LA la la la la la la la la la la, la – Please stooooo.....pppppP!

Okay, its only been a week of this quadrennial binge of balls – World Cup Brazil 2014 – and many a footie fan are already quite knackered in the bones and hoarse of voice.

The Ola Bola fest kicked off according to most viewers’ script – a big victory for almost everyone’s favourite team; except if you are Argentinian or live in an adobe in a favela within sight of Sugar Loaf! Yup, Brazil, the progenitor of the jogo bonito (the lovely game – which describes their ability to lovingly caress a ball with silky skills and feathery touch) pushed 3 goals past a hapless Croatia on Thursday June 12 – World Cup 2014 opening day.

As expected – nay demanded of Neymar – Neymar da Silva Santos Junior; to give him his full due - delivered, two easy goals to relieve all the burden of pressure on his young shoulders. He is only 21 and missed the last World Cup in South Africa when at 17, the then manager thought he was still a little `berhingus’ (snotty kid) with a lot yet to learn.

Aaah, being 17 and Brazilian. Everyone has youtube access to Pele’s exploits playing for his country at that age, went to light up the football world. Second only to Mohamad Ali, Pele always appears on the list of most popular and influential sportsmen when pitted in sporting polls.

The victory appeared to have contributed to the petering out of all the defiance seen on the streets of Sao Paulo right up to the eve of the opening ceremony which pitted Pitbull sandwiched by the duo of bronzed beauties – Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte (who?). With the Brazilian victory, no one but the most diehard anarchist would have any ill-will nor motivation to distrupt the soccer festivities from here on.

It does not matter the cheesey refrain they belted out was no more than a string of La la la.... repeated over and over and over again; it set the ball rolling, literally!


'Spain knocked from the pedestal'

The Brazilian game served as mere hors d’oeuvres for the lipsmacking second course to come; Spain vs Holland which was a chance of the Orangemen to avenge the indignity inflicted in their defeat by La Rojas in the 2010 Finals in South Africa.

Spain has been lording it recent years with deserved recognition as Kings of World Football. With two World Cup titles and one European title, who can quibble with their air of snooty superiority. Holland had the firepower, the star-studded status and more, the game to bring the champions down one peg. Brought them down they did with a 1 – 5 drubbing which was enough to send the whole of Spain – in the throes or European economic malaise back home – drowning their sorrows in buckets of stale Sangria.

Then my favourite team the French Les Bleus made me my day. They beat Honduras 3 – 0 and had the distinction of being the beneficiary of so-called ‘goal line technology’.

Footballers are hardly Saints, and there’s always dispute whether a ball has crossed the line for a legitimate goal – that happens when a goalkeeper manages to paw at the ball as it is hammered into the goalmouth. Video recording gave France the deserved goal and they proceeded to score 2 more. Allez Allez Allez la Belle Francaise!!!

The feast continued on Monday (16 June) night, Tuesday (17 June) morning here in Malaysia, the Germans pricked the pride of Portugal. The man Mueller reduced Preening prima Don (though some like to think he is a bit of a Donna) Cristiano Ronaldo to shed a bucketful of tears. I would cry too – if Ze Krauts (I use in not as an expression of denigration, I hasten to add) – pushed 4 past me in 90 minutes!

To lose 1 nil to the Loew’s boys is a victory of sorts, lose 2 nil is acceptable, 3 – nil, hmm, okay still acceptable. But to be THRASHED 4 – nil, INEXCUSABLE!!!


'A mighty German awakes'

The media made great play of the sweeetness of the German victory. Hours before the kickoff, the whole sporting world was given the news of the Great Awakening. Michael Schumacher had woken up from deep coma.

It was back in Dec the 29th that the world was shocked when this motoring men’s Teutonic Knight slipped and fell while skiing and suffered an injury to the head. I must admire the nursing skills and medical intervention that has kept him alive – those and God’s will of course!

It adds to the annals of sporting lore doesn’t it, as this gives sports commentators the delicious connection between his awakening from deep sleep, only to rouse the German giants to magnificent victory.

This game was followed by Iran’s draw with Nigeria – a game only about the combined 120 million population (excuse me if my geography is suspect and my maths is non-existent) of both nations who cared to stay up in the wee hours of the Malaysian morning to watch. BTW, it ended predictably boringly as a nil-nil draw.

I have always admired the Iranians for their football skills. One east coast Malaysian soccer team actually had on their roster one player of Persian persuasion once, I think. Their DNA is a cross between Asia and Europe, which gives them a combination of muscled mass and speedy agility. I don’t quite know how much the austerity of life was at the height of the Khomeini revolution but I did hear that its male sportsmen once had to cover much of their legs while parading their soccer skills from leery-eyed spectators – all males in the stands mind you! But then, the Iranians have always been secretly admired for their 'joie de vivre', if you ever have the chance to be in their joyful and carefree company, take it!

The Nigerians? Think Internet and I will be accused of unfair characterisation bordering; and if I were anti-Sepp Blatter; of racism. But think football and I can only sing the praises of the Super Eagles and the exploits of one, Nwanko Kanu. He was impossibly tall (all 1.96 m tall). How could someone so gangly at 6 ft 5 inches actually run with ball glued-to-feet. Maybe it is all those lanky limbs that gets in the way to bamboozle the opposition on his silky dance and merry flight towards goal.

Late Monday (Brazilians) and early Tuesday (for me and many Malaysians) ended with great news for the US of A. They led, drew and then left it late to score in the deserved victory against Ghana ; 2 – 1 to the Yanks.

Who says the Americans can't play ball?