Sounds of Qatar: The Late Check-in

Oh wow.

I don't know what else to say.

The World Cup has always been the forte of this blog. Take a look on all the posts I made for WC2010. I was talking shit the whole month as if I know stuff about football. And then WC2014. I got 'worse'. The blog labels for Brazil are even among the highest which means I talked even more shit during the tournament. I got a bit more slowed down during WC2018. It started as usual, super fired up at the group stage, but then adulthood hit and the next entry I submitted after my last group stage post was the "Thank You World Cup 2018" shenanigan.

Today, the World Cup 2022 has already been underway.

And look what I did? Nothing. Not even the "Welcome World Cup 2022" post like what I had always done in South Africa, Brazil, and Russia — which by the way, is what I'm doing now.

But seriously, how sad is it???

This used to be something I really look forward to. Now I'm too caught up in so many adulting shit I didn't even realize that the tournament was coming. I didn't even have time to update my blog regularly, the last one being 2018!?

Plus, this time is in Asia for God's sakes. I should've been more excited than ever gak sih!?!? How could I be so updated in every single matches in South Africa, so willing to stay late to catch important matches in Brazil, and at least keep up with most of the games even though I didn't update regularly in Russia!? Well I know the answer to those rhetorical questions but still, this one is Asia, how could I not have more excitement to welcome the hospitality of Qatar???

Pic's from here.

Well I can't blame it all on me.

At least here I am now, trying to redeem my absence in my blog even though the group stage of WC2022 is about to be all wrapped. Yea, I've skipped the first half of the tournament ugh...

Okay so here it is.

Let me make some attempts to do this.
For the sake of the old me's

Barcelona y Madrid

With lots of places visited and tons of amazing things happened, it would need a dedicated, separated medium to tell all about my Iberian Peninsula journey. Yea, it's still about that. Sorry not sorry, but I just can't get over it yet.

But this one is different.

This needs a special place in my blog.

Because this is what made my Spanish trip, Spanish.

Football.

Yes. Yes. YES!!!

Would I not talk about it?? I'm a lunatic if I don't. This is Spain, for the love of God, the place where football runs in everyone's blood. The site where stars were born, nurtured, and sky-rocketed to the highest rank of football empire. And ultimately, the home of the world's two biggest football giants!

Even if I'm the biggest arch-nemesis of both clubs, I'd still seek for their presence anyway. Spot the people wearing their jerseys, buy any unnecessary tidbits, or come to their official stores—I definitely would! But hey, it's not Vicky Amin if he didn't do it all out. And so, he was not just spotting the people wearing their jerseys, buying any unnecessary tidbits, or coming to their official stores.

He paid pilgrimage to the stadiums.

Freaking both of them.

I didn't even think twice. The second I arrived in Barcelona, letting all the city's atmosphere came rushing inside of me, I bought the tour already.

I just, cannot NOT to. This is Barcelona we're talking about. Just listening to the name reminded me of all the maroon-blue-covered players with their first-class La Liga vibe. Some people even know the football club more than the city itself so... I'd be damned if I leave the city not visiting

Camp Nou.

So it was December 26th, 2018. I left to the stadium so early, because I know I'd need more than 3 hours for this tour. It was cold, but I didn't care. I had to walk a bit from the nearest train stop, but I didn't fvucking care. Because even from the front gate, passing under the majestic signage of the football team, and entering the outer precinct of the stadium which was still like 500m away, I felt like all the struggle was paid off already. It was also still empty. Because opening hours was not yet there. So I had to wait, in cold crisp air, alone, while others were in either couples or groups. But still I didn't care, and just breathed the air as much as I could because hey, that was the air that Lionel Messi usually breathed in!

When finally visitors were allowed to enter the front building, walked through the aerial tunnel connecting the front hall and the main stadium, the air of wonderment came rushing in. Museums of the club's history was the first to welcome me, with tons of amazing stories I never knew much from Barcelona FC before, about how it all began from the grassroot, from commonfolk, and how it became a vessel for the proletariats to shout their voice. Amazing stories which really made me subconsciously in love with the club. Then came the trophies. The wall of fame, the jerseys from time to time, all those elements that made Barcelona FC like it is today. Until finally, of course, came what everyone there came there for.

Now I know that THAT motto has a deep meaning.

The Pitch. The Heart of Camp Nou.

I swear all the hair in my body stood up like spectators celebrating a goal in the stadium, while I walked out of that outer museum edge, through the opening double door into the bright winter light, when wind blew and the colors of blue and maroon filled my eyes. I'm no fan of Barcelona FC but I'm a human. With emotions. And appreciation of something colossal. So I have to claim that, it was one of the most amazing experience I ever felt in my entire life.

It took me more time in this place than the museum, to just stay there by the spectators seats, just sit, watch the greenery blend well with the club's colors above it, enjoy the magnificent historical view with some strangers that were also blown away. I made some small talks with other visitors, shared our common amazement towards the whole stadium, took photos of others and asked others to take photos of me, and it all just add up to the whole package.

I walked out of the stadium thinking that I would not ever felt the same shit towards a football stadium like this, ever again. Because this was Camp Nou, for God's sake, home of the world's biggest football club. Of course the feeling is grand, and no other would ever beat that.

But of course I was wrong.

