The 2014 World Cup is only a few days old and there have already been a number of talking points, including horrible refereeing calls in both the Brazil vs. Croatia and Mexico vs. Cameroon matches, as well as the Netherlands overthrowing Spanish kings with a 5-1 #BEATEMDOWN (shoutout to Bomani Jones) in a rematch of the 2010 World Cup Final.
However, I’ve also had a great experience during the unlikeliest of games.
However, I’ve also had a great experience during the unlikeliest of games.
On a personal level, one match has seen me go through a range of emotions. The match I’m referring to is…. Chile vs. Australia?
Chile vs. Australia
(Image courtesy of fivesee.com)
This game really doesn’t jump off the page in any meaningful way and certainly it doesn’t produce a multitude of reasons why a Canadian-born Jamaican would get emotionally invested, but that’s what the World Cup can do to you.
Having quite a few Australian friends, I found myself living and dying with every chance and going through 1000 different emotions.
I started out intimidated by the pro Chilean crowd in full voice singing their national anthem. This quickly led to anguish going 2-0 down in the first 15 minutes, goals being scored by Alexis Sanchez and Jorge Valdivia.
Just when I thought the route was on, my emotional state changed again.
I started out intimidated by the pro Chilean crowd in full voice singing their national anthem. This quickly led to anguish going 2-0 down in the first 15 minutes, goals being scored by Alexis Sanchez and Jorge Valdivia.
Just when I thought the route was on, my emotional state changed again.
A feeling of pure joy came over me when Tim Cahill’s header hit the back of the net and cut the lead to 2-1, keeping the Aussies in the match and landing a psychological blow ten minutes before halftime.
For the remainder of the game I was filled with stress, everything from a key goal line clearance to keep the score at 2-1 to the slew of near misses and close shaves that nearly leveled the game at 2-2. The closer the Socceroos came to scoring the more I found myself trying to will the ball into the goal, wanting to see the little guy shock the world.
However, Chile scoring a third goal in the 90th minute ending the match 3-1 left me feeling disappointed and sick. Not only for what is a fairly young Australian squad, but also for my friends.
Having no official nation to root for in the tournament, moments like these are what the World Cup is all about. I have no roots to Australia at all, but having watched that game and seeing how much it means to many of my Aussie friends, I’ll be wishing them luck and success for however long they’re in the tournament.
After going through all of that, one of my Aussie friend James McKern put it best “Honorary Aussie for the game!”.
Be sure to keep up with my World Cup experience on the War Room Sports Blog and catch the Gaffer & Hooligan World Cup mini-shows on the War Room Sports Podcast Network.
Kamal Hylton of The Gaffer & Hooligan Soccer Podcast, for War Room Sports
For the remainder of the game I was filled with stress, everything from a key goal line clearance to keep the score at 2-1 to the slew of near misses and close shaves that nearly leveled the game at 2-2. The closer the Socceroos came to scoring the more I found myself trying to will the ball into the goal, wanting to see the little guy shock the world.
However, Chile scoring a third goal in the 90th minute ending the match 3-1 left me feeling disappointed and sick. Not only for what is a fairly young Australian squad, but also for my friends.
Having no official nation to root for in the tournament, moments like these are what the World Cup is all about. I have no roots to Australia at all, but having watched that game and seeing how much it means to many of my Aussie friends, I’ll be wishing them luck and success for however long they’re in the tournament.
After going through all of that, one of my Aussie friend James McKern put it best “Honorary Aussie for the game!”.
Be sure to keep up with my World Cup experience on the War Room Sports Blog and catch the Gaffer & Hooligan World Cup mini-shows on the War Room Sports Podcast Network.
Kamal Hylton of The Gaffer & Hooligan Soccer Podcast, for War Room Sports
