First Team Squad
69
·
1K
·
almost 17 years

Like some of the others, I was pretty torn after that own goal. I jumped up immediately but then on reflection that was harsh.

I picked Serbia the moment the draw was done as my second team. 

I never expected to be enthralled as much as I did. Realistically I knew nothing about Serbia except that they recently ditched "and Montenegro".

But the ride they've taken me on over the last four games in Dunedin has been nothing short of awesome. And off the field they've been magnificent. 3 public engagement events over 10 days. I could now tell you each player's first name if you told me his number. (I gave up on last names, too many 'VIC's). 

The majority of my live football experience in a given year is in some sort of officiating capacity, and I sorta forgot how awesome it was to be a one-eyed, vocal football fan. And it was brilliant.

I was kinda skeptical about this tournament going into it, but I'm now at the point where I'm trying to justify spending $600+ that I don't have on a trip to Auckland for a 1/4 final between Serbia and a team that I don't even know yet.

and 5 others
Marquee
1.3K
·
7.4K
·
over 15 years

nice post Otago fan.

Phoenix Academy
26
·
180
·
over 14 years

otagofan wrote:

Like some of the others, I was pretty torn after that own goal. I jumped up immediately but then on reflection that was harsh.

I picked Serbia the moment the draw was done as my second team. 

I never expected to be enthralled as much as I did. Realistically I knew nothing about Serbia except that they recently ditched "and Montenegro".

But the ride they've taken me on over the last four games in Dunedin has been nothing short of awesome. And off the field they've been magnificent. 3 public engagement events over 10 days. I could now tell you each player's first name if you told me his number. (I gave up on last names, too many 'VIC's). 

The majority of my live football experience in a given year is in some sort of officiating capacity, and I sorta forgot how awesome it was to be a one-eyed, vocal football fan. And it was brilliant.

I was kinda skeptical about this tournament going into it, but I'm now at the point where I'm trying to justify spending $600+ that I don't have on a trip to Auckland for a 1/4 final between Serbia and a team that I don't even know yet.

Otagofan, I mentioned earlier that I am a Serbian immigrant in NZ and to see a Kiwi bloke like yourself write something like this about my (old) compatriots is really something rather special.

I am really happy they left that impression and made some friends in Dunedin (and New Zealand).

The Serbian press is also full of praise for the locals and the way they treated the Serbian team.  

Thanks again for your kind words, and I may see you in Auckland on Sunday :-).

Go Serbia !

Marquee
970
·
6.5K
·
over 11 years

D-Sidi wrote:

The Senegalese goalkeeper was incredibly entertaining...some great saves in all that as well

Grin wider than his goalmouth! Looked like he didn't have a care in the world.

WeeNix
51
·
500
·
almost 17 years

otagofan wrote:

Like some of the others, I was pretty torn after that own goal. I jumped up immediately but then on reflection that was harsh.

I picked Serbia the moment the draw was done as my second team. 

I never expected to be enthralled as much as I did. Realistically I knew nothing about Serbia except that they recently ditched "and Montenegro".

But the ride they've taken me on over the last four games in Dunedin has been nothing short of awesome. And off the field they've been magnificent. 3 public engagement events over 10 days. I could now tell you each player's first name if you told me his number. (I gave up on last names, too many 'VIC's). 

The majority of my live football experience in a given year is in some sort of officiating capacity, and I sorta forgot how awesome it was to be a one-eyed, vocal football fan. And it was brilliant.

I was kinda skeptical about this tournament going into it, but I'm now at the point where I'm trying to justify spending $600+ that I don't have on a trip to Auckland for a 1/4 final between Serbia and a team that I don't even know yet.

Felt exactly the same after the goal, Otagofan. I was just about to say to my daughter "i hope if this goes to penalties, it is saves rather than missing the goal that wins it- I don't want any one person to carry the burden." It was the result I wanted, but in the most heart-breaking way imaginable.

Serbia were great visitors to Dunedin- the big number 20 (Milinkovic) was a bit of a favourite- and will be good to have him back for the quarter-final. And their fans were brilliant to.

Sad that it has all ended in Dunedin- its been great fun. 

Hopefully a couple of photos below- 1 from the Serbian win on Saturday; the other a very poignant shot of a Hungary player unable to leave the pitch last night- just staring at the relay screen as the ground emptied, wondering "what if?"

Marquee
1.3K
·
7.4K
·
over 15 years

Nigeria v Germany should be a cracker tonight. Well looking forward to seeing the next Obafemi Martins.

Marquee
1.3K
·
7.4K
·
over 15 years

Lonegunmen wrote:

Austria to make the final. Heard it from me first.

Avoid the current match Comrade!

