Celebrate?
I had to think about this one for a while. The US Women's Soccer National team beat Thailand 13-0 at the Women's World Cup in France. Do I mind putting 13 goals past your opposition in the inaugural game for Thailand at a World Cup? Yes. Do I mind the celebrations for each and every goal as if they were World Cup golden goals? Hell yeah I mind. It's an absolute embarrassment to the game and a kick in the teeth over and above the beanbag of goals they scored. Who in their right minds celebrate after scoring that many goals? Tell you what - If my team was even down five goals and the opposition celebrated after scoring, I'm not sure if they'd be walking home after the game.
@AlexiLalas, who baulked at @RobStoneONFOX saying that after five the US team should have started knocking the ball back rather than romping towards the Thai goal, was absolutely discraceful on @FOXSoccer barking that the @USWNT celebrated every goal as ‘part of a bigger picture’ - WTF! - tell me how scoring 13 against Thailand is part of any decent picture, Alexi? Assertions that this was a ‘statement’ made by the team are so far wide of the mark. Statements are made when you go toe to toe with equal opposition and put them to the sword. 13-0 against Thailand is not a ‘statement.’ Finally, there were also mutterings that the only way the Thai team would feel respected was if the US team kept going as they did. Let’s look back at history; do you ever remember all the details of matches you’ve played in? No. Do you remember the scores? For the most part, yes. The Thai would have been perfectly happy had the US team stopped at some point and ‘respected’ their dignity. Justifying celebrations because someone scored five goals or because other players earned their first ever World Cup goal(s) is ridiculous.
I wouldn’t be proud to tell my grand-kids that my first and/or only World Cup goal was the 13th vs. Thailand in 2019. In fact, I’d probably be embarrassed.
