MERRY CHRISTMAS?

That’s what I had in mind about Christmas until I was hit with the last of day of the World Cup of Soccer 2022 in Doha, Qatar. I’d leave my home office, wander down to watch ten, fifteen minutes of it on TV.

What happened? That ‘small portion’ lasted several hours or more with my attention glued to the screen.

The last game: defending champion France taking on Argentina. I was mesmerized by the sheer energy of it.

How the players were knocked to the ground and would get up to play to the end of the game.

Nor could I take my eyes off Lionel Messi for Argentina who at last had his chance to play for the trophy that had eluded him in what they call ‘his storied career’.

He scored three goals during the two 15-minute over-time periods ending up in the teams facing a shoot-out.

Author’s comment: Then it came down to the dreaded penalty kicks – there were five of them – Lionel Messi scored with the 80,000 jumping to their feet in the stadium waving their arms. God knows how many across the world were doing the same thing. and yes... have a very Merry Christmas.