The drawback in the draw

Ok, as you probably noticed:


a) I sucked at NaBloMo


b) I sucked at Canucka's lovely invitation (aka tag) to write about secret travel places in Paris - that post is coming up by the way

and

c) I am a total flake when I say I'm going to do something.


And then I got a comment this morning from Anonymous that made me jump out of bed and run to the computer with an urge to blog:

Hey Fned. I read your blog, but don't really comment (yeah, I'll get to it...). I don't know how much into, or not That into you and your hubby are into football, but watching today's sorteo from FIFA...I couldn't help but be reminded of you when I saw Mexico and France get selected for Group A. Who are you cheering for? hmmmm

First of all, Anon, thanks for commenting!!! I love that you read my blog and that you thought of me during the draw. Second, you got that right, Hubby and I are TOTALLY into footbal (yes, talking about soccer for US readers) - it's my favorite sport and the only that really gets my juices flowing. I grew up in Mexico and for some reason, la Lucha Libre never attracted me that much, so I shifted to the other big love of our country: FUTBOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's the one sport anyone can play, anywhere, anytime.

When the FIFA announced yesterday that France would be playing in the same group as Mexico during the first round of the World Cup next year, I groaned so loudly everyone on the openspace threw me a worried look and my boss came out of his office to ask me if I was alright. Funny enough, after I anxiously screeched that France and Mexico were in the same preliminary groupe, everyone seemed to think that was cool thing... everyone except my boss. He knows the creature I become during the weeks that the World Cup lasts. He vividly remembers how during the Germany 2006 Cup I was barely interested in anything else that was going on except the results and the games. How I'd be out of the office by 4 in order to get home in time to catch the last of the 2 games playing during the first round and from then on the rest of the games during the quarters, semi-quarters, etc. He still remembers my face when Mexico was eliminated during the second round by Argentina (in the additional time since they'd been tied 1-1 almost from the beginning of the match). And he definetly remembers my day-after non-stop rambling following the infamous Zidane's headbutt that cost France the Final against the Italians.

So I guess it was nice of him to offer to take me to lunch on the day France and Mexico will be playing against each other (June 17th 2010). I'm thinking he's hoping he'll be able to buffer the war that will obviously be coming.

So I'm going to answer your question Anon: I'll be rooting for Mexico of course. There was never any question about it... France is my home country, but el Tri is my home team. Hubby of course will be rooting for France though I think deep down he'll also have a soft spot for "los ratoncitos verdes" as he calls them.

And it's at times like these that having a double nationality can really suck. I wish I could feel the same way about the US team as I do about the Mexican team. But I just can't. I feel like I have followed the trials and tirbulations of el Tricolor ever since my very first Italia 90, and forward through USA 94, Francia 98, Corea del Sur/Japon 2002, Alemania 06 and now South Africa 2010... I've always rooted for them and always will.

Otherwise, I'd have to convert to Lucha Libre.

Fned.

P.S. Btw, did you know that the very first game during the very first World Cup (Uruguay 1930) was a Mexico - France match (France winning 4-1)? Not good for our statistics but definetly a fun fact.