A Girl With A Football Obsession =)

I'm pretty happy with the groups, but there isn't anything really interesting going on, except maybe in group G, the one with Brazil, Portugal, and Cote d'Ivoire. I hope that there are underdogs, because those always make the tournament more interesting. I'm happy with Germany's draw, it doesn't look like it's such a tough group, although Serbia and Ghana are not bad teams. Hopefully, they will make it out whole. As much as I hated Spain during the European Cup last summer, I seem to love them now, but think I still support Germany over Spain. I refuse to give up my first football love.

I'm really upset though, because tomorrow I won't be able to watch the United game tomorrow. I've been pretty good with their games. I think I've watched the past 10 games, and I've been happy with their results (except Chelsea, of course). I wanted to watch them hopefully, hammer Hull so I will have to find a replay somehow.

Rawr 1: Russia did not qualify. I was actually upset when I found this out, because ever since Euro 2008 I've been in love with their national team.

Rawr 2: Ukraine did not qualify. I have to support my Slavic peoples, and my best friend is Ukrainian so she would be pretty upset.

Rawr 3: Henry's hand! I really wanted Ireland to beat France, and they were doing so well but then Henry's stupid hand got in the way!!! He better get some HUGE punishment from FIFA or I will hunt him down.

Rawr 4: Bulgaria winning versus Malta. What's the point?! I mean you lost to Cyprus, why piss me off now?

Rawr 5: Ballack is injured! I love Ballack, so he better get his ass together and get well SOON.

I was happy with Bulgaria's match too, although it really didn't matter, we won 6-2 over Georgia. I know that it's Georgia, but after losing to Cyprus I'm happy with this. And Berba-daddy scored a hat-trick which made me happy. None of the games were really interesting. France, Russia and Portugal made it to play-offs, and those would be interesting to see. 

I won't be able to watch the United match on Saturday and I'm upset, they shouldn't have all these matches right after an international week! Valencia vs Barcelona will be amazing! I'm definitely watching. So I'm definitely just procrastinating right now... 

I was pretty happy with Spain, although you could see that they were really bored and they didn't really feel like playing. Torres just kind of hung around the back and contained himself from scoring so that someone else could. I was really happy with Mata's performance, and his good looks. There was no Casillas though, which made me sad. The best moment of the match has to be when Armenia score the equalizer, there was such joy on the players' faces and the crowd was ecstatic. They all knew that they have no chance to qualify for the world cup, but they were just so happy to score a goal against probably the best team in the world right now. 

America also qualified which is awesome, I mean I don't really care. Even though I live here and I like America I don't support them when it comes to football, because this nation is a disgrace to football. Also, Argentina did not lose! Isn't that amazing? I've only watched two world cups, and I don't think that Argentina has ever not qualified for a world cup. It would have been awful if Messi didn't get to play, but I would have liked to see Maradona get mobbed by all the Argentinians. There is something about that man that just bothers me. 

Portugal were also lucky enough to grab the second spot in their group after winning 3-0 against Hungary, without Ronaldo scoring. It's one of those rare games in which he doesn't score. Maybe he asleep on the pitch? France are also going to play offs after completely demolishing the Faroe Islands 5-0. France and Italy have to be ashamed of themselves. They have been performing so poorly in the group stages that I would never have guessed that those were the teams that made it to the final in 2006. Ukraine also beat England 1-0, but I really don't think that the English cared much about the game. They already qualified for the Cup, why bother? The game that I was actually looking forward to, Russia vs Germany, wasn't actually as interesting as I expected. The group with Russia and Germany was the only really interesting, tight group. Germany had not lost a game and Russia had lost only one game, which was against Germany. Germany won today, and I can't decide if I'm happy that they won, or if I'm sad that Russia lost. I love both sides, and I really, really hope that Russia qualify in the play-offs because they are a great team. 

I still haven't decided which matches I'm going to watch, or how I'm going to watch them. I'm watching Spain because they are showing that live on TV and I'm definitely watching Bulgaria, because I'm Bulgarian. I really want to watch Russia and Germany because that will be a great match and I love both teams. I have to watch Argentina because they have to qualify. How can there be a World Cup without Messi?! I'm not watching England because there is no point, and I want to Italy because Bulgaria qualifying depends on them, but they suck so I probably won't watch them. I don't want to watch France because I'm super disappointed with them, even though they have a great team. i

I guess this is it, a pointless blog, by a half asleep me. 

