hot, muggy, glorious

A bit muggy as is the wont in the fens, and this morning rain woke me up (or rather, t'sound of t'son shutting his windows against the patter), the nights gloriously silver, the buddleia globosa in full orange globular bloom with the few bees that are still granted us humming in between the blossoms -- well, it ain't football weather.

I have contemplated shifting the TV to a position where one might view it from the garden but the antenna cable is too short. During the Argentina game, I squatted awakwardly on the window sill, twisting my legs into the sun.

Here's the forecast: ( From the BBC onto my desktop screen )

why no manic football posting?

Four years ago I tumbled into a whirlwind of slashy football elation.

This year, I started out posting picspams, as if on autopilot from 2006. So why did the millions of pics and fics not materialise? Is it because I've lost interest?

Far from it! I can't get to LJ, because I spend all my days glued to the bloody TV set (while the sun outside is shining), and this is the thing: now that I have a proper job, I simply can't do job + football + making dinner + tidying house + chatting to child PLUS LJ pic- and ficspams!

Goodness. How did this happen? *looks under carpet for answer*

The short of it:
• DEUTSCHLAND!!!!
I am pathetic. In the mid-90s, I completely went off Germany. They played like robots; I had issues with my homeland where I actually spent only a part of my life and only the first five years of childhood; England were full of flair! Gazza, Becks, it were great!

But now! Germany redeemed themselves when they were such fabulous hosts for the 2006 World Cup, and their current team is just awesomeness made of awe. I love this team! It's young and it's multi-everything! It's the most multi-ethnic team in the entire tournament, a wise Five Live pundit informed me. And yes, it's tedious when the English start going on about T'War every time they play Germany, but even I, sekritly, think: this is redemption. Look what we've made. Half this German team with their names from all over the world - Khedira, Podolski, Miroslav, özil; Cacau - would not have been allowed to play in 1938, and possibly not have been allowed to live in 1940s Germany.

This is redemption at a Draco Malfoy level! (And yes, ve Tchermans so tediously never cease to talk about our Difficult Pasts and Don't mention the war!!. Instead, let's project it all onto Hogwarts. Hah.

• Ghana!
I am so happy that at least one African team went through!!

• Argentina!
How anyone can not love Maradona is beyond me. He is a one-man entertainment show and love fest. He smooches every player when they come off or go on; he slaps them on the bum; he leaps into the arms of his co-managers with gay abondon; he hops around like a Duracell battery bunny; he is LOVE. I am made anxious by the thought of Argentina:Germany. How can the Germans be responsible for throwing out Maradona? (If they do which I, conflictedly, hope...)

Also: Maradona = redemption. From glory boy of football to pathetic drug-addled, droopy-eyed monster to world's most lovesome manager!

• Speaking of managers!
Mourinho!!! (I know, he's not managing anyone in the World Cup but by jove, he's gorgeous. Although he is topped by Maradona for me, these days. Now there's a thought... *growl*)

Loew! I love Loew! Loew is drop-dead gorgeous in his black-on-black outfits, whether it be the full-on suit or the (very Tcherman) combo of suit jacket + T-shirt or the (disastrous) Strickjacken-outfit. Disastrous because teams simply don't win matches when their managers turn up in a knitted cardie.

Still, it did cling most suggestively to his suave torso.

• Spain!
omg David Villa! What goals!

• Portugal!
omg residue of Cristiano Ronaldo love! He's such a different person from 4 and 6 years ago when he was a Boy and Wept and Was Beautiful and Tragic. Now he is a Man with big bulging Man-Muscles, and mean little eyes, but oh, when he smiles, the night lights up still.

• Kaká.
I don't know what to make of Brazil. They have this very interesting and in its way, mesmerising way of playing. Unlike Germany who run like mad people for 90 minutes, dodging and passing, or Argentina who run like mad people and then shoot impossible goals from improbable angles, the Brazilians mill about for 20 minutes, looking aimless, and then suddenly, whoa, wham, bang, wizardry and GOL.

• Refs!
I love refs! I want to make a whole ref picspam with stats and names and OTPs but see point above about the + and + and +. Refs/refs! Refs/linesmen! Refs/managers! Refs/FIFA officials! Refs/footballers! Ah, if I had the time to write porn...