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Euro 2004: The fever and the frenzy
by Wong Kok Keong
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That they were given at the start of the tournament a 100-to-1 shot to win the trophy showed yet again that football is truly about how it is actually played on the field not what the odds are on paper. The Greek triumph will undoubtedly add a glorious chapter to the storied history of European football as well as to Greek legends. It is one for the ages, likely to serve as inspiration for anyone or any nation not given a ghost of a chance to triumph or scale great heights. Well, now that Euro 2004 has come and gone - having electrified us with nerve-wrecking, exhilarating, heartbreaking drama, we can breathe a sigh of relief. We are finally back to our usual sleeping hours after having caught up with zzzz’s lost in those three weeks of fantastic football frenzy in Portugal. Ahhhhh! But it won’t be easy even if the Greeks had not triumphed against all odds. I don’t know about you but I wish this Euro thing could still go on even if it means having to put up with more unearthly hours just to catch a bunch of men kicking a ball around on a field.
Glitz and glamour The greatest football show on earth, rivalling even World Cup? Certainly, Euro 2004 boasted football’s creme de la creme. There were veteran maestros like Zizou and Figo with their deft touches at weaving the slick roteiro ball through two, three opponents at a time. The rising young hotshots of Rooney, Baros and Ronaldo (as in Cristano) dazzling us with their speed, power and exquisite footwork. And, those in between - in the form of mega superstars like Henry, Owen and Beckham with their oh-so mind-bendingly wicked runs and crosses. Of course, this would do injustice to the continent of South American football giants. But even that continent tends to lack the kind of glamour and glitz that surrounds the more well-scrubbed, much ballyhooed pitches of Europe — be they in England, Spain, Portugal or Italy. Why, even Latin America’s hot-shots have not been able to resist the lure of glamour, glitz, and, of course, wealth and riches of Europe, which has become their much prized playing ground of choice as well. That Euro 2004 held us spellbound was due in in no small part to the glamour and glitz coming off of the exuberant spin from global media. Bankrolled by global corporations ever eager to latch on to any global sensation to further jazz up their global brands, television stations were ever ready to party with the largest crowds. ...and spin Like most commodities, when you dress up the beautiful game with the most glamourous, glitzy and exciting spin, it will further shine and entice, developing legs to travel the world over. Cleverly packaged, the tournament was able to convert even the most indifferent and uninterested or whip up more frenzy among the faithful than ever before. Watching sports on the telly has become the leisure thing to do in this globalised consumer culture, and football certainly has much to do with it. It is not just the number one sport among rich and poor, young and old, and a growing number of women, it also succeeds in generating more passion than any other sport. Everyone it seems wanted to experience the thrill of the global Euro 2004 phenomenon. Heck, it beats watching the best on our shores. We have grown so accustomed to our homegrown players saying they will do their best while we endure and suffer, hoping against hope they will one day deliver. Until then, we will be forced to witness the beautitul game as it should be played even if the game unfolds in distant shores and at unearthly hours. Besides, what better opportunity for all of us — young and old, rich and poor, of all ethnic groups — to banter about this passion of ours like the pundits and commentators on television. We were able to pour out our “expert opinions” whether at home, in pubs, at our favourite mamak stalls over long teh-tariks, or during coffee breaks at work with our eyes weary but still dancing after having witnessed something magical in the wee hours of the night before. All's well globally? Ah, the feeling of bliss and camaraderie with folks familiar and new who shared your opinions or your cutting commentaries. Like why, oh, why Beckham was so wrong to take the penalty against Portugal regardless if the earth did move under his feet. The quick exit of the highly touted Azzuris for not putting away more goals. Or the incredible sight of the always-respected Germans sent packing by the second string Czechs. In that fleeting moment of instant camaraderie, we felt an instant recognition and connection that was like no other. It was as though all was well and right with the world, with humanity, and you felt a warm fuzzy thrill to be a part of it all. It was enough for us to turn our backs on a world wrecked ever more so with deaths, misery and suffering, fear and hatred, the strains and stresses of daily life. Instead, for one brief moment, we revelled in humanity’s capacity for beauty, fun, and creativity. That might be all that we needed to soldier on and face the demons inside and outside us. It might be all that we needed to reaffirm life and living. Or, at the very least, it was just what we needed to get ourselves ready and psyched up for the next global party in a couple of years, the World Cup in Germany! Sounds like an eternity? Well, how about Copa America then, played in less glamourous and glitzy Peru — never mind if it is missing South American football superstars like Brazil's Ronaldo and Ronaldinho — but at more tolerable hours of the morning. Who knows, maybe another legend the likes of the Greek fairy-tale awaits us. Go, Copa! Anyone?
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Bankrolled by global corporations ever eager to latch on to any global sensation to further jazz up their global brands, television stations were ever ready to party with the largest crowds.