1. My obsession with football began last year when I saw a Champions League match on ESPN

2. Before that I was only a football fanatic during Euro/World Cups

3. I didn't miss any Germany or Russia games during Euro 2008

4. I cried when they both lost to Spain 

5. When I watched the finals with my friends I pretended that I wasn't really upset when Germany lost

6. When I saw a Spanish soccer jersey the next day I wanted to cry 

7. That summer I fell in love with Michael Ballack 

8. He is currently my favorite player, even though I despise Chelsea

9. Manchester United are my favorite team 

10. Even though I don't particularly worship any of their players

11. I cried when United lost to Burnley

12. I cried when United lost to Barcelona in the CL finals

13. I cried when France lost the 2006 World Cup finals

14. I've cried too many times during this sport

15. I didn't want to admit that I was a little sad when Portugal lost the 2004 Euro finals, but I had to support Greece because they are Bulgaria's neighbors.

16. I wish I could see Bulgaria play in a World Cup 

17. My all-time favorite player is Zidane 

18. I had a short obsession with Arshavin during the 2008 Euro 

19. I think Messi is the God of football

20. ... even though Pele has to be the best player ever

21. I really dislike Cristiano Ronaldo

22. but I love Kaka

23. ... and Pato 

24. My favorite league is the EPL

25. Then Serie A

26. I love Valencia 

27. I hope one of the Daveeds join my Mans 

28. I yelled at a my friend's mom for calling Manchester United Man U

29. I have a soccer encyclopedia which I've read about 100 times

30. I feel guilty for supporting Liverpool

31. ... but ones I got over Torres's goal at the Euro final I fell in love with him

32. I also feel guilty for supporting the Spanish NT

33. ... and for rooting for Brazil during the Confederations Cup, even though I live in the U.S.A.

34. Sometimes I wish I had more faith in Bulgarian football

35. I don't own a single soccer jersey. 

36. I do have a Manchester United scarf

37. ... my best friend bought it from England

38. It was the best birthday gift I ever received, and that same birthday I got an iPod

39. I hate it when people think that I only watch football because the guys are hot 

40. I have no one other than my dad to talk about football with

41.  What I consider the biggest compliment from my parents is when my dad told me that I know more about football than he does.

42. I hate how other girls look at me when they see me talking to boys about sports

43. I hate the fact that I don't understand American football

44. I can't decide if I support AC Milan or Inter. 

45. I think I'll just go with Juventus, it's easier 

46. I got my first B on a history test because I didn't study enough... because I was watching sports

47. I studied for my Pre-Calc test while watching three Champions Leagues games... and I got a 100.

48. I never told any of my friends that I support the German National Team

49. I want to live in England just so I can go to football matches

50. I love proving people wrong about sports 

51. I love to argue with people who support teams that I don't 

52. ... they always think I don't know what I'm talking about because I'm a girl

53. ... I love the look on their faces when they find out that I do know what I'm talking about 

54. The past three times that I've been sick I sat home all weekend and watched 4-5 matches a day 

55. I've told my friends that I'm busy and can't hang out with them just to stay home and watch a football match.

56. I have the annoying habit of calling football, soccer

57. I hate the fact that my mom doesn't understand my love for the game

58. She hates football

59. When I watch a game with someone in the room I'm really composed and I don't really show my emotions.

60. When I watch a game on my own I freak out, and I curse in two different languages

61. I call my United players "my Mans"

62. If the team I support is losing a very important match I get really quiet and I don't move at all

63. During the 2009 CL final I stood still since about 15 minutes into the game, I didn't even more during half time

64. I remember random pieces of football trivia information 

65. I know more about football than I do about history 

66. .. but I still know the most about Harry Potter

67. I now want to paint my room red and yellow, but I haven't told anyone 

68. I want to go to college in Manchester just so I can finally be close to them

69. I cried when I watched a YouTube video of Bulgaria winning a match in France and qualifying for the 1994 World Cup

70. I want to be a sports commentator

71. ... I realize that this will never come true

72 ... and it upsets that it won't come true because I'm a girl

73. My friends are probably starting to hate all my football talk 

74. I don't think I'll be able to date a person who doesn't care about sports

75. I think I will definitely be able to date a person who supports a team I don't. Just think of the countless debates!

76. I hate it when people call me a typical football fan because I support a big club, and because I like players like Kaka and Messi.

