My love for football!

For the last 1 month, the amount of football lovers had raised tremendously. Football crazed fans had their eyes glued to the tv, sacrificing their sleep and endured palpitations, just to support their team or waiting to catch a nice match (fingers crossed, hope it's worth the wait), strategically played with good goals or maybe at least, some on-pitch dramas.

I remembered watching 1998 World Cup at the age 0f 12 years old because I stayed up for the finals between Brazil and France, just to bragged to the other kids at school. Hehe. I dont remember much bout the games but I know I was a Brazil supporter cos Ronaldo was playing and I "liked" the colour yellow? LOL! * My favourite colour now is blue, hence Italy as the second choice? *
Those were the days when my friends and I spent countless 50 cents on the "tikam-tikam" machine in a grocery shop in front of my school, to collect different World Cup teams card and exchange among ourselves if we have similar ones, to complete a scrap book! Oh boy, the amount of African countries cards we collected were depressing. Now thinking back, I believe the company producing such machine had successfully conned us students. *angry! 50 cents can buy one kerepok lekor k!*
The 1998 Word Cup also successfully stuck in my mind due to the now-deemed-cheesy-but-most-succesful-world-cup-song, "The Cup of Life" by Ricky Martin! Here we go, ale ale ale, Go-go-go, ale ale ale? *subconsciously, all of us KNOW the LYRICS to this song, dont pretend k!* and was it this WC that Senegal dude, Diouf did the funny dance after scoring goals? Something like harvesting paddy fields... hmm..

Then, World Cup 2002 came. This time, I supported Japan! At the age of 16, it was the era of Japanese animation, Gensomaden Saiyuki, being my number one anime alongside Ranma 1 1/2 and Samurai X. Hidetoshi Nakata and Junichi Inamoto (with his yellow hair) were so-damn-cute and there's someone wearing a Batman-like face mask from Japan team but I cant recall his name.
This is also the year where I have better memories of names and famous players were noted especially Totti & Buffon (Italy), Casillas & Raul Gonzales (Spain), Luis Figo (Portugal), entire Brazil team (The whole Joga Bonito thingy. Dad was raving and loves Brazil so much cos they really play to entertained with their tricks), Oliver Kahn, Klose & Ballack (Germany) and of course, Beckham (powerful penalty kick wei), Owen and Seaman with his ponytail (England).

Till 18 years old, I've being watching football only during the World Cup season caused of the hype and excitement but then, it all changed when my brother showed me a club worth learning the whole rules of football for.

Mine did not start now, it did not start for World Cup 2010 sake. World Cup was just a bonus to see all good players, playing together for the country they represent on one stage.

Having said that, admiring good looking players is not a bloody crime. Guys tend to have this misconception of girls. Please la. It's just like guys watching gymnastics. Dont give me the bullshit of admiring their tactics & rhythm, flow & costumes and looks are not important. In the end, the winner who gets the gold (and coincidently, happens to be pretty) is the ideal ending, right? Not to say I'm oblivious to other talented players around.

For country, first choice is always England.
Though I know they will not qualify for even semi-finals this year (urggh they crashed at quarters!), dont even mention bout lifting the cup, England is number one because without English Premier League, football is not even thaaaaaat famous. Yes, EPL is commercialised and other leagues like Bundesliga or Serie A have better quality/players and I dont claimed I know the other leagues better than EPL but Liverpool is my number 1!

Being a Liverpool supporter is an influenced from my brother, Nicholas, circa year 2004-2005. Everytime he watches Liverpool game, stayed up late like other true fans, I was the sceptical one, the one who "cucuk" him, telling him Liverpool sucks and hopped to bed happily, only to hear him screamed like a mad man when they scored and gloated endlessly in the morning. He'll even search for Liverpool jerseys (the red home ones) when it was out of stock in Malaysia (hot-stuff, so he says), in Singapore. There were ups and downs for the club but such was his passion that despite countless taunting from me and numerous noobies questions, I decided to watch a proper game with him.

And of all game I picked, it was the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final [Goals] [Documentary] By half time, I was teasing him endlessly when Liverpool was down 0-3 to Milan. I told him to packed up and sleep, for a final game how can they chased up etc and he calmy said, 'Just sit and watch" but I know he was afraid as hell in his heart. So I went to my room cos I thought that's the end of it and then I heard my bro screamed. He shouted, 'Liverpool scored!", followed by unidentifiable cheering noises. I ran out, in disbelief, sat and watch! Really amazed me how they picked up after half time, ending the game at 3-3 and it went on to penalty kick. IT WAS THE MOST KAN-CHEONG (anxious) GAME I'VE WATCHED.

It opened me to a whole new world. I would then watch games with my bro, laughing at how Riise likes to clean the ball before a throw in and Dudek's big nose, spotting Crouch's long limbs from afar, hearing Carragher's name all the time, seeing Hamann's and Hyppia's nerve-wrecking saves.. and having goose-bumps when the stadium echoes with Liverpool's fans singing the official song, "You'll Never Walk Alone". Man U might have their "Glory glory Man united" cheer.. but then what? it just cuts off there.. *potong steam* HAHAHA
Click here 1
Click here 2
Alonso's 70 yards goal Off he went to Real Madrid (graveyard for famous footballers)
Torres's Song Notice how all the fans (grown ups) dancing to the "nah nah nah" part? haha so cute! *I might have twitch a biiitt*
FA Cup 2006 Again down 0-2 and chased back again to win the cup. Priceless.

Then there's also the time (I still dont get it) where my brother will watch other teams ie Man U/Chelsea/Arsenal play, to either hope they'll end up losing/draw or do not play with Liverpool.