For whenever we talk about Barcelona FC, we cannot forget the fact that it has its eternal rival that will shadow their every moves whenever they go. And that includes a trip to the stadium.

Yes. Real Madrid FC.

And its home which I also visited,

Santiago Bernabeu.

December 31st, 2018. With a not-so-high expectation, and this motive of "alright I'm in Madrid let's get this over with and visit the HQ of the club because if I don't I'm an idiot" I found my way to the stadium. It was located right in the heart of the city, not somewhat near the outskirt like Camp Nou. The path towards the building was dodgy, because visitors had to climb some sets of outside stairs, all concrete and grey-like, wasn't at all grandeur like its Barcelona counterpart. Got welcomed like this, in such non-dramatic fashion, really, I underestimated it at first. Until I reached the end of the stairs, and got to see the pitch from above.

It was quiet unexpected. I was hoping to arrive at some appetizer part of the stadium, like museums or what not, but here I was, on top of Santiago Bernabeu, with the whole view of the stadium in front of my very own eyes. I must say that I loved this surprise, and I actually spent so much time here in just the very first part of the tour. After this, the route suggested us to explore the top part of the stadium, including its commentators' box, VIP visitors seats, and cameramen corners.

After that, we went down the stairs again to enter the museum. And here, I had my second surprise. No, none of the stars of Real Madrid was there. And no, none of the inside of the museum was outstanding. The collections was more or less similar to Camp Nou. It was how they showcased it though, that took me by surprise. Because it showed how Real Madrid sits on a different level. It showed class, it boosted  pride and sophistication, it screamed "Royal" as their name suggest. Barcelona might be a club that's owned by people, but Real Madrid appears as if the club OWNS people. I always take granted on how people boasted Real Madrid as the richest club in the entire globe until today, when I actually felt how expensive they are as an entity, and how proud they are of that. And the glorious anthem of "Hala Madrid" repeatedly playing throughout the galleries oh God, I swear I never got goosebumps that real!

Museum sections slowly faded, replaced by the actual stadium facilities. Baths, showers, massage rooms, locker rooms with the players' actual stuff hanging around their spots, and, finally, the tunnel. The actual tunnel where them players always run to battlefield. The actual tunnel that led us, players and visitors, to the main section of Santiago Bernabeu.

Losing words.

And my underestimation simply just gone.

Crazy. Crazy how I started the tour with "meh" yet ended it with "fuck". Again, I'm not a fan of this club, yet I felt like one just by visiting its home, and not even seeing them in action nor at least meeting one of the players. I felt so bad for underestimating the whole experience even before it started.

So was it better than Barcelona's Camp Nou?

The answer is, I can't tell.

Barcelona and Real Madrid, along with their headquarters, sit on a different level. Both have prides so high I'm sure real fans wouldn't ever want to even think of getting near the rival's basecamp. But those prides are totally different. One is bound by common struggle, the other is bound by common interest.

Fortunately, I'm neither one of their fans.

Fortunately.

Because having this privilege,

I got the chance, and the guts, to see both their homes.

I got the chance to role play and imagine if I was their fan.

I got the chance to explore them in totally neutral way,

Without having the pressure to answer the question of

"Barcelona or Madrid?"

World Cup 2018: The Prologue

Let me start the hype.

But before I rambled too much about details of each match like the last World Cup -big matches are lining up the first four days of this tournament already!, I'll first explain some introduction to the World Cup 2018. No, it's not for your information.

You guys must've already known all about what I'm going to spill in about 2 minutes from now. I'm actually doing this so the future me will still have clear vision about what was going on in Russia this year, that it eventually turned to be one of the best World Cup he'd be seeing so far.

Well.

To begin with, I think, the Russia World Cup 2018 is probably going to be one of the quirkiest one I'd witness. I'm talking about the participants.

The Absence of Big Teams

Believe it or not, there are literally not only one or two, but MANY big names that failed to qualify for Russia. The most shocking of all, of course, would be 4-time champions Italy, and other European giant Netherlands. I mean, wow, it was unbelievable especially for Italy. I remembered when I woke up that morning, to hear that Gli Azzuri didn't make it to Russia. Kinda heartbroken too, because it was supposed to be the last ever for the iconic Gianluigi Buffon and several other notable veterans.

Just when I thought that Russia would be less fun without those two, I discovered that the US didn't make it either to its rival-nation. This is somewhat a waste, remembering that they were so remarkable in Brazil 4 years ago -I won't ever forget how Tim Howard made me feel like I had a football-orgasm every time he played. But the bigger waste came from Africa, where Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, South Africa, and 2014 rising star Algeria, all trembled and failed to fly to Russia. In exchange of these big teams, many unusual names filled the spots.

Interesting Newcomers

When you don't see some names, it's because there are new ones coming in, right? It's really refreshing to see teams you don't usually see in at least the last two World Cup finals like Poland, Sweden, Peru, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia -and I can't say I'm not excited for those four Islamic nations! Learning from 2014, where lots of underdogs shockingly sky-rocketed themselves throughout the cup, I'm really looking forward to see these teams playing! Especially Egypt, since the world is really waiting to see the magic of Mo Salah.

