When I die, I want to come back as a Dutch Football Fan…..

... and they did!

You have to be happy if you’re England Supporter. The French went out in disgrace, and arrived home to face a ‘state scandal’. Le Bleus imploded as a team, after their star striker Anelka, said something about the coaches mother, who was then sent home by the French football Federation. Then, to add insult, the team refused to train and then get just 1 point in three games to an early exit. Not even the intervention of the French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot before their final game helped either. She gave such a dressing down that she reduced them to tears. Fils des idiots!! As they say karma is a beatch – served them right, after Thierry Henry used his hand to set up the goal that put the Irish out of the World Cup finals.

Today, the defending champions Italy, the power house, the kings of…you get the picture, also went out. A mad rally in the last 10 minutes of play wasn’t enough in a must win game, which ended 3-2 against Slovakia. I can hear the flood of tears crashing down Commercial Drive right now.

And so to the wobbly Anglais, who came out with a new sense of purpose against Slovenia, did what they had to do convincingly, well for the first half at least. There was a refreshing display of confidence as they passed the ball around the Slovenian penalty box from end to end, before the diminutive but quick Jermain Defoe, converted a cross pass and shinned the ball into the goalie who could not contain its force as it bulleted into the net. So releasing the weight of a expectant nation off the collective shoulders of the Lions – for now. But for the US, who secured a place by a 91 minute goal (from surely one of the tournaments stars so far: Landon Donovan) we came second in our group which puts us meeting the Hun, sorry Die Deutschen on Sunday at the ungodly hour of 6:30 am PST. Can we repeat the 5 – 1 drumming we handed the Germans in 2006? Maybe not, but the Germans cannot be underestimated and to their credit coach: Joachim Loew is showing the same respect towards his England rivals, and counting them major rivals. With our entwined history between these two, if nothing else, it is going to be high drama and tears for one side after 90 minutes on Sunday.

The slight but mighty Jermain Defoe does St George proud!

Hi Def and World Competition….. In this new era of Hi-Definition Television, and multi camera instant recall, it is making the beautiful game even more stunning, especially when you can see it in 55 inches of  Japanese wizardry. The facial expressions are so clear, they heightened the developing drama as it happens right in front of you. With detail down to the hairs on a footballer thigh, the shock of the near miss, the coach’s disappointment and the sheer utter joy etched so vividly upon the jubilant scorer, has really made this World Cup even more brilliant for the casual and passionate fan out there.

In this age of better conditioning,  athletics train all year, making them stronger, fitter, faster which shows in the pace and artistry of the game. Yet, Football doesn’t suffer from what hockey continues to struggle with: economy of space on the playing surface. The huge expanse of the pristine grass allows the true art of control over motion to develop without restraint. For Hockey, it is like containing angry  bees in a glass jar. While I say without restraint – that’s if your opponent isn’t grabbing at your shirt during the game. It was a shock, to see with such clarity, how football players continually grab hold of each other during the game. When the US played Slovenia last week, Landon Donovan curled a free kick into the Slovak penalty box, which the US scored but the Malawi ref disallowed to much controversy. Yet, I counted at least four pairs of opposing players each holding onto each other. It was like the group competition of the Argentinian tango on Dancing with the Stars!

I know they are a pain in the arse, and on the ears but I have to admit, I love the Vuvuzela Legendary Horns of South Africa. I’m with FIFA President: Sepp Blatter who said ‘This is Africa. We have to adapt a little.’ (2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Official Book). They are so loud over the speakers, they do sound like a herd of angry bees. But what must they be like on the pitch for the players! C’est la vie! For my sins I have ordered one from the UK over Ebay. Apparently they’re going crazy for them as well! I can’t wait to take it school in September! But when I die, I want to come back as a Dutch football fan! We support our team but they really, really support their side in a sea of orange every where they go! As you see…….

100% Yes! Yes! Yes!

Before I go, check out my flickr page (at the bottom). A new family tradition is developing which is as important as Canada Day. Car Free Day is a an event when  whole streets are closed to traffic and pedestrians can walk the roads without hindrance. On a special day, when sons and daughters spend time with their good old dads, its a time when you can see thousands having fun and miles and miles of smiles. All communities need events like this, to slow the frantic pace of life in the inner city a little, and appreciate the neighborhood we live in. And it is proven (somewhere?) that more face to face interaction, reduces tensions in society and improves community spirit and acceptance.

Which makes Car Free Day that more special. I love it!

For now……peeeaacccceeeee out sisters!

God Bless the Dutch fans!