World Cup Again and Wine too

[far left - fan; left Ghanain Eric Addo mistaking Franceso Totti's head for ball] Out of the three World Cup Games today I taped two - USA v. Czech Republic and Italy v. Ghana.
Two very different games.
The Czech game was slow-ish, predictable even. I though McBride was at a loss sometimes, but there again he must be one of the "old men" by now. Not as old as Dino Zoff, the only italian goal-keeper ever though (Zoff's not in this one, don't worry).
The Italian game was harsh/rough. African football obviously uses match films for training from the 60's and 70's when you could legitimately take a man down without even pretending to go for the ball. To see what I mean, see Pele's early World Cup appearances and England v. Germany in '66. The star players are "marked" and consistently brought down with never a foul committed and no attempt to go for the ball. Ghana played that game tonight.
In fact, I remember my Dad screaming at the TV two World Cups ago when Italy played another African team (could it have been Ghana again? Nigeria?). Claiming they were playing rugby instead! African nations do play a rougher game. The opponent needs to adjust to that. Oh, and they dive in the box too - another dated trick. Tonight the Ref wagged his finger at the Ghanain who dove in the box to claim a penalty. He should have booked him.
The clamp down on fouls in Europe lead to players then "acting" injured for the least little thing. Games were horrible as the plays were constantly interrupted with players feigning agony as they rolled around on the ground after receiving no more than a "look" from the opposition. We still remember this and automatically show no sympathy with those brought down - it is all too easy to think a small tap on the ankle doesn't hurt. but after you've been running a marathon for the last 90 minutes and you get taken out whilst running, it's more of a big deal than it looks. I though the Ghanain who used his left leg to step on Totti's calf should have been sent off. In fact Totti took such a beating tonight he was taken off soon after that as to have left him on would have risked injury as he was deliberately targeted.
Speaking of injuries, when my son was 5, I took him to Saturday football training. It was always cold and wet and he hated it. I was amazed that despite the lack of obvious talent in any 5 year old, who tend to herd around a rolling ball rather than play the field with it, they had picked up the rolling around in agony from the professional players. it was funny.
WINE - WINE - WINE - more forms today. Think we're through - a couple more forms turned up from Mike tonight (God knows where in cyberspace they were hiding for the past 4 days). Books are balanced and updated worksheets distributed. Maybe Tuesday we can go through the volumes and $.
Alos, my property is Zoned Agricultural and I live in an Agricultural Residence. Good News. Also means I can start small time farming, but that's for another blog.