Though those teams aren't always qualify for World Cup, they had tasted the euphoria of the world's biggest sporting event before. Unlike these two, whom are totally new in World Cup: Panama, and Iceland. It's quiet surprising to see Panama appear in the groups of Russia 2018. They are usually only known as one of the best in beauty pageant competitions but now, they're about to show the beauty in football! And Iceland, well, Iceland. It's their first time in World Cup, yes, but one wouldn't doubt it after their fantastic performance and shocking Quarter Final finish in Euro 2016. Of all the contestants -though my support is with England, it's actually Iceland that I'm psyched to see the most!

Mediocres Ready to Blow

It's the World Cup. Each team strives to be the best, and it's not a guarantee that big teams can proceed easily to later stages. Belgium with Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, as well as Costa Rica with Bryan Ruiz and Keylor Navas, bringing their confidence from Brazil 2014 Quarter Final finish, will definitely bring awesome fights to Germany and the rest of those big teams. Not to mention Colombia and James Rodriguez who reached the same stage 4 years ago.

Then we'll have Switzerland and Xerdan Shaqiri, along with Nigeria and John Obi Mikel which reached the second round in Brazil, and then Poland, Croatia, Australia, South Korea, and host Russia, of course, ALL, I'm sure, ALL OF THEM, will unleash their crazy selves!

Well, well... only by writing this already makes me uber excited for all the 64 matches of the cup. Some had finished, and it successfully forced me to start writing again for the sake of enshrining the euphoria of Russia World Cup 2018 in this blog! Although I'm sure, I'm pretty sure, this time I won't be as active as I was 4 years ago.

Zabivaka says hi to us all! Pic's from here.

But enough about the prologue.

Let's get it really started!

Iceberg

Hello, and welcome to the evening Neverland Sports Network.

I'm Vicky Amin, your smartass host that is actually incapable of talking sports.

Tonight I will be discussing on the ongoing international tournament UEFA Euro 2016, and some little snippets about the participating nation(s). Now let's begin!

Background image belongs to The Guardian.

Off to the first exclusive coverage, we have, of course, the football thingy itself. Now honestly, I missed all the group rounds because boy, I've been really damn busy the last couple of weeks. Doing work. That triple life I live, which I'm not planning to talk about right now. So yea I missed all the group matches, but still I got the updates from my timeline thanks to my fellow football-enthusiasts and George Lineker's talkative tweets.

Then drifting away a bit from sport, but still about Europe—we got the UK's off-EU referendum. Well I'm not the type of a politic lover here, but bite me, this one really fancy my arse. It's just so interesting how it all started, how it all affected the global life, and how it all unveiled many things many people had no idea about -such as how British people didn't even know that they were a part of EU, and how people couldn't differentiate between United Kingdom, Great Britain, and England.

Now with these two topics, I'd like to narrow it down.

To a simple one phrase, two nouns, three words:

Iceland and Wales

It's crazy how both amateurs performed. Looking back to their participation history in which they neither entered nor qualified, this one, the Euro 2016 series, can be actually considered as their first ever major tournament appearance. And both progressed amazingly throughout the tournament!

Iceland

Has been a bad-arse since the very beginning of the cup. Even long before it. It's funny how this underdog can be a killing hound, biting all other teams. Especially when they defeated England. The momentum was spot-on, as UK just announced their #Brexit and England had to walk out of the tournament as well. People started mocking England for being lost to a team that has "more volcanoes than footballers", whose second coach was a dentist -crazy trivias how could they find these out!?

But after all, Iceland is something worth considering about. Remember, they kicked Netherlands out even before the tournament started so, it's not just mere luck. Tomorrow, they'll be facing the host France. It'll be really alluring if they win the match -and I got a feeling that they'll do- because one, the host will be taken down by a newcomer, and two, the semifinal round of this Euro will be crowded with two amateurs—the other one being

Wales

Oh Wales. Ever since #Brexit broke the internet followed by the fall of England and Northern Ireland, people started making jokes about how both UK as a nation and UK as a collective of football teams exited Europe. They took Wales for granted, assuming that the tiny dragon would also fall respectively.

But now, what do we get? This not-so-popular team just beat one of European's top teams Belgium last night with a surprise victory—even their fans go wild and couldn't believe it. Well why not, they're the last hope for the UK to stay in the competition and prove that they exiting EU didn't affect anything in their football sense.

Well.

Iceland and the last nation yet to Brexit.

If both of them do meet in the final round,

It'll be as colossal as that classic time when

Titanic met the Iceberg

For more fancyarse views about football, log on to www.turntoneverland.com/booger.

Hello, Ex

You guys probably know about my so-called obsession in football.

Well, I’m a mediocre tho, but I do have a team I’m putting myself on their side: Liverpool. But if you’ve been so loyal to me that you never missed any of my post –which I’m sure none of you have, you knew that I began supporting Liverpool since 2010 right?

Now, do you know what, who, or which one I did support for like, eight, nine years ago? You don’t? Oh—you don’t care? Well you have to, because you’ve read this far you can’t step back.

It was Kaka, and AC Milan.

One big happy pic, taken from here.

The saga began since World Cup Germany 2006. I followed the whole Brazil’s games and Kaka’s performance was pretty entertaining to me. But they tragically lost against France and I dramatically cried upon the heartbreaking moment. WC ended, Italy won, and suddenly AC Milan came to my preference. AC Milan as a whole, not because Kaka was in there. I didn’t even know that Kaka played for Milan. Fate?

Frankly, post Germany 2006 was my very first time got seriously in deep love with –watching– football.

