I simply have to talk about the football. Its been on, seemingly forever, at odd times of the… well, of the night and even more nighter. Not in the day at all, really. I’ve just become used to the fact that whenever I turn on the tv (and I watch no daytime tv ever, outside the football season, obvious exception), there’s footy on. And I like that. I like that a lot. Even though the World Cup didn’t excite me, its definitely ‘growing’. And I specifically need to write about football for my mate, Sparkle. Who, just last night, told me how he loves to read my (shit?) stuff, except the football. But the thing is; he SHOULD like the football. Even if you don’t watch one ball kicked the entire season; THIS IS THE FUCKING WORLD CUP!!!! and its an event. Which gathers momentum with each passing day. Until even I start to care about Cape Verde, Curacao are lost, Ecuador beat the Germans, FFS, life gets no better than that!!! You just need to embrace your inner Gary Lineker (if I had one, I’d go see an exorcist tomorrow) and join the ride.

In my heart, I’m Brazilian. They are the benchmark for my kind of football. They first and foremost play for fun. A trend which runs right across South America, and to a slightly lesser degree, across the African nations too. They basically put 11 total show-offs on the pitch and let them show off. Which at times leads to immense frustration, but at other times, to amazed wonder and excitement at the flow, the deftness, the skill and sheer artistry of these guys.

In the northern Hemisphere, we’re more serious about things. We stress more. Hence in the Scotland vs Brazil match, those dour Scots (not as dour as the Poles but on the same page) decided that a dour approach was the way to inhibit and frustrate the Brazilian superstars. No place for fun; too serious. So they ‘stayed back’ and tried to defend their allotted 90 minutes away, but… but… conceded three goals trying. Because Brazil were just more fun.

The 9 o’clock games (4 o’clock, ‘over there’) are great because they end about 11 our time and I’ve watched the final 20 minutes of about 26 matches in the last weeks. A much better use of time that watching the first 70 minutes of those games. The end’s always the good bit. Like last night. The sheer pleasure of seeing Germany beaten, even though they’re far from ‘out’, sent me to bed with a smile on my face and in my heart.

England started fairly well, then played Ghana and descended to the usual England shit, dross and disappointment, so unless things change in the upcoming Panama match, I’m Brazilian. Possibly Colombian.

Basically, despite my initial lack of enthusiasm, I’m hooked. And it can only get better!!

Happy Friday, Sparkle (if you’ve read this far).

A xxxx