Finals
Coming to you from Voutiro, Greece. I’ll be watching at the local coffee shop, Amadryades. France v. Croatia. Unexpected before the tournament started, Croatia certainly looked a tough team in group play. In the knockout rounds they proved that fatigue is only in the mind, winning all three games in extra time or penalties. Croatia’s talented squad faces off against one of the pre-tournament favorites. And what a team. Able to play finesse when they can and grinding when necessary. Think about all the people France left off the squad. I’m not sure who to pull for. Should be a very interesting match. As for music…Hope you’ve enjoyed the playlist.
Feeling nothing
I can’t touch the ground.
Can’t you hear me,
hear me laughing,
One last time before I slip into the void.
Croatia:
Žen, a gdje su staze, https://tinyurl.com/ybhspvq9
Sonicna taktika, https://tinyurl.com/y7gncelm
Nellcote, Future’s Gone, https://tinyurl.com/y8sqaoor
Atomsko skolniste, Ne cvikaj, generacijo, https://tinyurl.com/y7g6ohfu
La félonie, la traite d’esclaves, la dette, le F.M.I
Bruno, Jean-Marie, si je cours, j’ai des raisons
Les mêmes que les deux nègres maigres sous un avion
Avant c’était déjà grave de voir des fers qui entravent
Paysage de Gorée, Maison des Esclaves
France:
MC Solaar, Les Colonies, https://tinyurl.com/ybmag5a9
L’Impératrice, Vanille Fraise, https://tinyurl.com/k3mue3j
Ina-Ich, Ma Chair et Mon Sang, https://tinyurl.com/ycjshpug
Third place game.
The underachievers v. the overestimated. Belgium has gotten the reputation for failing to play to the level of their talent, but hopefully this World Cup will change that. The counterattack to beat Japan was unreal, and the semifinals could have gone either way. Perhaps France’s experience in big games was the difference? England always consider themselves better than they are. Fans in the United States (which is where most are listening from) always think England is great because…Premier League? English-language commentators from Great Britain? They were lucky to get as far as they did. For as good as the Three Lions are in their heads, this is only the third time the men’s team has made it past the quarterfinals….
Belgium:
De Kreuners, Wachten Op Een Trein, https://tinyurl.com/yc4nh9uk
Balthazar, Blood Like Wine: https://tinyurl.com/ybpgoo4b
SLM, Aba: https://tinyurl.com/y8j9yktt
England:
Public Image Ltd., Swan Lake: https://tinyurl.com/ycfjzuab
Craig David, Fill Me In: https://tinyurl.com/y8338mdq
Steel Pulse, Rally Round: https://tinyurl.com/y7ss4qly
Semifinal # 2 England v. Croatia
Should I be torn on this one? England, with its IKEA-trashing fans and holier-than-thou attitude about soccer, vs. Croatia, with ultra-nationalists trying to hijack the team’s success. (Check out @DarioBrentin, @AlexHoliga, @JamesPiotr, and @JurjavVrdoljak for great commentary on this). Inventor of modern game or upstart young nation….Country that attacks its Afro-descended footballers in the press or country where player feels he needs to renounce his heritage officially to be safe…
England:
New Order, https://tinyurl.com/y8zogn4q
Edward Elgar interpreted by Jacqueline du Pre, https://tinyurl.com/l6m3u5o
The Rolling Stones, https://tinyurl.com/j4r3m8w
Croatia:
Azra, https://tinyurl.com/yccr8ajr
Bosko Petrovic, https://tinyurl.com/y7fbj86h
Denis & Denis, https://tinyurl.com/qh2z7e7
Semifinal #1 Belgium-France
This could have been an amazing final….No more to say on it, really. Other than this: this semifinal playlist was created by my 13-year-old daughter, Sofia. To channel her for a second, “so…yeah.”
Belgium:
Lara Fabian, https://tinyurl.com/y8bmwjad
Coely, https://tinyurl.com/yaaaw984
Noordkaap, https://tinyurl.com/y9nhzk4o
France:
MHD, https://tinyurl.com/y8vawhpo
Parabellum, https://tinyurl.com/yaoqt2ox
Mireille Mathieu, https://tinyurl.com/y9jg9xxu
Music to Watch By, Round 2
Coming to you from a village in the mountains of Greece, with the smell of grilled meat lingering in the background, and a view of Mt. Parnassos in front of me. It was absolutely gutting to see Senegal and Nigeria dumped from the tournament in Round 1, not only because of their play, but the music that they add to the playlist. Alas. Germany, good riddance.
