Since ancient times people have interpreted almost every occurrence as an omen for either good or bad luck. These ideas still exist today and originate from several sources, even personal experiences, resulting sometimes in somebody being their own superstition. A guy coined me as his lucky omen and practicality wants me guaranteed to be at his home at a certain time for a specific reason.
He the most fervent fan of soccer (football) I have met. He left England for the colony to teach Canadians about this wonderful game. Some listened to his diatribe, most didn’t. When he claimed soccer was the greatest of all sports, people would get theirs backs up and told him to get a life – Hockey was ‘boss’.
When he mentioned such as the FIFA tournament, people thought of a striptease artist.
He moved from city to city, always hopeful of making a difference but finding only dejection and disappointment. His passion didn’t wane though and came with him to Whitewater Region where he retired. It took more than a few years of persistence but he captured three bona fide disciples. I was one of them.
Every four years more than 300 countries strive to qualify for soccer’s World Cup – except Canada, who is too busy watching hockey during the season and the hockey draft and trades in the off-season. Soccer, a name adapted by North Americans, because ‘Football’ had been taken by a boa-fide sport that is exponentially more popular with fans.
In the between years, again every four years, only European countries competed. This year it was for the Euro 2020 Cup. After England became one of eight remaining, I got the call. Come and watch the England – Croatia game.
This time England did it on their own. Ukraine was flattened by three second-half goals in the space of 19 minutes and the anxiety of England was substituted by mild optimism for the semi-final game against Denmark.
Recall that England last won a major tournament of this magnitude back in1962. Even the hapless Maple Leaf drought wasn’t that long – they won the cup in 1967. Soccer-boy realized for the past four or five years; I was present when his favourite team won. Now as good luck omen, I was bribed with drinks and deserts were for the 3 PM start on July 7th.
I arrived with a big appetite for the snacks and the game too. So far England hadn’t allowed a single goal in the tournament.
When Denmark scored first, it was like the pandemic had returned full force. Silent prayers, fingers crossed and ‘Me’ did it.
England scored forcing overtime and then a second goal to vault them to the final against the phenomenal Italian squad. BBC: “The final is going to be an incredibly tight game because Italy is a superb opposition.
They haven’t lost for 33 games.”
After the Denmark game the guy immediately pressured me about the final convinced beyond reason just what a lucky omen I was. Not to forget that 60 years had passed since England had won a big one. Pushing back after hearing him plead his need I said, “I may have other plans for Sunday, I’ll have to check my schedule?” He started to tremble and mumble his words. As I was leaving, I heard, “I’ll do anything.”
On Sunday, there couldn’t have been a more ideal match-up. England vs. Italy right in that vociferous Wembley Stadium. England scored early in the first half and Italy tied it in the second. The overtime was a knife-edge and no goals scored.
The winner would be decided on penalty kicks. The game as tense as it was in overtime was now so intense that the room felt as though it had weight.
My streak as a good omen had ended. Italy won and soccer – guy evaporated the room without us noticing. We could sense his incomparable loss. As we left, I wondered if I’d ever be invited back.
In seven centuries the game of soccer still hasn’t modernized – there must be room for improvements? Their clocks run forward and with random add-on makes it confusing. The referee, also the timekeeper, would be unacceptable in sports played in the Valley.
