Where The Hell Am I?: Portugal

Saturday, July 8, 2006

Germany v. Portugal - World Cup 2006

BTW, update time...

Germany beat the Portugese diving team. Ausgezeichnet!!!! Deutschland! 3:1!!!!

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Below is a hilarious post from a blog caled Flip Flop Flying. Currently, he's a British expat living in Germany, so he gets a first-hand view of the 2006 World Cup madness. I can relate as I was in Korea for the 2002 World Cup. It's an experience I wouldn't trade for anything.

Anyway, as the Germany v. Portugal game is happening in the next few hours, I must admit I'm rooting for Germany. (I'm also trying to resist the temptation not to post about it as I have this fear that I might somehow have the power to jinx it...)

I love, love, love, love the German team's captain and goalee (see the end of my The World Cup and my country... post). Plus, outside of the wonderful visuals, they're a good team. In contrast, Portugal, is also a very good team, BUT their tactics suck. After watching the England v. Portugal match, I now call them "the Portugese diving team." Their dives are so good that I think they need to recruit Greg Louganis.

So let's hope that there will be no reason for the following sounds or events to be heard in Germany in a few hours time.

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The Sound of Defeat from Flip Flop Flying

The sound of defeat
The casual dropping of bottles.
The mutterings of "sheisse..."*
The nur-nur of police vans briskly moving around the city.
The silent traipsing of friends.
The occasional defiant "Deutschland!"

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*for all of you who aren't speakers of German a link a Urban Dictionary's definition is provided above
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And...if you have the gumption to argue with me about "the Portugese diving team" then watch this video, and then, please get back to me with that argument:

Allez les Bleus!!! Go France, Go!!!

That's one big t-shirt!

Congratulations to the French national soccer team for beating Portugal and making it to the World Cup 2006 finals!

It's going to be a great game against Italy which is going to happen on July 9th. That will be July 10th at 3am here in Seoul. I'm all for the underdog prevailing. As both France and Italy were pegged as underdogs one will prevail, but I must admit my preference goes to France. France was viewed as an old team that wouldn't be able to hold their own against the younger teams. Well, I like that skill and experience has, so far, prevailed over youthful bravado. Also, you have to give it to France for stepping up as the tournament went on and increasing the level of their game.

Plus, I have a bias as I've always leave magical Paris with great memories and positive feelings. I would love to see them rejoice in another World Cup championship.

The bad thing about being in the northeast Asia region is the games are on at horribly late hours which is doing a number on my sleep patterns. However, being pretty much a confirmed football nut now, I had to stay up and watch it. I napped during the day but still faded into a nice sleep after halftime. I awoke hoping that either Portugal didn't score at all, or, if they did, that the French team answered back with their own goal. My wish was confirmed when I saw the headlines of today's news.

It's great to see the French celebrate especially when the odds were 12 to 1 that France would make it this far. It's World Cup magic, and it's the biggest reason I've grown to love this game.