The recent World Cup (actually, the first round!) made me an overnight Football convert. Look- as an American I'm now calling it Football instead of Soccer (and having grown up watching the 49ers (and respecting their rivals, the Dallas Cowboys) as a child!)
Though I always found it amusing that, well, in (American) Football you sock people and in Soccer you use your feet....
What drew me in was curiosity and a great love of Latino culture, from years of being surrounded by wonderful Mexican friends and music, thanks to a nice apartment complex and a loving stepfamily.
And the romantic notion of the child of the ghettos playing the game in the streets as a child, then rising up to carry their nation on their shoulders and impress the world. (Which of course happens in Europe and Africa as much as in Latin America!)
So I went in rooting for Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, though I am pleased the US did so well, and I love the great European teams too now. (I just came from watching highlights of the Italian 06, 94 and 82 teams! (WOW!!! Truly Italy is home to great art!!!))
Well, something interesting happened in the first-round Argentina-Bosnia game.
Argentina won on what is officially an own goal by Bosnia.
But I SWEAR when I watch it it looks like the Argentinian player- it may have been Messi, I'm not sure- actually bounced the ball off the Bosnian player ON PURPOSE to score the goal!
Anyone else think so? Has anyone else noticed the possibility?
If this is what really happened, it is really impressive!
Though I have gotten used to miracles in this beautiful game by now!
Of course, the fact that the top World Cup teams regularly perform miracles makes it more believable that what I saw was not an accident!!!
Anyway, have fun!
David S. Annderson