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Unlike No Other

For a person who dons her football fan-girl jersey once in four years, I got more than what I had bargained for last Sunday as the FIFA World Cup matches came to an end in an engaging finals. Not only did none of the teams my limited knowledge of the game would allow me to support made it to the quarters, but also the team which I had not once watched during the playoffs or otherwise played against France in the Finals. This FIFA was full of contradictions and surprise upsets and I think I may be excused in backing the wrong horses throughout the competition.

So unanticipated

Chastened I, however, rectified my ignorance by watching replay of the Croatia vs Japan match and in doing so got an added lesson on why the game was catching up with youngsters in India too. It was electrifying, to say the least.

A relatable ad campaign

Never has an ad campaign been more apt for me than the - #MeriDoosriCountry one has been. What a brainer! There was nothing to lose for the Indian fan (yay me!) as our team didn't qualify for the tournament and in the spirit of the sport there was no harm in egging another country on.  Or so I thought until one moron committed suicide just coz a certain 'messed' up team with a star player didn't qualify for the Quarters. If it were not the heights of misplaced priorities! The teams I had supported, the crowd-pleasers Portugal, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and the underdogs and so worthy of the Finals Japan all left the tournament as if they had to visit the nearest Mc Donalds restaurant. My team jerseys were getting replaced until I was left with France and Croatia. None that I had thought of at the beginning.

France - Winners of FIFA World Cup 2018

Anyway, the day of finals of FIFA World Cup clashed with the one sport that I love following - Tennis. It was difficult trying to catch either of these when the times clashed big time. So I settled for the biggie that played out once in four years to the ones that I could watch every year, especially since Federer crashed out in a surprising upset to Anderson in the quarter finals. That Djokovic was still playing was the only reason why I watched the semis and finals, which thankfully did not clash with the football matches.

Djokovic - Winner of Wimbledon 2018
On Sunday, the football enthusiasts of our group, like me a-once-in-four-year fans, met at my place for starters and dinner. And as we partook of cheese croquettes, vegetables in a hummus dip, chips and S's avakai annam to go with the fervour of FIFA finals, I couldn't think of another beautiful end to the month long event. France took home the coveted cup after 20 years and Djokovic took the Wimbledon Trophy after two years. While I made up to dear friend Cher who had been asking me to make my signature Cinnamon rolls (from one of my favourite blogs) for about 2 years now, by submitting my day's labour as dessert, instead of a tea time snack that it is originally intended it to be.

Cinnamon Rolls - Nestled next to each other. Waiting to be baked.
True this month was reminiscent of unusual beginnings and endings but what mattered was the happiness delivered all around.
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Comments

Priyanthi said…
Totally agree with the happiness part..... especially when the cinnamon rolls came along (drool, yum, drool)..... what was I talking about?!
July 20, 2018 at 4:59 PM
Jerina J said…
:-D Life is so easily navigable when one has friends having similar tastes. Ah...now if I can convince you to make your spinach and corn tart sometime...
July 26, 2018 at 9:53 AM
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