While the results of the two quarter finals were as per the expectations, there was a superb drama in the Australia-Spain match that I did not anticipate at all. Right from the beginning, Spain attacked from the right flank with deliberate intensity. Not sure if the Spanish coach saw weakness in Aussie defense or there was something specific in Spanish midfielder Gonzalez’ attack? But it yielded two goals in quick succession for Spain in the second quarter. Woohoo, we got all excited. Will we see the major upset? Oh well, the game is not over until it is over. When one minute was left in the first half, Spain missed a really really easy chance to make it 3-0, and Australia started its counter attacks. They scored 3 goals within 5 minutes in quick succession. And all our hopes of major upset started melting away. When the score was 4-3, believe it or not, Spain got a penalty stroke (sure shot goal opportunity!) when there were just three minutes left in the game. Definite equalizer, then definite penalty shootout and then definite major upset. Well, that scripted upset never happened. Spain missed the penalty stroke and was knocked out of the tournament.
The Belgium – New Zealand match was really boring to the point that I went for a chai and watched the game on the screen for a while. Top two teams have now marched to the semis. Belgium looks boringly flawless, while Australian defense looks porous, after conceding 8 goals in the tournament.
Parents of the Spanish defender #24 Ignacio Rodriguez were sitting behind us. We joined in their excitement and agony by screaming along with them, hugging them and waving their flag. Ignacio’s dad mentioned to us that his son has been working hard for long 18 years to be selected in the team. When I told him that parents must have worked very hard too, he had tears in his eyes. Sometime in my life, I want to understand this excitement, agony and pain of the parents of the sportsmen.
I suddenly noticed the Spanish jersey tagged as “Amat” and remembered the “Amat” dynasty of four brothers in Spanish hockey that dominated the world of sports in 80s and 90s. Looks like their children are slowly continuing their mark in in the sports of hockey as well. Why should dynasties be restricted to Kapoors in Bollywood? They happen everywhere.
Things are coming to a closure very soon. After today’s second set of quarter finals, there are semis and finals. That’s it!
