It was nearly 4:00 a.m. and the English soccer fan standing next to me at the Coffee Shop in Union Square knew the final score, even though ten minutes or so remained in the World Cup match between Brazil and England, which Brazil was leading 2-1. “England always break your heart,” she said, and indeed they did, failing to equalize before the final whistle. The Brazilians at the bar were, as you’d expect, ecstatic and beautiful.
I was rooting for Brazil, because I’m partial to Third World countries that need something to cheer about, and if the country in question happens to turn soccer into a form of ballet, all the better. But the team I’d most like to see go all the way is Senegal, an underdog from a continent of underdogs. A World Cup victory, which is nearly unthinkable, would bring pride and happiness to everyone in Africa, which the IMF and World Bank will never do.
