in point form- 1) credit to my sons who woke up at 530 am to go to an airport 90 minutes out of sao paolo to fly to Brasilai for the third- fourth match. They watched that in brasilia, then slept from 10 pm to 230 am and woke up and headed to rio on a 530 am takeoff from brasila to rio to watch the final at 4 pm. Needless to say they are falling over the place now after the final. I may be able to do crazy schedules, but each person is different and they REALLY pulled through. 2) Shakira REALLY shaked her booty. It was short and sweet but it was not a half ass (excuse the pun) job by her. 3) The injury to Khedira was quite disruptive to the Germans, but it seemed the Argentine crowd was much more united, organized and focused than the Belo Horizonte one. It helped that they did not care to be the underdog thus releasing the pressure of Argentina having to force the play. This helped the crowd work the Germans a bit, and allowed Argentina to play on the counter. Howedise the left back was having a nightmare at certain times, and Lavezzi was running hard and with intent on the break. 4) Even so the Germans seem to have a new faster version of tiki taka. And were very slick in controlling the game. The selection of Boateng in place of Mertersacker and Lahm at right back (due to the Mutsafi injury it may be added) both turned into mastersrtrokes for Low. Lahm did not slow down the play in midfield and is of course among the best right backs in the world. He had a very good extra time, running strong no doubt spurred on by all the near misses in his exemplary international tournament career. 5) But the star of the show (call me biased if you want to!) was Ozil. Like Durban 4 yrs ago I was left in awe, at how he was willing to take responsibility, how he wanted the ball, wanted to run at the defenders and was basically the best player out there. The team that say Ozil is hot and cold and is inconsistent doesnt know how to use him- Germany do. If there was no Ozil tonight Germany would have struggled to retain the ball the way her did. 6) The chance of the night fell to Messi. The Higuain chance was a lot farther out than it looks on replay. True he could have settled himself but that is discounting the fact that if he tries to bring that ball in control and line it up, precious moments get wasted and a last ditch tackle MAY be made (Mascherano on Robben in the semi is an example). So he took it first time, except he was just a few yards too deep and in any case he fluffed it. Im just saying it wasnt as easy as it looked. The Palacios chance he just miscontrolled and once his touch was off, Neuer was in his face and he was panicking. Could have still scored easily, but there is a reason why hes a second rate striker. If he was ruthless, dumb clubs would be paying 40 million pounds for him. It was a great chance no doubt. BUT Messis chance was for him a tap in. Again tv replays give a different story, of a difficult angle and defenders closing him down. It wasnt like that- he was clean through with ample time on his favoured foot and with no pressure. He scores that for Barcelona 100 out of 100 times. I guess it just wasnt meant to be. As the chances came and went, the intelligent Argie fanbase realized that the Germans dont give that many chances and the belief ebbed away. 7) Mascherano was again off the charts fantastic. Im sure ppl realize that Argentina played 3 extra times in 4 matches. One in the heat (vs Switzerland), One in the rain (vs Holland) and One in the final (vs Germany). And a tough match in the heat vs Belgium. It was bound to catch up with them. But only barely did it. This was a game of chances and whoever took them would win. 8) Credit to the brave German team for attacking with numbers and risking being caught on the break by Messi solos (didnt materialize) and initially Lavezzi runs. But they didnt cede control of the match, and BELIEVED in their team being good enough. So they played their game and slowly started to control the match. 9) Jerome Boateng had the game of his life. He did not make ONE mistake in 120 minutes of facing Messi. Not one. 10) Schurlle has been magnificent for Germany and despite having to come on earlier than usual, was game for it. He ran hard and played a big part. His cross for the goal was immense when he intelligently ran at a tired Argentine defence. 11) That was a great goal. It happend so fast and so many times the chest control isnt right, or the volley is off target, or their is hesitation. It was flawless, dead eye execution and he won it for them. They were always going to win when you realized the options they had off the bench. The winning goal of the world cup was created and scored by a sub. In the age of 120 minutes finals (3rd in a row for the world cup) the 12th, 13th, and 14th player become critical. Lucky for us- that like Iniestas winner 4 yrs ago this was also in our corner close to us. What a magnificent moment. (especially if you have a serious wager riding on it!) 12) There were so many fights between Brazilan and Argentinians that we stopped at first getting scared by them, then posting clips about them, then filiming them, and finally paying attn to them. It got old, but it was edgy. However I can safely say the intensity is NOT like India Pakistan cricket. Its just isnt. We have a rivalry of sports which is intertwined by historical seperation, religious differences, and past wars. It a different animal altogether. Even so, they dont like eachother much (argentines and brazilians.) For the most part of two weeks all i heard were songs about whos won how many world cups and Pele vs Maradona. And of course a lot about Caniggias winner in Italia 90. 