24 June 2024 – Dr Sophie Louisa Bennett, PhD Conservation Biology (Lincoln 2016), MA Modern and Medieval Languages – German and Swedish (KC 1987, Cantab 2020), Diploma in Translation – German into English (City University/Institute of Linguists 1998)
Following an out-of-sorts-looking Carlos Alcaraz’ exit from Queen’s, I feared a bad omen had been delivered for Spain’s national football squad. Would they go down to Italy? I worried that my expert ‘tip’ for the finals would be proved wrong and my sibling would be gloating over a Moretti over his adopted homeland’s progress instead. It was however con mucho gusto that I saw them edge a win and go through to the last 16. ¡Felicidades España! Perhaps their neighbours on the Iberian Peninsula are also in with a shout…
Since I watched Carlos go out, the football tournament has moved on apace… Although my verdict on the prospects for any of the matches on offer is that they are likely to be both boring and brutal (some of the Hungarian interactions certainly were) – although I was pleased to see a bit less tripping up (and diving), pushing, shoving and hardly any shirt-pulling in the past few days.
Willing to give Turkey versus Portugal a try and see if there was a spark there. And there was indeed – more than a spark or two. I even watched a promising young player who is apparently very good but ‘not a Maradona or a Messi’ (so the Portuguese media have indicated). A very good player though. Around the goal mouth I did detect a Maradona-ness about him. Maybe they don’t want to build him up only to tear him down subsequently.
In terms of Germany’s performance – creditable to get into the last 16, but why leave it until the last 90 seconds? Füllkrug to the rescue, followed by a vollem ,Krug’ in der Kneipe, no doubt. Hopefully, Der zerbrochene Krug will not make an appearance. Of lime and soda or an Apfelschorle. How horrid that there was a terrible enough injury for a Hungarian to be taken off to hospital. I think it would be better for all concerned to behave a little bit more respectfully to one another as any injury has the potential to be career-threatening.
My one question would be: why was everyone so beastly about England’s performance? Is it the famous cynicism of the pundits back home? I saw plenty to suggest that their performance was no worse nor better than many other sides playing. Much as I know England expects (still, come the finals we will be in the best country in the world to enjoy football as a fan, but perhaps not as any prospective owner). As we know by now, Scotland no longer expects or hopes… Although I fancy a fair few friendships will have been made thanks to the eternal attraction of a man in a kilt. In a toss up between Lederhosen and kilts I know which I would choose.
Prost! Prosit! Zum Wohl!