I would also search on Liverpool, read up on the club's history and let me tell you, it'w worth a history book itself, worse being Hillsborough Disaster, where 96 Liverpool supporters perished in the stadium. An outcome of this incident led to new stadium regulations where no standing is allowed and seats were made compulsory in all stadiums. Dunno why trivia like this can stick in my head but medical-related studies just slips through?! :( Yes, they might be performing badly last season but Liverpool is still the most successful English Club [source]


Again, I dont claimed to be a die hard fan who knows all the tactical play/terms/theories or remember each and every game but I AM their fan. I do know who is Ian Rush, Kenny Daglish, the current US owners who suck balls and Liverpool's new manager is Roy Hodgson.

Have I successfully make you a supporter already? Hehe

So, it was fun spotting Liverpool's players in the World Cup now. 2006 World Cup, watched in India. The year where Materazzi head butted Zidane HAHAHAH, the year I started supporting Italy too due to Cannavaro! HAHAHA and they went on to win the WC. *shrugs* I still look out for Japan but had passed the "Look East" phase within 4 years. I know Germany was a strong team especially King Kahn. I love seeing Germany's game due to his saves and Klose's header. Somehow I remembered 2006 as the year of goalkeepers. Buffon, Casillas, Kahn, Der Sar. hmm. But nothing beats supporting England. Twas the year where England actually was strong (quarterfinal lost to Portugal 0-0, penalty kick 3-1) but I guess too many egostic players ruined the game.

The time came for 2010's World Cup. So much fun was spent finding nice places to catch the game. 3 Mamak stalls (consumed different maggi gorengs), one fine dining restaurant, 2 bars, common room at the girls' hostel (10 m from my room) and the best is still at home, watching it in HD *chuckles* College's gazebo projector was also not too shabby. Watched the opening match (Mexico vs SA) and also the last match there! So, my personal top 3 teams were England, Italy and Spain (for Torres /shy, eh Xabi Alonso was also there).

I even bought England's and Italy's jersey, to don it and support my teams. Argentina was a joke cos I had both white and blue jersey, so I can at least patch the jerseys together.

Vuvuzela is fun playing with (Chandan have 2 of them from South Africa) and productive in producing noisebut I guess it just feels different not hearing fans singing, chanting or cheering in unison for the country they support.

Spain lost 0-1 to Switzerland and Torres wasnt performing that well. An utter disappointment but who would have thought they improved so much within 1 month duration with up and rising striker, David Villa, leading Spain's ass till the finals and the rest is history. Their team spirit should be applauded with captain Casillas leading the pack. The final was every inch exciting and nerve-wrecking. Both teams (Netherlands) played so well. I guess luck plays a really important role in football. Who would have expect Casillas to extend his leg and saved the attempt by Holland? Even if it's not Spain playing, I guess it's only appropriate to send to WC off properly! hehe Sort of a closure!
Coming to Torres, he's still recovering, poor performance but nevertheless, it was HIM who scored the goal against Germany for Euro 2008 final k.

England crashed to Germany 4-1 but as a consolation, at least they managed to score 1 unlike Argentina who lost 4-0 and the second disallowed goal by Lampard was controversial. I read an article somewhere saying that the sad state of the current team was partly due to the influx of foreign players in EPL, damaging local British boys chances to play for the clubs, subsequently the country. I guess they can always pick up and look forward to UEFA 2012 qualification games starting in September.

Italy was another sad case. They were performing so badly, they were last in their group. As the previous world cup winner, they definitely disappointed a lot of people, me being one. Hopefully the new coach will revamped the whole team and prove their worth in Brazil, 2014. Too bad it would be Cannavaro's last world cup and and and, he's on free loan to UAE football league. So sadd. :(

Watching World Cup is not all about being selfish, boasting and cocky about one's team. Being proud of one's team is one's every right but "pride goeth before destruction, and a haugthy spirit before a fall". It's a place where you get to see good games being played, talented players showing their prowess and just being amazed at how the players performed. It doesnt mean that after one's team defeat, we should shut ourselves from the World Cup. There's always joy and excitement when taking one side in football. Disappointment aplenty but when you watch a good match, although the team you supported lose, at least you know the winning team deserves it or, they dont.

Germany is one of the strongest country around . They played with discipline, precision and their coordination was amazing. If they would have win over Spain in the semis, the cup was as good as theirs. Thomas Mueller deservingly won the Golden Boot and Best Young Player. Schwensteinger was everywhere in every game, would have thought that the commentator just loves calling his name. (: The 3rd&4th placing game was apparently the best game of the tournament. Didnt watch it but the highlights were WOW! Forlan really carries the weight of the country on his back. He made the goals from outside the penalty box look so easyyy. haha

And Holland, despite Wesley Sneijder's best effort as a playmaker, organiser, attacking and grafter or Arjen Robbens multiple attempts on goal, number 3 (3rd finals) is not a lucky number for them. Btw, they played very rough for the finals! Karate kick from De Jong on Xabi Alonso should be a big RED card. Dutch supporters are one of the most eye-catching ones. Hot babes in orange dresses. Yum!

Now that World Cup has ended, whilst some have to wait for four years to cheer for their beloved teams, in the mean time, I guess EPL's, UEFA, Champions league, FA cup, Liga Malaysia will make do.

Back to EPL in August/September (exam period but its' a whole yr thingy so not too late to catch up).

Hopefully in next 4 years, I would be able to earn enough money to catch the game in Brazil. Samba time anyone? Wheeee~

p.s: Second alternative is UK by end of this yr *fingers cross!*(:











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