Letchov happiness

Day -488. WorldCup2018

Day three in my "Word Cup goals make people happy" prescription for happiness.

I love Iordan Letchov's goal, the winner for Bulgaria against Germany. There is something athletically unique about a flying header. But more than the technique it was that it was such a huge surprise that Bulgaria had taken the lead against Germany with eleven minutes to go in the 1994 quarter-final.

I watched this match with not much expectation of anything other than a routine German win. Bulgaria had never won a World Cup match, in their previous five appearances. They started this one with a 3-0 defeat to Nigeria. They then beat Greece 4-0 and Argentina, in post Diego Maradona crisis, 2-0. They came through a bore-fest, penalty shoot-out win against Mexico to face Germany in what was widely expected to be the end of their fun.

I seem to remember it was a Sunday, a hot summer evening. And after a day at the beach it was the perfect lazy end to the day, and it got even better. When Germany scored early in the second half it was easy to lose interest. But, oh, what a turnaround from the Bulgarians.

And as I was by the Dutch and Argentinian commentators from the last two days I cannot not be sucked into the ecstasy of the Bulgarian commentators. They are doing their job, but they are also fans and to see Letchkov score that phenomenal goal to put them in the lead against the World Champions, well.....how could it not make you happy?