Let’s hope that in a year’s time we don’t all think: “If only Ashley WIlliams had scored.”
No quibbles with the outcome, a fair reflection of a strangely entertaining game. Not many 0-0s are so engrossing.
But it would be nice to have an unfair reflection of the game in the scoreline someday, unfair in our favour.
It’s now or never, isn’t it?
If we can’t qualify when the gates gape as wide as Euro2016’s do, it isn’t going to happen.
Twenty-three teams go through and, after sifting out the no-hopers, that means about 36 countries are vying for those slots.
It all started so well. Was it an omen? The clerk at Sarajevo’s Lion Hostel (Grrrrrrr!) asked: “English?”
“No, Welsh!”
He’d heard of us!
“Wales? Jimmyfloydhasselbaink! Very good game against Coventry.”
On a wall at the end of the Copacabana, the other end from the Fanfest on the beach, a street artist created a tribute artwork stretching a good 40 metres.
The David Luiz free-kick probably epitomised Brazil’s best moment. Even aside from anything Neymar did, this goal was celebrated like nothing else – probably as the hosts realised that maybe they could win the World Cup.
**Click on the pics to enlarge
Rio, weaning itself off the World Cup, was suffering from football-glut – and not hosting games immediately after the Germany-Argentina final. Presumably the police needed a rest.
14bis, discovered on a Brazilian sampler CD and by happy coincidence also playing during the World Cup.
Some two hours outside Rio at a Crustacean Festival.
If you want to a taste of Eastern Europe football you need to head to northern London.
FC Romania’s radar is permanently askew.
Several thousand miles from home this Essex Senior League outfit respect no boundary – their home is in Hertfordshire (or as one website catering for Romains in the UK had it “Herdfordshire’).
And they’re not short of ambition.
So, was it good for you too?
The football fairytale you live in bursts and it´s time to head home to reality.
Germany matches are always a thrill.
Back in the day if they lost and you were there you were guaranteed an unforgettable experience and a warming dose of schadenfreude that flooded organs you didn’t know you possessed.
Since seeing them three times at the 2006 World Cup, even their wins have become something to relish as my weltanschauung has widened and I learned that the childhood Victor comic German was an embarrassing cliche..
Here’s the cracking 11 Germany games I’ve been to, each memorable in its own way.
Belgium versus the US. I almost didn’t fancy it. You don’t expect thrills.
You buy the ticket, do the calculation and think the match has Belgium v Portugal written all over it. Should be good.
There was nothing in the build-up to suggest we were about to see the best contest so far.
Continue reading Uncle Samba bows out – Belgium 2 United States 1
Fan fests – what are they like?
Kharkiv two years ago in Ukraine was dominated by the Dutch, who brought their oompah songs, orange boiler suits and their shtrange anticsh that would probably be banned in any other country.
It was much more fun than the game that followed.
Continue reading Fortaleza fan fest fun: a critical evaluation
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The guy from Rio at the pre-match bar by the Castelao was not impressed.
He said: “Fortaleza. This is the worst regional capital in our country. It is so poor.”
For the first time since arriving we certainly saw the extremities of the rich-poor divide in this country.
And on the pitch, there was a similar stark contrast to see.
Miles from Nowhere 