Wonderful.
To tonight's games.
Denamrk v. Holland
This will either be one of the matches of the tournament, full of inventive, free-flowing, end-to-end soccer, or could equally become the footballing equivalent of a polder. The Dutch though, should get through this on pedigree alone.
Prediction: 2-0 to the Low Country.
Japan v. Cameroon
The Guardian pretty much summed up today's game when they headlined their preview piece "Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o set to punish toothless Japan". Not that you would think it here in Japan. The country's absolute confidence in their national side's victory goes some way towards explaining the cultural self delusion that every so often descends on the place and makes bombing Pearl Harbour seem like a good idea.
In the one of the numerous and lengthy previews to tonight's match, they showed a number of Japanese supporters already sitting in the stadium a good four hours before the game actually kicks off. This, as I explained to Sanae, is an excellent example of the difference between Japan and Ireland. In an All-Ireland quarter final a couple of years back, the start of the match between Dublin and Tyrone had to be delayed by a half an hour because the Dublin fans were slow getting out of the pubs.
Prediction: Eto to do several of those by now requisite goal celebration jive dance numbers at the corner flag.
Italy v. Paraguay
This is being played in the dead of night, Japan time. By rights it should be played in the dead of night in South Africa too. Italy, God the most remorselessly, grindingly boring yet frustratingly successful teams of the modern era. How can a country that gives the world Ferrari, Lamborghini, Armani, the Mafia and Silvio Berlusconi, give us, consistently give us, the footballing equivalent of a Morrissey album.
Prediction: Zzzzzzzzzzzz.....
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