LOS ANGELES. A host nation away.
Mexico rhymes and South Korea jerseys.
And an exuberant, South African goalkeeper.
So this is a World Cup Round of 16?
This was a historic WC day in Inglewood.
Because after all, the first round of 16 in the history of the World Cup was to be played. And for the first time ever, a host nation would also play a World Cup match away from home.
I think Canada should be genuinely happy that the opposition turned out the way it did – without talking about sporting parameters here.
Because otherwise it would probably have felt even more like an away game for the maple leaves.
Because there were two (before the tournament more likely) scenarios that probably gave a completely different setting and atmosphere inside the futuristic, huge and difficult-to-navigate So-Fi Stadium.
An iced coffee while waiting for the media bus in the morning. Photo: Makoto Asahara
Imagine if…
After all, Mexico could have finished second in their group – then they would have suffered the same fate as host nation Canada. But it would probably have felt like home ground to them anyway. After all, Mexico chants were heard more often from the stands than anything else – as there were actually plenty of green-shirted Mexicans in attendance despite Mexico not playing.
South Korea would have finished second in the same group if they hadn’t screwed up against South Africa in the last round. And then the stands would have been guaranteed to be bright red. South Korean red. A lot of South Koreans were there anyway.
– We bought these tickets because we wanted South Korea here. We are very disappointed in them. But regardless, as global citizens we are happy to see football and people. It’s a very diverse crowd and we enjoy it, says Kenneth Lee, a US-based South Korean supporter.
But surely there would have been more traction if South Korea was here?
– Guaranteed. Outside of the Korean peninsula, Los Angeles is the place with the most South Korean residents.
About the burope: “This was nothing”
But no, at the same time South Korean football was thrown into total crisis where people collapsed and resigned after the group stage fiasco, South Africa instead danced into a historic round of 16.
But they danced more on the way into the dressing rooms than on the pitch.
Because they had no intention whatsoever of inviting the citizens of the world to the stands for either risk-taking or fair play.
Several times in the match, Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams stood and passed the ball around with his backs without a hint of intention to attack. The Canadian strikers didn’t press, did they? So why stress? Buropen was at hydration break level.
– It was chill. We are used to much worse when we play on the African continent. This was nothing. And we are far from home. What was energizing is that we had 62 million people supporting us from home. A united country. I am proud of the boys and the belief we had, the goalkeeper himself told Sportbladet after the match.
“Hopefully we’ll see a sea of red then”
A match that ultimately yielded a Canadian winning goal – in an event that didn’t exactly promote the Round of 16 as a concept.
Because this wasn’t actually a good football match in any way.
Canada was understandably happy anyway – despite having just played an away game as World Cup hosts.
Should this match be played in Canada?
– We would have loved to play in front of our fans at home. But this is the format and we didn’t get it. On the whole it was calm. We have been in situations like this before where we faced teams with more fans, says Richie Laryea.
Alistair Johnston appreciated both the advancement and the Canadian support in LA.
– Now we just have to recover, rest and then go to Houston. And hopefully we’ll see a sea of red in the stands even then, says the full-back.
Super celebration of the national team captain after the exit
However, the question is whether the most passionate fire speech of the day was given by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams in the opening podium part of the mixed zone.
When he got a question about the national team captain Hugo Broos.
– I can talk all night about him. The belief he gave this team from day one. I don’t know what he saw in us in the first place. But on a daily basis, when people don’t believe in us, he is the one who every day supports us and believes in us. What he has done for this team cannot be described. He has inspired not just a team but a nation. He has united a nation. When you see the support we have, it’s all about the faith he gave this team. Magnificent, amazing, what a man. A father figure, a friend, a brother, a super coach. We have learned so much from coach Hugo. I’m just proud to have worked with him.
Ronwen Williams likes Hugo Broos. There is no doubt about that anyway.
