On Friday the World Cup begins with Germany playing Costa Rica. Later that same day, Poland will face off against Ecuador.I can hardly wait!!! And I have to pack for Greensboro in the midst of all the excitement.
In addition, my all-time soccer hero, Pele, is going to be at the opening celebration. I doubt he'll be doing any of his famous bicycle kicks, but it is still really cool that he will be there.
The US will play their first game, against the Czech Republic, on Monday the 12th. And my second favorite team, Argentina, will kick off the Cup series by playing Cote d'Ivoire on Saturday the 10th.
There has already been some drama, though. Both Argentina and England have key players who are injured. The verdict is still out on whether either will be able to play. Lionel Messi is a top scorer for the Argentinian team, so I'm holding my breath on that one.
Are any of you soccer fans? Anyone else interested in doing brackets with me? (just for fun--no gambling involved.)
22 comments:
So you're into soccer?
Yep. Too bad most of the US isn't. It's a great sport. Ever played?
I just wish there had been women's soccer in school when I was a kid. I really enjoy the sport, but am not as good at it as those who have been able to play all their lives.
I was able to play at the American School in South Africa, but it was their first year to offer it. Then at Ouachita, IMB missionary Robert Pinkston was captain of the soccer club, and he let me work out with the guys every morning. He even let me play in a couple of games.
But Title IX had not come along yet, so it wasn't an official sport for women.
I'm really not very good--I just enjoy the sport. Most of my playing has been in adulthood. I was on an indoor team in Norman when we lived in Oklahoma.
We actually won our tournament, but only because we had two ringers. : ) Robin Switzer and Kathy (Switzer) Miller were on our team--the daughter and daughter-in-law of legendary football coach Barry Switzer.
I've also coached Anna, so am living vicariously through my child. Even ended up having to ref a couple of weeks ago at one of her games.
So to make a short answer long....YES!!!! I love soccer.
That's great. I have a hard time watching it. It's a little slow for me. I'm more of the college football (Yeah Alabama, Crimson Tide) kind of guy. Even baseball is slow.
I'm with you on baseball being a little slow.
But college football is the best!!! We're Big XII fans, and more specifically, University of Oklahoma fans.
I haven't been talking much about football this year, though, because that ugly burnt orange team south of the Red River won the national championship. I've already endured enough gloating from our friends Kelly and Vicky. : )
The entire country will come to a standstill when Ecuador plays Poland this Friday. If it's like other big games of the past, absolutely everyone is glued to the TV and it there is an eerie silence that reigns over the city. One can sit and just listen to the thousands of voices around as in unison they groan, shriek, yell in outrage--and of course you KNOW IT whenever Ecuador scores a goal. The whole country explodes in unison that I'm sure can be heard all the way up to Pennsylvania--GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!
GOL! GOL! GOL! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!
If Ecuador should win or even tie any of their games we won't be sleeping that night. The commotion, fireworks, honking of horns, parades, is absolutely undescribable unless you have lived through it!
Sounds like what happened here when the Steelers won the Superbowl.
Just goes to show you how universally alike people are. :)
I'm with David. I never have understood how a 1-0 game is exciting. Give me the 3rd Saturday in October in Tuscaloosa! Roll Tide!
Sorry...
a. I'm too much of an academic/computer geek to be enthusiastic about any sport.
b. I'm too much of a NE Arkansas redneck to spend what little sporting interest I have on anything besides basketball and baseball.
But I must say, although soccer doesn't interest me in the least, soccer FANS intrigue me. The level of passion (leading to rioting and murder), the worldwide scope of the sport, it all captures my attention in the same way that a black hole does--I understand virtually nothing about it, but how can I not be curious?
What's interesting here in the DFW metroplex is watching how soccer crystalizes the various ethnic communities. Niche ethnic restaurants advertise that they will be playing the games. It almost seems like a celebration of not being American. An interesting sociological phenomenon.
!Vamos Argentina!
Y para mi amigo Guy Muse....?Ecuador quien? ?Hay un equipo en Ecuador?
Kiki:
I'm not much of a soccer fan, I guess. I always lose interest after 2 or 3 innings.
I'll be rooting for Costa Rica (from a distance), though. That was the best vacation I ever had, in Puerto Jimenez.
Greensboro? Perhaps we'll meet. I'll be the one with the beard.
Chris,
You may see me in my Argentina jersey at Greensboro. :) Are you and Michelle going to be there?
Bob,
Innings. : )
Thanks for the heads up on the beard. I'm sure there won't be many at Greensboro. Maybe lot's of goatees, but only one beard. ;)
Hope to get the opportunity to meet you.
Hey Kiki,
We'll be watching for sure.... we will be supporting Brazil and England...can you root for two teams? Our Portuguese teacher is Brazilian and oh-my-gosh, she's absolutely insane about "football" and she's 60 years old!!
