Above: Freudians would point out that the excitement of holding the Euro 2008 cup represents a tiny fraction of the glory and catharsis experienced by child footballers when winning their first trophies (and all the subsequent careers of professional footballers are a futile attempt to recapture that first innocent rush of exhileration and omnipotence).
Euro 2008 came to an end earlier this evening.
Spain beat Germany.
As the game progressed Michael Ballack’s heavy brow ridge become increasingly furrowed. Xabi Alonso’s expressionless face showed brief moments of satisfaction. In the interval Alan Shearer said wise and interesting things in a completely monotone voice.
The preamble to the game, which was shown on BBC1, had been awful. As well as the kitsch performances in the stadium (what looked like extras from the film Amadeus releasing coloured balloons as Enrique sang in English) the BBC had added a sort of historical perspective. This consisted of an echoing Brummie accent delivering cringe-making historical generalisations in a sub-Kiplingesque style.
Is this what the jingoism of the new European state is going to sound like?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtrt1ijYoBc
No comments:
Post a Comment