2014 World Cup Journal

Estadio das Dunas, Natal (viewed from The Darling Laboratory, Biosafety Level 2)

Resilient. That is all I need to say about the 3 points the United State's Men's National Team earned on Monday night in Natal. The second half wasn't pretty, it was an ugly defensive battle. But we prevailed and we survived. It was a sweet, sweet vengeance against our African rivals. Monday was an amazing night, the celebrations indeed well deserved! Now our eyes and heart are set to the Sunday night showdown against an angry Portugal. Our midfield work rate will be crucial if we intend to get any points. And Howard, he will keep us in the game. I know we will get our chances on goal, we've got to finish every one of them. It will be interesting to see Klinsmann's formation without Altidore. Will he play the magical Clint as a lone striker and bring a new midfielder into the starting XI? Zusi has definitely earned that chance.

Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador (viewed from Jacob’s USA/NED based WC_HQ)

NETHERLANDS vs SPAIN

We had our second radiology experience today in the clinic, with a practice exam at the end of the session. Let's just say the results of my current radiology skill is no where near the display that the KNVB's senior team showcased to the world today against defending World Cup champions Spain. Because of meeting with my study group all afternoon, I missed watching the match live. Thus began a torturous afternoon and evening, my iPhone loaded with pending texts from dear football friends that I sadly could not dare read. Just one spoiler would ruin the Oranje themed post-study date I had planned at my World Cup Headquarters just down the road from school. I went on a run at the local soccer pitch and did some ball work right after the study session (trying to treat my body right in dental school, while treating the constant football fever now that the weather has turned nice), before heading home to the World Cup final rematch awaiting me. Boy did it not fail to entertain a certain want-to-be Dutch American.

The first half was rather slow, with limited chances from both sides. The penalty that Spain was awarded was another weak call in my opinion, but in the heat of the moment and with the pace of the match, I don't blame the ref. Robin Van Persie's equalizer before half was an absolute world class finish. Ajax's Daley Blind sent a spot on ball to the streaking captain, who finished it with a header that almost defies what we have thought world class strikers are ultimately capable of. A hard downpour welcomed the squads back onto the pitch for the second half and it proved to be an exciting one. Arjen Robben has come into the tournament at the peak of his career. He exemplified the creativity of Dutch voetbal today, as he and Van Persie were both smelling hat-tricks. Most importably for the Oranje, I believe we have the two top duos in Brazil. The attacking/defensive mid combination of Sneijder and De Jong, swiftly linking up with the flanks and with what I expect to be the most dominating front line this June in Robben and Van Persie, proved to show brilliance today. The Oranje were quick to strike after dispossessing Spain. The penetrating balls of the Dutch into the final third, especially during counter attacks, kept Spain on their heals the entire half. This built up to a beautiful final Oranje dagger in the 80th minute, as Sneijder threaded a deadly ball to feed a blazing Robben, who took on the likes of the Spanish back line, schooling a struggling Casillas (who may have just earned his final international cap) to suavely finish it home and make it 5-1. 

Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo (viewed from Jacob's USA/NED based WC_HQ)

The clock was ticking in my oral radiology rotation today. I had to finish my 20 mouth series as fast as I could, without losing my focus on the precise task at hand. We are learning to take radiographs on Dexter, a dental mannequin head that has real human parts (mandible, maxilla, teeth) from cadavers. It is my first day of three in the clinic learning and practicing different radiography techniques, culminating in a final exam for the course on Monday afternoon. It comes at a very busy time in my summer as I am juggling (football pun intended) our Ironman of a immuno/viro/microbiology course, with a huge exam this Monday, my research for the Master's dual degree I am working towards, and now the beginning of the world's greatest event, the World Cup. 

I made it back to my flat (yes, may the European football induced nouns flourish during the next month... but really, it is a flat) with only fifteen minutes elapsed in the opening match. I was four minutes too late to see a blank scoresheet though, as I had missed the opening OG from Brazil's Champion's League victor, Marcelo. The excitement continued, with a weak yet perfectly placed dribbler off the upright from sir Nemar. Then, a very questionable match changing penalty, called by Japan's Yuichi Nishimura, may have cost him another chance to be the head official this month. This match could have definitely had a different trajectory. Nevertheless, I do believe the better team won. Brazil proving to be the resilient side, they showed glimpses of that certain explosive flare that never ceases to ignite the fever that is the World Cup. As Brazil has gotten out their opening match jitters, I believe their moments of flare will soon spark even more frequently. With a country of yellow and blue behind them, A Seleção has everything to lose in the next four weeks, a clear favourite in my mind.

Thank goodness for only one match today, as I have massive amounts of microbe to ingest. All I want to do is head out to the pitch. It will be very hard with all the live matches tomorrow and the weekend, but with the advent of the WatchESPN app and Google Chromecast, I can now watch the World Cup in HD to my study schedules liking.