Xyz, you are just wonderful. Although you've never made your nationality clear, I've always assumed you were either Argentinian or of Argentinian descent. (In any case, I know you are a great fan of theirs!!) For starting this thread, everyone here owes you a huge debt of gratitude. And as for posts like your last, we can only sit back and enjoy, and admire the spirit that makes one take so much time to enlighten and entertain. I'm sorry Argentina lost. A little more luck and they would have won. Still, if anyone deserves a bit of luck, it is Holland. Even if I weren't Dutch, I would still be cheering them on. And if they lose to France in the final, after beating Brazil, well then I will...jump into a canal, of course! I would rather lose to Brazil than have that happen a third time.
I am very happy now that I just learned that Reiziger and Winter should be fit and ready Tuesday. Thank God!! Whoever wins, wins, but I'd rather both teams had their best available, and didn't lose out due to misfortune. I would like to see someone WIN this game, through spectacular, superior football, and nothing less.
And that means NO PENALTY KICKS!! Nothing would upset me more, even were Holland to come out on top. Penalty shootouts are never won; they are always invariably lost, leaving one side devastated and eternally (and unjustly) scarred, and the other feeling very lucky to have survived. After all the years and years and hard work and talent put into a bid to compete at the highest levels, a World Cup should be won outright - never lost. Shootouts are a disgrace. They negate the entire meaning of the World Cup. They emphasize failure and spotlight luck as THE factor in determining a winner. I can only hope and pray that this year we can crown a true champion, believing that they did not merely survive, but rather vanquished all the rest. Then, and only then, will we be presented with a worthy World Cup CHAMPION.
XYZ, thanks for everything. You have made France '98 so very much fun. Your wit, zest for life and class will surely be missed once the Cup is over. Perhaps we'll meet up on another thread soon - once we get back to trading!! :-) :-) :-) |
