As a Bengali who followed the deluge of spot kicks on Tuesday morning, one of which finally saw Morocco push the Netherlands out of the World Cup in yet-another tragic Dutch day out at the firing range, all I can say is they’ll be serving kosha mangsho at Casablanca the next few days.
Or its Moroccan equivalent, lamb tagine.Even before Yassine Bounou stopped the Netherlands’ fifth penalty and Crysencio Summerville’s strangely targeted shot (aimed at the keeper), it had started to feel like the object of this game was to ensure that the ball did NOT go into the net.
So, when Ismael Saibari stepped up and found the back of the net, all I remember is two Moroccans (Achraf Hakimi and Neil El Aynaoui) and two Dutch (Quinten Timber and Justin Kluivert) players kicking wide of the 24 ft ft x 8 ft mark, and one save by the Moroccan keeper.
Who’s been drinking at the wheel in Monterrey?It’s the Seleção, Forget the SeppukuBut talking of getting drunk, you can’t but help feel bad for Japan, and totally understand if Hajime Moriyasu has allowed his squad to get sloshed on sake to drown their sorrows after Monday night’s departure from the World Cup.
Against a Brazil side that, for the most part, seemed to be driving on reputational reserve, Japan was fast and furious in the first half, the 1-0 halftime score--from a delightful run and gliding shot into the top left corner--by Kaishu Sano accurately reflecting the game.But then, what happened in the second half remains a mystery, wrapped in a kimono, inside a sudoku.
