AJC.com > Sports > Soccer blog > Archives > 2006 > June > 20
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
World War III called off
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Even Henrik Larsson’s 90th minute goal wasn’t enough for Sweden in a 2-2 tie with England that dashes what would have been a mouth-watering second-round matchup.
For it will be the Swedes taking on Germany on Saturday, while England meets Ecuador on Sunday, which is Off the Ball’s day off. She plans to spend it at some watering hole or other watching Inger-land folks suffer during the knockout stages. They do it better than most.
No Germany-England, then. Ah, c’ést la guerre. Or the cease-fire, as it were.
At least England was fun to watch for a change, with Joe Cole’s cracking 35-yarder arguably the best goal of this World Cup.
But what a sad sight to see Michael Owen go down so soon, and so tragically, with what looks to be a Cup-ending knee injury.
How about other unexpected pleasures? Germany — yes, Germany, looks like a contender, and not just because they’re the home team. Klinsi’s offering a refreshing new approach. Both coach and players are hungry and eager to prove themselves.
Don’t wanna dwell on things that are a pure waste of energy, but I’ve finally found something as irritating as the American soccer-bashers. The flip side of the coin is just as unbearable, especially ex-pats from wherever arrogantly correcting us, like Oxford dons, about our use of the term “soccer.” I heard it again today on the radio, and I’ve read it here on this blog, and I’ve just about had it.
Forgive me this Ugly American indulgence, but a Brit with a one-way ticket to America has a lot of nerve chastising us on nomenclature. We have a sport that we call football, just as the Australians have a separate football code of their own. It’s not just us. Down Under, they even call their team at the World Cup “Socceroos,” affectionately, too. Yet I bet they’re not roasted by “Pommies” — Brits who reside in the former penal colony.
What does it matter what you call it?
(Oh dear, I think I’ve had a Fox News moment. Please! Exorcise these demons — now!)
