Friday, June 23, 2006

Deutschland - World Cup

OK I have not yet weighed in on this country fair taking place in Germany. Trying to fit a work schedule to-gether with so many tussels on-going takes German-like precision planning. So can anyone name all 12 host cities? I get to 10 but then am baffled. I think the Kaiser has been to a game in each already he is so omnipresent. Speaking of which, there are some good Adidas ads running in which two young latinos play a game of pick-up in the yard in front of their tenement dwelling. They pick teams turn about from a pool of superstars, Robben, Cisse, Beckham etc. Even the aforementioned Franz Beckenbauer. They must have made the ads thirty years ago in anticipation, he looks so curly headed and fit, Ya. Platini in his prime also shows up, mais oui. One of the stars screws up and the ten year old captain gesticulates "Tu, al banqillo!" "You, to the bench!" So I went horribly wrong being impressed with the Czechs and thinking they could win it all. They did after all romp over the USA, which I thought was going to be strong. The Italy USA game was a spectacle, highly entertaining and the Italians were well worth their roasting the day after in La Prenza (is that a real Italian entity?). Argentina have depth and their usual slight of foot. England, despite having The Foot on display, look fragile. Maybe a great recipe to win the way Italy has progressed oh so many times. Socceroos from Australia (Croatia B team with no less than 7 Croatian descendants in their squad) look to be gunning for it. Maybe in fact the Cobbers are the A team after ousting the real B team from Zagreb yesterday. France are pedantic, Spain promising, Ecuador no push over. See you in round two. Oh yes and Scotland are current Cup holders. Where is Kirin anyway? Or is it a company, a philanthropist?