13) Honorable mention to me who for the last 3 matches has managed to convince ppl in taxis to let us sit with them as long as i pay the fare of the ride, thus bypassing severly long lines. My coup de grace was acting like I was staying in the best hotel in Rio by flashing my match tickets around and managing to make it past iron clad security to go to the rooftop pool for grossly overpriced cheeseburgers which my sons partially tucked into. When in doubt go to a hotel. Don Khan Toulouse 1998, 14) It was the best tournament ever. 2 weeks for us. 10 matches. 3 trips to rio, 2 to salvador, 2 to brasila and stops in recife, belo and sao paolo. After the places we stayed the two nights we got in the Grand Hyatt in Sao Paolo felt like heaven. HOW teams were expected to stay in that hotel in Recife which we shared with the Costa Ricans is beyond me. The Ivory Coast and Costa Rica won while staying there but the USA and Italy lost. Predictable, as maybe the poor Italians and Americans had never even stayed in something remotely similar to that motel. 15) I could go on about football but Final Conclusion about the the overall trip (if you want a day to day you can come over and have an Ice Blended Mocha and I WILL tell you everything) --- If you love football and can afford it (i.e. are willing to compromise on other stuff to watch something live for 90 minutes) NEVER miss a chance to go to a World Cup. Until there are World Cups at least. 16) But NEVER EVER - even if you are offered a million dollars OR have a gun to your head come to Brazil. Especially if you are not DEAD fluent in Portuguese. The lack of basic effort made to communicate made the French look like they were fluent in English. They were just not bothered. 16) Under no circumstances make the favelas your cause or concern. We HAVE many many more favelas in our country, and all the social work you want to do can be managed in Pakistan. Ill leave it at that. 17) Brazilian ppl are not friendly and NOT into hosting international events. The Olympics have no business being here unless they change their attitude. There is nothing wrong with having pride in the language of your conquerors (irony anyone?) but English is a bridge language and you need to know BASIC english if you work in a hotel, and DEFINITELY in a BLOODY AIRPORT! 18) If you read on trip advisor about a guy raging at pool staff in Brasiia about cheese pizzas and screaming and shouting mouther and sister bad words in punjabi- then you know who it was. Brazil is lucky i had my kids with me, otherwise they would have seen my real answer to the service industries PRICE GOUGING of EPIC porportions and indifferent and downright RUDE attitude. Unfortunately I leave with a lot of rage that wasnt able to be let out:) 18) I could REALLY go on and on...about the 30 bucks i had to pay for the joke of a cheese pizza in brasilia, the rooms in salvador which was so small i considered putting my suitcase on TOP of the desk, the fact it took me 8 hours over two days to get sim cards which then didnt work- only to have shoulders shrugged at me. The crappy Brazilian meat compared to amazing Uruguyan and Argentine beef. The lack of anything to do in Sao Paolo and Belo, to which end we ACTUALLY spent all non football time in the hotel. The weird hot chocolates and mini size Cappucinos. This morning when I was looking for Amin Ellahi Shaikh and Ali Amer Azams apartment- many rude people ignored me and my polite calls for help for instructions. Except for the American couple who would do anything to help me find my way. It doesnt fit the narrarative to say Americans are a kind nation. But they are. And Brazilians arent! 19) So so airports but IMPRESSIVE on time flights. Crappy staff (you get the idea) 20) They have a lot of electiricity. Really sad to think we dont even have half of what we need. 21) They are lazy- dont invest in any Bric bonds and in their economy. Asians are much more hard working. Invest in them. We will overtake them soon enough. 22) Before accusing me of generalizing- remember my schedule. I saw a lot of their country. I dont appreciate being dragged into some class war here. Last time I checked I wasnt the one cutting down the amazon!! They were!, and they should answer to us about that!! And by they I mean their elite, their govt, and their businesses. If you want to drag visitors into it, dont bid for FIFA or IOC events. Protest when you BID, not when you are hosting. DUH!!! 23) The Brazilian stadiums are INCREDIBLE- which is good considering they spent all their money on them! 24) As is there police force, again good considering whatever money was left was spent on them. 25) I met some shehzadas, but they are everywhere. I dont work in the media so i dont need to sell some feelgood piece about Brazilan love and joy. I call it the way it is! Karma caught up with them. You be a crappy host, your team gets thrashed when visitors from Lahore curse you and put kaali nazar on you. 26) Gisele had nice legs even from a far. 27) GIVE IT A SKIP. Singapore, Lahore, London, Paris, New York, KL, Boston, Vegas, Maui, SF, HK, Dehli, Dubai, Cape Town and of course the great LA all await you. Rio na jaana!!! 28) Unless theres a World Cup there!
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 03:58:38 +0000
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