World Cup Brazil 2014 / Weltmeisterschaft Brasilien

[El Gordo]

Can't disagree with that Sweder. As much as I like to watch the Dutch, an all European final seems a wrong somehow.

I was desperate for the Cloggies to triumph -- not because I have much affection for them anymore (that dribbled away during the 2010 WC Final, while every 2014 Robben swallow dive has added to my resentment) -- but because I'd loved to have seen a distraught and punch-drunk Brazil pitched against their hated, ancient enemy in the 3rd and 4th place play-off. What an entertaining horror show that could have been, with the knee-wobbling likelihood of losing to the Argies by the odd red card in 5, and probably a single goal, given the dire scoring record of the bastards from across the border, enough to bring down the entire continent in a bloody revolution -- beginning on the streets of Sao Paolo within moments of the final whistle.

But we won't get that.

As for the final, I'm fairly committed to wanting a Germany victory. They deserve it and Argentina don't. My office is a sea of Germans (so perhaps I should expect a tide game?) and they are a pretty decent bunch. Incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the game, without being too annoyingly over-confident about their chances. The exception is my boss, but it's OK for bosses to be annoying. It's in their nature. And anything that keeps my boss in a good mood for the next 4 years -- a pledge he has made, should his nation triumph on Sunday -- can't be a bad thing.

I was planning a jaunt to the Schwarzwald tomorrow to do a bit of gateau nibbling and cuckoo-clock observing, but I'm now thinking I might stop over on Sunday night in Freiberg or environs to catch the game in a bar. It seems too good a chance to miss, though I've been on Der Wagen for 6 weeks now, and can report that beer-free is even better than free beer. It may seem like a challenging prospect -- to remain in this healthily aloof state, while millions of bouncing, bevied-up, Lederhosened German youths beg me to join them in a Stein or two of the local Weissbier, but I am determined not to break my resolve -- world champions or not.

Hurrah!