As the rain cascades all around me, on this the second or third day of summer in a classic summer thunderstorm, I finally feel inspired to write. Ever since I got back from Wales I have not been able, for the life of me, to write more than a few half-hearted sentences. And if there's anything I hate doing, it's doing things half-heartedly. But now, now it comes back. And I am excited!
What has inspired me? A burning love? The girl always inspires me, this is true, but no. A recent revelation that has cleared the murky paths of my life? Nope, still coasting in that regard. The inspiration? 13 Australian men.
The World Cup is now well into the endgames. After group play, it's now "You lose, you go home." The games so far in this round of 16 have been mundane. In group play the games ranged from similarly mundane to spectacular.
Yet none of the previous games quite prepared anyone for the matches that played and are still playing today.
As I write, the Swiss and Ukraine are in the 24th minute of overtime. In 6 minutes the match will be decided by penalty kicks. A game impressive if only because it is being pushed this far. As in yesterday's spectacular performance by David Beckham, the playing men are exhausted and, right now, are quite literally keeling over. This game is made by the desparation of two teams fighting for everything. And penalty kicks are always fun.
Unless you're Australian.
You see, the game that is winding down just now isn't half the game that was Australia versus Italy. Why? Italy was called to dominate. After all, the national team was only Australia. The only good football tehy're known for is Aussie rules. Yet they nearly had it. Australia almost defeated one of the favorites, the powerhouse. Admittedly, Italy has not been dominant this Cup. Much like England and Germany, Italy has yet to hit the stride they're supposed to. But for all of that, nothing can take away from the struggle and the fight of the Australians.
Here we go. Penalty kicks to decide the winner of Ukrain versus Switzerland.
This match that I am watching right now is where the Australians were a very few seconds away from getting to. And I mean
seconds.
Report of penalty kicks:
Save by Switzerland.
Save by Ukraine.
Goal by Ukraine.
Miss by Switerland. Ukr 1, Sui 0
Goal by Ukraine.
Save by Ukraine.
Goal by Ukraine. Ukraine wins on penalties - 3 to 0.
So, the Ukraine will face Italy in the next round. How did Italy get there? By playing incredibly smart soccer. One incredible play with, as I said, seconds to go in regulation. Even more, for I can take nothing away from Italians - from the 53rd minute on the Italian squad played with a man down because of a red card. Incredible.
However, with all of that, the Aussies not only played just as smart as Italy but with a greater tenacity and courage. Why tenacious? Why courageous? They held off the freakin' Italians for 94 minutes, 40 seconds!!
And add to that, the Australians missed a game winning bicycle kick by about one and a half inches. Then the penalty kick the Italians won on would have only been the equalizer instead of the game-ending goal. What if, what if, what if.
But with an incredible fake out in Australia's penalty box, the Italians won a penalty kick in the 95th minute. And Francesco Totti, largely absent in the debacle with the Americans, easily punched it in. A devastating dagger through the heart of the self-proclaimed Socceroos. And, hey, another addition to the case against the overzealous referees.
The refs are ridiculous. But one thing is still absolute.
This is a beautiful, fabulous game.
...at least in terms of the World Cup, otherwise I couldn't care less.
