Football

As you might have noticed, the European Championship Football has begun. The day before yesterday we (The Netherlands) played against the reigning world champion Italy, which beforehand was deemed the most crucial game in the group (thinking that we would lose to France and win from Rumania). I watched it at home and alone. Others at our house also watched it alone while the neighbours had set up an orange party tent with all kinds of orange decorations. They went all the way and made it into a party. Surprisingly, I didn’t really care. I remember that I used to enjoy watching important games, but even when we made the first goal I remained feeling bored. It’s amazing how ones interests can change in the course of time. In the end we had won 3-0. We had played amazingly well and hopes of the title have been raised. I just felt that I had to watch the game just in order to be able to talk about at work/study/draughts. It gives you something to say. Next Friday, when we play against France, I will have to work, which is not a problem.

Another effect of these football games is that it makes people not come to our weekly draughts evening. Some people want to really watch every game (two per day) and are willing to give up on draughts for the course of three entire weeks. Yesterday, there were only three of us. We played in the cafeteria with Greece-Sweden playing live on the big screen. I watched the others play draughts and, at the same time, could follow the extremely boring football. Next week it will probably be worse when we play against Rumania.