Stephen (@StephenJBaker) takes a festive look at the World Cup.
Having taken a couple of weeks to get over my disappointment of Cymru’s performance in the World Cup, I am now able to talk about it.
Is it me or is does it feel like this is now a different tournament to the one that Cymru took part in? Will we only remember the qualifying and the build-up? The sticker albums and Yma o Hyd?
Between that night in June and the end of November every day felt like Christmas Day for Cymru supporters. And just like the Christmas Day, it felt like a lot of build-up for it all to be over in what felt like ten minutes.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe first half of the USA game was like unwrapping the socks and pants that you always get. But then Bale winning and scoring the penalty, is the moment where your Mam asks you to get something from the front room for her… only you walk in there to find a brand new bike.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnfortunately, there were two other games. The Iran game was the moment that you looked out the window after finding the bike, only to see heavy rain and not being able to go out. You quote that amazing young Cardiff school girl in the Channel Four clip ‘I’m fuming mate’.
Embed from Getty ImagesSo, you sit miserable for the next few hours, until your next door neighbours start playing loud music and celebrating. Which makes everyone in your house annoyed, and wondering why they are celebrating so early when it’s not even close to being over. Then before you know it, everything is over for another (4) years.
Embed from Getty ImagesNow, it’s deep in the knock-out stages and we have all had to pick another side to follow beyond whoever is playing the one team you hope doesn’t win it.
Embed from Getty ImagesSo whichever team you are rooting for, let’s hope like the days following Christmas there is that extra present that your Mam forgot about. The one hidden at the back of her wardrobe. And that present is that team taking football home.