It used to be a steadfast belief that only men go crazy over football footwork. Females are only responsible for going crazy over football faces. I'm not a football fan but I can't help but get all excited with each World Cup, and not just because of faces.
This World Cup has been most exciting because of the Asian presence that can be felt. For the first time, the tournament was co-hosted by Japan and South Korea with both countries and China making it through the qualifying rounds.
The atmosphere, though sizzling as per every World Cup year, was exceptionally charged this World Cup. As the games proceeded with the predicted dropout of China and the unexpected early exit of Japan, South Korea shone on as the solo bright Asian light.
Suddenly, it was almost as if Singapore was playing. Where a crowd could be found surrounding a TV during a South Korean match, cheers and gripped hands were overwhelmingly for South Korea. Through the South Korean team, we felt the ecstasy of winning and the disappointment of losing.
Even though the team managed only a fourth placing, a warm sense of pride fills the heart because it came so far where no one had expected. The players believed in their abilities and played all matches as if it were their last match. The tenacity of the South Koreans is to be celebrated.
One could probably never feel more Asian then when sitting amongst fellow yellow-skin audience and hoping in the heart that South Korea will make it through yet another match. This World Cup for me, is pure Asian pride at the South Korean performance.
Through the matches where their team emerge unbeaten, we seem to send out a message to the world： See？ There's still glimmer in the old Asian tigers yet, don't write us off！ Most importantly however, we can identify with the joy and pride at being an unexpected survivor through the hard work of sheer determination and perseverance.
Like when we first came into being as a republic in 1965, the odds too were stacked against us； Singapore, an unlikely team to advance into the next round. But advance we did. And to the next round and the next round.
No doubt, it is true that no one can be a winner all the time but that is no excuse to have feeble thoughts about accepting a walkover in some arenas. Team 2010 may not be in sight for us but why chuckle and wave the idea away？
The question is not if we can see Singaporean colours at 2010 but whether we can believe that a Singaporean World Cup team is possible. It is important that the people show support and share a belief in such a possibility.
We see this belief in the players who made it to the World Cup pitches and the support from their fellow countrymen. This belief was transmitted between the South Korean supporters and the determined South Korean team.
That there was real disappointment felt at the South Korean team not being able to advance to the finals, was a showing of what dreams had been shared by the South Koreans. Would we be able to share such dreams with fellow Singaporeans？ To believe that we can do it？
During the games, there was admittedly a thirst to feel nationalistic pride. Like a joke where a guy lamented being born in a wrong country which had nothing to show for football, here were moments when it was with eyes of envy that I looked at beaming faces of a country's people celebrating their team's win.
No doubt, as one of the four million odd Singaporeans, I am of the majority who only knows roughly what offside is about, have no idea how much a local player can earn playing for a club and have zero idea how long it would take for us to make a mark in football.
The only thing I can contribute is however, my belief and support. Though this time round, I celebrated as an Asian, I believe that there would be one day when we can celebrate as a Singaporeans. We are after all, no strangers to challenging the odds.
（The writer is a fresh graduate of NTU.）
人們向來認(rèn)為只有男人才會(huì)為精湛的球藝瘋狂,女人只會(huì)為球星俊俏的臉孔著迷。我不是一個(gè)足球迷,但是四年一度的世界杯足球賽,總讓我身不由己的感到興奮。當(dāng)然,這不單是因?yàn)槟切┢恋哪樋住?BR> 今年的世界杯可以說最為緊張刺激。聯(lián)合東道國日本和韓國,還有中國都過關(guān)斬將打入正賽。人們破天荒第一次可以實(shí)實(shí)在在的感受到亞洲隊(duì)的存在。
每一屆世界杯都會(huì)帶來一股熱潮,今年更是有過之而無不及。中國隊(duì)的落敗在意料之中,日本隊(duì)提早出局卻出人意表,只有韓國隊(duì)繼續(xù)挺進(jìn),成為亞洲的希望之光。
突然間,感覺上似乎是新加坡球隊(duì)在比賽。在任何韓國出場的比賽,電視機(jī)旁都會(huì)圍滿觀眾,大家手握拳頭高聲歡呼,幾乎都是為韓國隊(duì)打氣。通過韓國隊(duì),我們體驗(yàn)了勝利的狂喜和敗北的失望。
