FIFA World Cup

In the months and years leading up to this years World Cup the English newspapers were publishing articles stating just how easy England would win. I was caught up in all the hype and began to believe the English may win. The Aussies again had a strong team and were looking to make it to the round of sixteen.

Many of the pubs and bars on Guernsey played the World Cup on television all day long which lead to some pubs advertising 'World Cup Free Zone.' These pubs had no televisions no newspapers and no radio during the month of the World Cup finals. Out of interest I entered these pubs a few times to find they were playing Michael Buble cd's on repeat and there was never a line at the bar.

Hotel Jerbourg, the hotel I worked at, had a cup sweep. Each staff member paid five pound and were given two teams. I drew out Spain and Nigeria. Spain were the bookies favourite for the tournament although Nigeria were unlikely to win a game. The Aussies lost convincingly 4-0 to the Germans in their first match of the group stage and it didn't look good. Australia then managed a formidable draw against Ghana and beat Siberia 2-1 although it was not enough to continue to the round of 16.

The English didn't fare much better, a 1-1 draw with the USA followed by a 0-0 draw with Algeria and a 1-0 win against Slovenia. Luckily for them the rest of the groups results went there way and they progressed into the round of 16. The journalists were tearing the team to shreds.

With the English looking unlikely winners and the Aussies out I started supporting the Spanish as the win meant a lot of money for me. The Spanish kept doing just enough to win and progressed to the final against the Dutch. England got thrashed by the Germans 4-1 as the Germans were looking good till the lost to Spain.

I managed to talk my way into getting the night off to watch the final as it was on about 7pm on a Sunday night Guernsey time. I headed to the sports bar in the town and found a place where I could see the television. The bar was full of orange as that is the Dutch colours, Guernsey is a very popular holiday spot for Dutch families. The game itself I found fairly boring with only the one goal scored. The Spanish again did enough to win and for it was a good win for me as I collected a handy 60 pound.

The few Spanish on the island partied long into the night as they did all over the World.