So many loyalties, bouncing around on Saturday in the forlorn USA.
We all have our ethnic ties, our favorite superstars, the teams that caught our fancy, our memories of World Cups past. At a family gathering, one bloke from Deepest Pennsylvania wore a t-shirt honoring home-boy Christian Pulisic, who just might be the next Ryan Giggs, the next George Weah. (You know why.) One wannabe scugnizzo in our group wore an Italia 2006 t-shirt, in honor of the Year of the Head Butt. It's all we had. Then all of a sudden in the second match, there emerged a deep and nearly universal feel for the homeland -- well, somebody's homeland. Croatia! Yes, I was surrounded by people rooting for Modric, for Raketic, for the hamstrung keeper. Because I am a little slow, I needed an explanation. I couldn't muster up any hard feelings for Russia, having spent three weeks in Moscow during the Goodwill Games of 1986 and feeling the warmth and passion and generosity and culture and history of the people. It's not the people, I was told. It's Putin. Or more specifically, his new best friend. A cheer for Croatia was a thumbs-down for Trump and his man-crush on the swashbuckling bare-chested heckuva guy from Russia. So here are my reactions to the last two quarterfinal matches: England 2, Sweden 0 The team that kept Italy out -- no hard feelings -- and then beat South Korea, Mexico and Switzerland in the World Cup -- did not have the disruptive force against England. England, disparaged by its own fans for fielding many second-raters from Premiership squads, does have Harry Kane, the hardest-working man in show business (homage to the late James Brown.) Kane is more of a constant threat than many of the superstars now resting at beaches and cottages around the world. Harry Maguire seems able to stick his noggin into the scrum at the right moment, the right angle. It's fun to watch a squad blend on center stage. Croatia 2, Russia 2 (Croatia, 4-3, Penalty Kicks) Russia went as far as it could, on the stimulus of being the home team.When the players encouraged the home crowd to cheer louder, they were acknowledging the lift they got from the noise. Never mind the jokes about Putin fixing the World Cup. There was no poison smeared on umbrella tips or somebody's home doorknob. (That we know of.) Credit the players -- and the fans, who reminded me of emotional people I met in my three weeks there. Croatia's play is a tribute to the ability of small nations (Belgium included) that can nurture skilled and superior athletes and then blend them when they regroup for national-team play. I am increasingly a fan of Luka Modric, the quiet, roaming general who plays back, then arranges the pattern, and often takes the shot himself. He grows on you. On to the semifinals. I assume Trump harbors grudges against all four survivors, for something.
Michael
7/8/2018 01:45:02 pm
Hi George. Four very likable teams left to fight it out, and our Belgium prediction remains a possibility. A great tournament. I can’t wait till Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons (low work productivity). Best, Michael
Andy Tansey
7/8/2018 03:12:53 pm
Soccer is a team game more than almost any other. Think about all the players in the EPL who could play for England. Southgate seems to have found the right mix of players on their stride, and the chemistry seems to be in place. It may be a mere excuse to gush about my favorite club, but familiarity may be helping. Not for nothing, but the number of Spurs and recent-memory (and not so recent) former Spurs remaining is a lot of fun. Could put together an entire side!
bruce
7/8/2018 03:32:37 pm
george,
Joshua Rubin
7/8/2018 03:46:55 pm
Nice to see an all E.U. semis on Russian turf (incomplete Brexit notwithstanding). A finals victory for Brussels would be icing on the cake.
bruce
7/8/2018 03:52:23 pm
Joshua,
Joshua Rubin
7/8/2018 03:56:23 pm
I will add that my daughter and I watched England on telemundo. While always enjoyable, I found that the elongated call of gol! seemed a bit delayed and more of an obligatory show for the tourists, not the instant gut reaction it seemed to be in copas past.
PeterTx52
7/8/2018 10:29:51 pm
i've find the extended goooooooooool call by the Spanish language announcers annoying
bruce
7/8/2018 05:20:33 pm
Joshua,
PeterTx52
7/8/2018 10:28:45 pm
"On to the semifinals. I assume Trump harbors grudges against all four survivors, for something. "
bruce
7/8/2018 11:01:13 pm
petertx52,
George Vecsey
7/9/2018 08:38:10 am
Thanks to Brian for nice comment on previous posting, and thanks to all on this. Peter, I have been on best behavior during WC, but this was straight reporting from group dynamics during match. As for Gol!!! call, I have heard some amazing radio calls in press boxes during qualifying...the pace and the octaves are part of the futbol culture, and who am I, etc?.....I appreciate Andy';s point, that it's all about Spurs....As for EU quartet, I'd be happy to see Senegal or Japan in semifinals...like South Korea and Turkey in 2002, I appreciate that (I was there) but probably didn't make as much fuss about it as I should have. That was so much fun. On to the semis!!! GV
John Wilcockson
7/9/2018 07:08:22 pm
I've been a Spurs and England supporter all my life, and it's inspiring to see so many of our players in the semis, even the ones playing for Belgium and France. Should be a great final on Sunday!!!
Andy Tansey
7/9/2018 10:42:47 pm
COYS!
George Vecsey
7/10/2018 10:54:27 am
Andy: Come On You Spurs???? Comments are closed.
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