting pool at work, I have both of them through to the Semi-finals. Risky, yes. But in case of a dark horse showing, my bet is on one of the 2.
My adopted country, Holland, is actually very very likely to go far. I am so excited about that. They have a very strong team this year and what's most important: they're not fighting within the camp. Or so I'm told.
For the next 6 weeks my baby and I will enjoy bonding over football, following all the results, biting our nails over our respective betting pools, and most importantly: watching the Netherlands games at the Shelbourne bar amongst a sea of orange, where all the Dutchies in Cork go to watch their national pride & joy. It is indeed an exciting time. Moreover, we'll be heading off to NL next week to watch Holland play Ivory Coast. It'll be phenomenal, watching the Orange army, in a pub IN the land of the Orange. WITH our Orange friends, wallowing in the Orange sea. Much better atmosphere than here...
What's more? Ireland didn't qualify this year. No Ireland in the competition. Everyone here is so depressed about it. But since it's a country of football-maniacs, they have to support SOMEONE. Which is really funny to hear how everyone picks who they're going to follow.... many have decided upon Ivory Coast, as their national flag is the Irish one, in reverse. A lot are going for Poland, since there's so many Polish here now.... sort of a gesture of good will in an otherwise extremely racist country. A handful are going for England, since all the Irish lads have favourite English Premiership league teams, whose players will obviously be playing for their home country in the WC... but not many.... MOST Irish people are too closeminded to EVER support the English... annoying. And then there's those who just want to support the underdog to be silly. Like Togo. Or Trinidad & Tobago. The local pop radio station has fallen in behind T&T. Funny stuff.
I'm running the office betting pool, and the pot stands at € 300. I can't wait to score everyone's entry forms & predicted scores after each game. Nerd-alicious, I know. I picked Brazil to win, beating the Dutch in the semi-finals. Actually most people picked Brazil (obviously), with Argentina and Italy coming in as 2nd and 3rd favourites. We'll see, I guess....
let the games begin!!!!
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