And now its final

Dear Attendee,
Although the Organising Commitee knows that nothing would keep you away from the National Conference you signed up for, we know that on the first night Portugal plays in the semi-finals and ....

Therefore we have organised to show the game on a big screen in the Bernardim Ribeiro Theater after the Conference sessions for that day, and the conference dinner will be served immediately at the end of the game instead of 9pm.
Shows you how football-mad we are that even a geology conference gets reorganised around the World Cup. Lots of disappointed people in Portugal tonight. Someone remarked "Today everyone is interested in football", well tomorrow I think there will be a lot of people saying its just a silly game again. The real reason Portugal lost is because I wasn't watching in the Regalenga Bar, Jose wasn't in Lisbon, Nuno wasn't in Figueira. Superstition means nothing in sport right? Well consider that Holland haven't beaten Portugal in 14 years, England haven't beaten them since '66 (?? - loose stat, but it's been a long time anyway) and Portugal haven't beaten France in 21 years. Doesn't make sense when you consider all the variables involved but it all becomes very predictable.......

And so both the teams I'm closest to fall victim to dodgy penalty decisions. Ironic given Portugal's progress thus far has been marked (aided at times) by dodgy refereeing. English papers in particular are vitriolic at the moment about the Portuguese style of play, and while I hate diving and play acting I've kind of enjoyed barracking for a team that does use a bit of "gamemanship" at times. Given how close a lot of these decisions are there isn't a lot wrong with appealing to the ref to make a call, especially since there often is contact made, a foot outstretched, a hand on the shoulder so really the opposition are pretty stupid to give them the chance. But they love to play too - all the people I was watching it with loved the final minutes with the goalkeeper in the box for the corners, shots taken from anywhere, no holds barred, nothing to chance. None of this sit back and play carefully. Metaphor for life anyone?