Serie A schedule back then was quiet unbeneficial for me as they mostly played during Italian night time which was super late midnight for me. To catch up with every game, I had to sleep early, set alarm and forced myself to wake up around 1 or 2 AM and watched the TV in the dark – well gotta admit that during my maniac time towards Milan, I was still sleeping with my brothers.

But it was a hell of a great time. I still remember every second of each night I wasted just to watch Milan. Every ups and downs stupid teenager emotions I expressed to myself, and the TV screen. The exact taste of certain chips I always had, plus every single drop of coffee I sipped to keep my eyes opened, yea, I remembered everything. But my adoration for Kaka, that’s what I cherished the most.

Aside his football playing skill, he was an incredible person. Religious, family-oriented, I looked up to him as if he was my very own older brother. But the greatest thing I like the most from him was, his way of living. Way of believing in himself and achieving his dream. Damn I was so freak back then. I never even played good football but I acted like he was my hero for not only the sport, but for all aspects in my life. I was crazy obsessed about him like, oh you wouldn’t believe all the weird things I did back then – which, for the love of God, I’ll never ever tell even to my closest friends.

I even had a magazine about him. Special edition, exclusively talking about him. I enjoyed every single page of it, especially the part when he mentioned that joining Milan had always been his long goal. And to show his grateful for the chance to finally be able to play for his dream team, he said that he wouldn’t ever consider moving out of Milan. Perseverance, and loyalty—could I fall more for him?

Couldn’t.

Because in 2009, he decided to move to Madrid.

This shattering a$$hole pic is from here.

Sounds too much, but it broke my heart. It showed me really clear that there’s no such thing as pure loyalty. Milan wasn’t that bad on that time so, why would he move? I subconsciously began hating him. And deep inside kind of hoping that he couldn’t be as bright as he was, when black-red stripes was still covering his body.

And umm, my honest prayer turned out to be working well eh?

Kaka didn’t make it well in Madrid and deep inside I was like, happy.

It’s been years but I couldn’t seem to move on that much. Even during Brazil 2014, I still felt super satisfied seeing him “struggling to get my attention back”.

But remembering the time I was still deeply in love with him, every ups and downs stupid teenager emotions I expressed to myself and the TV screen while watching him, the taste of grilled-salmon flavored chips I always had during his game, plus every single drop of coffee I sipped to keep my eyes opened while seeing him on pitch, well, I can’t lie, he is a part of me.

Because no matter how stupid and heartbreaking his decision was,

Apparently the things I adored back then from him,

Is getting more relevant to me.

And for that, I still love him.

Thank you, ex-idol.
And happy birthday

Nice Move, Lads

I've been soaked deeper into the squad of Liverpool lately for the past five months.

From their darker days, oh Lord those depressing time where I was really kinda fed up of how they lost too often. Or ended up draw, against small clubs. And there was this meme of naked Brendan Rodgers, posing in a doggy style saying "Hey Champions League, I'm ready and waiting" and oh of course, not to mention the wastage of Champions League...

Damn got to say, it was, that, mentally exhausting. I'm not like the biggest fan tho, but still, who would've enjoyed their favorite team lost??

Then things got a bit better approaching the end of 2014. Slowly but sure the team minimized the number of loss, Simon Mignolet proved himself worth the position after Brad Jones kicked his ass for like, three weeks? I forgot -maybe during that phase Mignolet was having major breakdown that's why he's got good comebacks lately. Glen Johnson has smoothly been replaced by Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho, well to sum it up, Liverpool's waking up!

Until 2015 came, and turned out to be harvesting time for us fans.

They're back.

Pic's from here.

They've been fired up lately. Really. It's like, they're paying us back what we (emotionally) lost in the last semester. Sterling, Marcovic and our new rising star Coutinho, shit, they're like possessed. I can't be more excited for these youngsters, really. Including Emre Can. Who would've thought that the below 23s are the ones who control the team now!?

But what made me happiest is how the clumsy Simon Mignolet had increased. Second Leg of Capital One match against Chelsea was the time when I realized how cool this Belgian guy had become. And he's been pretty good since ever. Oh and yea, that match against Chelsea. We lost tho, but the game proved me much that the whole squad is now skilling up right.

The toppest conflict tho, happened on the last two games. Where the squad showed how high their quality has become in the last three months. And Sturridge is back on business. Made a goal just ten minutes after he's called on pitch against West Ham. We've been waiting for him like, forever, and we knew we've been longing him for a reason.

And last night's game, fvck, could it be any more intense!? I was actually prepared to be satisfied for losing -since that penalty goal was so unfair, unnecessary and unfortunate, but Sterling and Can's beautiful combo plus Coutinho's handsome goal entering the injury time, do you guys want me to kiss you?

Wow.

I constantly wet my underpants watching them play.

And look how smart-ass-pro-like this post has become.

I never talked this football-scientific about Liverpool before.

But then, this whole journey from "Oh my God Liverpool, please, I'm tired of waking up in the middle of the night, just to see you guys got gangbanged!" to "Shit, this euphoria, we better keep it down before karma flipped the situation again" just made me-

-love the squad even more.

It's true that when you're there during their lost,

Even draw games satisfy you that much already.

And if in the end what you see is their victory,

It's like, orgasm

It's Complicated

Yes, I'm talking about a relationship.

