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Monday, 17 July 2006 |
Let the games begin - By Rasmus Bonde Stouby
Correction: It appears that I have unwillingly mislead you. The Bermuda, Spain and
Latvia matches does count! But only Denmark or Finland can move on to the post-
games.
Good thing we beat Bermuda then. Denmark's first ever world games match resulted in
a 10-6 victory. Both teams played a slow match looking for their chance against the
other team. We got ahead by two in the first quarter and kept Bermuda at arms length
throughout the match. Though it was a splendid victory, everybody will need to do a
lot more running in order to move on.
Dane Hansen, our 17 year old Danish Canadian became Man of the match and was awarded
the game ball for his three goals and two assists.
The goalie for Bermuda, Stephen Velotti, played a terrific match with a trillion
saves, frustrating the Danish midfield and attack on several occasions. That's why a
lot of Danes dropped their jaws to the ground when it became known that Velotti had
in fact just played his first game ever and only picked up the goalie-stick two and
a half months ago.
Bermuda were extremely graceful in defeat. They presented us with a bottle of booze
and water bottles with Bermuda lacrosse on it. It is not the first time Bermuda
gives us booze though.
Last night a couple of the guys (Baadsgaard, Mormor and Simon: all midfielders) went
into town to have some good food and a drink when all of a sudden all the girls in
the place started giving drinks to them. One after another, and they wouldn't take
no for an answer! Finally our overwhelmed Danes had to leave before they got piss
drunk. They had a game the day after mind you. Turns out a couple of Bermuda players
were also at the bar and it was they who staged this sly operation to dismantle the
Danish midfield.
Good thing it wasn't me in that bar, I immediately thought to myself, but yet I
shivered with envy. My self-conscious worldviews allow me to believe that I can
actually walk into a bar and all the girls instantly dig me. It could easily have
turned out a little too memorable. But still it does sound like a little piece of
heaven, doesn't it? Nice guys on that Bermuda team.
On the first game day in the 2006 world games, and just prior to our match, Finland
played Spain. Spain and Bermuda's world cup goal is to win a match and not get
completely destroyed in any. However, Spain jumped out a box and surprised everybody
by taking the lead in the first quarter. A shaken team Finland rallied to win
control of the match and take the lead. At the end of the match as Spain's three
profiles; the two Gonzalez brothers and Daniel de la Casa grew tired Finland
cemented their victory 16-11.
"Those guys are big! And they want to slide all the time," said de la Casa of the
Finish defense.
Finish defender Jaakko Savolahti felt that slides were missing, but was happy to
walk away as winners of a world games match.
"It feels pretty fucking good," he said. |
