Dulling the Pain: Things To Do Until Friday

June 28th, 2006 | by: Tom Barry |

On Wednesday and Thursday, for the first time since the ninth of June, fans around the world will have to endure two whole days without an international football match, as the World Cup tournament goes on hiatus. The break allows the eight teams that remain to get some much deserved rest after the first two rounds of play. But while this may be of biological import to the players, billions of people are now left wondering what to do without four hours of football and twenty more of commentary to occupy their time.

For some in the unfortunate time zones who have been losing countless hours of sleep in order not to miss a single minute of the action, the next few days will be an opportunity to rest up. Or, at the very least, lull their minds into a trance-like state playing one of the most addicting Cup-oriented games on the internet.

And by now, everyone has seen the video of Maxi Rodriguez’s unbelievable overtime goal against Mexico. But only a lonely few have gone through the trouble of actually recreating it, allowing for dozens of views, from Rodriguez himself, to the unfortunate keeper, the referee, different players, or a wide variety of other angles missed by the television cameras.

But of course, the big thing that everyone will be missing with the two day lull is the lack of color it brings to our lives. Ever since the World Cup began, there have been flashes of yellow flying up all over the place, including a spectacle that was practically blinding during the Netherlands – Portugal match. If you’ve lost count of how many cards have been dolled out so far and to whom, FIFA provides a convenient list of bookings. And with the way this tournament is going, that should take you at least two days to dig through.

Or, you could unstick yourself from the ass-shaped imprint in your sofa, an indentation growing ever-bigger with each passing day, and do something *gasp* outside. Go for a walk, kick the ball around yourself, or trot on down to the local pub and develop a new groove in the design of your freshly enlarged posterior.

So no matter how you spend your two-day vacation away from the wild and sleepless life of a football supporter, just be sure that you make the most out of the well-deserved rest time. With the first two rounds of the tournament over and the quarter finals just ahead, everyone must be in top form in order to cheer on his team properly. And hey, if none of these ideas sounds appealing, you can always spend time with the family… I’ll see you at the pub.

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

http://www.beezhouse.com MonkeyBoy

I like many other people have no idea what I will do the next two days until the World Cup continues. One thing I will be doing is searching cool World Cup Blogs such as this one.
I found a pretty neat FIFA Logo (piss take) on beezhouse.com.

It’s targetted at the italian Team….quite funny…..

P.S. Nice site!
Erik

I’ll finally get some friggin work done!
Mcthingy2

Must. Have. Football……………..
Los Angelina

I think I have a fever.
dietmar

beer, rest, food, sleep(in that order)…repeat if necassary. if that dont work, take a horse tranquilizer and we’ll see ya friday morning…lol
Mcthingy2

I think I’ll detox from now until the England game on Saturday. Trying to be a “New Scot” and support our Southern neighbours — but in truth I need alcohol to change the habits of a lifetime.

Enger-lund etc etc etc
DJ

I too will finally get some work done. My productivity has taken a bigger dive than Grosso/Gyan/Henry/take your pick.
Laura

I swear I never thought I was gonna say this, but… I miss footie!!!
Vin

It’s good that the lack of matches coincides beautifully with a busy period here at work…

but we must all get everything done before FRIDAY!!!
Dazed

I don’t get it! Why would they do this to us? WHY?!!!!??
sooz

taking a couple of sessions of voice recovery therapy, and putting a first aid kit together to take to the pub for the Italian match………..compression bandages, check.
Mcthingy2

Couldn’t have they filled in these two days with a couple of exhibition/friendly games for charity? There’s enough fans milling about Germany to fill up some more stadiums.

You know, best of the teams knocked out?

Say Best of Europe knocked out XI VS Best of Africa XI etc.

Ludicrious I know…….but without footie for this long I’m a gibbering loon.
http://usa2africatechnologies.mywebhome.ca greg

I am actually glad we get a two day break, I really need it. June has been a rough month. I have taken a huge hit financially, from all those days of missed work (not to mention all those late starts and half days). But I have the best 3 day weekend to look forward to(had to take friday off:)). At this rate I hope I can salvage my reputation with my boss after the world cup because I am officially treding on thin ice.
ams

work? are you kidding, i’ve listening to every game since game 1, now i can’t seem to stay awake to do my work without the sounds of football in the background… i can’t function. there’s no sense of urgency… i’m just afraid i’ll never be able to go back to normal after the final (this is my first working world cup)!
Igor

Shit What to do.. i know bite my fingers for the next two days… and play Fifa 2006 on the computer…lol no.. You know what really sucks is that im starting a new job on Friday morning until evening and im thinking of taking Off .. don’t know, what would you dooo.
http://usa2africatechnologies.mywebhome.ca greg

ams I feel your pain brother.Only Jesus will get us through this last two weeks. I have even had to switch to early mass on Sundays so that I can catch the early games.Now I know why the World cup is every four years,the world’s economy cant survive an annual world cup.If that were the case people like me and many others would be perennially unemployed and emotionally spent. Anybody know if there’s a world cup hangover rehab, coz I might need to check in on July 10th.
John

I’m going to pre-type angry tirades about:

1. the rules
2. the diving
3. the officiating
4. the boringness of one match
5. the excitment of another
6. how lucky Italy is

and have them ready to just insert the appropriate names.
http://pepys_s.rediffblogs.com/ mohan

Imagine the wait after 9th July !!!