Football
I saw something wonderful in the football.
The Confederations Cup is an odd beastie. It doesn't count for anything but contains the top teams in the world and they play off for something so there is more than a frisson of interest. This year, Brazil are basically using it as a warm up for the World Cup, for both the national team and the stadia. The set up is simple, the winners of each continent's major trophy (if they choose to) are invited to play. This year these teams are Uruguay, Spain, Nigeria, Japan, Mexico and Tahiti. They are joined by the hosts (Brazil) and someone else to make up the numbers (hello Italy).
Now, you're going to have noticed something. One of those football federations is not like the others. In this selection of world beaters and superstars, the Tahitian team have 1 professional player. The rest are amateurs. Now they qualified fair and square, winning the Oceanian Cup (or whatever it's called), but they are the underdogs.
Their first match didn't go too badly, they only lost 3-1 to Nigeria. Their second match, against Spain who haven't been beaten since 2010, did not go as well, and they lost 10-0, because Roy of the Rovers can't happen any more.
Except ...
Not only did the Spanish team keep trying for the whole 90 minutes plus injury time, which is the greatest compliment any team can be paid, but the moment the match was over, they immediately tried to comfort the inconsolable Tahitian team, especially the goalkeeper (oh Pepe Reina please forgive me any mean thoughts I have ever thought in your direction).
And then they cleared off, so that the Maracana crowd could cheer the Tahitian team. Now of all the cathedrals of football, the Maracana is the temple of Joga Bonito, the beautiful game, the game as it should be. And that stadium gave the Tahitian team the kind of cheer they reserve for the national team.
I saw something wonderful in the football.
The Confederations Cup is an odd beastie. It doesn't count for anything but contains the top teams in the world and they play off for something so there is more than a frisson of interest. This year, Brazil are basically using it as a warm up for the World Cup, for both the national team and the stadia. The set up is simple, the winners of each continent's major trophy (if they choose to) are invited to play. This year these teams are Uruguay, Spain, Nigeria, Japan, Mexico and Tahiti. They are joined by the hosts (Brazil) and someone else to make up the numbers (hello Italy).
Now, you're going to have noticed something. One of those football federations is not like the others. In this selection of world beaters and superstars, the Tahitian team have 1 professional player. The rest are amateurs. Now they qualified fair and square, winning the Oceanian Cup (or whatever it's called), but they are the underdogs.
Their first match didn't go too badly, they only lost 3-1 to Nigeria. Their second match, against Spain who haven't been beaten since 2010, did not go as well, and they lost 10-0, because Roy of the Rovers can't happen any more.
Except ...
Not only did the Spanish team keep trying for the whole 90 minutes plus injury time, which is the greatest compliment any team can be paid, but the moment the match was over, they immediately tried to comfort the inconsolable Tahitian team, especially the goalkeeper (oh Pepe Reina please forgive me any mean thoughts I have ever thought in your direction).
And then they cleared off, so that the Maracana crowd could cheer the Tahitian team. Now of all the cathedrals of football, the Maracana is the temple of Joga Bonito, the beautiful game, the game as it should be. And that stadium gave the Tahitian team the kind of cheer they reserve for the national team.
I saw something wonderful in the football.