Before 'ze Germans' get here...

World Cup Fever! Everywhere I go, for dinner, drinks, or just wandering around, all you see is TV screens, small and large, all tuned into CCTV5. The channel seems to have WC coverage monopoly in China. The time between live matches and match highlights is filled by a game show cum variety show cum analysis show. The Chinese participants seem surprisingly becalmed, but that doesn’t stop the hosts—normally one serious looking fellow and two pretty twenty something women—from being a little over the top. I am sure, at least in part, my impression suffers from the lack of being able to comprehend most of what is going on. Nevertheless, it makes for an interesting contrast. Can’t imagine what it would have been like had the Chinese actually been in the WC.

While most restaurants have all their TVs tuned to CCTV5, some of the more ambitious ones have set up huge rear projection screens outdoors. Sanlitun, Beijing’s bar district, is lined with World Cup advertising and paraphernalia as each bar tries to outdo the other in attracting the thirsty and affluent lao wai (literally ‘old foreign,’ the common term for all us non-Chinese). Near the middle of Sanlitun is a recently constructed building which has a huge (I’d say at least 25 feet diagonal, most likely more) screen. In front of the building is a large courtyard type space, which is crowded with restaurant tables, as well as passersby standing or squatting. I caught two of Spain’s 4 goals against Ukraine on this big screen. On a nice balmy night this is really the place to be. I hope to visit again.

In the meantime, ze Germans seem to be doing well. Dismantled Sweden with a fair bit of panache and it was only the spectacular Isakkson who kept the scoreline respectable for the Swedes. Was particularly impressed with Miroslav Klose. He seems to have developed into a really fine player these past four years. Some of his creative work against the Swedes was top drawer. Looking forward to the Argentina-Germany match on Friday now. Needless to say, hope the chants of ‘wir fahren nach Berlin’ continue to ring through the weekend :)

Too bad the Dutch lost. England squeaked by, only as England know how. I hope they either raise their level of play or head home. This WC has seen the return to dominance of the traditional soccer powers. No surprises seem likely in the final 8. My predictions for the remaining four are: Brazil (duh), Ukraine, Spain (bye bye 'les old bleus') and Italy. Only one real surprise there with the Ukrainians. I wouldn’t be upset if there were a couple of others though (esp. the socceroos and the Ghanaians!).