World Cup 2010 - Day 30

Germany 3 Uruguay 2 (3rd and 4th place match)

Some say the third and fourth place match is like a
Small aperitif before the feast,
A little tune upon the balalaika
Before the music volumes are increased.

It’s like the warm-up by some local crooners
Before the famous pop-group starts to play,
A day in Bray before the honeymooners
Fly out to their Seychelles hideaway.

Sometimes though the act that is supporting
Is better than the headline they precede.
The crowd is wowed by bands that are purporting
To merely fill an introduct’ry need.

The third place game itself is often fresher
Than the cautious fear-filled game that is to come.
The players operate without the pressure
Which liberates the footballer in some.

A game to see who’s champions of the losers
Doesn’t instil bite into the tackles.
The players’ only role is to amuse us,
To entertain us, free from all the shackles.

No-one really cares the Germans won it –
The semi-final’s where these two teams reached.
They’re tireder now than when they’d just begun it
But all their frailty’s already breached.

So thank you and goodbye to these two nations,
Our taste buds have been primed, to say the least.
Let’s hope the Final reaches expectations
As two fine chefs prepare to serve the feast.

Ironically, after surprisingly getting to see most of the 63 games so far, it appears as though I'm going to miss the Final itself due to hospital visiting duties!