Well, our productivity will surely see an upswing now that we’ve bid the World Cup adieu. Four more long years until the glory of the “beautiful game” returns to the global stage. It was a great run in 2010 and we thoroughly enjoyed the play.
Earlier on in the World Cup we posted about our disappointment with the way some players dramatize and over-exaggerate their injuries during play. Today I feel it is appropriate to call out one of the things I greatly admired about the players in this World Cup.
In one of the matches, when a red card was delivered and a player was forced to leave the field, it was truly inspiring to see the look of hurt and sadness on the remaining players from BOTH squads.
I was impressed that even though it came to their advantage, the opposing players still empathized with the anguish of their fellow sportsman. None of the players who make it to the world stage to play would enjoy being sent off early, despite whether the ejection is merited or not.
After observing this in one match, I watched the players’ faces a bit more closely in later matches and every time a red card was served, I saw the same reaction. Unlike the grimace that shows up after a player dives, I believe this empathetic anguish was true emotion.
Bravo to the the world of soccer (football) for once again showing us how naturally we humans can unite with one another!
While I appreciate that international soccer stars get plenty of glory, fame and money for their efforts, I must say that I do appreciate that they work blooming hard to get where they are. Sure, they’re physically gifted, but those national team players aren’t playing in the World Cup because they sat back and waited for the World Cup bus to pick them up. They have trained and worked hard for years to get to their skill and fitness level.
And I have really enjoyed watching the tournament this year. The upsets, the skill, the stamina (120 minutes of 100 yard dashes? No, thank you please.) and the thrill of international soccer. All that hard work by the players, coaches and staff made for some fantastic, month-long entertainment for me. Cheers to them all!
Bring on 2014 in Brazil!