Day 15: My secret identity
23 June 2006, 18:49
Fifty-four minutes into France’s game against Togo, Patrick Vieira had had enough. He’d seen his teammates score only one goal in their last five World Cup matches. They kept running left and right, missing each other and the target. They seemed out of synch and unsure how to proceed. Vieira got up a head of steam and charged into the Togolese defense. When Vieira gets going, it’s an unmistakable sight. He is 6’5” but looks taller. He has elephantine limbs and an immense stride. As he got to the top of the area, the ball was elsewhere, but all eyes focused on him. He barged through, found some space, and turned his back to goal. He was ten yards out when he got the ball. He spun around and curled a perfectly placed shot into the corner.
As soon as he kicked it, he knew it was in. Without celebrating he jogged back toward the center circle and looked at his teammates as if to say, “That’s all there is to it, men. Let’s go.” A few minutes later he headed to Henry, who turned and shot. Goal number two. The French had advanced.
Vieira was born in Senegal, but he is French. I was born in America, but I am Spanish. Actually, that’s not true. I’m not Spanish at all. But when I was in Paris last summer, people kept mistaking me for a Spaniard. I liked it. One always wants to be mistaken for a local when one is traveling. The next best thing is to be mistaken for a tourist from a totally different country. One day, I went onto a soccer shop. It was the day after Zidane had returned to the French team. The shop was filled with Real Madrid shirts with his name and number. The proprietor asked me (He spoke English) if I needed help. I asked about Zidane. His face lit up. Are you from Madrid?
I’m not sure where I’m going with all this, but France plays my fake homeland of Spain in the round of 16. Zidane, a child of Algerian immigrants who plays in Spain, will face several of his club teammates (There are 5 Real Madrid players on the Spanish team). Eight players on the French team were not born in mainland France. I suppose on Tuesday, I’ll be Spanish, and part of me will pull for Zidane.
Elsewhere today, the Spanish B team took care of the Saudis. Ukraine beat Tunisia to finish second in the group.
Switzerland got a goal from Phillipe Senderos. It was a thundering header. He collided with a Korean defender on the play, and when they got up, both had bloody foreheads. The Swiss will be tough.
France v Spain
Switzerland v. Ukraine
Comments
commenting closed for this article
Day 14: A carnival at last
Day 16 Preview: The Argentine connection