Kansas City Wizards Celebrate The World Cup
To celebrate the World Cup which begins in Germany this coming Friday (June 9), the Kansas City Wizards have invited groups from all countries of the world to come to TONIGHT’s game at Arrowhead - Kansas City Wizards vs. New York Red Bulls, June 3rd.
The groups are asked to represent their country with flags, jerseys, and songs. And the Irish are known for their flags, jerseys and songs, so we’re expected.
A much better way to celebrate the coming World Cup and its connection with soccer in Kansas City, is the fact that the Wizards have Harry Keough, Gino Pariani, and Frank Borghi, being presented to the crowd tonight.
In 1950 England finally deemed the World Cup worthy of their presence, and with the greatest heritage in Association Football (from where the word ’soccer’ comes), and arguably the greatest team in the world at that time, went to Brazil to be crowned World Champions.
In their group was the USA team with just one full-time footballer. In what is still one of the greatest World Cup shocks, the United States beat England 1-0 when a Haitian closed his eyes and headed the ball into the English net. The US were something like 500-1 to win that game and the press in England believed the score to be a mistake - that it was probably 10-1 to England.
As well as the Wizards halftime ceremony at the Wizards/Red Bulls match, Keough, Pariani, and Borghi will also be signing autographs before the game.
Unfortunately the Wizards are diluting the great achivement of the legendary 1950 team by recognizing all footballers who have appeared in World Cup finals. One of the best goals I ever saw was by Mo Johnston as a Glasgow Celtic player in the European Cup when they defeated Shamrock Rovers in Dublin. I also was at many games in England watching him play impressively for Everton, and he was always the best player on the pitch when I watched him play in his twilight years at Arrowhead.
However, simply appearing for Scotland in the 1990 finals when they achieved, well nothing - unless you count losing to Costa Rica - is simply not in the same league as the history that the Americans, Keough, Pariani, and Borghi, were part of. Nor is the 1990 US team, or even the US team that did so well four years ago. 1950 is very special in the world history of the game.
So if you go wearing an Irish jersey, make sure to give your biggest cheer for three elderly and truly historic Americans.
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
Is your email working? I’ve had two mails bounce back in the last day. I’d like to talk to you at some point if I can - technical advice is needed.
I thought it was - but obviously not properly. Let me clear out a few thousand to make space.