This past month we were treated to the dual delights of the European Championships and the Copa America soccer tournaments. Both were filled with wondrous ups and downs, which leads one to conclude that football is like life, or football is life.
The first and more dramatic of the two tournaments was the European Championship 2020. No that is not a type-o. The year is correct. The organizers had to cancel this tournament last year due to COVID, so they decided to keep the year 2020 in the title. This year's edition was quite a roller coaster. It featured an on-field cardiac arrest by the young Danish star Christian Eriksen who was successfully resuscitated on the field as his teammates shielded him from the full stadium and the television cameras.
Denmark went on to make a deep run in the tournament that ended at the hands of a fateful and - in my opinion - bogus penalty decision in a match against England that saw them eventually go out. Nonetheless, they are my team of the tournament. England made it to its first final since 1966, and there were cries all around of "It's coming home!" (shorthand for the trophy for the best in the game we started is returning to its rightful place). Italy had other things to say about that, dispensing England in a dramatic penalty shootout - one in which three of England's players - all Black - missed their shots, leading to a deluge of racist abuse. Of England, never change!
The other tournament, Copa America, featured the best teams in South America. Argentina and Brazil prevailed and made it to the final. This was in fact the fourth final Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina had been to since 2014 (one World Cup and three Copa Americas). Winless the last four times, the final had an air of foreboding about it. However, on this day, Argentina and Messi triumphed! Good for him, and hopefully this will take away some of the foolish criticism of him never doing it on the biggest stage with his national team like his predecessor Diego Maradona. Hopefully this win will also lead to another Ballon d'Or trophy for best football player for Messi.
I am not sure what to do with the rest of my sports summer. Wait, the Olympics start this month, and there is more soccer to be seen!
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