“This is your moment, No hesitations”

So, unless you’ve been hiding under a rock or something, you know the big tournament that’s going on right now. No, I’m not talking about Wimbledon (who cares about tennis, right?). I’m talking about the World Cup! (And unlike the “World” Series and other championships, it involves the whole world, not just the United States).

Back in ’06 when Italy won, it was CRAZY. I went to the North End to celebrate, and boy was that crazy. For those of you who don’t know, the North End is the part of Boston where all the hardcore italians live. But that’s why we love it. Anyway, after Italy won, it was a crazy festival for days. But I really didn’t follow the tournament and it was kinda depressing. So I made it a point to follow it this time around.

First off, I followed it from the beginning. Not the beginning as in Eurocup and such, but from the Group stage, where it’s a sort of Round Robin tournament to see who advances. Of course, the teams I wanted to win where pitted in the infamous Group G, also known as The Group of Death. There were some heart-wrenching games, some cheap plays/fakes, but in the end my teams, Brasil and Portugal, came out unscathed (well, Kaka got a Red Card, but that doesn’t really matter anymore). Cote D’Ivoire did very well too, but North Korea just did horribly. Someone was bound to lose, but at least they did it very nobly. However, as JHU Wafa said, they play like robots, and that was their downfall.

Now, as I’m writing this, the Quarter final teams are finalized. Portugal lost to Spain. It was probably one of the most intense games I’ve watched (and that includes Game 7 of the Celtics vs. Lakers finals), but I can honestly say Portugal did put up a fight. Spain made some cheap fakes/plays, but they did have the skill and deserved to win to some point. I just wish Portugal did better. Brasil however did very well against Chilé, so I’m happy about that. Hopefully Brasil can continue on and win it all.

But most of all, I’ve realized that I really do like soccer, or football if you prefer. It’s a lot more fun to watch than most sports, and it’s a lot of fun to play. I’ve played it most of my life (I was 5 when I started and stopped when I was 15, due to cuts at my high school), and I enjoy playing it whenever I can. It’s something that I’ve enjoyed, and the World Cup definitely has sparked my interest yet again. It’s not just a tournament for some cup or recognition. These players are all in it for the fans, they enjoy playing, and they know the fans enjoy watching. I guess that’s why it’s the biggest sporting event in the world.

Now enjoy some pics of some soccer players! I know I will, hahaha.