The Forerunner Times

"A life journal by Nathan J. Elias, called under God's grace to be His forerunner and restorer for His glory."

As requested by Miss Violette, here’s a match report on that Ita v Aus match.

Watched this match in a local McDonalds since they don’t air World Cup matches for free in Singapore and I thought it would be injustice to watch this match from a laptop in a small pixelated window. Since I am supporting Australia, I thought it would be nice to ask a friend of mine who supports Italy to join in. So I arrived there at 10pm and secured a seat while my friend came 30 minutes later. We shared some idle banters about the lineups and chances. The others can already see the heat building up between us two. A man beside me pointed out that Italy was three times world champions. I don’t need to know that, fat dude. STUFF HISTORY! Lucky you I didn’t stuff you with something like my McSandal for your unwanted opinion.

The match went to a start and suddenly Italy started threatening Australia and Schwarzer came to their defense. This early incident showed where the allegiances of the supporters lie as I am shouting “NO! NO! NOOOO!” when the Italians came close while my friend beside me shouted “YES! YES! YEEEES!”. The people just stared at us and then resuming their oooohs and aaaahs everytime both sides went close, but among all of them me and my friend were the one making the noises constantly and raising the atmosphere. “Go go Bresciano!” I shouted, only to be replied by my friend’s “Come on Toni! Score a goal!”. It continued on and on, and by the half time we were already exhausted and had to refill our strength with something. McSpicy and Choco Sundae comes to the rescue!

Second half brings so much tension for both of us. In a matter of minutes, Marco Materazzi was sent off with a direct red, sending me to jump around and send a hate message to the Italian fans over there “You deserve it Materazzi! Eat that! No Materazzi, no Nesta! Bye bye Italy”. They were silent and speechless, didn’t even look back at me. At this point Australia kept on the pressure and the Italy fans became very silent while I turned on more fire and sent more shouts to the Australian side.

Though it’s 11 vs 10, Italy’s defense was a tough one to crack and Australia’s possession play didn’t help either. They just like to pass and move the ball around to play safe and has no real threat since they’re not attacking forward much. They had their chances yes, but they didn’t seem to bring any danger at all to the Italian sides from my point of view. Nevertheless I still screamed when one of the Australian players barge into the box and made an attempt, while the Italian fans will go aaaaaargh. The match continued in a pretty stale way until the fated 93th minute arrived…

Fabio Grosso (those who’ve read Fantasista manga series will wonder if this is Fabio Castellini who have taken up the last name of Carlo Grosso) made a darted run to the left, tripped over above Lucas Neill who was lying in the floor, and the stupid ref chose to award a penalty. When the commentator said “yes, it’s a penalty!” all the Italian fans stood and shouted with joy, hands in the air, then sitting back again, some looking at me. Wish I could have thrown my McSandal at one of them, but then if I do that I won’t be coming home that night.

Totti stepped forward, and both me and the Italian fans prayed with hands clutched in front of our mouths. I hoped that Schwarzer will be the day’s hero, but sadly, Totti kicks it in to the left top corner. The entire McD shouted. Italian fans shouted with joy while sneering at me - prompting me to really hold my temper and not stuff all of them with my fist and give them some smackdown in the ass. If only I had more Australian fans with me maybe the match would not have ended in peace. Ah the woe of a lone fan. As I walked home, heads down in sadness, my friend teased me all the time. And that night, I cannot sleep, knowing that it will take another 4 years in my life before Socceroos will have another chance at the next World Cup…