77. I hate it when people make fun of a club I support because they lost to whatever team sometimes ago 

78. I follow too many football news websites

79. The background of my phone is a Manchester United crest

80. ... people always make fun of it 

81. My computer background is a picture of Manchester United players celebrating after winning the Barclay's League last season.

82. A couple of months ago I could only name two that picture 

83. Now, I can name all of them 

84. My mom thinks this football thing is temporary

85. I think it's here to stay

86. I want to go to Bulgaria next year just so I can spend too weeks at my grandma's house watching all the World Cup matches undisturbed 

87. I'm going to lie to my parents and tell them I just miss Bulgaria and I want to go and visit

88. I get way too emotionally involved with my teams

89. My favorite soccer jersey number is 13

90. I love Ronaldinho's smile 

91. I love Italian players' names

92. I can't stand the way South American clubs play football

93. I think this year's world cup final will be Spain vs. Brazil

94. ... but my predictions are usually wrong 

95. For some reason I love Jose Mourinho

96. I think Sir Alex is a genius

97. I can't stand Michael Owen, I think he needs to go fall in a hole 

98. I cried when I watched a YouTube video of Manchester United fans singing "Glory, glory" when they won the CL

99. I spend $0.99 to actually buy that chant 

100. It now gets stuck in my head regularly 

101. I'm surprised at how easily all this came out... 

I was in the car with my parents and they were telling about the World Cup. Since you, imaginary reader, have probably never heard of the Bulgarian story I will tell you. So sit back and relax.

Few people believed that we had a chance to qualify. If we wanted to make it France had to lose to Israel and then we had to win our last match against France in Paris. All this seemed unlikely, until France lost to Israel. So our boys get on a bus and go to Paris. They play there and the score at 89th minute is 1-1, a score which gets France the ticket to the World Cup in America, and a score that sends Bulgaria back to, well, Bulgaria (duh). But lets no get ahead of ourselves. Emil Kostadinov, who scored the only goal for Bulgaria in the game decided it was time to do something in the 90the minute and scored. The goal made the commentators' remark "God is Bulgarian" famous throughout the country. All 50,000 people in the stadium at Paris were stunned as white-out covered France's name on their plane ticket to America and replaced it with Bulgaria. 

The Bulgarian boys got to America and found themselves in a group with Nigeria and Argentina. Nigeria seemed an easy task, until they beat us 3-0. Then they were stopped by the great Argentina, who had to play the Bulgarian next. Bulgaria won the match and got past the group stages. Then some unimportant matches were played and then we got to the quarter finals. There we had a tough task ahead of us- Germany. We beat them 2-1 and proceeded to the semis. 

The Americans were starting to worry now. They didn't want Bulgaria to make it to the finals because no one wanted to see a team that no one's heard of play at the finals, which meant they won't be able to fill their stadiums. So as we faced out next task, Italy they decided to be all meanie and screw with us. They gave us a French referee. The French, of course hated us because we are the reason they weren't at the World Cup. There are many Bulgarians that blame the referee for our loss of the match 2-1, but I don't. Being Bulgarian I know that there is one thing that we can't do- which is win at big tournaments. 

Eventually, Brazil went on to win their 1437643627 title over penalty shout-outs with Italy. I don't regret that we didn't win. Of course it would have been nice to win, but I do regret that I was too little to remember this. It was probably the most amazing feeling ever, and I could just imagine how proud I would have been to be a Bulgarian.  

They definitely have to be the best looking team out there. I shall now stop typing words and let you indulge in pictures of the Spaniards. 

Now some Xavi's:

Now some Dahveeds:

And finally, the picture we all have been waiting for: