EmmaGoodEgg

Les Blues Blue

Especially after Zizou sees red and head-butts Italy's Materazzi in the last 10 minutes of extra time in the 2006 World Cup Finals between France and Italy. 

We all know what happens after this picture was taken. 

It was reported today that a majority of the french still hails Zinedine Zidane a hero despite his behaviour that led to his sending off in his last ever match for his country.  Zizou's entry in this world cup was marred by strangeness, remember he claimed to have had a dream which made him go back on his international retirement and returned to the french squad for World Cup 2006, and have personally felt that it is divine intervention that will lead France to a world cup victory. 

Its been 40 or so hours since Italy was crowned the world champion but the stills and live replays of the Zizou Head-Butt stuns me still.  Personally I think its heartwarming that the french rally behind its favourite sporting hero.  However a forensic lip-reader also decided to make matters worse for our world by informing that Materazzi called Zidane "son of a terrorist whore" and that led to the french captain's rage.  Whilst I agree that there is no place for racism in football, should I believe the guy who reads lips?  Why did Zizou do it, is the million dollar question that is on every one's lips including mine.  And perhaps even Zizou does not know why.  Sometimes a person does something so unexpectedly atrocious in a split second without thinking that could change the course of his life.  But sometimes you are lucky that the good that you have done will be remembered and you find out just how forgiving the world can be.  And that divine intervention creates winners, and losers.

As for Italy, the champions of World Cup 2006 won after a 5 : 3 penalty shootout, the victory over France serves as a breather from a match fixing scandal that has tainted Italian soccer.

 

 

The Azzurris received rousing and deafening cheers at the Circus Maximus in Rome from a throng of over 500,000 supporters.  For a while it would be welcomed diversion from the promise of stiff retribution.  It is reported that the verdict of the match-fixing trial will be released shortly, the result of which could lead to the relegation of Juventus to Serie C.  Someone up there sure has a cute sense of humour.

And so ends the World Cup 2006.  No more risking sleep deprivation until South Africa in 2010.  Back to work early you all.

Football (I'm) Mad Nation

That's it.  I am not watching football anymore (maybe).

Argentina out.  England out.  And last I saw early this morning, Brazil also out.  Still, no one can deny Les Blues the victory after Thierry Henry scored that last minute goal with the help of Zizou but if its going to be a Germany vs France finals, I am going to vomit.

Zizou and Henry excited.

Dida didn't catch the ball this time.

Goodbye England's Rose

Its 2.40 in the morning, and I am sorry folks, that England got whupped in the quarter-finals by Portugal 3 : 1 on extra time.  I watched the game amidst playing pool as follows:

All sorts of shenanigans happened on the pitch like the unceremonious send-off of Wayne Rooney, who is a mutant pleb in the words of Diva D and whose red card reminded me of Beckham's red in World Cup 1998, but its like 2.53am now and if I can't post for sh*t, do forgive me. 

Don't Cry For (Me) Argentinaaa!!

I woke up this morning to find an sms from Diva D that said GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKS!!  Argentina played in the quarter-finals with host Germany at Berlin's Olympiastadion last night.  The game kicked off at 11pm Brunei time and after 105 minutes (plus 15 miuntes extra time) the game was level at 1 : 1 and off to penalties we go.  The penalty shootout ended with the host Germany beating two-time champion Argentina 4 : 2 and the team that Diva D and I cheered for went off in a huff and could face FIFA sanctions. 

Italy also beat Ukraine 3 : 0 but I didn't get to watch the match as I think I may have passed out last night from the disappointment over Argentina.

The other quarterfinal matches playing tonight promises to be as nailbiting with England vs Portugal at 11pm in Gelsenkirchen and Brazil vs France at 3am in Frankfurt.  It would have to be England and Brazil for me.  And now I gotta go run some errands before lunch.

The Last Post On A Sunday Morning

Its 1.26 in the morning and we just got back home from watching the Germany vs Sweden match with Riff, Babs & MatBon.  It was a boring match as Germany was up 2 to 0 by the 15th minute.  Plus Sweden were playing with 10 men by the 2nd half.  The Swedes march to the Finals ended this evening whilst I occupied myself by singing golden oldies karaoke songs.  I swear Karaoke soothes the soul.

I gotta catch me some sleep.  The husband promised a picnic tomorrow at Seven-Up beach and I am thinking that it would be fun building sandcastles in the sun.  See you all later.

Let The Games Begin!

I just surfed FIFAworldcup.com and the site clock on the top right-hand corner read 19 days 03 hours 57 mins 7 secs, with the first match of the World Cup Germany 2006 between host Germany and Costa Rica scheduled on the 9th of June at 6pm in Munich.

Someone at work asked me which team I was rooting for this year and I picked England (because its Myuzim's country of birth and also because I am a Permanent Resident of Brunei in touch with my colonial tendencies) and Brazil (because those Brazilian boys are born with balls between their legs).

In 2002, I was rooting for the same teams and subconsciously included Japan because No. 6 Nakata was so hot on the field.  In fact I was also rooting for the husband and me... we had started going out in the middle of the world cup and played the dating game with one eye on the football games.  Let me tell you, during the World Cup in 2002, I was a busy egg.

And this year, we plan to watch the world cup on a flat screen TV in the bedroom, from our bed.  It gives me the shivers.

Let the games begin.

xx Emma No. 37

ps/  This is me thinking world cup thoughts on a beach in Sabah...