Before the Quarter Finals (World Cup Series)

Before the Quarter Finals

Bereft is the word, lost, niggling absence,
this break in daily unveiling of the World Cup

before quarter finals kick off, forty eight hours
of writhing and reliving the unfortunate business,

ball bouncing beyond German line by 32
centimeters to break England’s lion-heart, shot

from offside that jump-started Argentina’s ride
over Mexico, foot fault by a finger leading

still to Spain’s illegitimate goal that sent
Portugal home. Hard to digest that three matches

of the round of 16s were marred by goals allowed
in error, that the world is tuning still into football

despite football’s rejection of its good sense.
Breaking News: the head of FIFA apologizes

to English and Mexican federations. A small
step for FIFA, yes, to be celebrated, certainly;

but if Germany’s goalie, or an Argentine
player, preferably the scorer, had stepped up

in the moment of scandal to say no, no, no,
we do not deserve this point, that would

have been a story of saving grace in a world
gathering worth talking of to the grandchildren.


Indran Amirthanayagam, June 30, 2010