What Makes the World Cup Great
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by user Chachi
I just finished watching a nil-nil tie of a World Cup game and I think I'm more excited than ever for the rest of the tournament. Why, plucky little Trinidad and Tobago.Today they tied Sweden, a heavy favorite, and probably won over soccer fans everywhere (if not all sports fans who love a good underdog).
Trinidad and Tobago are making their first appearance in the World Cup and are the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup. Moments before the game their starting goalkeeper, Kelvin Jack, sustained a head injury and the backup, Shaka Hislop, came in and helped his team defy the odds.
To compound matters for the tiny upstarts, one of their players, Avery John, received a second yellow card in the first minute of the second half leaving them a man down for the rest of the game. What followed won me over and has me rooting for them to pull off what would certainly be one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history should they advance.
You really had to watch the game to see how much heart and effort they played with in the second half. Through the last fifteen minutes of the game you could see the absolute exhaustion on every players face as they fended of attack after attack by the more talented Swedes. I watched in awe as players I had never heard of used every ounce of energy, skill, and athleticism in their body to try and make the impossible happen. Yes, it was only a tie (they almost had a miracle goal in the 59th minute that just banged off the post), but it was some of the most inspiring football I have ever seen.
If it wasn't for the superb goalkeeping of Hislop and the tenacious defense of players like Brent Sancho and Carlos Edwards they might not have hung on, but they would not be broken. It was a surreal game and a great moment. I can only hope that they have enough left in them for their next two games.
Date
Sat 06/10/06, 11:00 am EST
