And Then There Were Eight...

Fans of South Africa, the USA, England, I apologize profusely. There was no need for your teams to exit the tournament so early, and the blame can be placed squarely on one individual: Marnie Shaffer.

If this seems a little harsh, Marnie has admitted as much herself. The teams she roots for lose. Period. Unfortunately, I will now need to extend my apologies to the whole of Africa, as Marnie, along with the rest of the continent, has thrown her weight behind Ghana. Woe is them.

At least in the case of the US and Bafana, there was something to feel good about afterwards. Bafana managed to beat up on a world class (albeit completely dysfunctional) French side, and the US did well to fight back from a goal down to take Ghana into extra time (though our back line was made to look particularly geriatric- I’m looking at you Jay DeMerrit).

No such feelings of good will are flowing toward the English camp, whose 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany has caused the whole country to re-examine its own self worth. Making the situation much worse was a picture going round the papers of the team seated around a table piled with beer, puffing on stogies, which doesn’t exactly contradict the current notion that this is a team of selfish pampered nancy boys.
Will the coach be fired? Will Beckham take his place? Will the younger generation get a shot? It’s all great melodrama- if you’re not English.

Though I hope Ghana does make the last four, I’m rooting for my beloved Dutch side, and hoping that Marnie doesn’t take a shine to them.