The round of 16 still has some fascinating matchups, hope you enjoy the show:
France: Edith Piaf, tinyurl.com/ybsejk5z
Madmoiselle K, tinyurl.com/y8pbfx7h
Argentina: El mató a un policía motorizado, tinyurl.com/y7mjzzeh
Diego Maradona, tinyurl.com/d7lv2ul
Portugal: Toranja, tinyurl.com/ydgg93ec
The Gift, tinyurl.com/y8lqh96s
Uruguay: Alfonsina, tinyurl.com/y865g5hq
Latejapride*, tinyurl.com/qeau8vh
Knockout rounds, Day 2
I’m still a little gutted about Argentina’s loss, but Sampaoli’s strutting rooster thing had already worn on me after the Albiceleste’s second game. They were never going to be fast or smart enough to defend France’s two-pronged attack. It should be three-pronged, but Giroud’s contribution seems to be miscommunication with teammates. At least Uruguay came through when it mattered, halting the other crowing rooster (Ronaldo). Is there some cosmic justice in both Messi and Ronaldo being knocked out on the same day? Today’s games, on paper, should be straightforward affairs for Spain and Croatia. But never count out the home team (an early red card for Ramos?), especially when Shostakovich is on their side.
Spain: Buika, tinyurl.com/nm25yfy
Pony Bravo, tinyurl.com/yav4w3v4
Russia: t.A.T.u, tinyurl.com/mczvrh3
Dimitri Shostakovich, tinyurl.com/y76fx34g
Denmark: Manus Nigra, tinyurl.com/ybpjeylo
VETO, tinyurl.com/yb8vzn2m
Croatia: Puncke, tinyurl.com/y7e99pc7
Vlasta Popic, tinyurl.com/ybzuagq4
Knockout Rounds, Day 3
Today is the day: Mexico v. Brazil. As I’ve disclosed elsewhere on this blog, I am an avowed Mexico fan. I’ve loved El Tri at least since the days of Jorge Campos’s garish kits. I sweat out the final group game against Sweden. Now Brazil…
As with yesterday there are two teams that are odds on favorites to go through to the next round. But soccer is a beautiful game, and favorites don’t always win. Today’s playlist, with some extra help for #MiseleccionMX:
Brazil: Caetano Veloso and Os Mutantes, bit.ly/2lOPWLO
MC Marcinho, bit.ly/2tQZYiW
Mexico: Molotov, bit.ly/2lO1ZZL
Chavela Vargas, bit.ly/2z7WK0a
Cronómetrobudú*, bit.ly/2lR6kuV
Belgium: Témé Tan, tinyurl.com/m3f6jlw
Angèle, tinyurl.com/y9xpxth3
Japan: Wagakki Band, tinyurl.com/kyhev5m
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, tinyurl.com/y7vkujeq
Knockout Rounds, Day 4
Well. Now who. Mexico’s loss left me as adrift as Belgium’s counterattack left me breathless. It showed what they’re capable of, that’s for sure. I’d be a little concerned if I were Brazil.
Sweden: Erik Lundin, https://tinyurl.com/y7a7qr8u
Bengt Hallberg, https://tinyurl.com/y792df23
Switzerland: Mwenga, https://tinyurl.com/y7erslpp
Sophie Hunger, https://tinyurl.com/px8e9sm
England: The Clash, https://tinyurl.com/qxjw4lo
Lord Kitchener, https://tinyurl.com/gnoeqry
For the Windrush generation
Colombia: Juan Luis Guerra, https://tinyurl.com/ybtqxswl
La Payara, https://tinyurl.com/ycrh8w9a
Joshua Nadel is an associate professor at North Carolina Central University and is the author of Fútbol! Why Soccer Matters in Latin America and Futbolera: Women, Gender, and Sexuality in Latin American Sports History. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2019. (co-authored with Brenda Elsey).