Two of a Kind :-)

Yipppeee…Its weekend time, n what do most of us do on weekends?…well it isn’t rocket science …its as good as anybody’s guess…
For a change it is breakfast@ 12 PM, lunch@ 4 PM and dinner @ 10 PM :-) …we think we’ve slogged over the week so hard that sleeping over-time becomes a necessity(now it doesn’t matter if we’ve spent 2 out of 8 hrs workin’ & the rest cribbin’ ‘bout how our jobs are monotonous, ‘bout how ignorant our higher-ups are ‘bout employee needs, ‘bout all those grapevine talks at the coffee vendin’ machine, ‘bout the hikes, ’bout changin’ jobs…etc etc etc…there seems to be no end…In short: ‘Welcome to the world of highly superficial supposedly over-paid ordinary mortals who claim that no other section of the society work harder than them, the high cost of livin’ attributed to them’…in other words ‘Welcome to IT’ :-) )…If only one knew better! Phew!!!
Do we talk ‘bout bringin’ ‘bout a change? Well tough one to answer…;-)

Well the above stuff was juz my way of startin’ off with my post on somethin’ other than soccer :-) …To those people out there who want me to write on juz bout everythin’ else around (juz coz I happened to write on somethin’ I love doesn’t qualify me to take over the mantle of a full-fledged writer, c’mon I have a lonnnggg lonnnggg way to go :-) )…Over the past few days since the time I started writin’ ‘bout the passion I have for the sport, I’ve had so many people comin’ n tellin’ me…’Amari, we love your posts on sports, don’t u think its high time you wrote on other stuff n start takin’ your skills seriously’? Well, Im honoured, thank you! But I’d still maintain am a free-lancer n I have loads to learn n that comes from experience and an amazing audience like you all! So I’d like to say, ‘Thank You folks, u make my posts worthwhile’!

Now forgive me if I commit errors while Im writin’ this post…am yet to come out of the sleep I’ve lost over the last week sittin’ up late nights watchin’ the semis of Euro-’08…Was it worth it? In a way yes, in a way no…

Yes for the followin’ reasons…
Yes, ‘coz Germany defeated Turkey n Spain defeated Russia…
Yes, ‘coz Germany Vs Spain is an ideal Euro-’08 final…
Yes, ‘coz Turkey n Russia gave a good fight before goin’ down…
Yes, ‘coz players like Bastian, Xabi, Silva, Lahm, Torres, Villa make soccer special…
Yes, ‘coz Spain plays fabulous football, they score with that than a mere chance…
Yes, ‘coz of the joy of seein’ the fantastic enthusiastic colourful crowds..
The ‘yesses’ end here…

No for the followin’ reasons…
No, ‘coz lotza weaknesses in the German defence exposed…
No, ‘coz there was mighty complacency in the German side, their feet were not quite movin’…
No, ‘coz Lahm’s goal which saved them was not somethin’ they were happy ‘bout n this came from Miraslov Klose’s mouth…I agree!
No, ‘coz Turkey were the better side on the day play wise n I think I feel sorry for them..
No, ‘coz there’s over-dependence on Villa and Torres…
No, ‘coz David Villa, the highest goal scorer in the tournament is out for the finals with an injury(He is gonna be missed)
No, ‘coz Spain need to have more faith in themselves …they can do it BUT only if they want to!

All said and done, Germany Vs Spain Finals on Sunday is one worth watchin’…Now rather than debatin’ how these two teams reached the finals from their group stages, how they got away with amateurish football in some of their games, how they overcame the mighty Turkey n the very fantastic Russians, how they attack or defend, how their respective coaches use tactics, how well they move their feet n above all ‘How well they handle the pressure of playing at this level’, we’d rather juz sit back, relax n get set to watch a good game of soccer!

Now who’s gonna take the prized Euro-‘08 cup? A million ‘dollar’ nah ‘euro’ question folks…very very tough to answer…
Spain n Germany, strictly in that order, both look good…
Germany is unpredictable n Spain can get rattled sometimes…
Germany have Ballack,Podolski, Bastian, Klose, Frings(If he’s playin’) in their line up…
Spain have Torres,Xavi,Silva, Xabi barrin’ Villa in their line up….
Casillas or Lehmann, who’s gonna turn ‘Life-savers’ on Sunday?
Statistics always doesn’t help, simple example is the way these two teams have reached the finals…
I love Ballack, I love Klose, I love Germany n I’d love to see Germany win, only for Ballack(It was hard to see his Chelsea, fav League team lose to Man U in the finals of EPL :-( )…Germany has already won Euro thrice so it would be nice to see them win again!

But again, if Im talkin’ ‘bout good football here, I’d root for Spain, definitely n honestly the better team among the two finalists (Yes, they are better than Germany here!)…from what form they have displayed in this edition of Euro, to losing David Villa to injury,defeating Russians 3-0, their first apprearance in the finals of a Euro cup,their immaculate sense of team spirit…they do not seem to have made many mistakes in reaching the finals, I’d give them a Thumbs Up!

Be it Germany or Spain, I wouldn’t mind either of them winning…
Two great teams, two contrasting semis…one pulsating final is what we want…

The land of Beethoven & Goethe on one side and the land of Picasso & Flamenco on the other…who will triumph? :-)

Watch the finals on the Sunday, the 29th June, final kick-off@ 11:15 PM IST

Cross my heart, in a sentence I pray ‘May the better team on the day win’!

Adios Amigos,
Amari