Am I about to unleash over 3,500 words of mindless world cup game descriptions? You bet your A$$ I am!
Group C: England 1 – 1 USA, Rustenburg, Royal Bafokeng Stadium, 12 June 2010
Fact that may only interest me – Did you know that the Royal Bafokeng Stadium was financed totally by the community in which it is located? Supposedly the tribe that financed the stadium is also owner to the platinum mines that are in the area and as a result have become the richest tribe in Africa and perhaps the world. No doubt the Bafokengs are rollin out stacks and bling but that doesn’t mean you can just put a track around the field which makes watching the game really difficult! Especially when you are in Category 4 seats behind the goal and are actually about 50 feet away from the field. Depth perception problems galore for real.
Fish and Chips! 1776! 1812! Or-tho-don-tist! Long live the Queen! Mon-ar-chy!
-Americans talking trash
“If it weren’t for the Americans you’d be speaking German right now.” – A PCV’s response to an Englishmen’s comments about how the USA sucks.
But hey the English know how to cheer too. “Buh buh buhbuhbuh buhbuhbuhbuh ENGLAND!” yes very creative. Which some people responded with “AMERICA F$%k YEAH!”
No doubt, it was on in Rustenburg in a titanic clash that pitted former master vs former colony in what was labeled at the time as USA soccer’s biggest game ever. Such a special game needed some special attire that included authentic USA soccer jersey (yes the one with the weird stripe thing going down diagonally across it), USA flag used as a cape, and super crazy American flag painted on my entire face.
The atmosphere was incredible with English and American flags waving throughout the match. And let’s just say games move a lot faster in real life. So fast that in the 5th minute you blink once when Wayne Rooney has the ball, you blink again and Emile Hesky is passing it to Steven Gerrard, blink one last time and suddenly the entire English team is running to the corner flags celebrating a goal…. America how you gonna let a drunken bar fighter like Steven Gerrard score in the 5th minute? I wanna see the replay of that goal! Wait, what? The jumbo screens aren’t working? No scoreboard or time panel or anything like that? You mean the only way for me to tell what the time left on the field is when the announcer announces something like “there will be 3 minutes extra of stoppage time….” Great just great. No depth perception, no time perception, no score perception… Great indeed.
So let’s just say the English fans around me had some fun for the first half singing their songs about how they love being ruled by a lady that inherited power because she happened to be born in a family that was labeled “royalty”. If that doesn’t scream “I hate freedom” then I don’t know what does. Yeah God save the queen good for you. But then in the 2nd half something crazy happened. Robert Green the English goalkeeper made a routine save on a relatively weak shot by USA midfielder Clint Dempsey. The depth perception made it somewhat difficult to see what was going on because it happened at the opposite goal post, but he saved it. The ball went into his hands and he caught it, and then kept moving….. Wait kept moving? GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!!! USA USA USA!!!! Robert Green mishandled the shot in what was labeled as one of the biggest goalkeeping blunders in English Soccer history. Everyone on our side of the stadium thought he had it saved. But once again the ball just kept moving somehow… right over the goal line. Yeah Queen that b!tc$%&!!! Oh man you should have seen the look on some English fans’ faces! Priceless!
Group D: Ghana 1 - 0 Serbia, Pretoria, Loftus Versfeld Stadium, 13 June 2010
“GO GHANA GO! YEAH GO GHANA YEAH!!!”
Fan sitting next to me who constantly kept yelling that throughout the game, and only that throughout the game. Literally he said nothing else and repeated it probably every 30 seconds that had me almost saying “Hey if you don’t know anything about the sport then maybe you should be a little more quiet or at least diversify your chant” but I didn’t because everyone deserves a chance at screaming nonsense at a sporting event.
So night of the England game I went to bed at 3am because we got back so late, and then woke up 7am and was on the road by 8 heading back to Pretoria. Loftus Versfeld is a stadium that is home to the Pretoria Blue Bulls a professional South African rugby team, and it’s actually a pretty nice venue. Seats were really close to the field and the scoreboard, game clock, and replay screen were all working! And the category 4 seats were awesome! First level, 8 rows from the field, behind the goal posts but to the side of it near the corner flags which made the viewing excellent. No doubt, it was sweet.