Between me, and Liverpool.

I'm not a big fan, really. But at least I'm not that so-called fanatic supporter who appears and cheers when the team is winning. I'm also there when they lose--oh instead, I aaaalwaaaayss happen to appear when they're losing. Always. And it's starting to be very annoying to me.

I realized about this misfortune since forever ago

But after last night, I don't think it's just a coincidence.

So yea Liverpool lost against Real Madrid in Champions League team round. 0-3. Sucks as it was aired midnight I had to sleep early and woke up around 1.30 AM. Just similar to the one against Manchester City for EPL's week 2. Same time of broadcast, same number of goals suffered. Liverpool lost both matches, when I wholeheartedly interrupt my precious sleepy time just to watch them.

Mario Balotelli last night, against Madrid. Pic's from here.

Now let's go back to last weekend's EPL matchday. Liverpool against QPR. I watched it halfway. And what's up Liv?! It's QPR and you were like, struggling?! I watched the whole first round and stopped at minute 70 something because I had some stuff to do. It was still 0-0. But then when I got back, the score changed to 2-2 and with the addition of QPR's last own goal on the last minutes, Liverpool won.

I mean, what the hell?!

Why would they score a lot
While I'm away, not watching??

The biggest proof was, of course, their whole performance last season. They were shining, blasted from the bottom and ended up securing their spot for this season's Champions League. Sweet plays, as I heard from other sources.

From other sources

Yes. For last season, I missed the whole year, EVERYTHING, because I was so busy preparing my thesis, getting ready to the US, Vietnam and Philippines, as well as doing my first freelance job. I was totally like, totally occupied. I didn't even remember that I once made a pledge to start liking this British football club called Liverpool.

I was totally disconnected from The Reds,
And they were having the time of their lives.

Can't believe I literally missed their best performance last season. Stupid me. Pic's from here.

I mean, what the hell?!
Am I bringing some, curse?

P.S. : I've been noticing this for so long, but after last night I made myself pretty sure that I'm gonna be very supportive if Liverpool ever wants to kick Glen Johnson out.

Obrigado, Brazil

I promise, this is my last post about World Cup 2014.

Somehow I gotta stop and move on with my life.

But I'm sure it's gonna be hard.

Maybe I told you, World Cup has always been a special occasion to me. I was crazy upset after Italy finished celebrating in Germany 2006, or after Spain called it a day in South Africa 2010. And without a doubt, I am still so down at the time I'm typing this.

Moreover, this World Cup has been pretty distinct to me.

In terms of enjoying the real game of football.

I remember the last World Cup in South Africa, I owned this blog already and I did just the same: kept posting this and that about what happened along the cup. But then as I re-read it this year, I could just smile and pity my old self. It was exciting, and rich. But on some level, boring. Because I was watching the cup emotionally.

I stuck myself to one team I supported from day one. Riding the same roller coaster with the same 23 men from match to match, stage to stage, I barely watched other games. I did followed up the other matches, but only with big teams in it. Until finally my team went home as the champion, I felt satisfied because they won. Not because I enjoyed the whole cup.

But this year,

This year's World Cup was not even as rousing as the one in South Africa. I didn't even feel the euphoria until the opening ceremony really started. And people seemed to be more moved hearing "Waka Waka" than "We Are One" -as Pitbull's fan, this sucks. But despite the world's poor excitement towards this cup, I, on the other hand, eventually thought that this was the best World Cup I ever watched in my life. Because I was watching the cup logically.

Observing each game's true essence, players and techniques, gave me a whole new perception in enjoying football. And the fact that the most entertaining fights didn't only come from big teams, damn, it was just the right timing for me. I swear I never screamed that loud, by only watching teams like USA and Belgium. Get it? USA? Belgium? In 2010, I'd leave them to bed and just wait for the result the next morning.

Anyhow.

No matter how logical I'm trying to be, once the cup finished, I'll be ended up heart broken, and be upset anyway. Well I still get to see cool football matches tho, hello, Liverpool will be on Champions League this season! But then, it'll only be my personal consumption.

No more tweeting with each nations hashtags so it'll appear in the worldwide timeline and random people from random countries will retweet or even favorite my thoughts, or, posting stuff in this blog, publish it on Google Plus and suddenly dozens of people +1'd my writing, making it accessible to the whole globe and international flags will appear in my blog traffic instead of just Indonesian flag, or, texting my Israeli friend who lives in the US, telling him "I can't believe you didn't even trust your own squad while I'm like, here, adoring your keeper!?" or constantly texting my German friend with the same damn messages like "oh wow, congrats, your team made it to the next round..." literally ALL CUP LONG, wow! It's just, after this... No more worldwide shared consumption.

Oh well.

This World Cup itself, has been a worldwide experience for me personally. Worldwide celebration of my own. I don't really have to be there in Brazil to feel this, or be with someone with the nationality of one of this cup's contestants. I don't even need my national football team to enter the cup so I can join the euphoria!

Everybody can put whoever's flag in the sky,
Wave them side to side, show where they're from,
Or at least, show where they send their supports to.

This just shows how diverse we are, but despite that,

At the end of the day we sit the same way, watch the same thing.

Don't know the source, but it's not mine

That's just the beauty of World Cup.

And how I always liked the impact.

Thank you, FIFA.