韓國隊(duì)最終在排名賽中獲得第四名。但是,大家心里依然充滿自豪感。在賽前,根本沒有人預(yù)料韓國隊(duì)會(huì)打入四強(qiáng)。然而,韓國隊(duì)隊(duì)員深信自己的實(shí)力,以每一場比賽都是決賽的態(tài)度拚搏。韓國隊(duì)隊(duì)員鍥而不舍的精神,已經(jīng)值得人們喝采。
和同樣是黃皮膚的觀眾坐在一起觀看球賽,大家心里同樣殷切期待韓國隊(duì)再昂首步入下一圈。我想大概沒有別的情況可以讓人們更深切感覺到我們大家都是亞洲人。對我來說,這屆世界杯的意義,純粹是韓國隊(duì)的表現(xiàn)給亞洲人帶來的驕傲。
韓國隊(duì)勝出的比賽,似乎給世界傳達(dá)了一個(gè)信息——看到了沒有？亞洲隊(duì)伍正逐漸崛起,不要把我們看扁了！更重要的是,韓國隊(duì)以無比的決心和耐力,取得遠(yuǎn)超人們想像的佳績,我們完全能夠感受到韓國人的那份喜悅和驕傲。
新加坡在1965年獨(dú)立時(shí),形勢對我們完全不利。新加坡就像一支不可能進(jìn)入下一圈的球隊(duì)。然而,我們不但入圍而且還不斷向下一場比賽挺進(jìn)。
世上固然沒有常勝軍,但這不表示我們就有借口喪失斗志,甘心接受在一些領(lǐng)域不戰(zhàn)而敗。我們或者無法實(shí)現(xiàn)在2010年打進(jìn)世界杯的夢想,但為什么要對這夢想嗤之以鼻呢？
問題不在新加坡國旗能不能在2010年世界杯賽飄揚(yáng),而是我們相不相信我們絕對有可能組織一支代表新加坡的世界杯賽球隊(duì)。新加坡人應(yīng)該支持和相信這個(gè)可能性。
踢進(jìn)世界杯賽的球隊(duì)和支持他們的國人都表現(xiàn)了這種信念。這也是全力以赴的韓國隊(duì)和韓國支持者之間共有的信念。韓國人對于韓國隊(duì)不能打進(jìn)決賽的失望之情,正表現(xiàn)了他們擁有共同的夢想。
新加坡人能夠擁有這種共同的夢想嗎？相不相信只要有決心我們就可以做到？在世界杯賽里,人們的國家意識和自豪感特別強(qiáng)烈。有個(gè)人甚至開玩笑的說他找錯(cuò)地方投胎,結(jié)果出生在一個(gè)足球運(yùn)動(dòng)乏善可陳的國家?？吹揭恍﹪业娜嗣?歡天喜地的慶祝國家隊(duì)的勝利時(shí),我有時(shí)的確感到非常羨慕。
和許多新加坡人一樣,我不完全明白什么是越位、不清楚一個(gè)本地職業(yè)球員可以賺多少錢、更不知道我們要多久才能在世界足球壇有所表現(xiàn)。
我能夠貢獻(xiàn)的是一份信念和支持。這一回,我以為身為亞洲人為榮。但我相信有一天我們會(huì)為新加坡隊(duì)和新加坡而歡呼喝采。我們畢竟已經(jīng)累積了許多面對挑戰(zhàn)和克服困難的經(jīng)驗(yàn)。
。作者是南大今年度畢業(yè)生
This World Cup has been most exciting because of the Asian presence that can be felt. For the first time, the tournament was co-hosted by Japan and South Korea with both countries and China making it through the qualifying rounds.
The atmosphere, though sizzling as per every World Cup year, was exceptionally charged this World Cup. As the games proceeded with the predicted dropout of China and the unexpected early exit of Japan, South Korea shone on as the solo bright Asian light.
Suddenly, it was almost as if Singapore was playing. Where a crowd could be found surrounding a TV during a South Korean match, cheers and gripped hands were overwhelmingly for South Korea. Through the South Korean team, we felt the ecstasy of winning and the disappointment of losing.
Even though the team managed only a fourth placing, a warm sense of pride fills the heart because it came so far where no one had expected. The players believed in their abilities and played all matches as if it were their last match. The tenacity of the South Koreans is to be celebrated.
One could probably never feel more Asian then when sitting amongst fellow yellow-skin audience and hoping in the heart that South Korea will make it through yet another match. This World Cup for me, is pure Asian pride at the South Korean performance.
Through the matches where their team emerge unbeaten, we seem to send out a message to the world： See？ There's still glimmer in the old Asian tigers yet, don't write us off！ Most importantly however, we can identify with the joy and pride at being an unexpected survivor through the hard work of sheer determination and perseverance.
Like when we first came into being as a republic in 1965, the odds too were stacked against us； Singapore, an unlikely team to advance into the next round. But advance we did. And to the next round and the next round.
No doubt, it is true that no one can be a winner all the time but that is no excuse to have feeble thoughts about accepting a walkover in some arenas. Team 2010 may not be in sight for us but why chuckle and wave the idea away？
The question is not if we can see Singaporean colours at 2010 but whether we can believe that a Singaporean World Cup team is possible. It is important that the people show support and share a belief in such a possibility.
We see this belief in the players who made it to the World Cup pitches and the support from their fellow countrymen. This belief was transmitted between the South Korean supporters and the determined South Korean team.
That there was real disappointment felt at the South Korean team not being able to advance to the finals, was a showing of what dreams had been shared by the South Koreans. Would we be able to share such dreams with fellow Singaporeans？ To believe that we can do it？
During the games, there was admittedly a thirst to feel nationalistic pride. Like a joke where a guy lamented being born in a wrong country which had nothing to show for football, here were moments when it was with eyes of envy that I looked at beaming faces of a country's people celebrating their team's win.