The game was really exciting. The Serbians played with a real tenacity that made you think that maybe they really did want to kill people after the game was over and the Ghanaians played with a real flair that made you think hey this is pretty exciting to watch. Good thing for us Ghana took over the 2nd half which happened to be our side of the field so we got to see most of it. I kept looking over at one section of the crowd wearing red, green, and yellow that was constantly in motion. Yup the Ghanaians danced the entire game. All 90 minutes. The fans brought an unreal energy to the game and they even had parades around the stadium. I would have joined them, but I was too busy trying to yell “Hey there’s a game going on and you are missing it!” You almost felt bad for the Serbia fans, all 50 of them. Seriously there was maximum 50 at the 49,000 capacity stadium. And when Ghana was awarded and converted their penalty kick. It was pandemonium. The party was on for the rest of the game and it was a ton of fun.
Group C: USA 2 - 2 Slovenia, Johannesburg, Ellis Park Stadium, 18 June 2010
“Where’s your country!?” (clap clap clapclapclap) “Where’s your country!?” (clap clap clapclapclap)
I actually don’t think Americans were talking trash. We really do want to know where your country is located. I tried to find it on a map the other day and let’s just say I get an F. Can you help me find it?
The mighty imperialist empire that is the United States vs the Eastern European minnows that must have been exploited by the West in a terrible way at some point in its history clashed inside Ellis Park. Ellis Park stadium you may know from the movie Invictus where it was the site of the final match between South Africa and New Zealand and at the end President of South Africa Morgan Freeman hands the Rugby World Cup trophy to the Springbok captain. Priceless. This was an interesting game. Standing in my category 3 seats which were a little bit more toward the middle but high up in the stadium I kept wondering “How the hell are we down 2-0 against freaking Slovenia!?!!?? Is this revenge for not knowing where there country is? Karma you couldn’t punish me in a more reasonable fashion? But then it happened. Landon Donovan dribbling unmarked on the byline and BANG roof of the net and USA is on the score sheet. Then it happened again. USA equalized from a goal from Bradley and suddenly 2-2 in the 2nd half. HOLY F#$K! how did that happen? Am I seriously witnessing the most exciting game of the World Cup up to that point? When the USA in the 86th minute put a 3rd goal past the Slovenian goalkeeper I had my answer. YES! I high fived so many people, hugged so many strangers, and had so much beer poured on me in the span of 5 minutes that I failed to realize a crucial detail and that was the goal did not stand and someone told me, “I’ve been trying to explain to you that the goal didn’t count because there was a foul or something for 4 minutes but you were to busy jumping up and down.” The game then ended 2-2 draw with a perfectly good game winning goal disallowed. I better find out where this country is or we are in trouble the next time Slovenia comes around.
Group F: Italy 1 - 1 New Zealand, Nelspruit, Mbombela Stadium, 20 June 2010
“All Whites! All Whites! All Whites! All Whites!” – Chant from the New Zealand fans
How are you going to have a team called the ‘All Whites’ in post Apartheid South Africa? Surely Nelson Mandela is turning in his bed right now.
The All Whites against the Azzuri in Nelspruit’s new ‘Giraffe Stadium’. It’s called the ‘Giraffe Stadium’ because of the suspension posts that support the stadium take the shape of giraffes, an animal that can be commonly seen in nearby Kruger National Park. The stadium is state of the art and the viewing from every seat is incredible. No matter where you are you feel like you are on the pitch, even if you have Category 4 tickets in the top level. The viewing is incredible and this time we could see the entire field with ease. I brought my host brother along and it would be the only World Cup game he could attend in his lifetime and he deserved the free ticket.
The Kiwis came out with some intensity, which was indicated by their ability to get a goal in the 7th minute… Seriously, the Italians played some of the most lackluster soccer I’ve seen ever in this one. As a fan of Italian soccer I had to agree with the critics that it would have been better if they didn’t suck so much and didn’t play boring football. I mean come on, you guys are playing soccer not auditioning for the Olympic diving team. The Italians spent more time on the ground in “agony” than actually playing the game and it made me kind of sad.
Group C: USA 1 – 0 Algeria, Pretoria, Loftus Versfeld Stadium 23 June 2010
“Oleeee, Ole Ole Oleeeeee, USAAAAA, USAAAA!!!!!”
-Americans dancing in the street well into the night after the game.
“Can I make your blonde friend my wife?”
-A serious question posed to me by an Algerian fan. In which I considered saying yes.
The mood was a bit tense outside of Loftus as the stakes could not be higher. Win and you are in. That’s it. Nothing else to it. Trash talking was a bit hard as every Algerian dude responded to every comment in some crazy language. Fre…n.ch? French I hear its called? No idea, but apparently that means that they were allowed to be arrogant assholes. A real smog of conceitedness filled the air with French speak and the realization that there might be more Algerian fans than USA fans at this game. Good thing they weren’t Mexicans, or I’m sure some American fans would’ve went remember the Alamo on a biotch.
