Sandy's life as a small potato in Hong Kong (June, 2002)

World Cup is something a football fan finds difficult to resist. The World Cup 2002 was held in Japan and Korea and as a result most of the games were kicked off in the daytime while we were working. What could I do? As a small potato, I tried my best to go back home after work as fast as possible. When the clock ticked at 5 o'clock every weekday, I had already packed my stuff and rushed out of the office and aimed at the bus stop where I got onto the bus back home. People would find no difficulty contacting me these days because I was either in the office or at home but unfortunately they'd find it difficult to persuade me to go out. I was afraid I might soon have mould on my head by staying too long at home!

Just click on any of the following underlined dates and you can get to know what's going on with me that day.

June 2, 2002 (Sun)

What was a football fans' life like?

This month definitely a lot of people's life will have been affected by the World Cup 2002.  At least I'm one of those whose daily life will be a bit different from usual.  Before the World Cup 2002, I don't always go out in my free time but I don't think I'd be home for as long as I'm now if there were no football games!  Also, all my attention is now drawn to the TV or the sports page of the newspaper. Everything is about football. 

Important results: England drew Sweden at 1-1, while Argentina won Nigeria at 1-0...

June 4, 2002 (Tue)

Chance for China?

It was the first time China took part in the World Cup final. As a Chinese, of course I'll give my support and watch its games but like many other people, I don't expect our national team to win in a group composed of Brazil, Turkey and Costa Rica.  It was nice enough that we can see our national team to take part in such a big international tournament, right?

Important results: China vs. Costa Rica: 0-2

Note: The 12th anniversary of June 4 Tian On Man Event

June 7, 2002 (Fri)

I'd soon have a heart attack! :P

That must be the most nail-biting game so far. Since the game started, there was no moment I could relax myself. My eyes were fixed upon the TV and I could hear my heartbeat...  When the England team was granted a penalty kick, I couldn't help cheering.  That scene with Beckham being sent off was still fresh in my mind. So England got the revenge for their defeat of four years ago!?  But I think both teams could have performed better.

Important results: England vs. Argentina: 1:0

June 12, 2002 (Wed)

England through to the second phase

The final scores of two games in the same group determined different fates of the four teams in this group: Sweden and England went through to the second stage of the tournament. Although I'm glad to see England beat Argentina a few days ago, I still feel sad about Argentina getting crashed out of the tournament as there seems not to have many 'traditionally strong' football teams remaining in the rest of the tournament and I wondered if the games looked less attractive...

Important results: Nigeria vs. England: 0:0 & Sweden vs. Argentina: 1:1

June 15, 2002 (Sat)

Denmark vs. England

Of course I was delighted to see England beat Denmark with three goals, but I was more concerned about what England would be facing in the next game; it's more likely to be Brazil but I still hoped Belgium would beat Brazil, then England would get a higher chance of proceeding through to the final...

Important results: Denmark vs. England: 0:3

June 16, 2002 (Sun)

Which was more important, friends or football?

In this football month, my friends would find it difficult to ask me out but there was an exception: I agreed to come out for meeting a few friends that I got to know in the UK. But I wasn't willing to step out of my home until the last minute.

Important results: Sweden vs. Senegal: 1:2 & Spain vs. Ireland: 1:1

(Senegal was really one of the surprises in this tournament; I always feel Ireland's got something to do with England and also I appreciate their patriotism and perseverance - especially after I had written some essays related to its languages -  so I'd hope they could go through to the next stage but the result was...)

June 18, 2002 (Tue)

Office move

We were moving to a temporary office today. I said 'temporary' because in two months we'd move to a permanent, well-decorated office.  As I had started working on my supervisor's project for a short time only, there wasn't much I had to bring with me to the temporary office. In my previous office, it was as if I was separate from the outside world as here were no windows but in this temporary office, I can get to know about the weather outside and the traffic conditions through the windows and if I'm bored, I can just look outside of the windows...

Important results: South Korea vs. Italy: 2:1

(Not just shocked, but I also felt it was unfair coz I think a goal by Italy toward the end of the game should have been counted)

June 21, 2002 (Fri)

A quiet day

That must be the quietest day of the week on the street.  Not because it's a public holiday or the Chinese New Year. Perhaps some people pretended to be sick or just took a day-off from work. Why? Because there was a big game, which some people may even describe as the final of the World Cup!  I was hesitating about whether to take leave from my work but in the end I decided to go on with my work and attend the computer class in the afternoon. Not surprisingly there were fewer people in the computer class. Perhaps some people had gone to watch the game somewhere?!

I was too afraid to get to know the result without watching the game by any means - I avoided any chance of being informed of it through the Internet; I didn't ask my dad about the result when I went back home. I wanted to know the result by myself through watching the replay of the game which I had recorded. Undoubtedly I was disappointed (but somehow expected?) about the result...

Important results: Brazil vs. England: 2:1 & Germany vs. USA: 1:0

June 22, 2002 (Sat)

The game was over!?

It seemed to me the World Cup had ended when Spain got knocked out of the games by Korea.  Only Germany and Brazil as big football countries stayed on with Turkey and Korea being the surprises. I don't want Germany to win coz it's the enemy of England in football and I don't like the way they play the games; I can't deny Brazil does play good football but it's they who dashed the hopes of England being the World Cup Champion; Korea's spirit in the games is appreciated but I still wish it would be Spain or any other countries that play against Germany on the semi-final.

Important results: South Korea vs. Spain: 0:0 (South Korea win 5:3 on penalties)

June 25, 2002 (Tue)

The magic ended

So, finally the magic of South Korea ended but as many people said, they already got beyond what they had expected from the games. It was like they were having a carnival every day; their people were celebrating with one another on the street. When will we have such a chance to do so?

Important results: South Korea vs. Germany: 0:1

June 30, 2002 (Sun)

World Cup Final

The results may not be surprising as Brazil had been tipped to be the champion, maybe since the day it beat England? And the days when I could think of nothing but football ended. So everything would be back to 'normal'? 

Important results: Germany vs. Brazil: 0:2

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