tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909306.post115168587219632831..comments2023-11-03T04:44:13.331-04:00Comments on The Americanization of Emily: The Quarter FinalsViolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14141614252355533198noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909306.post-1152394537657854942006-07-08T17:35:00.000-04:002006-07-08T17:35:00.000-04:00I have been away from the internet for a week, so ...I have been away from the internet for a week, so it is not because of mourning that I have not commented on this yet. I did not get to watch the Brazil/France game, but stayed tune to ESPN radio to keep track of the score. I haven't talked to my sister in Brazil to know how depressed they are there. Most likely the stock market suffered. The championship really boosts morale there, although a lot has changed with their economy since I left in '94. But most of all, thanks for getting me interested again in the cup. Maybe next time, I will be better at following it and Brazil will come back!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909306.post-1151912594201218892006-07-03T03:43:00.000-04:002006-07-03T03:43:00.000-04:00Viola, Q always likes to think of the Flanders and...Viola, Q always likes to think of the Flanders and Swann song of Patriotic Prejudice...<BR/>"And all the world over, each nation's the same<BR/>They've simply no notion of playing the game<BR/>They argue with umpires, they cheer when they've won<BR/>And they practice beforehand which ruins the fun!" After all, it is only a game, and to have been born an Englishman means that one has already won life's lottery...<BR/>And don't worry, despite everything, there seemed to be no national depression yesterday, just the sense of a country getting on with its gardening...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909306.post-1151876750469761532006-07-02T17:45:00.000-04:002006-07-02T17:45:00.000-04:00I was trying to be upbeat.The problem is that Engl...I was trying to be upbeat.<BR/><BR/>The problem is that England's team should have been excellent. Sven, in his mysterious wisdom, managed to pick a team which was short on match fit strikers and a 16 year old lad who had never played in a premiereship game and was destined to warm the bench. Nevertheless, as a nation, our attitude was that it's not over until the fat lady sings.<BR/><BR/>Then they played the group stages and they didn't look like world champions. Then we said, "Never mind, England often play badly in the group stage. We'll get better."<BR/><BR/>BUT, although he's a good motivator, Becks isn't what he used to be physically speaking. Then, Owen pulled a ligament. The core feelings that we were trying to repress -- that it was all looking rather pear shaped -- became unavoidable and the inevitable happened. We were not cheated -- there was no hand-goal or unfair referee or disallowed goal that should have been allowed. We were just not good enough.<BR/><BR/>What sickens the whole of England (except Q) is that we could have been / should have been better. During the tournament, when England made it through the group stage and to the quarter final, many were saying that this was in spite of Sven, not because of him.<BR/><BR/>Every four years (every two years if you count the European championships) we build up our hopes, only to have them dashed (often to a penalty shoot out). But what choice do we have? We can't not support our team. Perhaps it says something about the British fighting spirit that even after forty years of defeat, we never say die.Violahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14141614252355533198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18909306.post-1151876696846175062006-07-02T17:44:00.000-04:002006-07-02T17:44:00.000-04:00ViI doubt that your American friends reading your ...Vi<BR/><BR/>I doubt that your American friends reading your account of England's exit from the World Cup can appreciate that national sense of depression that has set in, nothwithstanding the fact that we have amazing temperatures of 30 degrees this wekend and everyone should really be happy!!<BR/><BR/>Still, talk is already urning to the next European championships in 2 years time and the irrepressible national optimism that somehow we will do better next time will soon be restored.<BR/><BR/>NickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com