Nervous Now? Wait Until June!

Search the internet this morning and you will see nothing but review after review of Super Bowl XL, it's stats, the bus retiring, and what the hell happened to the Seahawks.


Bill Cowher holding the Lombardi Trophy, at last.

I was able to spend the day of the game with my wife, at my really good friend Neal's house. We had a great time!
Seriously good. I certainly don't want to review the game, because, to be honest, it isn't worth doing...you can read about it somewhere else, but while I was there I did start thinking ahead precisely 119 days!

Why you ask?

Because then, I am reminded about what Neal and my brother-in-law Eric go through only once in a blue moon. The World Cup is on!


The world cup logo

That's right, this June and July, the same as it is every four years, the world turns it attention to one particular country that is hosting the biggest sporting event on the planet. That's right, bigger than the Olympics, and certainly bigger than the Super Bowl.


This year's finals are being held in Germany!

That is not to be a downer on the Super Bowl at all, but all that hype and support pail in comparison compared to what will hapen in the summer. I was watching Neal get all nervous about the score as he is a huge Steeler's fan. I also spoke with Joann about it as her husband, Eric, is a huge fan, too. She actually said that he was crying at the end! Hmmm..., I have always had my suspicions about that boy!

I am sure that come July, I will be a nervous wreck, too. This will be magnified by two things:

1) the enormous hope that I have that England will not make any mistakes and go on to lift the trophy that we last owned in 1966.


Bobby Moore, the only Englishman to ever lift the trophy.

2) the enormous expectation that everyone in the world has that England are one of perhaps three teams that are considered favorites to lift the trophy!

The World Cup Trophy

Ever since I was growing up as a lad in England, 'football' was all I lived and breathed. I have heard generations talk of how the Boys of '66 was the best ever, and I am sure they were at the time. It is like having a giant monkey on your back the whole time. The English media are relentless, and I cannnot imagine how nervous the Boys of '06 will be come June.

So, there I will be, posted in front of the TV for England's three group stage games, and then, hopefully, in front of the TV for their progress through to the final!


I will of course be nervous. I don't think I will get to the stage of crying, but it will be very emotional. It is a tough call. There are so many good players out there, and the teams go through hot and cold streaks. You just have to hope that your team can go through the tournament in the right frame of mind.

We have some good competition though. Brazil are arguably the best team, and the favorites on everyone's list. We just recently beat the other favorites, Argentina, in a thrilling 3-2 game.


The Argentina wall, brave as ever...

All I can do is wait and hope that Becks and the boys can turn on the magic come summer time.


Can Becks Lead the Team to Glory?.

If they do, I will know what Neal and Eric were feeling yesterday.