It was all about football this past week.
Last Sunday, I watched Arsenal blow their slim chance of finishing in the top 4 of the league. During that same little period, I watched Eintracht get walloped.
Monday evening, City played their second to last game, and all Liverpool fans were hoping for City to slip up. City did not slip up, and it looks like they will finish as champions of the league again this year.
Tuesday evening, I watched perhaps the finest match I have ever seen. Liverpool, who were down 0-3 after their first leg of the Champion's League semi-final, turned out in full force (along with their fans) and won their match 4-0. This puts them in the Champs League final, sending Barcelona (who were the clear favorites) crashing out. This was a particularly special night for Liverpool and I was very pleased for all my friends who support the Reds. It was one of those magical games where even the disinterested spectator cannot help but get drawn in to the excitement.
Wednesday night I went to the pub, where I did not see any Liverpool fans, on the grounds that they had celebrated heavily the previous evening. I did not actually intend to watch the other Champs League semi, but I got to talking to a buddy and we ended up keeping an eye on the match. I was also interested in the result of the match, but I had been watching a match each night and was needing a bit of a breather.
For reasons that only Arsenal fans will truly understand, I was devastated at the surprise result. I had really wanted to see Ajax get through to the final, and in the end, they simply showed their inexperience. Most people watching the match in the pub were neutral, but NO ONE wanted Ajax to lose. So, in the very last minute (of stoppage time) we saw Spurs get their goal, and their win. All of us sort of cried "Nein!" right when it happened; talk about the agony of defeat.
Yesterday morning I woke up with a fuzzy head. I drank lots and lots of water during the course of the day, but was still feeling a good ways off from fresh and perky when I headed back to the pub to get ready for the semi-finals of the Europa Pokal. Arsenal, the team that I commented on in the last post as being particularly annoying as of late, were to play Valencia, with a 2 goal advantage.
Meanwhile, Eintracht were in London against Chelsea.
I was in the pub two hours before game start, and after the first beer switched to water. I chatted with a few friends and waited on a couple of Arsenal fans to get to the pub. Because the matches were played at the same time, the Arsenal game would be shown on one small TV in the corner, with the other 3 big TVs showing the Frankfurt. This is completely understandable, and of the readers from the states, Chris is probably on the only one who can imagine just what it was like in the pub.
Full. Bursting at the seams. Maybe a potential fire hazard.
If you don't like cozying up to people, this would not have been the place for you. I am not the biggest fan of being in crowds, but when your team is playing, you have to step up and do what you do.
About an hour before the game, little Mark called over to me from behind the bar to tell me that he had just spoken with a guy and his son who were on the way to the pub from the airport. The guys had been on their way to Valencia (via Frankfurt) from London. Due to a problem at the airport, their flight was delayed, then cancelled alltogether.
Being Arsenal fans with tickets to the match in Mestalla, they were none too pleased. However, we welcomed them to our little table in the corner, 6 of us crowded around a table better suited for 3 or 4 folks. We traded Arsenal stories as we watched the pre-game stuff, and meanwhile the pub just got fuller and fuller.
Full. Bursting at the seams. Maybe a potential fire hazard.
I always feel for the waitstaff on these nights, because they really have to fight to get to all the tables and serve the people. What is always amazing (at least in my local) is that despite the close quarters, no one really gets bent out of shape, even though the match is going on in full swing, which tends to get passionate fans even more spirited.
Well, Arsenal were behind by a goal after 10 minutes, and we weren't very thrilled at our table. When we equalized, we all calmed down a little, and we were even at the half time break.
Eintracht were behind by one goal, themselves, and were desperate for an equalizer of their own.
Because I had been drinking ridiculous amounts of water during the course of the day, and was still on water in the pub, I was having to make regular trips to the gents'. However, because of the number of people, I simply went home, took care of business, and popped right back over. And if you are ever looking for yet ANOTHER reason why it makes sense to live next door to a pub, there you have it.
So, Arsenal turned things up a bit in the second half (2 trips home) and won their match 4-2, putting them in the final of the Europa Pokal. I am pleased.
Obviously we were following the Eintracht match, and it, too, became a barn burner. (thanks for allowing me to use a particularly American expression)
Eintracht got their equalizer, which resulted in a crazy finish to the match. Both teams had to fight for a winning goal, as they were level on points over the two matches. Eintracht had their chances, and it was quite special to be standing next to so many fans all cheering for their team. The language is colorful, for sure.
Extra time came and went, and then it was time for penalties. I was having a few struggles myself, namely because I am a fan of Eintracht. Perhaps not a huge fan, but I certainly am pulling for them.
And, I really wanted them to beat Chelsea. But, that would also mean that we would be playing against each other in the final.
I had already struggled with the Arsenal-Valencia, since I am also a VCF fan.
But, as I no longer live in Valencia, it was easier for me to stay 100% behind Arsenal.
But, Frankfurt is home, so my favorite club would potentially play against my home club.
And, the whole Pokal season, I had been regularly discussing this potential showdown with my Eintracht friends.
So, the shootout took place, and I watched Eintracht crash out, along with everyone else in the pub.
Those who truly follow the sport totally understand just what a crap feeling it is to go out on penalties, and it doesn't matter what language or culture, everyone says the same thing.
Yep, that is football.
It is a bittersweet moment to have your heart rate racing in anticipation, and then in an instant, you are brought crashing down.
Emotional overload.
But, the really special thing is this: Eintracht played out of their minds, not just in the evening's game, but all season. They have totally surpassed expectations, and the supportive fans have got a team that they can be really really proud of.
Over the years, I have always sort of joked that it always seemed that the German fans (for Eintract, at least) tended to vacate the premises immediately after a match, whether they won or lost.
This has always been a bit curious to me, because my match watching experiences in pubs tends to be a multi-hour event. We ALWAYS stick around for a few minutes (if not an hour or so) to discuss the match.
Last night was a little different, and understandably a bit more special.
The Eintracht players took their lap of honor in the London stadium, and of course went to the away end to show their appreciation to the travelling fans.
In the pub, we all stood and clapped, just like we were there in person.
Because the game had gone to extra time and penalties, it was going past midnight (on a school night, no less), so the pub did gradually start to empty.
I stuck around for a celebratory beer (for Arsenal) and went home at last orders.
This weekend is the last league game for England, and the second to last for Germany.
The Europa Pokal final is on the 29th of May, and the Champ's League final is on the 1st of June.
As exciting of a week as it has been, I am ready for the football to be over. But I will hold on a couple more weeks.
see you out there
bryan
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