Malta: 1984!

Day -837. WorldCup2018.

I need a break from Fifa. So to follow up on my entry from yesterday below is video evidence of one of Malta's greatest "victories". Hey, two goals against West Germany in a defeat by one goal, in 1984 that was a victory.

I was there. The stadium was packed and I remember that first goal from the Maltese super-legend Carmel "il-Busu" Busutill  perfectly. That turn at the edge of the penalty area and perfect shot into the far corner, the crowd going wild with disbelief. And that is no cliche.  It was heaven. 1-0 up against West Germany! I also, unfortunately, equally remember the blooper by the Maltese goalkeeper, Ray Mifsud, that gifted the Germans an equaliser. I had an ongoing 20 year argument with a friend of mine about who the Maltese goalkeeper was that day, the regular, John Bonello, or the number 2, Mifsud. We haven't spoken about it in while but 31 and a half years later I can confirm it was Mifsud.

At 1-2 and about 5 minutes to go it was a great result. A third German goal made it a little disappointing but still it was a fun day to be at the stadium. Then, with a couple of minutes to go, Ray Xuereb scored again. Cue delirium in the stands once more (and there were people standing at every vantage point, in and outside the stadium). In the excitement, I don't remember much beyond the goal. But if you watch the video, look how Xuereb, or it could have been the other legend, Raymond "il-Mundu" Vella, grabbed the ball out of the net and ran back towards the centre circle as in to say to his team mates, "C'mon, let's get this going. We can get another one". But before he made it back to the centre he kicked the ball up to the heavens and far away. Quick change in his thinking, I guess: "2-3 is fantastic, don't let the Germans have the ball. We only have one and somebody from the stands might be on their way back to Valletta with it already".

Nowadays a loss is a loss and only when we actually score more goals than our opponents is it a win. And that's the way it should be. But, oh boy, were "victories" like this one in 1984 ever fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RLqkssy5Qg