An end and a beginning
Ouch. Don't think there is any other word to describe it. You all know. The whole of Australia watched it. Anyway, that is for later.
Germany vs. Sweden was a fantastic game for the first half an hour, then it was pretty much over. 2 goals and a red card were more than enough to put Sweden out of contention. Unfortunately, I missed the first 20 minutes of the second half.
Most of the world cup has been pretty well organised, not Sydney standards, but pretty good. Munich however was a bit of a shambles. I mean, whoever thought to put all the trains going to the Stadium on the same platform as all the trains going to the FanFest was not thinking too well. There were ridiculous crowds trying to get on the trains at the platform. It ended up taking an hour to get on a train in pretty horrendous conditions - 30 degrees, jammed packed.
The other thing about the world cup games is that they won't let you take any drinks into the stadium ... apparently they can be used as weapons. Okay, fine, makes sense. That is, until you sit in the full sun at 35 degrees for an hour and a half watching the warm up and the first half of a soccer game. Generally then, you are going to need a drink. This sucks if there is nowhere to get water (even the toilets) except by buying it. This is even more of a joke when the places selling drinks are horribly organised, and it takes 25 minutes to buy 2 drinks.
On the way back from the stadium, we went to a famous beer garden in Munich near the Englischt Garten - amazing place, must have fitted close to 2 thousand people, all on tables drinking Mass (1 litre) of beer.
The next day, I went to Heidelburg while Bruce went to Kaiserlautern to get some tickets. Had a great time in Heidelburg, went out with some guys I met in the hostel (which was a fair way from the centre of town). It got close to the time of the last bus back to the hostel, so we walked to the place we had been set down by the bus. I pointed out that this meant we were going to be going the wrong way, but to no avail - the other guys reckoned the town was small, and it was simpler than trying to find another stop. So we get on the bus, and then travel a long long way out of Heidelburg. One hour later, we are going past our stop in the other direction. It is now 1 o'clock. I go and talk to the driver, and find out the bus is terminating, and isn't even going as far as our stop! Ah, the fun of travelling! Ended up catching a taxi, and getting home at 1:30 in the morning.
Kaiserlautern was very cool, there was a massive presence aussie presence everywhere. It was absolutely packed.
Ah, back to the game.
It had all been going so well as well. I mean, we had Italy under a lot of pressure. They were looking fatigued, and had been camped in their own goal area for the entire second half, ever since the some what dubious sending off of an Italian player for taking down Bresciano shortly after half time. I mean, we had some chances, some good chances, but not nearly as meany as we should have. The Australian support outnumbered the Italians considerably (since just about everyone in a white shirt (German) in the stadium, was supporting Australia). The feeling was almost resigned amongst the Italians. We were wearing them down, they knew it. We still had 2 subs to make, they had made all theirs a long time ago. Then that fateful moment. Stunned silence took over most of the ground, except for the Italian corner who were screaming. I could not see very well from where I was (we were a long way up) ... it looked like a penalty to me. Totti stepped up, and finished clinically. That was it. All this way, and it was over in 3 seconds to a penalty. Everyone walked out of the ground in silence. Even the Italians weren't making much noise (at least the ones who had left the stadium).
So Australia's world cup was over. It was a glorious run. Not quite Aussie gold, but we did very well, and I think everyone is proud of how we performed and played. It was definitely an amazing experience.
We have left Germany. Last night we headed to Strasbourg, just over the French border. Beautiful town, set on an island in the middle of a river. I read Angels and Demons lately (by Dan Brown, same guy as the Da Vinci code), so got symbollogy a bit in my head. I was pretty stunned then on going into the main cathedral in Strasbourg to see the Astronomical clock there decorated with Greek gods, and the Astrological symbols (Saggitarius etc.) Can anyone explain to me how they would let that kind of stuff in a church? Completely puzzling to me, but very Da Vinci Code esque ...
Today I am pushing on, leaving Bruce and heading up to Belgium. I think it will be great, but I still need a few more days to get over that final experience.!
