WORLD CUP FEVER

Yeah, I'm opening this post with a picture of Landon Donovan scoring a decisive goal against Algeria. But we already how this story ends, the U.S. goes up against Ghana and once again loses 2-1, just like 4 years ago. Only this time my hopes were higher for the team this time around.

I know that most Americans interest in the World Cup ended this past Saturday. But I am still in it for "the beautiful game". The action, the drama, the old rivalries. I mean Germany v England was one of the most exciting games of the tourney and the Germans performance solidified my love for the nation's team.

So how did an American girl like myself get hooked on the world's most popular sport? Well in all honesty it began with a Calvin Klein ad featuring Freddie Ljungberg. It was the early aughts, and that pic hung on the wall in my office, it was like a pick me up. So yeah, my entree into the world of football began with the objectification of the male body, but that's not a bad thing.

Fast forward to 2006, I'm living in Barcelona and the local club won a major championship. I almost lost a toe when some overzealous fans were letting off small fireworks. And then the World Cup was upon us. What began as a mild interest turned into a full on passion. I'd be walking thru the Barrio Gotico pass a pub and there would be a crowd a people watching a match. Innocently I'd go in a watch and then realize that I'd spent hours watching matches. My friend Tanya and I planned night's out around the games and got completely swept up in the players and the games. Yeah, the ogling of hot men did not hurt one bit. I mean have you seen Zidane! Smoking.

Once the World Cup was over, it became about the regular season and FC Barcelona was one of the best teams around. So I watched a lot of matches, I loved it. And though I've been back in the States for a few years, I have maintained my love of the game and the players. I'm a Chelsea supporter and thanks for Fox Soccer Channel I see my share of games.

This World Cup has been different, I've still seen a lot of games but they've mostly been on the computer as I sit behind a desk. Thanks to Univision I've been able to watch the games, and it's like being back in Barca because I'm hearing the games in Spanish and the announcer are more animated, so it makes it more fun.

Spain's victory over Portugal today marked the end of the second round. I'm really looking forward to watching Germany face Argentina again, even with the absence of my beloved Michael Ballack, the team are in top form, as evidenced by their routing on England on Sunday. (Did I suddenly become British over that last line?) I'd like to see the Germans go all the way. I know everyone is counting on a South American team, mainly Brazil, but honestly I haven't been all that impressed by their fancy footwork and star play Kaka hasn't wowed me. I'm more interested to see what Kaka does under the watchful eye of new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho in the regular season.

I've been updating my twitter feed pretty regularly as the games go and you can follow that here. I'll be in a constant state of excitement until the final on July 11.