Two, Three & Rest... well.. maybe!

Tuesday this week was set aside for the fanatics to enjoy for themselves the fun and festivities of Durban. Of course this meant the ability to sit, relax and rejuvenate the batteries. Of course selfishly for the guys, the rest day also meant a few quiet beverages in front of the big screen enjoying 3 live games of football. This was incorrect assumption number 342....the girls saw this day as the perfect opportunity to do what they do best and visit the southern hemispheres largest shopping centre....The Gateway.

The journey to The Gateway was an experience following perfectly good instructions down to town hall, off we trekked. Upon arrival to the steps of town hall we were advised that the shuttle buses actually left from the transit area of which we had past some 20 minutes ago. Yay! So after 45 mins of hiking through the main streets of Durban, off we went on our $1.60 bus to the centre of the shopping universe as we knew it. I must admit, the shopping venture wasn’t so bad after all. In fact, with approximately 10-12 sport stores and its own Go-Kart track and Wave Pool (for surfing and body boarding) the day had the potential to become a boy’s heaven...oh well...incorrect assumption number 343. Although, we did manage to get to watch the New Zealand boys strut their stuff in the 1-1 draw over lunch. The establishment full of aussies watching their Anzac partners was filled with great happiness for their success.......I never thought in my wildest dreams I would sit and support a New Zealand national team, but I am running a slight temperature.



On return to HQ tonight the fanatics we were once again treated to the panel of experts. This was the first opportunity to critique the Australian game, and one Mr Mark Bosnich was stinging in his interpretation of the performance. I have to be honest, there was not many who could argue with Boz. It was great to hear also from Charlie Yankos and how passionate he was not only of the poor performance but of what he saw as the best band of supporters he had ever experienced....and again I can’t disagree. The Australians are once again proving that it does not take a large physical presence to make an impact, it’s the colour and song that come along with it. Seriously, including the Brazilians, I am yet to see greater.

The night was drawn to a close with the Brazil v Korea DPR. Seriously, what is with the coach announcing in the press that there is no such country as North Korea? It is a first for me, and what was even worse to hear was that the game was being beamed back to North Korea live and yet the government had not yet decided whether they would allow the nation to watch it live or possibly even not at all? That’s just un-Australian....well it is! And to the game, the Koreans certainly impressed me with their defence and made it very difficult for the Brazilians to penetrate. One had the thought that if the South Americans were going to get away with this one, they would require something special....and they did. In the blink of an eye, whether it was meant or not, from one foot inside the end line and with no right at all to shoot from there, Maicon in the 55th minute provides a wonder strike to force the ball inside the near post. Unfortunately from there, the Brazilians took to the front foot, although Korea DPR managed to get themselves a little reward for effort with a late goal to finish on the respectable score line of 2-1.