You can't live in Africa and not be excited about the WC. Our Youth for Christ friends are opening a coffee-house/cafe to reach the elite non-Christians in Maputo and their kick-off event is watching the games on a big screen TV.
I also wish I had grown up playing. The scores may be low but the games can be exciting. My guys also like watching the UEFA Champions league. AND they play FIFA soccer on Playstation 2...that counts too! :-)
My post seems to have been lost so I'll retype what I can.
I enjoy watching soccer, but the opportunity doesn't exist much. I remember being in San Jose in 1994 (Marching for Santa Clara Vanguard)when the games were in America. The Brasilian team was housed just a few miles away. They won that year and the celebrations were interesting to watch. They were celebrating in the streets and Americans would try to join them.
The Americans were largely toasted--"Yeah, get drunk, party, woo-hoo" and the Brasilians were like, "Why do I need alcohol, or have to get drunk to party and have a good time. Besides, I want to remember being here." Interesting contrast.
On a sadder note, I've been repeatedly seeing reports of thousands of women being "trafficed" into Germany to "service" the games. Let's pray for these women that they will escape their slavery and more importantly, escape into the hope, forgiveness and healing of Christ. I pray the church there truly reaches out to them.
On a happier note, I fully expect that "ugly burnt orange team" to stomp the crimson and cream (sounds like a Blue Bell flavor) paperclip landthieves again this year!
Pursuing Answers to Questions of Faith & Life,
Kelly
Kiki:
The "innings" remark is extremely effective on folks who want to gush on and on (particularly in Sunday School) about Alabama or Auburn football. I use it a LOT.
Kind of like the time I said "GEE ..I have the A of Clovers and the Q of Valentines!" after being dragged into a bridge game I didn't want to play.
OK .. there may be others beards. I'll probably have a cane, too.
(Knee replacement 4/6/06.)
Kiki,
1 out of 2 isn't bad. I'm with you all the way in rooting for Argentina. After serving there for about 14 years as missionaries, it's heard not to pull for the "seleccion." As to your choice in college football though, Ugh! I proudly wear the burnt orange of UT, my alma mater.
I live in Kaiserslautern, Germany for the time being, and there are TONS of excited people around here. They've been repaving the roads and everything to get ready for all the extra traffic that will be coming this week. The american schools even canceled school on the 12th because they're afraid there will be too much traffic and the kids will never get to school. I myself am not a big sports fan, but out of all the sports, soccer is one of my favorites.
I enjoy watching soccer, but the opportunity doesn't exist much. I remember being in San Jose in 1994 (Marching for Santa Clara Vanguard)when the games were in America. The Brasilian team was housed just a few miles away. They won that year and the celebrations were interesting to watch. They were celebrating in the streets and Americans would try to join them.
The Americans were largely toasted--"Yeah, get drunk, party, woo-hoo" and the Brasilians were like, "Why do I need alcohol, or have to get drunk to party and have a good time. Besides, I want to remember being here." Interesting contrast.
On a sadder note, I've been repeatedly seeing reports of thousands of women being "trafficed" into Germany to "service" the games. Let's pray for these women that they will escape their slavery and more importantly, escape into the hope, forgiveness and healing of Christ. I pray the church there truly reaches out to them.
On a happier note, I fully expect that "ugly burnt orange team" to stomp the crimson and cream (sounds like a Blue Bell flavor) paperclip landthieves again this year!
Gary and Kelly,
I appreciate both of you guys. Which just proves a very important point.
If a bunch of Sooners and Longhorns can get along, and even LOVE each other, then there really is hope for the SBC. : )
There are lots of ministries using the World Cup opportunity to proclaim the Good News (think Acts 2 ... the nations gathering in one place). Our own M's are planning to make the most of the opportunity. Let's keep all of our brothers and sisters there in prayer -- yes, the non-SBC ones as well ... that hasn't been outlawed yet, has it? :) May there be a great harvest for the kingdom!
I enjoy soccer. It helped pay for my oldest son's college education! Sorry I'm going to miss the game on Monday, but I'll be in the air, headed to G'boro. But I'll be at the L.A. Galaxy vs D.C. United game Sunday night, watching the 17-year-old phenom, Freddy Adu, but missing Landon Donovan and Chris Albright who are in Germany with the U.S. team.
I don't keep up with the international teams enough to do the brackets, but I hear most of the teams now consider the U.S. team a worthy opponent.
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT...
ECUADOR 2 - Poland 0 !!!
The entire country has gone into an all-night party mode. We are completely shut in at our house due to the main streets in/out being blocked. Enough said.
Steve--I'm jealous that you're getting to go to a D.C. United game. :)
Guy--Congrats to the Ecuadorian team!!! Let's hope that South American winning streak prevails.
I'm a little concerned about the Ivory Coast team, especially with players like Drogba. And it looks like Messi is going to be out of the lineup for Argentina.
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