It Don't Come Easy

It was called a "mismatch." It was supposed to be a cakewalk. It wasn't. I'm referring to the World Cup match up between England and Trindad & Tobago. England was definitely the odds on favorite for the match and even a newbie like myself knew who David Beckham was. (Okay, my knowledge of him was pretty much limited to the fact that he married a spice girl. I think it was Posh Spice. But it might have been Sporty Spice. Sporty Spice would make more sense, dontcha think?) And hey, England must be good if they have to fight two countries at once. Trindad AND Tobago? Wow. Impressive. To make things a bit more fair in Saturday's match-up between Italy and the U.S., I suggest we enlist the aid, of, oh, say Canada. Italy vs. the U.S. and Canada. That'd make things interesting.

While watching the game, I wasn't sure if England was just not playing up to speed, or if Trindad and Tobago was just really good. It probably was a little of both. England kinda played like an over-the-hill porn star who couldn't get it up on command. Oh sure, England dominated, keeping possession of the ball more often than not, but everytime they got close, Trindad and Tobago shut them down. And Trindad and Tobago were fierce in their defense, but they weren't able to make much headway either, despite a few agonizingly close goals. Despite the "mismatch" label, it was obvious that they came to shut down England, despite the odds. It didn't happen, but they made England work for their win. The English fans in the stadium had to be fighting the butterflies in the stomach as they watched in horror as their beloved team became so easily stymied. Repeatedly.

In fact, it was a game like this that made me realize how compelling soccer can be even if no one scores. Cause it's not for lack of trying. If you make it 80 minutes into the game and no one has scored, every minute becomes more interesting. The stakes ratchet up. The players are frustrated, the coaches are scowling and their eyes are flinty, the crowd's on edge... and so are you. You feel it and they all feel it... something has to break... it can't end like this. A 0-0 would have been humiliating for a world-renowned team like England with its pin-up stars. Of course, sometimes it often ends like that... 0-0. But those feelings of anticipation...excitement...frustration... they are there regardless because you do not know how it's going to play out.

And that's just what happened here. I disparaged England before, but in the 83rd minute, the team broke through. And it happened like all the failed set-ups before. Team player crosses to another, who takes the shot only to have it go over the net, or get blocked, etc. This time... Beckham crosses to Crouch...smooth, smooth, like a predestined arc... and Crouch angles it into the net with his head! You have to love a sport where you can make points with your head! After 82 minutes of near misses and shut-downs, I wasn't expecting this one to make it. But it does. And all of sudden I'm cheering and laughing like a goon along with the crowd. I startled the cat. The grim, stony-faced coach risks cracking his face with a grin. His face muscles are going to be sore, I'm sure. And two things have to occur for events to unfold like this. One team has to take that one step forward. And the other has to fall one step behind. You see it especially when two players are running for the ball, kicking, and one suddenly surges ahead while the other falls behind. Maybe it's endurance of strength. But I'm betting part of it is endurance of will. Those moments happen continually throughout the game, but especially as the game wears on and teams falter, become tired, emotionally drained, etc.

But it is amazing how one point can adjust the energy levels of everyone playing and watching the game. One measly point in 83 minutes and it was so well-fought for, it seems like the most dignified and glorious of victories. Not content though, both teams press on. And in the 93 minute, I stare in disbelief as England's Gerrard kicks it into the net to score goal number 2. I gasp. I actually gasped, it just seemed so unlikely that they score again, so quickly after being kept out of that net for so long. England has come alive in the last 15 minutes in a game where Trindad and Tobago have given them the fight of their lives.

Trindad and Tobago played quite well and proved themselves on the World field. They may have lost the game, but they pricked England's pride a bit and made them work for those two goals. Final score 2-nil. England advances to the second round!

Next up Sweeden vs. Paraguay

On Saturday... "Beyond the Alps lies Italy." The United States as underdog. It's going to be fun!