Two Champions

For soccer loving people like us these last weeks have been spent enjoying game after game after game.  The European Football Championship, commonly called the Euros AND the Copa America happened during the same weeks.  National teams from Europe compete in the Euros and teams from South American countries (with a couple of guest teams, like the US, Canada, and Mexico) compete in the Copa.

With multiple games every day it has been a soccer lovers dream. Games from Europe in the morning and then in the evenings from the US.  I printed out brackets to keep track of all the results and dutifully filled them in each day.

No surprises who are two favorites were. 

Spain in Europe

Argentina in the Copa America.

Both teams won all their games leading up to the final so both were favorites.

There were some thrilling games.

Including a shoot out that had me pacing the floor.

Thanks to the heroics of Emil Martinez, Argentina won that one, even after Leo Messi missed his shot!

This was likely Messi's last international tournament as he has reached the ripe old age of 37 - normal retirement age for a professional soccer player.

He didn't have the best tournament but is always a threat on the field.

Then in the championship game he was injured and subbed off.

Broke my heart to see him crying.

But his teammate Lautaro Martinez scored and that was enough to see the team lift the cup for the 16th time and the 2nd time in a row.

As team captain, Messi could have lifted the cup on his own.  Showing his true class and team spirit, he invited the other two 'old guys', his age mates Otamendi and Di Maria, to lift it with him.

Messi will forever be one of my all time favorite players.

On the field he has been mesmerizing and off the field, from all I can read and observe, he is a genuinely nice guy and a great father and husband.

Monica was thrilled to see her country lift another international trophy.

John and Isabella are big fans as well. Lots of happy smiles at their house!

Meanwhile in Europe, Spain kept racking up the victories.

Eventually defeating England in the final.

This year the Spain team had some fantastic young talent.  #17 is Nico Williams (age 23) and the young man on his back is Yamine Yamal, who turned 17 the day BEFORE the final.  And is a 1st team starter for our beloved FC Barcelona. 

I love that he still has braces!

He was named Young Player of the Tournament, was the youngest player to register goal involvement in a major tournament final and his goal against France in the semi-final was voted the Best Goal of the tournament. 

It was a stunner!

Nico and Yamal are good friends.

We would LOVE to see Nico join his buddy as a Barcelona player!

Fingers crossed.  

¡Viva España!

George's contribution was to wear the appropriate shirt while he watched each game. 

Spain in the morning

Argentina in the evening

Worked like a magic charm!

Two games! 

Two shirts!

Two victories!

Best Wishes to the Happy Couple

 Shortly after we moved to Boise in 1988, 2nd grade Matt became friends with a darling girl named Erica Emory.  Her Dad became our kid's dentist.  And interestingly enough, Erica had a brother Brian who was Johnny's age and a little brother Logan who was Scott's age.  We've been friends for a long time.  

Scott and Logan played soccer together after we moved back from Spain.  Together they made the transition from Capitols Soccer club to Nationals Soccer Club.  Through the years we have spent many hours with the parents, Rod and Tanya, on the soccer field.  Scott and Logan hung out quite a bit during high school even though they went to different school.

When Scott moved to Portland, he roomed with Logan for several years.  Scott was cheering from the sidelines for Logan as he met and fell in love with Kesia.  Scott, Logan, Kesia and two other guys lived together during Covid.  Portland really was shut down so it was important to have friends when you were stuck at home.

Still makes me smile to think about one of their 'Covid' excursions!  The famous 'In and Out Burger' opened in Salem, Oregon, about an hour away from their home.  Those kids drove down there, waited in the drive-through line for close to an hour and finally ordered.  The funny thing - Scott is a vegetarian!  His order - French Fries!

Last weekend we drove over to Hood River, Oregon to attend Logan and Kesia's wedding.  Such a beautiful night!  Kesia's mom is a master gardener who had worked tirelessly to have a stunningly beautiful backyard for the wedding.  Kesia's dad had almost died of Covid a couple of years ago.  He was intubated for several months.  I know that there were a lot of happy tears watching them both walk their daughter down the aisle. It was a true miracle.

Scott remembers sitting with Logan as he worked on a appropriate response to Kesia's early messages, saying to himself, "I can't mess this up."  I'm glad he didn't mess up! So fun to see them all so happy!

It was a treat for us to catch up with several of the soccer team parents.

And to see Scott with his old teammates!

Andrew Burris, Chris Dodd, Logan and Scott

I can't believe that this is the only photo I got of Rod, Logan's Dad.

Gus, the dog, loves him.

Sadly, Tanya is in the late stages of early onset Alzheimer's and wasn't there.

I felt sad. I can only imagine how Rod must have felt.

