July 08, 2006

Sphere of influence

This is the first time that we afre following the Football world cup as a full family. Dd had been initiated during the previous world Cup itself but this is the first time ds has been able to follow the proceedings. It helps that he plays street football with all the neighbourhood kids and that he is able to read a lot of what is being written on football (what does it say about the newspaper coverage if a seven year old can read much of the and sports reportage? and is influenced by it!!)

Ds had received a pictoral chart of the flags of different nations and a T shirt and cap with the German colours and such like merchandise from my fortuitous trip to Germany earlier this year. Moreover, he actually travelled to and loved his stay at Australia. He was easily able to list out all the 32 participating nations (Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia and Togo included) and take a considered view on how they would fare. Given that this was his first such tournament and that he was predicating his predictions on the media coverage and hype that the teams received. As the final match approaches, for ds, it seems the World Cup is already over!

Nearly each time he backed a team it was worsted. All the teams are losing he wailed. Australia, England, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Portugal- all are out of the match, WHO will win the World Cup now? he worried. And now he draws some comfort from the fact that Germany has won by resoundingly overpowering Portugal!


The little neo-convert hated each team which triumphed over his favourites so now he just hopes and prays that Italy can somehow 'injure' Zidane and thrash much disliked France 3:0.

But the rest of the family? We are all fervently rooting for France. Dh is so disgusted by all the female drool that the Italians are garnering, and dd and I, well- lets just say, we prefer Zidane! So come what may there would be Monday morning blues at home.

Heres to les bleus and the Azzurri!

And, I am travelling first thing Monday morning - to remote agency areas of Andhra Pradesh- it promises to be a retreat of sorts outside of all these spheres of influence.

Take care.

5 comments:

Shankari said...

Yet another God lets me down :(

chitra said...

i am glad that Italy took the cup!

AfricaBleu said...

Since my husband's last name is an Italian one, and we in the States are notorious for NOT being so keen on the French(grin), I, too, was pleased with the outcome.

Apologies.

Shankari said...

AfricaBleu,

But I do defiantly (definitely?) think Zizou's ze un! Even a god has his days off every once in a bleu moon! :)

Shankari said...

And this!!!

http://thisfish.ivillage.com/love/archives/2006/07/violence_is_hot_wrong.html

:)))