... or at least almost.
As the 2006 World Cup is fast approaching, all teams have assembled and are making their final preparations for the big tournament. Switzerland is probably the country currently entertaining the most world-class football players. If Switzerland were to somehow disappear from the face of the earth within the next week, I don't think the FIFA 2006 TM World Cup (is that correct Mr. Blatter?) would be able to take place.
Obviously, the Swiss team is around. They've already suffered an injury blow - striker Johan Vonlanthen, the youngest player to ever score a goal in the European Championship, is out with a hamstring injury.
Hosts Germany are currently residing around Geneva as they prepare to try and top their 2nd place finish from four years ago. Michael Ballack suffered a minor injury in their 12-0 win against a youth team from Servette Geneva.
Most attention has obviously gone to the defending champions Brazil who have been in canton Lucerne since Monday. The papers here have been full with these guys for the past month. The training sessions which are open to the public are all sold out - stadium capacity is 5'000, population of the town the stadium is in is 3'800...
Ivory Coast is coming in to play the Swiss squad on Saturday in Basle. CDI are the ones chosen to simulate the game against Togo. Yeah, they're Africans too...
The day the German squad leaves, the Italian team will be checking into the same hotel that very evening, before they play the Swiss squad in Geneva (simulate France). Bring out the phone-tapping devices...
Argentina, the Ukraine and Iran are also said to be spending a few days training in the country. At least for a few days, Switzerland will be safe from any nuclear threats...
New Zealand and China (simulate South Korea vs Switzerland) are also flying in, but merely as sparring partners for some of the countries actually going to Germany.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Friday, May 19, 2006
Some losses aren't that bad
Though Arsenal's loss to Barcelona on Wednesday didn't exactly come as a surprise, it still hurt pretty bad - much more than I thought before the game. I don't know whether it's because they were so close to the "big" upset. Or maybe it's cause somewhere inside me I still expected them to somehow find a way to leave the pitch as champions.
Everything seemed to somehow go Arsenal's way this season; Bergkamp's late goal at Highbury vs Thun, Thun's regular goal in Berne being disallowed, Riquelme's late penalty miss, the Spurs' food poisoning and Arsenal sneaking in on the final Champions League qualifying spot (though this one could be interpreted the other way round), all those minutes without conceding a goal, them going ahead on Wednesday despite being one man down, etc.
But I guess it wasn't meant to be. But at least the week is ending on a high note for all Arsenal supporters.
Whether he would have stayed on if they had won, that we will never know for sure...
Everything seemed to somehow go Arsenal's way this season; Bergkamp's late goal at Highbury vs Thun, Thun's regular goal in Berne being disallowed, Riquelme's late penalty miss, the Spurs' food poisoning and Arsenal sneaking in on the final Champions League qualifying spot (though this one could be interpreted the other way round), all those minutes without conceding a goal, them going ahead on Wednesday despite being one man down, etc.
But I guess it wasn't meant to be. But at least the week is ending on a high note for all Arsenal supporters.
Whether he would have stayed on if they had won, that we will never know for sure...
Monday, May 15, 2006
Coolest Gents Experience
A few years back when visiting Cologne with some friends, I for the first time heard the sentence "Hey guys, you MUST go and see what's in the Gents!!!". The friend then went on and told us about the small goals in the urinals.
Well, this Saturday it happened again. We were in a club where there was a special party taking place - the kind of music being played was very different to what is usually played there. I guess the owners of the club thought they somehow still had to cater for their regular guests.
So there I am on my way to the Gents. There is a huge group of people standing around the door and looking in, I realise that it isn't very different inside. But still people are entering and leaving, both female and male. So I enter to the familiar beats of Snoop's "Drop It Like It's Hot". And to my suprise, the Gents is full with ladies (and gents) really dropping it like it's hot. The place looks as if there's a party going on in there.
YES! You guessed right. They actually had a DJ install his equipment in the Gents (turntable, speakers, etc) and they were having a HipHop party!
I did my business and rejoined my friends with the line "Hey guys, you MUST go and see what's in the Gents!!!".
Well, this Saturday it happened again. We were in a club where there was a special party taking place - the kind of music being played was very different to what is usually played there. I guess the owners of the club thought they somehow still had to cater for their regular guests.
So there I am on my way to the Gents. There is a huge group of people standing around the door and looking in, I realise that it isn't very different inside. But still people are entering and leaving, both female and male. So I enter to the familiar beats of Snoop's "Drop It Like It's Hot". And to my suprise, the Gents is full with ladies (and gents) really dropping it like it's hot. The place looks as if there's a party going on in there.
YES! You guessed right. They actually had a DJ install his equipment in the Gents (turntable, speakers, etc) and they were having a HipHop party!
I did my business and rejoined my friends with the line "Hey guys, you MUST go and see what's in the Gents!!!".