I am glad Gus showered him with kisses.

The Emory kids all grown up

Logan, Erica, and Brian

So much joy and love!

Two strong families coming together!

A new little family started!

What A World!

 My good friends the Schwendimans were in London the week before the coronation.  I had asked them to bring me a commemorative mug and a tea towel.  They did!  I have mugs from Charles and Diana's wedding, William and Catherine's and from the Platinum Jubilee. 

The most amazing thing is that on Tuesday morning May 2nd I was sitting at my computer in Eagle, Idaho while I was

Texting with the Schwendimans in London to pick out a mug

Watching a funeral over Zoom that was being held in Salt Lake City

Following a soccer game in Spain on my I-Pad

and 

Receiving photos over What'sApp from Kenya!

What a world we live in!

Argentina Wins the World Cup

As a Barcelona fan, I have always loved Leo Messi.  I cried when he lost in the World Cup final in 2014 and again when he was forced to leave FC Barcelona.  Watching him cry both times just broke my heart.  It's weird, isn't it, that someone you don't know can touch you so.  

This last Sunday the only tears shed were tears of pure joy as I 'watched' Leo and the Argentine National Team win the World Cup in a thrilling game against France. 

Argentina started off so strong, totally dominating the French team in every way. It was 2 - 0 Argentina and I was mentally celebrating, thinking of preparing an Argentine meal for Sunday dinner and celebrating with John, Monica and Isabella.  Then boom, just like that in the 80th and 81st minute the amazing Mbappe scored two goals.  As the announcers said, ''Game on". I truly felt nauseous. Reminded me of when one of our boys played for the State Championship!  Just sick with nerves!

As the regulation time ended George and I went to church.  True confession, we followed the play by play on our phones during sacrament meeting.  Extra time in soccer goes for 30 additional minutes past the normal 90 - two 15 minute periods.  At minute 108 Messi scored and I was thrilled thinking that it was just perfect that his extra time goal would win the World Cup.  Unfortunately Mbappe had different ideas and scored again at the 118th minute.  Tied again and it ended tied.  Shootout here we come. I was a wreck.

Here's Monica 'watching' the game from the tranquility of her closet!  Actually she is listening to music!!! Had I not been at church I might have done the same thing. It was a rollercoaster with alternating waves of joy and agony!

For some weird reason my Goal.com app stuck when the shots from the mark were happening.  I knew that it was 3-1 Argentina but then it wouldn't refresh.  Finally a notification came through on George's phone that Argentina had won the World Cup!  Big relief!!!  And happy day!

The official score looks like this Argentina 3(4) - France 3(2). So at the end of the game it was 3-3 and then Argentina hit 4 shots in the shootout and France hit only 2.  The goalie from Argentina saved one, France missed one but Argentina hit all of theirs.

The moment that the last goal went in. and the team knew that they had won!  The sweet taste of victory!  Messi is #10.

Messi could now add a World Cup trophy to his impressive haul of titles and awards!

Does this settle the debate of who is the GOAT?  Greatest of All Time. Probably not but in my mind there is no question that the rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo is settled. Messi is the genius of football.  Don't know how you can compare him to other players from a long time ago, like Pele, but for me there is no one like Leo.  Mbappe will stake his claim to the GOAT title and might someday claim it.  But for today, let's celebrate Messi and the Argentine National Team.

Just look at his adorable family savoring the moment!

And take a peak at the crowds in Buenos Aires celebrating! They called it a sea of supporters.  In fact,  the bus taking the players to the city center couldn't make it because of safety concerns so they put the team in helicopters and flew them over the city.  Monica heard that there were 10 million people along the route. I heard 4 million but either way, that is a LOT of excited people.  Very difficult to control!

I especially liked this photo that Monica shared with me.  That's the LDS Temple in the background where John and Monica were married.

Sunday night we did celebrate with a chicken Milanese and French fries (very typical Argentine meal)  and we toasted the World Cup Champions with sparkling cider!

What a day to be a Messi and Argentina fan!

I don't know why it matters to me but it does and I am so happy!

 

Messi Gets His International Trophy

I know that I am not unbiased in the whole GOAT debate.  Who is the greatest of all time?  Ronaldo or Messi? Pele or Maradona? I love FC Barcelona and I love Messi so I was understandably thrilled when Argentina won their first international trophy in this year's Copa America Tournament. Before this year, Messi and the Argentine National Team had reached 3 Copa America finals and one World Cup final, losing each time.  He does have an international Olympic gold medal and one from the Under-20 World Cup.

I was just thrilled for him.  His joy was visible for all to see. I think mine was too!  In the bottom photo he is calling his family just after the awards ceremony.  How I would have loved to see those little boys celebrate with their Dad!

