The Marmot’s Hole

yes, it was not spain who fell on their arse tonight, it was my hijacked prediction that they would. i believe that this isn’t first mistake i’ve made all week.

i just realised another mistake: it’s not 3 in 15 matches that i’ve cheered for the winning team, but 4 in the first 15, as i did cheer on oz when they played japan (and that doesn’t include trinibago’s 0-0 “win” with sweden). my mistake, my friends from down under.

now about that last african team upon which i was pinning my hopes…

match 16: tunisia v. saudia arabia

regarding my unabashed love for all teams africa, this was the most difficult for me to choose, not the least of which because tunisia and egypt are usually my two least favourite teams on the forgotten continent. this, coupled with the fact that i still feel badly for saudi arabia based on their ‘02 performance, really had me in a quandary, but i eventually remained africa when choosing sides. however, should the result have gone against me, i wouldn’t have been too ragged, either.

anyway, as i mentioned earlier while commenting on spain-ukraine, tunisia were 1-nil up at half time thanks to a nicely-taken goal by zied jaziri in the 23rd minute. jaziri took a side-volleyed goal in the box when it fell to him after a tunisia free kick.

i think one of the reasons i’ve always less fancied the “atlas lions” than most other african teams is that they are the african side that most resemble a european side. they are usually tight on defense (relatively speaking, of course), they aren’t spectacular in their offense prowess, but, rather, are efficient, and normally have none of the flair of the majority of the other african sides. however, they are often vulnerable to opponents’ counterattacks, and tonight was no different.

in the 57th minute, a ball was struck well from near midfield to saudi winger mohammed noor running down the right flank just outside the tunisian box. noor then cleanly squared to onrushing striker yasser al kahtani, who, between two defenders, lasered the ball up into the top inside of the crossbar with the side flick of his right boot. just like that, with tunisia having had the better of play for nearly an hour, it was level.

the goal seemed to energise the “desert princes”, who immediately began to exert their influence on the match. they were finally rewarded in the 84th minute when, again, on a counterattack that started at the foot of their own goal, they were, in a flash of two passes, past midfield. a streaking, unmarked, sami al jaber slotted the ball past tunisian ‘keeper, ali boumnijel, after having an unimpeded run of about 50 meters. as i watched yet another team i fancied seemingly about to go up in smoke, i couldn’t help but feel a sense of happiness, anyway, as i watched the saudi players celebrate hedonistically. after their ‘02 censuring, you could see the pure joy in their celebrations.

there was not much time left, but i couldn’t abandon the only african team left, so i grudgingly watched the remainder play out. when the referee signalled that 4 minutes of stoppage time remained, there was a hint of opportunity, but i wasn’t sure how much. the first two and a half minutes was just a myriad of long balls by tunisia into the saudi half followed by a saudi clearance.

until…

…out of the blue, the saudi defense failed to clear one ball and allowed a tunisian to gather the ball just inside the box, nearly on the touchline and to the right of the goal, and he deftly flicked a cross to an awaiting radhi jaidi, who was between two defenders but not really marked. jaidi did what he was supposed to do and that was bury the ball into the back of the net.

now it was the north africans’ turn to be bounding on the pitch and in the stands in unfettered delight. about a minute later, the referee blew his whistle and the match concluded. it was an outstanding finish to a fairly entertaining game and a deserved result for tunisia. saudi arabia should feel flattered to get out of this with a point, but their two goals were well-taken and not undeserved, so they shouldn’t be too apologetic for nicking that point.

however, finally, africa have a point!!! that it should have to have come from tunisia–the one african team i thought was a sure win–is a tad depressing, but i’ll take it and hope it delivers good karma for the rest of the forgotten continent as the tournament heads to “week” two.

germany v. poland kicked off, but i can’t say that i’ll be back to comment on it until after i get some sleep following it.

oh, the first “week” tally is now official: 16 matches played, 4 teams correctly cheered for (though there are two draws, the trinibago one and the just-concluded tunisia one that each feel like a correctly-chosen selection). let’s hope the second go-round is better. if it’s not good for me, then i hope it is for you…