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Euro2008, 1/4 match. We were looking forward to semi-finals, so the big screen was set downtown. The rest is history, but once again this turns out to be painfully true - “it’s not over until it’s over“. We celebrated 30 seconds too early…

1. David, 21 June 2008:

   It never fails to amaze me the passion for soccer you guys have. Or football as it’s called on the other side of the pond. Then again, I am sure you dont understand our love for football or baseball.

   One thing we all have in common though is the devastation we feel when our team loses. Heart wrenching to say the least.

2. GoGen, 21 June 2008:

   @David During my almost-a-month stay in NY in late ’80s I watched US football (rugby, as we call it here) every day, trying to figure it out. When I finally did, it turned out to be quite an interesting game! Baseball, however, is something beyond my understanding :-)
   PS
   Thanks for watching!

3. Rupert, 30 June 2008:

   Hah! You think baseball’s beyond your understanding? Have you ever watched Cricket?

   Sorry to hear that you lost. Especially on penalties. Almost every time England’s been knocked out of a major tournament, it’s been on penalties. It’s a terrible way to lose.

   Even though the matches are available on cable here (which surprised me), we don’t have a TV. England didn’t qualify anyway (idiots), but if I’d put money on anybody, I’d have put it on Croatia. You guys punch so far above your weight, it’s unbelievable.

   Back in 2002, in the World Cup, I was getting drunk alone one night (Kate was on tour in Australia and NZ) and I was thinking about my dead grandfather, who was a bit of a boozer and a gambler (in a fairly functioning and popular kind of way), while the preview of Italy v Croatia ran in the background - Italy were favourites to win, and the commentator was being quite disparaging about Croatia, which I didn’t think was fair. Not that I know anything about football, really.

   And I suddenly got the urge to place a bet on Croatia. I felt like my grandfather was speaking to me from The Other Side. So I found a betting site that would take bets on the match, and after asking grampa what he would do, I placed a really specific bet - Croatia to beat Italy 2-1 with Vieri to score the first goal, at 100-1. I bet £10 ($20). I’d never even heard of Vieri.

   It was the most nerve-wracking 94 minutes of my fucking life. No - actually, the first half was fine. No action. I resigned myself to losing my £10.

   But the second half was mayhem.

   First Vieri scored, which was what I wanted.
   But then it was disallowed for offside (it wasn’t)!

   Then he scored again - this time for real. Imagine my heart rate at this point. There was a chance, now… but there were only 30 minutes left.

   Then Croatia scored twice in three minutes! RAAAAAAAAAAA! Suddenly, I was about to win £1000 from a £10 bet. So I spent the last 15 minutes watching from behind the sofa.

   The Italians threw everything into attack. There were two near misses - one which bounced off the top bar and behind the Croatian keeper. I almost died.

   Then, in injury time - at 93 minutes, with the whistle about to blow any second - Italy scored again! I felt like I *had* died. Total devastation.

   AND THEN IT WAS DISALLOWED! Two No Goals for Italy in one match! The Ref was British.

   Ever since then, Croatia has held a special place in my heart.

4. adam, 10 July 2008:

   @Rupert, great story man.

   @David Footie is a ‘real’ sport. American Football is all razzle and no substance. Baseball is a notch above Nyquil with out the yummy taste. But hockey on the other hand…..a game to end all games

   Do Croatia have an Ice Hockey team. I feel like I’ve seen them in the Winter Olympics.