This game had heartbreak written all over it. Every American attack being stifled by the Algerians high back line and the American forwards seemingly having the inability to get well… forward. Shot after shot saved or missed, every dribble stopped with a well timed tackle. Every pass picked off by the hard nosed Algerian midfield. Interesting that Algeria, a team that needed at least 2 goals to win it seemed like they were playing for a tie. Minutes ran off the clock and no luck for the Americans. The referee signaled for 4 minutes of stoppage time and it seemed to be the end. The USA would be out in the first round again. Until it happened. Clint Dempsey…. Loose ball…. Algerian defenders lackadaisical…. Landon Donovan…. Tap in… GOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!!!!!
Words cannot describe this event and the sheer ecstasy and excitement of a game that was deadlocked for 90 minutes with numerous chances for both sides in which the game was decided by the greatest U.S. soccer player ever in the 92nd minute which causes you to get hugged, patted on the back, beer spilt on you, kissed on the cheeks, and to lose vision for a split second in a sheer wave of ecstasy. Seriously, you just had to be there.
Group G: DPR Korea 0 – 3 Cote d’Ivoire, Nelspruit, Mbombela Stadium, 25 June 2010
“Dude, dude. Just listen to me. They can still advance. Imagine this situation. So like Brazil beats Portugal 1 – nil or something like that. You know? Then Ivory Coast beats North Korea by 9 goals. Yeah man it can happen dude. Just gotta have faith!”
-An Australian man trying to explain to me that the Ivory Coast still had a chance to advance if the above stipulation happened. (Portugal had a +7 goal differential after they defeated North Korea 7-0)
Yeah it seemed like tough luck for the Ivorians for this one. 9 goals huh? Yeah they have to score 9 goals. Or maybe just 5 goals if Brazil beat Portugal by 5…. Just realize that some crazy stuff had to happen. But that didn’t stop the Cote d’Ivoire fans from partying all game long as they had a 50 person plus drumming section during the entire game. Seriously awesome if not down right inspiring. The North Koreans? Well all 20 of them held up mini North Korean flags, if they indeed were actually from North Korea.
The game had a real sense of urgency. The Ivory coast knew it had to score 9 goals. And with 2 goals coming in the first 20 minutes and the team assembling for the restart really fast, you actually thought for a second that they could pull it off. But it wasn’t their day. And most of the time 3 – 0 would be an excellent result, it just wasn’t 9-0.
Round of 16: USA 1 – Ghana 2, Rustenburg, Royal Bafokeng Stadium, 26 June 2010
“GHANA! GHANA! GHANA! AFRICA! AFRICA! AFRICA!”
-Fans all over the stadium screaming in support of the only African team to advance out of the group stages. Yeah USA fans were drowned in a sea of chants to support the last remaining member of the forgotten continent.
Rustenburg again!? But hey you know what that means? USA went top the group and England didn’t. Ha take that ya Brits! Best part was when most British people bought tickets to this game because they actually thought that they would win the group. Should’ve bought tickets to Bloemfontein suckers! And if you didn’t notice, I indeed did go to all 4 USA games. And holy crap we were outnumbered again! So much for “Americans purchasing the most tickets of any nation besides the host nation.”
Once again the viewing kind of sucked. It’s just the stadium is poorly designed. But it was still exciting. Especially when all the goals were on our side of the field. Yes that includes the one scored within 10 minutes against the USA which made me think that the USA was taking this “Oh man no one believes in us and we have to be the underdog and we play under pressure better” thing a little too seriously. STOP CONCEDING EARLY GOALS!!!! But a penalty won by Clint Dempsey and converted by Landon Donovan saw the score even at the end of 90 minutes. Extra time… Which was fun. Even when Asamoah Gyan dribbled it about 25 yards down the right side of the American defense and scored on a scorcher of a shot that left every American fan in tears while proclaiming, “Oh my god, that was the sickest thing I’ve ever seen. Waaahhhh!” It was an exciting game. Ghana deserved to win and considering they were my pick to win the tournament, I could at least be glad about that. Also the USA had a good run and should be proud, except for the fact they lost. Don’t be proud about that.