I'll see you again when I'm 26

Highlight of the Cup

Entering the last two posts of World Cup 2014,

Lol I just can't stop doing this, it's just so on and on.

Well, no wonder because I guess this has been the most entertaining World Cup I ever watched so far. Losing the team I supported from the very beginning of the cup and forced me to having no preference, made me be oh-so neutral and totally objective to all the games. That's what mentally happened.

Technically, most teams served a hell of a performance! Great sets of mixture, big and small ones, all played damn great. Even to me personally, the best shows came from moderate to relatively infamous players! So fvckin mindblowing!

Now in this pre-closing post of World Cup 2014, I'd like to highlight some of the best dramas that became my personal favorites. You might think this is a shallow selection but, well, I'm just trying to be fair.

Best Goal: Tim Cahill | AUS v NED
Runner Up: James Rodriguez | COL v URU

While most people would say that James' goal against Uruguay was the best in the entire cup, I'd think that Tim Cahill's to Netherlands on the group stage was the true finest goal. The long haul pass -not even an assist- from I don't know who, arrived smoothly around his left foot and then BOOM! There went the ball to the left corner of Jasper Cillessen's goal. That was so delicate and freakin beautiful...

Now James' goal, well, I think y'all knew. Oh ya I'm talking about the first goal tho, since he scored both goals on the match. The one outside the penalty box, with the ball landed on his chest, then got executed with his left foot, ya, you eat that Suarez! Oh sorry, he wasn't even be played on the game. Sent home already so still, eat that!

Best Save: Guillermo Ochoa | Tim Howard
Runner Up: Tim Krul | NED v CRC

Okay as much as I want it to be objective, I can't really tell who wins the category. I can't even decide which save was the best because everything with either Ochoa and Howard in it, was sick! But let me try. The one I really couldn't forget from Ochoa was against Brazil. When Thiago Silva received a ball and headed it to the goal in just a very close distance, Ochoa could unbelievably blocked it. From point blank, for God's sake, he's a god!

While Tim, oh Tim... His 16 saves from Belgian assaults were all crazy incredible. He used all parts of his body to defend his goal. But the ones that blew my mind were when he used his legs. I mean, legs! He was falling down already, any player could easily score an easy goal but then who would've thought that Howard would stretch his legs and block the ball?! He's seriously my idol.

Tim Krul's saves that I mentioned, was the ones with the penalty shootout against Costa Rica. Well he didn't save all balls but, did you notice what he did before each Costa Rican players shot the balls? He walked to the right and left side of his goals like distractions, then talked to the shooters like a form of intimidation. It was a trick, he played with Costa Rican minds! This was what made me interested in his performance.

Best Game: BRA v CHI
Runner Up: GER v GHA

Actually, all matches consisting of fantastic goalkeepers with their fantastic goalkeeping performances were the best games to my preference -especially Belgium versus USA oh Lord that's one breathtaking performance I like! But then remembering the first match of the second round, Brazil against Chile, I think it was the complete set of game, with everything in it! Scores on the original 90 mins, yes. Attacks and counterattacks from both teams, yes. Entering extra time, yes. Penalty shootout, yes! Everything!!

Not to mention the drama. It was like a match of both rationality and emotion: Chilean actual better performance versus Brazilian loud crowd. Yes, I'm saying that this match showed to us that Brazilian current squad was nothing without their supporters, and Neymar's popularity-esteem. Those were the only explanations they could eventually win the penalty shootout. The match also showed us that underdog teams, represented by Chile, took a major role in this World Cup they could even tied the host team. Salute!

Now the runner up of the best game. Well, I must say that this was the most intense game in the group stage. Both physically, and mentally. The European emperor and African warrior kept tumbling each other down all game long, scoring both two goals, featuring sibling fight between Jerome and Kevin Prince Boateng, ended up with Thomas Muller's bloodbath. Remember Captain Tsubasa? This match was adapting the anime.

Best Twist: USA v POR
Runner Up: NED v MEX

I'm sorry but USA really stole my heart. And this game, was crazy. USA's boosted performances gave pains in the asses of this European big team. But Nani's early goal really trembled USA down, they couldn't even score until the half time. But then something shoved Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey they played fvckin well and each scored one goal on the second half. Entering the stoppage time, no one in this whole globe would think that USA would leave this match losing. Well, they didn't. But they didn't win either.

Substitute Silvestre Varela suddenly scored a goal in THE VERY LAST MINUTE of the match, making it ended up draw. It was really mind blowing. I can't imagine how was it like to be Americans. All cameras were shooting the benched Clint Dempsey on the last moments, the man himself couldn't even conceal his excitement of ending the game and going back to the hotel, winning. But Varela's goal, wow, it ruined everything.

Another twist was made by the Dutch, when they were facing Mexico in the round of 16. It was a tie game of 1 - 1, and they were really on the verge of entering the extra time when Rafael Marquez fouled Arjen Robben and Netherlands got a penalty gift, on the stoppage time of the second round. Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who was substituting Robin van Persie, scored the penalty and there they went. Really unfortunate for Mexico, damn, I mean, the penalty kick was so unnecessary and the fact that it was given on the very last minute of the match... It sucked big time.

Wow.

I could talk about this long enough I'd even forget the time.

This just shows how excited I always am, when it comes to World Cup.

Can't wait to start watching Liverpool soon, to fill my longing towards the cup.