Monday, May 08, 2006
2006 - Good Year for Sports
10 reasons why the year 2006 is a good year for a sports fan - in no particular order.
1. 2006 NBA playoffs
These playoffs have been absolutely fabolous! LeBron is finally playing in May, the usually awful Clippers are doing well and could end up in the Western finals, Nowitzki has been almost unstoppable, the Lakers - Suns series which even had me rooting for Kobe, my Nets are still in there, etc. I would give sooo much to be in the US right now and be able to watch all the games on TV.
2. F1 Season
I've mentioned the new and improved qualifying session before. After Schumi's 2nd consecutive win, the championship is looking to be a very close battle between him and Alonso. This could end up going on till the final race in Brazil - which would be at 7 pm in central Europe (pay-rise for the calendar planner?). Pity my BAR Honda guys are only showing up for qualifying but not for the race.
3. Roger Federer
The dude is once again having a good season and could win all four grand slams. I know a lot of people believe he'll never win the French Open - I'm not one of them. Nadal and his ugly trousers won't go without losing on sand forever.
4. Martina Hingis
Staying with tennis, it's just so nice to see an athlete coming back after problems and showing they can still play. Whether it's Capriati, Seles or now Hingis. Now if only Serena could do the same.
5. Africa Cup
Good tournament with many good games and of course that never-ending penalty shootout between Ivory Coast and Cameroon. What I like most about the Africa Cup is the atmosphere in the stadiums. Just from watching on TV, one can feel that "African joy" in the crowd.
6. The Winter Olympics
I especially loved the figure skating. Just kidding...
6. Commonwealth Games
Didn't watch a minute of the games, but still happy about the successful Kenyan delegation. Can't really say much more.
7. Champions League
My favourite team? Arsenal
My favourite team in Spain? Barcelona
My favourite player? Thierry Henry
Best player alive? Ronaldinho
May 17th? Barcelona vs Arsenal
'Nuff said!
8. Joga Bonito
Absolutely loving the latest ads from Nike! I've never been this excited about an ad-campaign since the Nike Freestyle one a few years back - especially the basketball ones. And Cantona is the perfect guy for those ads.
9. World Cup
Didn't really watch a lot of games from the last WC cause of the time difference. This year that problem doesn't exist and I have a lot of time. I'm sure I would enjoy the tournament more if I manage to resist the temptation of betting on games or even better, bet successfully.
10. ???
I'm sure there'll be a lot of other things to add to this list by the time this year is over. Tiger Woods? Michelle Wie? Tour de France?
1. 2006 NBA playoffs
These playoffs have been absolutely fabolous! LeBron is finally playing in May, the usually awful Clippers are doing well and could end up in the Western finals, Nowitzki has been almost unstoppable, the Lakers - Suns series which even had me rooting for Kobe, my Nets are still in there, etc. I would give sooo much to be in the US right now and be able to watch all the games on TV.
2. F1 Season
I've mentioned the new and improved qualifying session before. After Schumi's 2nd consecutive win, the championship is looking to be a very close battle between him and Alonso. This could end up going on till the final race in Brazil - which would be at 7 pm in central Europe (pay-rise for the calendar planner?). Pity my BAR Honda guys are only showing up for qualifying but not for the race.
3. Roger Federer
The dude is once again having a good season and could win all four grand slams. I know a lot of people believe he'll never win the French Open - I'm not one of them. Nadal and his ugly trousers won't go without losing on sand forever.
4. Martina Hingis
Staying with tennis, it's just so nice to see an athlete coming back after problems and showing they can still play. Whether it's Capriati, Seles or now Hingis. Now if only Serena could do the same.
5. Africa Cup
Good tournament with many good games and of course that never-ending penalty shootout between Ivory Coast and Cameroon. What I like most about the Africa Cup is the atmosphere in the stadiums. Just from watching on TV, one can feel that "African joy" in the crowd.
6. The Winter Olympics
I especially loved the figure skating. Just kidding...
6. Commonwealth Games
Didn't watch a minute of the games, but still happy about the successful Kenyan delegation. Can't really say much more.
7. Champions League
My favourite team? Arsenal
My favourite team in Spain? Barcelona
My favourite player? Thierry Henry
Best player alive? Ronaldinho
May 17th? Barcelona vs Arsenal
'Nuff said!
8. Joga Bonito
Absolutely loving the latest ads from Nike! I've never been this excited about an ad-campaign since the Nike Freestyle one a few years back - especially the basketball ones. And Cantona is the perfect guy for those ads.
9. World Cup
Didn't really watch a lot of games from the last WC cause of the time difference. This year that problem doesn't exist and I have a lot of time. I'm sure I would enjoy the tournament more if I manage to resist the temptation of betting on games or even better, bet successfully.
10. ???
I'm sure there'll be a lot of other things to add to this list by the time this year is over. Tiger Woods? Michelle Wie? Tour de France?
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