Round of 16: Argentina 3 – 1 Mexico, Johannesburg, Soweto’s Soccer City Stadium, 27 June 2010
Goal Keeper lines up for a goal kick. Fans with outstretched shaking hands at him screaming “OOOOHHHHHHH” Goal keeper kicks it and fans scream “PUTOOOOOO!!!!!”
-Mexican fans taunting Argentina goal keeper Sergio Romero
Good lord you had to see this place. Soccer City is probably the most magnificent stadium ever built on the planet. Our Category 2 seats were incredible and the only thing blocking our view was the corner flag, which trust me was a good thing. Seriously made it feel like I was on the pitch the entire game. We were so close to the pitch that you could actually see Lionel Messi’s face of disbelief every time he got slammed into the turf. Dude don’t just stand there the game is still going on if you haven’t noticed. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible with 94,000 fans from arguably the most insane and hooligan infested soccer nations on the planet in one building. Seriously get ready. With toilet paper being thrown by Argentine fans at the Mexican goalie who couldn’t like what was going on in the stadium?
The fans were yelling non-stop. And with Carlos Tevez’s offside goal in the 17th minute, things got a bit out of control, especially when the jumbo screens showed that he was offside by about 4 meters. You thought the Mexican players on the field were pissed off? There was seriously about to be riots in the stands as whoever decided putting a Mexican fan section next to the Argentine fan section was about to have blood on his hands. It was party time Buenos Aires style when Gonzalo Higuiain scored one. And did you happen to check out Carlos Tevez’s rocket shot from 25 meters out? One of the goals of the tournament. Mexico got one goal, but that couldn’t stop the Argentina fans from dancing and singing. It also couldn’t stop Diego Maradonna from walking around the sidelines high fiving his players while wearing his super cheap Italian suit. Come on bro, you are the greatest footballer of all time the most you can do is wear a suit that costs more than 50 dollars. Definitely a game I’ll remember for a long time.
Round of 16: Paraguay Pen’ 4 –2 Pen’ Japan, Pretoria, Loftus Versfeld Stadium, 29 June 2010
“Sorry man. I really feel sorry for you guys, I really thought Japan was going to win that game. Enjoy the rest of your time here in South Africa and safe travels back to Japan.”
-Afrikaner man patting me on the shoulder and offering me condolences after Japan’s loss to Paraguay on penalties. Do I even need to explain what is wrong with this?
And yes if you didn’t notice this was my 5th game in 6 days in 4 different cities. Was intense, but you know what, I’d do it again.
Labeled as one of the most unappetizing Round of 16 matches in the history of the World Cup, it definitely lived up to its billing. It was almost as boring as the Italy – New Zealand game. Okay I take that back, but damn it was boring son! The crowd (except for a bunch of crazy and insanely awesome Japanese fans who were awesomely insane) was pretty dull. Not a lot of energy throughout the stadium. So my only saving grace was to hope for the worst thing for the players, best thing for the fans…. SHOOTOUT!!!! When it was 0-0 at the end of regulation I stopped rooting for Japan and just hoped that no one scored. Every time Paraguay missed a shot I screamed in delight, and every time Japan missed a shot I sighed with relief prompting people around me to ask “Who the hell are you cheering for?” Cheering for a shootout that’s what, and guess what? It happened. To my dismay the Japanese missed 2 and Paraguay made all their penalty shots, which made me think, maybe a shootout wasn’t what I should have been hoping for. But you know what? It was still sweet.
3rd Place: Germany 3 – 2 Uruguay, Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 10 July 2010
“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”
-The sound throughout the stadium every time Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez (the D-bag handball dude that stole glory from all of Africa, and spoiled my World Cup pick to win it) touched the ball.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is magnificent. It looks like a lotus and really projects your from the elements. It was raining during the game and you stayed dry for the most part due to it’s round design. It’s pretty sweet.
This was it. My last World Cup game. It was an incredible experience and I’m glad this one didn’t disappoint. Easily one of the games of the tournament. It was fast paced with crunching tackles and swift counterattacks and decent set pieces that saw the Germans go out in front only to see the Uruguayans equalize on a killer counterattack of their own. Went back and forth and there were plenty of chances and shots on target that saw the goalkeepers called into action early and often. Diego Forlan had one of the goals of the tournament with a really cheeky bicycle style kick that saw the German defense seriously just standing there saying to themselves “Holy crap did you see that? That was kinda awesome!” But it wasn’t enough as the Germans minus 3 of their star players put the hurt on fools to make it 3 – 2 at the end of regulation. Very exciting game.
0 comments:
Post a Comment