No doubt, as one of the four million odd Singaporeans, I am of the majority who only knows roughly what offside is about, have no idea how much a local player can earn playing for a club and have zero idea how long it would take for us to make a mark in football.
The only thing I can contribute is however, my belief and support. Though this time round, I celebrated as an Asian, I believe that there would be one day when we can celebrate as a Singaporeans. We are after all, no strangers to challenging the odds.
（The writer is a fresh graduate of NTU.）
人們向來認(rèn)為只有男人才會(huì)為精湛的球藝瘋狂,女人只會(huì)為球星俊俏的臉孔著迷。我不是一個(gè)足球迷,但是四年一度的世界杯足球賽,總讓我身不由己的感到興奮。當(dāng)然,這不單是因?yàn)槟切┢恋哪樋住?BR> 今年的世界杯可以說最為緊張刺激。聯(lián)合東道國日本和韓國,還有中國都過關(guān)斬將打入正賽。人們破天荒第一次可以實(shí)實(shí)在在的感受到亞洲隊(duì)的存在。
每一屆世界杯都會(huì)帶來一股熱潮,今年更是有過之而無不及。中國隊(duì)的落敗在意料之中,日本隊(duì)提早出局卻出人意表,只有韓國隊(duì)繼續(xù)挺進(jìn),成為亞洲的希望之光。
突然間,感覺上似乎是新加坡球隊(duì)在比賽。在任何韓國出場的比賽,電視機(jī)旁都會(huì)圍滿觀眾,大家手握拳頭高聲歡呼,幾乎都是為韓國隊(duì)打氣。通過韓國隊(duì),我們體驗(yàn)了勝利的狂喜和敗北的失望。
韓國隊(duì)最終在排名賽中獲得第四名。但是,大家心里依然充滿自豪感。在賽前,根本沒有人預(yù)料韓國隊(duì)會(huì)打入四強(qiáng)。然而,韓國隊(duì)隊(duì)員深信自己的實(shí)力,以每一場比賽都是決賽的態(tài)度拚搏。韓國隊(duì)隊(duì)員鍥而不舍的精神,已經(jīng)值得人們喝采。
和同樣是黃皮膚的觀眾坐在一起觀看球賽,大家心里同樣殷切期待韓國隊(duì)再昂首步入下一圈。我想大概沒有別的情況可以讓人們更深切感覺到我們大家都是亞洲人。對我來說,這屆世界杯的意義,純粹是韓國隊(duì)的表現(xiàn)給亞洲人帶來的驕傲。
韓國隊(duì)勝出的比賽,似乎給世界傳達(dá)了一個(gè)信息——看到了沒有？亞洲隊(duì)伍正逐漸崛起,不要把我們看扁了！更重要的是,韓國隊(duì)以無比的決心和耐力,取得遠(yuǎn)超人們想像的佳績,我們完全能夠感受到韓國人的那份喜悅和驕傲。
新加坡在1965年獨(dú)立時(shí),形勢對我們完全不利。新加坡就像一支不可能進(jìn)入下一圈的球隊(duì)。然而,我們不但入圍而且還不斷向下一場比賽挺進(jìn)。
世上固然沒有常勝軍,但這不表示我們就有借口喪失斗志,甘心接受在一些領(lǐng)域不戰(zhàn)而敗。我們或者無法實(shí)現(xiàn)在2010年打進(jìn)世界杯的夢想,但為什么要對這夢想嗤之以鼻呢？
問題不在新加坡國旗能不能在2010年世界杯賽飄揚(yáng),而是我們相不相信我們絕對有可能組織一支代表新加坡的世界杯賽球隊(duì)。新加坡人應(yīng)該支持和相信這個(gè)可能性。
踢進(jìn)世界杯賽的球隊(duì)和支持他們的國人都表現(xiàn)了這種信念。這也是全力以赴的韓國隊(duì)和韓國支持者之間共有的信念。韓國人對于韓國隊(duì)不能打進(jìn)決賽的失望之情,正表現(xiàn)了他們擁有共同的夢想。
新加坡人能夠擁有這種共同的夢想嗎？相不相信只要有決心我們就可以做到？在世界杯賽里,人們的國家意識和自豪感特別強(qiáng)烈。有個(gè)人甚至開玩笑的說他找錯(cuò)地方投胎,結(jié)果出生在一個(gè)足球運(yùn)動(dòng)乏善可陳的國家?？吹揭恍﹪业娜嗣?歡天喜地的慶祝國家隊(duì)的勝利時(shí),我有時(shí)的確感到非常羨慕。
和許多新加坡人一樣,我不完全明白什么是越位、不清楚一個(gè)本地職業(yè)球員可以賺多少錢、更不知道我們要多久才能在世界足球壇有所表現(xiàn)。
我能夠貢獻(xiàn)的是一份信念和支持。這一回,我以為身為亞洲人為榮。但我相信有一天我們會(huì)為新加坡隊(duì)和新加坡而歡呼喝采。我們畢竟已經(jīng)累積了許多面對挑戰(zhàn)和克服困難的經(jīng)驗(yàn)。
。作者是南大今年度畢業(yè)生