Quietly watching football…
Being a relatively new fan of the game, last night was the biggest match I’ve watched so far. I was on the edge of seat, but my mouth was shut…
Champions League semi-finals, Barcelona vs. Milan, and I knew I would be in enemy territory.
I asked the bar tender at my hotel where I could watch the game. He looked as though he might know…a tall, traingular man with impossibly broad shoulders, a bald shiny bald head and a mischevious grin, he looked like a character from a Guy Ritchie movie who’d be named The Italian, or The Joker, which is the nickname he actually uses. (Then again, maybe Mr. Ritchie would come up with something better.) He sent me in the direction of his friends bar and told me to mention him…they’d treat me well, he assured.
And indeed they did. The tables had been reserved weeks earlier, but the owner sat me with some of his friends, a trio of young Italian guys who were shocked to meet an American girl who likes football. They even resigned themselves to me cheering on the opposing team.
The game under way, I watched with my heart racing, folding my hands to keep from banging on the table, and reminding myself that shouting probably wasn’t the best plan of action as I was the ONLY person in the place routing on Barca.
The guy at the next table picked up on my loyalties none the less, and shared good-hearted smiles and laughs over close calls, and my occasional outbreaks. (He and the guys at my table were the only ones who caught sight of these…I was really good about it.)
The game was tense…50/50 ball possesion, a few close calls, some tense penalty shots and a final score of 0-0…which meant Barcelona won on aggregate, having scored one goal in their first semi game.
As I grin broke out on my face I put my head down and said a small thanks to the football gods. The guys all congratulated me on Barca’s win and told me they’ll be routing for them in the final. Barca plays Arsenal May 17th and I can’t wait to scream it out with Ayhan, my Arsenal supporting friend.
There’s nothing like a little good rivalry!
Tags: Italy
LizG
Liz
The other GG and I will be watching the Reds romp home in the FA Cup Final on May 13th. Actually, I had her read my the match report last weekend when I was in Moscow and it was a beautiful thing. Totally beautiful.
Got your message…see you tomorrow/friday night!