I went to sleep last night delighted that Paraguay had beaten Germany. This not me being xenophobic against our old foes, it is me exulting that a country outside the economic elite and little known to me, had found a way to the last 16 of countries standing for the World Cup.
Isn’t it grand to see Morocco beat Netherlands and follow Paraguay into the round before the quarter finals? Isn’t it wonderful to see another country that has been a place of holidays to me and my family but not without its problems to its people, now turn from serving Europeans but for the second tournament (they beat Spain before) beating us!
And now I must get serious. Enough is enough. England cannot be beaten by a third world country.Somewhere deep in my DNA, there is a colonial Englander who will not allow that thought to play its worst. It cannot happen a third time to an European nation – can it?
The delight of my nights as ever is Dotun Adebayo, the Tottenham yard-boy, turned Shakespearian actor turned overnight presenter of the greatest football discussions of the world. He put an end to an amazing night for me!
I had taken in the Paraguay penalty shoot out as I walked from London’s West End to City, I had it on my phone, watching whenever a goal was missed or scored.
I had it on the radio as I woke at 3 am and didn’t stop when Morocco went through; instead I danced around my flat to Dotun’s delightful comments!
Not a night to be European!
I must be at the bottom of the First Actuarial world cup prediction league. I have backed the favorites and predicted against Africa and South America (purely on prejudice)!
Now I am getting a slap around the face from every fan of Brazil! Well in my imagination! How could I have smirked when Japan were winning? And then the hosts, Canada, Mexico and (at least in this) the underdogs – USA. How could I have underestimated them when filling in my preictions?
The money is in Europe and Far East, the talent in Africa and across the pond!
When you think about our Premier League, you realise it is great for its players from around the world. Even our lower leagues have their world cup stars playing for African , South and North American heritage!
The money is with the Europeans (as Bart Huby and his LCP mates explain to us) but the talent is with the whole wide world as Dotun tells us. This is a tournament now without Japan, South Korea and most amazingly China and India. How much of the world watches without a team left standing!
The joyful expression of delight!
I am yet again , joyful that the delight is with the underdogs.
My blogs only get read for one day, typically early and by Brits. So I will put these thoughts down (typos and all) so that I can catch a few of my readers as they wake up! I suspect a proportion are like me, not sleeping well.
We blame the hot weather but are quite delighted to find an excuse to leave the partner (happy birthday Stella Eastwood) so that we can listen/watch beneath the sheets in the spare room!