Or worse yet,

Can't wait for World Cup 2018

Beyond Saving Goals

As a part of World Cup 2014 closing posts,

And as I much promised I'd talk a lot about,

I think it's just the time to have a tribute

To the best goalkeepers.

Let's save time about how astonishing goalkeepers are in this World Cup, by quoting one of the best living football players -whose tweets and stuff were really becoming my enlightenment along the cup- that I looked after

"The quality of goalkeeping at this World Cup has been extraordinarily high." -- Gary Lineker

See huh? All these times, I didn't say it just by basing on my naked thoughts about football--even a pro agreed to what I thought! Man, I really have to actually go to Mr Lineker and show all my analysis towards the World Cup, who knows he'll make me his apprentice.

So!

From Beto to Fernando Muslera, Claudio Bravo to Diego Benaglio, lots of crazy goalkeepers appearing in this World Cup are... Crazy. Like seriously, they played well! Lots of matches ended up with no score, or tied, but then those kind of matches were a hell lot more entertaining because the keepers are... Crazy!!

Out of those many good keepers, of course, I have a set of GKs I favorited.

Ecuadorian Alexander Dominguez and Nigerian Vincent Enyeama are two that I like from the underdog teams. I saw Dominguez's great game against France, and Enyeama's best game was against, oh what are the odds, France as well! One more from the underdogs, that now has become the whole world's dear, is Keylor Navas. He's just plain good.

Pic's from here, here and here

From moderate team, I vote for, who else, but Guillermo Ochoa. His game against Brazil, was like the one giving me the 'slap in the face' made me realize that this World Cup's goalkeepers are crazy asses. While out of keepers from top teams, duh I don't wanna be seemed too shallow and mainstream but, my fave one is like everybody else's fave one. Manuel Neuer. Oh but in my defense, I adored him since 2010, especially after I explored that he was born on March 27th. Yes, we shared the same birth date and that's the reason why I like him.

Ochoa's pic's from here, Neuer's from here

But then, it's not called 'favorite' if I have many that I like. So I made a decision that I do have one goalkeeper that I like the most. The one that truly won my heart by giving such crazy, constant game from the very beginning to the day he lost. Lost with dignity, because he also stole everybody else's heart. Yes, I made tons of posts about him so you might've known, it's

Tim Howard

Tim's pic, from here

Sick. Really.

I think I said this before, but who cares I'm gonna say it again:

Your performances, my idols, really altered my perceptions about goalkeepers.

Before this, goalkeepers are something I -and probably most watchers in the entire globe- took for granted. You don't do much. The best you can do is just preventing your team from losing, not to drive your squad to winning. But now, I see it differently.

Your roles remain the same: conducting saves, not attacks. But the saves you made, could actually boost your team mates to produce. Keepers don't literally score goals, but your passion move everybody else to want to score goals.

I realized that in the match of USA vs Belgium, where Tim Howard's saves could actually gave spirit to Julian Green's closing goal. Then I was so sure about everything after Brazil vs Germany, where Julio Cesar's devastation led to more conceded goals from Germany and lacking of goals to Germany.

Well.

Thanks guys for making this cup so different.

Thank you all for bringing it to a whole new level.

You didn't just save your goal, your match, your team,

You also saved my excitement

Something Better Than Just Revenge

So Germany won the 20th World Cup.

Pretty obvious since they have the best team.

Team.

Unlike Portugal who depended on Cristiano Ronaldo, nor Brazil who worshiped too much on Neymar, nor even Argentina who put everything in the shoulder of Lionel Messi. No matter how best-player-in-the-whole-globe he could be, playing single-handed against 11 players, he's just a flea everybody refers him as.

But after all, hats off to Argentina tho. They gave a heck of a game last night for Germany. It wasn't easy at all so Mario Goetze could score such beautiful goal. Damn right it was that beautiful to me. Stopped by chest, flew down to the kicking area then the shoot rocketed straight to the leftternmost side of the net. Crazy sweet.

But you know what is sweeter?

Revenge.

Years ago, back to 1986, when Germany was still called "West Germany", they met Argentina on the final match in Mexico. Diego Maradona was captaining the team when he brought his nation out as the winner. What does it have to do with this World Cup's winner, it's so fvckin long time ago!? Hold on, gangster!? That's not the frikkin reason of the revenge, West Germany won the cup against Argentina anyway, 4 years later, so that revenge had been paid in the lapse of just one cup.

It's Diego Maradona I'm talking about, that should feel the pain of revenge. Four years ago, when he coached Argentina, he arrogantly misplaced Thomas Mueller with a ball boy. Come to think of it, this is so ridiculous. Aside the fact that Argentina this time lost to Germany with Mueller in it, the 24 years old German himself now has scored more World Cup goals than Maradona. And giving at his age, he can even surpass his senior Miroslav Klose and be the all-time FIFA World Cup Top Scorers on the upcoming cup.

Shame on you, Mr Legend.

I can't find any other pic of them, but this one's strong enough eh?

Oh, where are you going? I'm not finished.

That's not the only revenge Germany completed last night.

Do you remember about the final match of World Cup 2002? It was the last time Germany could go to the final round. It was also the first World Cup Miroslav Klose played for Germany. And they were tragically beaten by Brazil. It sucked for both Germany and of course, Klose.

But he made it this year.
Revenge is sweet.

