This World Cup countdown needs football. I can't watch the Copa America or the OFC Nations Cup without searching for an online stream, and then navigating all the ads that advertise things that I have to be sure to not accidentally click on. But I can watch the third continental championship that started today, the Euros; or, as Michel Platini would like to think, the World Cup 2 and if he had his way (that is if he didn't get caught receiving money that he shouldn't have received) the Real World Cup.
At least I should be able to watch it, and in high definition for the first time in our house. But as is customary with these inconsiderate European sporting events the opening match, and many more to come, happened hours before the end of my work day. So don't expect a play by play description of what happened in today's France-Romania opener. I could tell you about the incredible amount of traffic I encountered on my drive home. I hoped to be in time for the last 15 minutes, or the last 10, maybe the last 5....what, are you really going to let everybody in ahead of you......ok, the injury time (hope there's lots). As it turned out I ran in to a daughter watching Fresh Prince (an education of sorts), grabbed the remote and turned it on at minute 87. And I got to watch the best part. Dimitri Payet scored an absolute belter, a scorcher, a goal worthy of winning any match, doubt we'll see a better goal than that at this tournament. Cliches exhausted, it really was a special one. But as good as that it was, it got better as Payet was substituted in the 90th minute and received the mother of all standing ovations. And what do you do when 80,000 people are chanting your name, and you know you have probably won the opening match for your country at home in your first appearance for your country at a major tournament? (To be almost exact let's say 80,000 minus a couple of thousand Romanians, minus a few thousand neutrals, minus a few thousand guests of UEFA and guests of sponsors who may not even known who Dimitri Payet is.) So what do you do when 63,253 people cheer for you when you leave the pitch? If you are Payet, you let the tears flow and struggle to hold it together.
And at that moment you forget that you are watching players that we very often complain about for earning incredible amounts of money. And you remember they are humans with emotions and that trumps all financial reward. Until the arguments about bonuses start.......
And tomorrow morning Papua New Guinea may have a local hero as they attempt to beat New Zealand in the OFC final.
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