By the way, this tournament also saw him take home awards for the Top Player and the Top Scorer.  Does this settle the Greatest of All Time debate?  At our house YES....for the rest of the world, probably not. 

Isabella Starts Soccer

 In other news - Isabella started soccer.  She was very excited about all her new gear including some bright pink shoes. 

Our kids didn't start until 1st grade so this U-6 team is new for me.  According to Coach Scott, the only thing that matters at this age is having fun. 

So far so good!  Tonight as we were leaving the field she proudly proclaimed, "Today I was EXCELLENT!"

Post World Cup Post!

It's over!  After 3 weeks with multiple games most days, we are all suffering from a bit of soccer withdrawal!  

The winner wasn't our 1st choice - Argentina nor our 2nd choice Spain or even our eventual favorite tiny little Croatia. France has a fantastic team with super stars in every position.  And while my head said that they would win, my heart surely wanted Croatia with a population of 4 million to win their first ever World Cup.

One of the reasons I cheered for Croatia was this man right here - Ivan Rakitic..  Yes he is a Barca player and that is one reason I like him but the other is that he looks so much like our son, Scott.  It's his coloring and hairline and general build.  Even Monica's family in Argentina agrees.   Scott says that sometimes soccer savvy customers come into Starbucks where he works and mention how much he looks like Rakitic.

When he stepped up to take the 5th shot in not 1, but 2, overtime shootouts, I was as nervous as if it had been Scott.  I didn't need to worry as he rifled both shots in to help Croatia advance.  

  

Estimates are that 550,000 people showed up to welcome the Croatian National Team home to Zagreb!  That is about 10% of the entire population there to celebrate their 2nd place heroes!

I can't imagine what the celebration would have been like had they actually WON the World Cup!

I am sure that this eased some of the pain of the loss.

And it was a Croatian player who won the Golden Ball for the best player of the entire World Cup - Luka Modric.  He's a Real Madrid player but I can't hold that against him, can I?  This was the money shot....Luka Modric and Kylian Mbappe, who won the award for best young player.  He's only 19.  What a future he has before him!  The next Messi/Ronaldo??? Maybe?  I say, "Lets get a Barca shirt on him."

Oh, and in case you are wondering, Matt won the family predictions game with 13 of the round of 16 predictions right on and 7 of the knock out round games correctly placed.  Way to go Matt!

Four years from now the World Cup will be in Qatar! Eight years from now in the US!  Maybe I will finally get to got to a World Cup game in person!

World Cup 2018

Our family has a love of the World Cup!  It started in 1994 when we had young kids who enjoyed playing soccer.  George won 4 tickets to a World Cup game in Los Angeles so the 6 of us flew down.  Since Scott was only 6 years old, the two of us missed the game and went to Knott's Berry Farm instead.  George, Mary, Matt, and John saw a semi-final game - Sweden and Brazil

1994 - Brazil won

In 1998 we were living in Spain when the World Cup was in France.  Because Scott had not gotten to attend last time, he and George took the train to Bordeaux to see Croatia and Romania play.

1998 - France won

In 2002 John was invited to visit his friend S J in Seoul, Korea during the first World Cup ever held in Asia.  Yes, he got to attend a game as well - Costa Rica vs. Turkey.

2002 - Brazil Won

John enjoying the World Cup in Seoul, South Korea
2002

In 2006 we tried and tried to get tickets to some games in Germany but had to settle for watching it at home.  We went to a good friend's home to watch.  Unfortunately they were big Germany fans and we were all rooting for Italy. 

2006 Italy won

In 2010 we didn't even try to get tickets for games in South Africa but this was probably our favorite World Cup ever.  We nervously watched at our home in Eagle as Spain won in overtime.

2010  - Spain won

Loving every moment of Spain's win!

World Cup 2014 will be one of my best memories ever!  I was in Kenya with no TV or internet access for most of the games.  Each day one of the Kenya Keys staff workers would stop by the office, check the scores on the internet and come and report to me.

The student we sponsor invited me to go with him to a bar to watch Nigeria vs. Argentina with the warning that I could not cheer if Messi scored.  I'll never ever forget being in that bar in Kenya, the only white person and the only woman!

2014 - Germany beat Argentina in the final

Johnny and Monica were living in Buenos Aires for the 2014 World Cup and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere in that football crazy country!

Now here we are in 2018

Again we aren't going to the World Cup but we have our predictions recorded. And the DVR set to record the most interesting games.

  It's a miracle that we all are cheering for the same team......

ARGENTINA!

Here is their cutest fan! Vamos Argentina!