Professionals

Day 27-28, Monday and Tuesday, June 21-22. From Sharon:

Monday and Tuesday we did a lot of professional sports watching. With three games on Monday and four on Tuesday, it really took our full attention. Today especially, there were two games being shown at a time in two time spots. Let me assure you, the talent needed to divide your attention between two soccer games simultaneously is not one to be laughed at. It is, indeed, a special skill. Most exciting was the first set of games today - South Africa needed to win and gain a total of five goals in goal differential between whoever lost the other game (Uruguay-Mexico) in order to avoid being the first host in World Cup history to fail to advance past the group stages. Unfortunately for SA, they haven't won a game yet and were playing France. While France has suffered an incredible public implosion over the last few days (some choice words about the coach's mother were yelled during halftime of the last game, that player was subsequently sent home, the rest of the team subsequently boycotted practice, the coach subsequently called all his players "stupid" at a press conference...really if you haven't been keeping up with all the drama, you're missing out on something fierce. Fiercely unbelieveable), they're still a top 15 team in the world (for perspective, SA is ranked like 80th...?). So chances were looking slim. Also, SA's star goalkeeper got a red card in the last match and so can't play. In short, it was not looking good for our heroes.

The match was an exciting one as SA scored two awesome goals in the first half (and had many more chances) and Uruguay went up 1-0. At each goal, the hostel went nuts, the best part being the little SA women who work in the kitchen who would scream and dance around after every goal. With a three goal difference already built up after only one half, it looked like the miracle that SA needed to advance (five goals) would actually come true. Sadly it did not, as no more goals were scored by SA or Uruguay and France got one back. Despite that disappointment, it was nice to see the hosts get a well-deserved win and end the tournament on a high note with a game they could really be proud of.

Last night, we ventured out into the city with two Americans we met at the hostel for our first night on the town (other than game nights). We saw the late game over dinner, had some delicious pizza and local brews for bargain prices (between us I think we had a pizza and seven drinks for $25), and finished the night playing pool with some 19 year old South Africans (the drinking age is 18 in SA and I felt really really old. 18 is yoooooung. They barely look old enough to feed themselves, nevermind imbibe an adult beverage or three. Surely I did not look that young at 18). Brian had a strong showing on the pool table and was unbeaten in a few games with the local star, so count another one for America. The guys we'd found from the hostel were absolutely hysterical and the three of us in the back of the cab were in stitches over the one's 20 minute conversation with the cab driver over whether or not you can turn left on red in South African (the long awaited answer? Sometimes).

We go to Pretoria (about an hour away) tomorrow to see the US-Algeria game, then rush back to Joburg to make the Germany-Ghana game. After the incredible experience that was seeing the last US game live, we're pretty excited to cheer them on to the second round. Just need to go find that face paint....