The world watches as grown men kick a ball around

A sprained ankle meant I managed to watch quite a bit of footie on Friday. I am not a football fanatic, but when I watch the game I am enthralled. It encapsulates everything that makes good television - drama, excitement, skill, dynamism, sensation and some of the best-looking hunks around. No wonder I was captivated.

While England was losing I got a call from a friend in London. He was none too happy that it looked like England was not going to make it. I differ in a very serious element from other admirers of the game. I don't care who wins.

I just enjoy fantastic playing by whoever is scoring brilliant goals, making incredibly skilful moves, to rival any stage or cinematic choreography, and the spectacular saving of would-be goals.

When England was playing Denmark I was asked which team I was going to support. Although it is true that I have close connections with both countries, I still could not get either excited, or feel pangs of regret if either team won or lost.

Maybe I lack something when it comes to competitiveness, and I feel too sorry for the losers to experience any glee. As long as the game entertains me and has flashes of genius, reminiscent of players like Pelè and George Best, I don't care what colour shirt the team is wearing.

I suppose I would get a tinge of pride if we had a team capable of reaching such heights of splendid playing, but otherwise I suppose I am pretty neutral. I am excited for whoever wins as long as they deserve it.

Another thing which I find fascinating about football is the male bonding. Where else would you find macho yobbos accepting men crying and embracing each other in shows of extreme emotion and not label them a bunch of fairies?

Seeing Seaman break down was so emotional. He was obviously devastated that he misjudged Ronaldinho's free-kick giving the Brazilians access to the finals and England's exit.

"I just want to say sorry to all the fans. I feel as if I have let people down. I thought he (Ronaldinho) miskicked the free-kick and I misjudged it," he told reporters after the game

England skipper David Beckham said: "If anyone makes a scapegoat out of David Seaman after that it will be an absolute disgrace.

"He's been the best goalkeeper in the tournament. It was a freak goal that was a cross that ended up in the net."

"Goals like that happen sometimes. If you saw him in training and watched him in the World Cup you would see why I still think he is the number one."

England's Kieron Dyer also said: "No-one is blaming him for anything. His saves have been keeping us in games for years."

While there is disappointment on one side there is euphoria on the other. In Brazil, where football is revered as much as religion, the locals were ecstatic.

Now the managers of Brazilian football have their hopes set high that Brazil can win the Cup.

Defeat against France in the final of the last World Cup led to unprecedented soul-searching and corruption investigations which went all the way to the country's Congress.

Investigators turned up evidence of tax evasion, kickbacks from multi-million dollar transfers of players to Europe and even money-laundering.

Press interest in pushing the investigations further would almost certainly be fuelled by another World Cup defeat - even if the Brazilian team gets to the final.

A fifth victory would bring a much-needed bonanza of sponsorship deals and other opportunities for local clubs.

At present many top Brazilian clubs are facing bankruptcy - unable to pay their players. In the lower leagues some clubs are having to stop playing football altogether for lack of funds.

Most commentators are now betting on a World Cup final against Germany.

The defeat of the United States in the other quarter-final was a second reason for celebration in South America's largest country - where mistrust of US power has always been strong.

"I don't trust the football of the United States at all," said Wanderley Martianos.

"They have the money to contract the best players. They have the money to contract the best coaches.

"But football is not in the blood of the people. They don't deserve to win. They don't know what to do with the World Cup."

"Before the World Cup, neither Brazil nor England were favourites to win the tournament, but it now looks like it is a real possibility for Brazil," said Pelè.

But he warned no team could take anything for granted in a World Cup littered with shocks, the latest coming when South Korea knocked out Italy with a golden goal.

Pelè admitted: "It is dangerous to plan too far ahead. Nobody expected to see France and Argentina both knocked out in the first round.

"But I believe Brazil and England renewed one of the World Cup's great rivalries in the quarter-finals." Brazil has won the World Cup four times, England once.

"Brazil is the greatest nation in World Cup history, England the home of football," Pelè told the BBC.

Pelè singled out Nicky Butt as his team's player of the World Cup. The Brazil legend said that Butt's performances had overshadowed not only those of his more well-known team-mates but also those of any other player.

The Manchester United midfielder missed England's first game but impressed in every match thereafter, both creatively and guarding in front of the defence.

"He was fantastic," Eriksson said of Butt as the squad prepared to fly home.

"He played coming back from injury, played well in all the games and has been very very useful.

"Butt is the player who has been consistent with his good marking, pressure and passing," he told the BBC.

"We expect Beckham and Owen to perform but Rio Ferdinand and Butt are England's two best players."

However, Butt, like all England's players, faded in the second half against Brazil as Eriksson's team left the World Cup behind.

Housing anything but cars

I saw in the paper yesterday that the Bucklands, the couple who lost their home in Fgura through an explosion when petards were being manufactured in the garage below their maisonette, are suing the tenant of the garage for negligence and failure to observe regulations and are demanding that the court order the man to pay them damages.

This unfortunate tragedy has brought to light many problems which the authorities really need to take in hand. Abuses of garage use are rampant and the police and the local council should take an interest in them.

A resident who also lives in the area of the accident wrote to say that although all car owners in the area have problems trying to find parking space, it is not through a shortage of garages. Apparently there are between six to eight garage 'complexes' some of them housing up to 20 garages.

But these garages are used to stable horses, breed chickens and rabbits, as various workshops and for a multitude of other activities which should never be allowed in residential areas. No wonder the police get a lot of complaints from residents.

Are there no regulations that stipulate that garages in residential areas are meant to garage privately-owned cars and not to store grocery store supplies, nor to serve as a mechanics or any other workshop and the breeding of animals, not to mention dangerous activities which involve the use of hazardous materials?

It will be interesting to see what the magistrate's enquiry will come up with. I hope it will have harsh criticism for the authorities concerned and that strong recommendations will be followed to avoid future similar accidents.

Unfortunately, I would hazard a guess that the tenant of the garage was neither insured for such an eventuality - let's face it, would a responsible company insure such ventures? - nor will he have the funds to compensate the couple for their losses, inconvenience and trauma.

It would probably make more sense to sue the authorities who failed to ensure that the laws of the land are adhered to. I know that ultimately it will be we, the taxpayers, who have to cough up, but at least it might nudge politicians to take responsibility for the areas they are meant to cover.

Blood needed

There is an urgent need for blood of all groups. The number of donors decreases during summer, while the number of accidents increases.

Healthy people (18-60 years, 17 years with parents' consent) who are willing to help can call at the National Blood Transfusion Services, near St Luke's Hospital, daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

One should take one's identity card when visiting the blood bank.

Your blood donation can save a life!

Another way of helping is to organise a blood drive at your place of work, club, or organisation, etc. Call at the blood bank for more info or visit http://www.health.gov.mt/nbts/donation/mobileunit.htm

Honest opinion

A colleague in Athens sent me this snippet the other day, which I thought might amuse you.

Last month, a survey was conducted by the UN worldwide. The only question asked was: "Would you please give your honest opinion about solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?"

The survey was a huge failure.

In Africa they did not know what "food" meant.

In Western Europe they did not know what "shortage" meant.

In China they did not know what "opinion" meant.

In the Middle East they did not know what "solution" meant.

In South America they did not know what "please" meant.

In Asia they did not know what "honest" meant.

And in the USA they did not know what "the rest of the world" meant.

Chew on that!