| It seems quite appropriate to write something | | | | quarter-final, semi-final and World Cup final |
| about soccer's greatest event, the one now | | | | itself. I was absolutely flabbergasted. You |
| taking place in Germany from June through | | | | can also image my happiness when my home |
| July, 2006. It is a culmination of four | | | | country actually won the trophy in front of |
| year's work for the 32 teams that have | | | | its home crowd. What a day!Yet, of all the |
| qualified to play in this tournament.We all | | | | memories of that sunny Saturday in July 1966, |
| know the effect soccer - or football - as I | | | | the soccer oddly became only part of my |
| prefer to call it, has on the lives of so | | | | thrill. Sure, it was wonderful to cheer the |
| many people. You only have to see the | | | | team to victory, but my memories still linger |
| television pictures of people who are lucky | | | | to the day itself. Not so much the game, |
| enough to be able to attend and even luckier, | | | | more the friendship of everyone in the |
| if they have tickets for the games they hope | | | | stadium. Folk from different countries all |
| to see. Yes, it is a fact that many of the | | | | there for one reason - to see the spectacle |
| supporters visiting Germany this summer will | | | | of a worldwide sporting event. The sport in |
| not actually see a game, except on the public | | | | the past has been criticised for encouraging |
| screens dotted around outside the stadiums in | | | | violence from the "hooligan element" within |
| the country. So in that respect I guess | | | | society and I am not going to discuss that |
| those of us who will be watching intently on | | | | here.But this event, now in 2006 in common |
| our televisions in the comfort of our own | | | | with 1966 and all between, encourages |
| homes, will be better off. Or will | | | | friendship. This I have found from my own |
| we?Judging by some of the pictures coming | | | | personal experiences, certainly exists. My |
| from the tournament, it appears that these | | | | own lasting memory of my lucky visit to the |
| folk at the venues seem very happy just to be | | | | soccer World Cup final was to be walking down |
| there just to soak up the tournament | | | | the street outside that London stadium, with |
| atmosphere. I remember as a younger man | | | | three other people I had never met before or |
| being lucky enough to attend a World Cup | | | | since - from Belgium, Holland and Portugal, |
| tournament myself. I will explain if I may.I | | | | singing at the top of my voice. If you were |
| was 21 years old and living in England at the | | | | to ask me why we did that, I could in all |
| time. I followed my local football team with | | | | honesty not answer, save for happiness and a |
| a great deal of pride and attended a couple | | | | little euphoria with the occasion.It is |
| of the preliminary matches at my team's | | | | something I remember with a great deal of |
| stadium before the "business end" of the | | | | affection from my early life, totally |
| tournament got underway.Imagine my joy when I | | | | attributed in my opinion to the wonderful |
| found for a 21st birthday gift, I was given | | | | sport of Soccer. |
| accommodation in London and tickets for the | | | | |