Marquee
5.3K
·
9.5K
·
over 12 years

So, Senegal vs Uzbekistan in Wellington on Sunday

Phoenix Academy
110
·
300
·
almost 11 years

So, Senegal vs Uzbekistan in Wellington on Sunday

So we are going to see either Senegal or Uzbekistan in a semifinal...who would have thought...I guess when NZ see off Portugal tonight, then those easy beats Brazil or Uruguay then probably Senegal for us in the semi final ?

First Team Squad
13
·
1.7K
·
almost 17 years

foal30 wrote:

Nigeria v Germany should be a cracker tonight. Well looking forward to seeing the next Obafemi Martins.




Pretty sure their #18 up front was Emile Heskey's Nigerian cousin!
Starting XI
1.3K
·
2.7K
·
almost 9 years

gings wrote:

foal30 wrote:

Nigeria v Germany should be a cracker tonight. Well looking forward to seeing the next Obafemi Martins.




Pretty sure their #18 up front was Emile Heskey's Nigerian cousin!

was he a non-goalscoring striker that fell down as soon as he got in to the penalty area?

Marquee
1.3K
·
7.4K
·
over 15 years

Nigeria went well. Easily the best game seen down here. 

Amazing how in  all 4 games  the Germans get so much of the "uncontrolled" or "loose" ball.

Marquee
1.3K
·
7.4K
·
over 15 years

Heard the croud was 5800. 

WTF 

Genuinely best chance to get young players to see 'real football' 

Marquee
4K
·
6.6K
·
over 13 years

I went to see the Germany - Nigeria game with my two sons and we had a hoot (A grade seats, you only live once)  :-)

Impressive skills from the Germans   - superb ball control and excellent off-the-ball movement. The Nigerians had their chances and their goalkeeper was massive, especially some of his one-hand-deflections while in full flight.

In the end the Nigerians lost the game in the midfield due to their poor accuracy. But it was a great game, played cleanly and in good spirit.

Yes it was 5,800, but it was a cold midweek night. Luckily it stayed dry and relatively windless all evening.

Marquee
690
·
7.3K
·
over 14 years
Starting XI
1.5K
·
4.9K
·
over 15 years

The Germany vs. Nigeria match in Christchurch will live long in my memory.

I'd been boring my mate Kevin at games with my appreciation of Hany Mukhtar, the German midfielder.

At half-time on Thursday night I was queuing for coffee behind an African bloke in German supporters gear.

"You support Germany?"

 "Yes, yes. They are my team."

"Do you live here or are you from Germany?"

"I'm from Berlin. I'm visiting here for the tournament."

"Germany are a very good team. I've been enjoying watching them."

"Thankyou. I'll tell my son."

"Your son plays in the German team?'

"Yes. I'm Hany Mukhtar's father."

"He's my favourite player."

"Oh, wow."

Ensued a discussion about New Zealand's best players. As a keen student of the Bundesliga, he'd heard of Marco Rojas at Stuttgart.

He also remembered exactly which year Werder Bremen won the Bundesliga during Wynton Rufer's time there and corrected me when I said 1994: "I think it was 1993." But he didn't realise Wynton Rufer was from New Zealand although he'd seen him playing in the flesh in his first years living in Germany. That such a major player in Germany at the time was from New Zealand really impressed Mr Mukhtar: "I didn't realise New Zealand has produced players of that kind of standard. That's amazing. I thought New Zealanders were only interested in rugby."

Before we left to return to our seats I asked Mr Mukhtar to tell his son to watch out for Tyler Boyd when his Benfica team comes up against Tyler's Vitória Guimarães in Portugal. They may well play against eachother since both are likely to be playing for their club's youth / reserve team next season.

Mr Mukhtar it turns out, is a Sudanese immigrant to Germany (went to study there in 1990 and stayed. He met his German wife at university  - she was in the food queue next to ours at the match). He told me that he'd spoken English in Sudan but it had gotten rusty after years in Germany. (Educated people in Sudan speak Arabic and English as a colonial legacy).

He recently retired early from teaching at the Engineering Faculty of the University of Berlin due to failing eyesight. 

Hany Mukhtar's brother is currently studying Chemical Engineering at the university.

After the match, Hany Mukhtar jumped the barrier to greet his parents and the German supporters - and me and my mate Kevin (who's in a wheelchair) were right at the point where he jumped the hoardings, so were the first people he came across.

"I just met your father. He's a very nice man. Good game, Hany. You played well."

"Thanks!"

Queue a rush of German fans to the edge of the stand above us to greet Hany - especially the kids all offering things to be signed and taking photos of their hero.

Then, having satisfied his fans, Hany turns to me and Kevin for a chat and obliges us for some photos with him, crouching down next to Kevin in his wheelchair.

I even managed to tell Hany how Tyler Boyd has signed for Vitória Guimarães and he said he'd look out for him next season.

and 3 others
Marquee
1.3K
·
7.4K
·
over 15 years

you and Kevin going today Pete?

Marquee
690
·
7.3K
·
over 14 years

You’ll need an account to join the conversation!

Sign in Sign up