Following Matt's excellent post on the virtues of the World Cup, Japanese stuff, and finally the true meaning of soccer, I concede I can hardly compete. But with World Cup Fever gripping Japan and pretty much everywhere else except the States, I guess I should get swept up as well. Figures.
Last night I stayed awake longer than I should have to watch Japan's first World Cup 2006 game, against the brutish (the team members, not the people themselves) Australians. Japan had it made on a single lame-ass goal until the last 10 minutes of the game. Then they got lazy and let another lame goal happen, this time at their expense.
I remember saying "well, at least tying is better than losing."
So you see, it was my fault. Somewhere in the echoing halls of the soccer gods, someone heard me. "I can fix that!" Losra, the god of sucky teams said. She swept down with fury and smote the Japanese players with a laziness that the human race had never seen the likes of. Australia leapt upon their opportunity with vigor and pounded the living shit out of Japan. All in 10 minutes.
It's kind of amusing because Japan's hesitant, near-timid playing style got the (hopeful) kick in the ass it needed. Also because I predicted Australia would win. But honestly, I'm sorry Japan. I didn't mean to shatter your hopes and dreams like that. But you have two more games to pray through, when first the Czechs Croatians and then the Brazilians crush you utterly.
Soccer isn't nearly as boring when you imagine its every moment laid out by vengeful gods.