GOM World Cup Diary #29 – Whatever Happened To Taking Stock?

Last night was unusual.

For the first time since the World Cup began, there wasn’t a match to watch.

No team sheets to study. No VAR controversies to debate. No commentators telling me that every game was “the biggest match of the tournament so far.” Just a quiet summer evening spent with our neighbours, thanking them for looking after our garden while we were away.

It was rather nice.

Somewhere between dessert and another cup of coffee, it occurred to me that I’d almost forgotten what an evening without football felt like.

Not that I’m complaining.

This World Cup has had just about everything. Giant-killings, dramatic comebacks, controversial decisions, unexpected heroes and enough twists to keep the Football Gods thoroughly entertained.

The so-called minnows have refused to behave like minnows.

The favourites have discovered that reputations don’t score goals.

VAR has somehow managed to become as famous as some of the players.

And every time we’ve all agreed we finally understand what’s happening, the tournament has promptly gone and proved us wrong.

It made me realise how rarely we stop to take stock anymore.

The holiday ends and we’re already planning the next one.

You finish decorating one room and immediately notice the room next door needs doing.

You finally tick something off your list, only to write three more things underneath it.

Even in football we’re guilty of it.

We’ve barely reached the quarter-finals and people are already discussing who’ll lift the trophy, who’ll win the Golden Boot and where this tournament ranks among the greatest ever.

Would it really hurt us to stop for a moment and simply enjoy where we’ve got to?

We’ve watched nations dream.

We’ve seen underdogs become everyone’s second favourite team.

We’ve celebrated glorious victories and sympathised with heartbreaking defeats.

Most of all, we’ve been reminded why football captures the imagination like no other sport.

Not because we always know what’s going to happen.

But because we never do.

Tonight the quarter-finals begin, and no doubt there’ll be more drama, more debate and probably another decision that has half the footballing world reaching for their blood pressure tablets.

The Football Gods will, I’m sure, be chuckling quietly to themselves.

As for me, I’m rather grateful for the pause.

Sometimes the best way to appreciate a journey is to stop walking for a few minutes and look back at the ground you’ve already covered.

Anyway, what do I know?

I’m just a grumpy old man.

Your thoughts below — unless they’re positive, in which case keep them to yourself.