Its here - EK2008- football fever everywhere - Hup, Holland, Hup! And I am caught up too. Although far from being the sporty type, it doesn't prevent me from being an armchair critic with advice on all matters from how the ball should have been passed forward instead of the mid-field. And this when not long ago, I was still not sure if 8 or 11 was the number of players in a team. My claim to football experience is restricted to running after the ball (but never catching up) in an indoor football team - and of course, my five seconds in the limelight during an inter-laboratory football tournament- getting the ball right on the face resulting in broken glasses (while my team thought I was trying to head it!!) but earning me the distinction of a close-up photo in the laboratory newsletter! My grandchildren will surely here about this superhuman exploit of their grandfather's - although old age will probably prevent me from remembering that we were the last in a group of 8 teams and our efforts netted us a total of 1 goal against the zillions that went past our own posts!!
That notwithstanding, there is something exhilarating about watching the teams in a blood and guts struggle, in a battle of wits and endurance, a battle of perseverance, of making the most of opportunities, battling out in the field until there is one best of them all!! In other words, another one of those completely pointless human endeavours for which people pay and get paid ridiculous amounts. But then, when you consider that countries can spend ridiculous amounts on buying tanks and aircraft so that a few generals can play war games with their toys - and this when the population is starving- at least sport is an extravagance which everyone can enjoy!
As with every game, there are favourites and there are those special duels. Nederland-Duitsland (Netherlands-Germany) is the big one here with people going to the extreme to provoke the other team supporters. A popular theme in the Netherlands is - "Your grandfather stole my grandfather's bike" (a reference to the German occupation during WWII) - although the factual details or their relevance to the game may be highly debatable. The saying goes - Who cares if we don't win the World Cup - so long as we beat Germany! But all this is completely understandable. After all its a matter of national honour, as the El Salvadorians and Hondurans proved in 1969 by going to war over a lost match. And which Indian does not acknowledge the nerve wrecking excitement of an India-Pakistan cricket match - the abuses and counter-abuses flung across the stadia.
Speaking of cricket - thats an excitement understood by only a select group of countries. The question that is always shoved into my face is - how can you watch a game that goes on over 5 consecutive days and not get bored. I understand the question - its from people who thrive on an adrenalin rush within the 90 minutes or so of a short football game. Maybe that's the logic behind the recently popular 20-20 cricket series. But me, I enjoy a good old one-dayer, and as time passes - the 5-day test matches, more and more. Maybe its a reflection of a more philosophical approach to life compared to the mad headlong rush, or maybe I am just getting old. But I always compare it to the art of drinking - a short football game is like binge drinking - its concentrated fun but after the first few glasses you have lost track of everything - while the protracted cricket match is like tasting exotic wine - you take it slower, but enjoy it for longer!!!
P.S. The picture of the Holland supporter was unashamedly plagiarised from Google images - Google images and the unknown poster are acknowledged as the source with many thanks!
