For those of you not in Australia, following are some of the headlines following the Socceroos' trashing at the hands of Germany. As you can see, people are not happy from top to bottom of the football world, and are not afraid to call it as they see it. Hopefully this will be a hard-learned lesson.
- A nation sees red as defeat dawns.
- Chopped and changed Socceroos must regroup.
- Painfully outclassed but belief must play on.
- The losers.
- Only an injection of youth can cure Socceroos malaise.
- Too old, too slow, and two wins to go.
- Wishing, hoping, believing not enough.
- Bosnich blasts Verbeek's plan.
- Bozza blasts negative Socceroos.
- Green and gold doom in Durban.
- Disappointed fans stage mass walkout from Darling Harbour.
- Tim Cahill in tears after World Cup red.
- Delusions shattered as football royalty lords it over Socceroos.
- Verbeek takes blame for Socceroos defeat.
- Complete utter disaster for Verbeek and his Socceroos.
Today Marianne & I are in Lisbon, where we came across a cute little square at the bottom of a solid hill. A giant screen had been rigged in the square for the watching of football. There were a few hundred people there, more than half of whom were Italians. We decided to stay and watch the Italy v Paraguay game. It was good fun. The Italians stood up and gave a rousing rendition of the national anthem to the music on the TV, and actively (i.e. loudly) cheered the team during the game.
It was good fun, the first time I've seen Italians actually proud of their country. It was ver relaxed, sitting at a cafe table drinking beer and watching the game. Italy managed a draw but not a win. Heaven can only be marginally better :)
The football fever and anticipation here are huge, especially with Spain & Portugal (and Brazil, that seems to be treated as an extension of Portugal) are yet to play their first games. TV has shown everything but the players going to the toilet. The shops are covered in scarves and other encouraging peraphanalia. I have 2 photos to illustrate the point. These 2 young people are in the shop window of a department store making as much noise as possible and trying to whip up enthusiasm in the people passing by. The other photo is of a photo that has found its way into the shop windows of just about every other shop in Lisbon!
It's going to be huge when these teams play - and we'll be here to witness it first hand :)
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