These late kick offs are killing us. With TV schedules, the big games don’t start till 10pm and so by the time we get back to the apartment it’s after 3am! Seriously too old for that kind of nonsense. Consequently I woke up today at 1pm – just in time to start all over again with Wales Iran. Sorry Wales. Now you know how it feels to be Scotland at a World Cup!
By the time that game was over the sun was already sinking (vot are you sinking about?) and so we had to start our quest to Al Bayt stadium for England USA. The stadium is about 30 miles north of Doha and we were a little worried about getting there in time (we needn’t have been – typically great organization – more later)
After a while you discover that beer is everywhere. Just don’t drink in public. And, with 100% tax, it’s expensive. So – to the Holiday Inn sports bar for beer, burgers, and Qatar Senegal – my boys!
We watched the match with Thomas from India, Steffie from Portugal, and…..I never did master her Sri Lankan name. They’re immigrants who’ve been in Qatar for over 10 years and have witnessed its development. Really interesting perspectives on the politics and the realities of living in Qatar. I’ll write more about that another time.
I could have talked to them for a while. But it was time to start our desert quest to Al Bayt. 30 mins by very comfortable metro train; very efficient transfer to a luxury coach; and 20 min ride to the stadium. We were there 2 hrs before kick off with enough time to watch the second half of Holland Ecuador on the big screen.
The coaches – 70,000 people being moved by bus! Never seen so many. Must have been 400-500 busses lined up waiting to shuttle people from the metro to the stadium. Pretty impressive. I guess Qatar will sell them on to somewhere else after the Cup!
Al Bayt itself was stunning, appearing out of the night sky as the tent in the desert it was designed to be. It’s one of the largest stadium in Qatar – hugely imposing for players and fans alike. With the efficient journey the stadium was empty when we arrived but we enjoyed watching it fill as we waited.
What an odd game. Couldn’t be sure if it was two coaches playing cat and mouse or if both teams, especially England, couldn’t be arsed! Strangely, tactically it was so odd that I kind of enjoyed it! You were just waiting for someone to make a mistake that would kick the game into life. But no, the game just bumbled along going nowhere. The kind of game that must drive your average American nuts!!! The only bright spot I thought was Pulicic who showed his potential as a play maker and leader for the USA. He well deserved his man of the match award. The press corp turned out in numbers but I doubt they got many photographs! Now all that stands between the USA and progression to the next round is the small matter of Iran! That game next Tuesday should be an absolute cracker given the progress both teams showed today and that it’s winner take all. Can’t wait!!!
But I guess they can’t all be 9 goal thrillers. We’ve seen three games in person now and only 2 goals amongst them! The best matches we’ve seen were from the fan zone. Still: who’s complaining? It’s the World Cup.
It was a long road back to Doha at 1am! Arabic bag pipes (still struggling to compute that one) and Saudi House on the metro helped keep us awake. The train carriage was kind of funny. The Saudis at one end, clearly tanked up on fan fest beer. Mexicans at the other end singing their songs; Dave and me sandwiched between them!
Nice moment in the line for the bus back to Doha. A family from Milwaukee with a young Downs man. It was too crowded to really stop and talk but wish we could have talked more. I almost brought Andrew on this trip but decided it was too risky. Now I wish I had. He’s back home watching in our local!!!
3:30am I finally fell into bed. I’m scheduling a lengthy nap today in preparation for Argentina:Mexico starting at 10pm in the Fan Fest. Should be another cracker and a must win for Argentina!
What! Scotland Qualified!!! 