It's not a big deal and a significant revenge actually, but could beat Brazil in this World Cup semifinal in front of their public, and on the same time broke the top scorer record which was held by Brazilian player Ronaldo, then on top of all, be the champion of the cup hosted in Brazil... Those were tremendously more than enough. 

Moreover, this could be his last World Cup because he's now 36, and lol do you think he'll want to be the oldest player in Russia? Could fulfill his personal revenge, be the all-time top scorer and had his nation be the world champion for his last cup, the closure is just too sugary for Klose.

I'm so glad I witnessed everything he did.

He's a living legend and will always be talked about.

The pic's from here

What an ending.

It's beyond just a revenge.

It's double revenge

Match 64

In less than an hour, we'll get to watch the end of World Cup 2014.

Might be the match people had been waiting for.

People. Not me.

Because World Cup has always been so special to me. And entering the final match, means that I have to wait for 4 more years to be able to feel the exact complete smart-ass euphoria towards football. Lol but what can I do. I have to watch it anyway.

Argentina vs Germany

Estádio Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

Duel people are dying to see. Pic's from here.

I'm on German side. They've been one of my considerations since the very beginning. But you know I ended up choosing England. At first I adored the squad because of an imbecile reason: Mesut Ozil is a moslem. But as time goes by, as I saw Germany very strong as a team, not as individuals-forced-to-work-as-a-team, my adoration towards Germany grew logically.

While Argentina, ya, it's Leo I don't like him. But among any other people I hate, he's actually the one who has the actual skill of a football star. I admit it. I don't hate him professionally as a football player no, duh, he's like a god. I even forgot why I been hating him but believe me, it's personal... And hey, I must be consistent. Once I hate him, I will always do.

For this last match, people might've been waiting to see who's the best between Lionel Messi, and Thomas Mueller. People. Not me. I'm using their pics as a cover to attract readers tho, not because I'm looking forward to see how they play for the final.

As for my own preference, I'm actually waiting for the show served by

Manuel Neuer and Sergio Romero

Pics are from here and here

This World Cup has been all about goalkeepers after Group A exposed Guillermo Ochoa. Since after, talented goalkeepers were like swelling from team to team, blocking attacks and giving thrill to each and every single game, even if it's a no-goals game! Shit man I really love this set of World Cup it's full of dramas made by goalkeepers that people might not find very entertaining.

People. Not me.

I'm so gonna talk about this goalkeeper thing later.

This post is all about the final match. The sudden death.

But I'm gonna stop now because the match's about to start.

So...

I don't know.

I'm too emotional

Sorry a Little

One of the final matches had occurred:
The fight to sign which asses to be the second runner up of the cup.

Between Netherlands, and heart-broken host Brazil

Saturday, July 12 2014 - Estádio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasília

Sorry to use your pic again, David Luiz, but this one was so strong...

Lol ya the pic answered it all.
Brazil broke their heart again.
By losing the third place.

Let's not talk technical. It's really obvious that Brazil been proceeding up to the semi final round, was purely driven by luck. From the very beginning, from the day I bought my guide book for FIFA World Cup 2014 and got exposed to Brazilian squad for the first time, I was like, "hell no, I know no one from here but Julio Cesar and Maicon -which were too old and not too important- and Neymar -which was too young and too depended on."

And then there they went. Got out as the group winner, because their group mates were all underdogs, struggled really hard to survive second round by meeting Chile and Colombia, and eventually got kicked in the ass by Germany. I knew it was only the matter of time, and the matter of their match, that would finally stop them and show the world that Brazil will never give a good competition.

I'm sorry, that my curse for you lasted too long.

You guys couldn't even fight well for the 3rd place.

But then...

The bigger sorry I felt last night,
Is the fact that I didn't become

The supporter of Netherlands.

They were like one good candidate I'd picked before I finally ended up with England. But their first game--their first major winning game against Spain made me avoid picking them because I didn't want people to label me as a supporter who supported based on victories. Lol what a stupid reason.

Let's not talk technical, again. It's definitely obvious that the Dutch has been on fire since beating Spain. They only found it pretty handful against Costa Rica and Argentina, and eventually lost against La Albiceleste not because they sucked. It was totally unfortunate and penalty shootout couldn't necessarily show that they were losers.

They emotionally won my heart. All 23 players, which I now happen to be familiar with. Oh and about this, yea, at first I was questioning, how in the world could I be like, knowing each and every single Dutch players?? And then just last night, I found the answer.

Apparently, Louis van Gaal has been playing fair to his squad. He gave all players at least a chance to play in this World Cup. Last night, on last minutes before the final whistle blew, he switched the main goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen with the substitute keeper who hasn't played at all in Brazil. As Michel Vorm got on pitch, the commentator said that now all 23 man squad of Netherlands' has played for World Cup 2014. And I was getting major goosebumps.

Never felt so respectful to a manager before. Pic's from here.

What a class, Mr van Gaal.

Now thanks to you, the biggest part of sorry I felt by not supporting Netherlands, was because I couldn't completely feel your magical touch of coaching the squad. You showed us that managing football is not just about skills and strategy, which you've been showing all cup long, but it's all about emotions and relationship, which you just dramatically summed up last night.

I'm sorry I wasted your actual performance.

Because I was amazed by the squad you crafted.

But that's okay, as we all will get to see you again soon,

In England