The picture above is just to prove that I did do something besides watch football this weekend. To be sure, though, my World Cup fever has not abated. I’m completely addicted. Tonight is Netherlands vs. Slovakia (not Slovenia, I’m pretty sure) and Brazil vs. Chile while tomorrow brings us Japan vs. Paraguay and Spain vs. Portugal. About Spain, anyone who thinks Fernando Torres took a dive in their game against Chile is blind or needs to check that replay one more time because he did NOT.

It was very sad watching Team USA lose to Ghana Saturday night but I was impressed by how well the Americans played against a very talented, fast, aggressive squad. I will be interested to see Ghana’s next game, when they will play a team (Uruguay) whose skills are closer to their own.

It was a little bit sad but mostly just very, very difficult watching England get clobbered so fully and completely not so much by Germany as by their own lack of anything resembling Premier-league-level talent. The disallowed goal by Frank Lampard did not help, as it killed the badly needed momentum England had built up after 30 minutes of lackluster play. But they probably would not have won anyway, as it was clear from the beginning of the WC that something was deeply wrong with this team. England’s players are known all around the world and, on Saturday, the stadium was packed with people expecting a fierce contest. What we all witnessed was anything but that.

German fans were, of course, crazy happy, and they deserved to be, as their side played beautifully. I’m really looking forward to seeing them play Argentina, who beat Mexico 3-1 last night. (Note: it should have been 2-1 but for another blown call by the refs.) Mexico put up a brave fight and played a good game but they just couldn’t beat Messi and his teammates. I personally don’t think Germany will, either, but we’ll have to wait and see.

I have been so enjoying watching the games, although, since I am a neophyte fan, I would enjoy it so much more if I could understand the play-by-play commentary and learn more about what I’m seeing. My Norwegian simply isn’t good enough to decipher the rapid, excited speech of the guys calling the game on TV. The games shown on TV2 are impossible, since one of those guys has an accent I can’t wrap my head around at all. During the England game yesterday, Husband and I turned down the volume on the tele and listened to BBC internet radio and that was great! It made watching the humiliation of the players tolerable, especially as one of the commentators, a Northern Irish guy (I think) was blindingly honest about what he was seeing in a typically dry, Irish, funny way.

Turning the TV volume down also allowed us to escape the sound of the ever-present vuvuzelas. I want to say a thing or two about those things. I find them super annoying, especially because they never stop---people blow on them throughout the entire f-ing game, with seemingly no notice of the nuance of what is happening on the field. Football is a fluid game, the action spikes and rolls; it never stops but there are often periods of calm that cannot be appreciated if the noise of the fans doesn’t correspond. Anyway, that’s the way I see it. But is it okay to say that?

I’ve read a lot on the internet that people who are criticizing the vuvuzela are being “culturally insensitive” about the way South Africans enjoy their football. Is it racist to say the vuvus gives me a headache? But they do! Why is it wrong to say that? We all, in our own countries, have our different traditions and habits but we can’t expect everyone to find them pleasing or entertaining, right? I mean, the English have a tradition of stabbing one another at football matches; doesn’t make it fun for everyone. I wore my Los Angeles Dodgers t-shirt to a San Diego Padres baseball game once and someone threw nachos at me. That’s the way Pad fans treat their guests; doesn’t mean everyone has to think it’s okay. Once, in my language class, two Italian guys complained that Norwegians sit like robots during football games, that they don’t know how to have fun. My teacher simply nodded and said, “Yes, we tend to be a little quiet out there.” She knew it was true.

And sometimes a little criticism from an outsider can be a good thing. As an American, I have learned that everyone in the world thinks I “talk too loudly” and “wear ugly white sneakers.” Which I do! Or did; I listened to that and ever since make an effort to keep my voice down when traveling and also invested in a pair of comfortable dark blue trainers. No harm done.

So, really, if you, South Africa, happen to hear me say in my new quiet voice that I’d like to use my new blue trainers to shove that vuvuzela somewhere I can't hear it, just know I’m trying to help you, is all. It’s just a little something to reflect upon when you next have a quiet moment (after the World Cup, of course).

Okay, time to get to work so I’m home in time for the games tonight. Enjoy!!!