Germany vs. Sweden was a fantastic game for the first half an hour, then it was pretty much over. 2 goals and a red card were more than enough to put Sweden out of contention. Unfortunately, I missed the first 20 minutes of the second half.
Most of the world cup has been pretty well organised, not Sydney standards, but pretty good. Munich however was a bit of a shambles. I mean, whoever thought to put all the trains going to the Stadium on the same platform as all the trains going to the FanFest was not thinking too well. There were ridiculous crowds trying to get on the trains at the platform. It ended up taking an hour to get on a train in pretty horrendous conditions - 30 degrees, jammed packed.
The other thing about the world cup games is that they won't let you take any drinks into the stadium ... apparently they can be used as weapons. Okay, fine, makes sense. That is, until you sit in the full sun at 35 degrees for an hour and a half watching the warm up and the first half of a soccer game. Generally then, you are going to need a drink. This sucks if there is nowhere to get water (even the toilets) except by buying it. This is even more of a joke when the places selling drinks are horribly organised, and it takes 25 minutes to buy 2 drinks.
On the way back from the stadium, we went to a famous beer garden in Munich near the Englischt Garten - amazing place, must have fitted close to 2 thousand people, all on tables drinking Mass (1 litre) of beer.
The next day, I went to Heidelburg while Bruce went to Kaiserlautern to get some tickets. Had a great time in Heidelburg, went out with some guys I met in the hostel (which was a fair way from the centre of town). It got close to the time of the last bus back to the hostel, so we walked to the place we had been set down by the bus. I pointed out that this meant we were going to be going the wrong way, but to no avail - the other guys reckoned the town was small, and it was simpler than trying to find another stop. So we get on the bus, and then travel a long long way out of Heidelburg. One hour later, we are going past our stop in the other direction. It is now 1 o'clock. I go and talk to the driver, and find out the bus is terminating, and isn't even going as far as our stop! Ah, the fun of travelling! Ended up catching a taxi, and getting home at 1:30 in the morning.
Kaiserlautern was very cool, there was a massive presence aussie presence everywhere. It was absolutely packed.
Ah, back to the game.
It had all been going so well as well. I mean, we had Italy under a lot of pressure. They were looking fatigued, and had been camped in their own goal area for the entire second half, ever since the some what dubious sending off of an Italian player for taking down Bresciano shortly after half time. I mean, we had some chances, some good chances, but not nearly as meany as we should have. The Australian support outnumbered the Italians considerably (since just about everyone in a white shirt (German) in the stadium, was supporting Australia). The feeling was almost resigned amongst the Italians. We were wearing them down, they knew it. We still had 2 subs to make, they had made all theirs a long time ago. Then that fateful moment. Stunned silence took over most of the ground, except for the Italian corner who were screaming. I could not see very well from where I was (we were a long way up) ... it looked like a penalty to me. Totti stepped up, and finished clinically. That was it. All this way, and it was over in 3 seconds to a penalty. Everyone walked out of the ground in silence. Even the Italians weren't making much noise (at least the ones who had left the stadium).
So Australia's world cup was over. It was a glorious run. Not quite Aussie gold, but we did very well, and I think everyone is proud of how we performed and played. It was definitely an amazing experience.
We have left Germany. Last night we headed to Strasbourg, just over the French border. Beautiful town, set on an island in the middle of a river. I read Angels and Demons lately (by Dan Brown, same guy as the Da Vinci code), so got symbollogy a bit in my head. I was pretty stunned then on going into the main cathedral in Strasbourg to see the Astronomical clock there decorated with Greek gods, and the Astrological symbols (Saggitarius etc.) Can anyone explain to me how they would let that kind of stuff in a church? Completely puzzling to me, but very Da Vinci Code esque ...
Today I am pushing on, leaving Bruce and heading up to Belgium. I think it will be great, but I still need a few more days to get over that final experience.!
posted by kingos at
1:50 AM
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