Posted on 07/01/2002 6:17:46 AM PDT by SJackson
Finally, a sporting event in which everything happens as it should.
Saudi Arabia. Ha! Just a few weeks ago, Saudi squad coach Nasser Johar known to his countrymen as "Mr. Salvation" justified the $2 million seaside villa and three luxury cars the royal family had given him as "just a reward for what I'm doing with the lads." But just what was he doing? In their first match-up, against Germany, the team that was supposedly "the best in Asia" went down in defeat, zero to eight. OK, fair enough; Germany is a powerhouse. But that doesn't explain subsequent losses to cash-strapped Cameroon (0-1) and manpower-strapped Ireland (0-3). Call it object lesson No. 1 in what money can't buy.
The United States. Here's a squad that should'a known its place, should'a stayed out of the rest of the world's business. But it turns out that a country that can field a team with names like Jones, Reyna, and O'Brien can play with the best of them. Team USA put Portugal in its place, humbled Mexico in ways unknown since the Battle of Chapultepec, and outclassed Germany in everything save a lucky goal. Who says you can't win at everything?
China. What with a potential talent pool of 600 million men and Genghis Khan-sized ambitions, the People's Republic thought it would dominate the pitch. Not. Turns out that Costa Rica, population two million, had better legs to draw on; Turkey had bigger heart; and Brazil well, bigger, better, longer, faster, everything. Maybe Tiananmen Square can be turned into a gigantic pitch for future practice. Then again, that's a spot young Chinese are more often seen running from.
Argentina. Apparently, we are meant to feel sympathy for the Argentines because, having mismanaged everything else, a good showing in the World Cup is the official consolation prize. Guess what? Life doesn't work that way. A team that more or less cheated its way to a championship in '86 (remember Maradona's "hand of God"?) saw itself go down to the more aggressive, more inventive Brits, captained by a mohawked David Beckham. From Israel, our hope is that this, at last, persuades our Jewish cousins finally to make aliya.
France. If there's anything worse than a sore loser, it's a conceited winner. Having won before the home crowd in '98, France came into the tournament with all the arrogance of a young Louis XVI. Guess they should have known what was coming. First Senegal embarrassed them, then they went scoreless against Uruguay, then they went down to Denmark.
Let's say it again: Senegal, Uruguay, Denmark. God bless them all.
South Korea. Co-hosts of the game, the Koreans acquitted themselves magnificently. OK, maybe they got some help from the umps. But a country sandwiched between gigantic neighbors showed it could outshine all of Asia, landing it in fourth place overall. Following their loss to Turkey in the match for third place, the Korean squad bowed to their fans in the stadium in apology. The Turks hugged them. It was the most moving moment of the Cup.
Brazil. Face it: It would have been a violation of the natural order for this team not to win. By dint of history, culture, fate, redemption perhaps even divine writ Brazil deserved the trophy. The team that nearly didn't even make the tournament after losing to such powerhouses as Paraguay apparently found its feet after coach Luiz Felipe Scolari insisted his players observe a 40-day period of celibacy. We guess it worked for them.
Hope the rest of us aren't expected to follow suit.
And I share the writer's assessment. It was a great Cup; I found the headline matches exciting...even the 3d place match between Turkey and S Korea, won by Turks, after which real sportsmanship was exhibited by both teams.
And as a lifelong jock and hard-core Longhorn football fan, I say with conviction: international Soccer is exciting! Get into it, y'all!
Saudi Arabia. Ha!
USA put Portugal in its place, humbled Mexico in ways unknown since the Battle of Chapultepec, and outclassed Germany
China. What with a potential talent pool of 600 million men and Genghis Khan-sized ambitions
the Argentines because, having mismanaged everything else
France. If there's anything worse than a sore loser, it's a conceited winner
South Korea. Co-hosts of the game, the Koreans acquitted themselves magnificently. OK, maybe they got some help from the umps
I DOOOOOOO! (And so do the 1.5 Billion people who watched the final)
Well, their team did, anyway.
Could you explain that technique? Is that a World Cup requirement?
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