Thanks for the Memories......ESPANA

Espana para siempre
(Spain Forever)


World Cup Group H 1st Game
4-0 Ukraine

13' Xabi Alonso
17' David Villa
49' David Villa
81' Fernando Torres





I remembered......
A great start to the tournament. I was mesmerized by the way Espana moved the ball around, making the Ukrainians looked really ordinary. I remembered I was still shouting and screaming even though I have 3 of my sis's guests in my house at the time when Espana scored it's 1st and 2nd goal. I also ran into the bedroom to hug and high-5 with Cindy whenever Espana scored!





2nd Game
3-1 Tunisia

71' Raul

76' Fernando Torres

91' pen Fernando Torres

I remembered......
When Spain was 1nil down, I was stunned. But I knew that have the spirit to come back and win the game. When Raul scored, it proved when a "fox in the box"(meaning very accurate in scoring goal when near to the goal!) he is! Torres' 2nd goal was the best I have seen of a striker rounding the keeper and tucking the ball pass the keeper for a long time. The penalty in injury time summed up the way the Spaniards dominated the match.




3rd Game
1-0 Saudi Arabia

36' Juanito

I remembered......Watched this game at the Liverpool fan club at Arena Country Club with Alvin and Guojian. Guojian wore a Japanese jersey, with Nakata at the back, which was quite nice, Alvin was tired, keep dozing off during the game, and kept telling me he is ok, not sleepy...Haha...Spain could have scored 10 in this game, Saudi's keeper was really on top of his game. In the 2nd half, Spain looked tired and couldn't hold on to the ball much and Saudi went searching for the equaliser desperately. But Spain held on and recorded a deserved victory!

I want to thank fifaworldcup.yahoo.com for providing these videos.

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 9:47 PM

Taiwan trip continues with Yilan Shangrila......


This is the entrance of Shangrila! The area of the lobby is small but cosy. Everything there is made of wood and besides the lobby there were shelves that stocked cups of beef noodles and a fridge that sell Taiwanese beer, milk tea and soft drinks. Alvin and I bought some noodles and beer for our watching pleasure during the England V Trinindad & Tobago match!


Resort-styled lodging! Wonderful! Even though there were alot of funny insects, I mean, c'mon this is nature! You got to expect these "friends" around us isn't it?


The car that you see in the picture was used to transport our luggages from the "gigantic" coach, along this narrow streets, to our rooms!


There are quite a number of rooms available here as you can see from the signboard indicating the rooms' numbers. There are only 2 storeys and each room come with a balcony like this.




At night, we were treated to something different but interesting by the resort management...

Chuo Tang Yuan! After "chuoing", we ate the Tang Yuan that we made! Yes, some of our friends thought that was quite disgusting but marcusxa simply don't care! JIAK!


While making the Tang Yuan, we sabo-ed Alvin to represent Singapore in the Tuo Ruo Competition! They were also representatives from Taiwan and Malaysia! In the end, Alvin got 2nd, his Tuo Ruo spinning for 19 secs!

Guess what is this???

We had our first hand experience in penning our wishes on the Tian Teng. I remembered watching people setting them up the sky in drama serials.


This is for FTM! Not very clear, but it reads "FTM Forever!"


Up...up...and Away! May our wishes come true!


I even had my first try at playing fire crackers! Shiok! It was really dangerous and loud but was really exciting! We used incensed stick(those used for praying) to light up the end of the firecrackers, which actually looks like a rope.


Big kids can play Big Bubble here too!


One for the memory- Cindy's colleagues and I posing after a good breakfast.



And we even had the duckies to welcome us as we met our way down for breakfast!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 12:30 AM

My Spanish Dream is over......





Once again, Spain had played superbly in the group stages of the World Cup but bowed out in the early stage of the knock-out rounds. When France scored their second goal, I knew it was over. France's defence was on top for most of the game and neither Villa, Torres nor Raul could conjure up scoring opportunities. Today I've seen the best of France. Why can they be so inconsistent? They were lousy against the Swiss and Korean, Henry wasn't the same person as he was with Arsenal, they sucked during their World Cup qualifiers and only the last minute "come-back-from-retirement" of Zidane and Makelele provided the sparks for France to qualify for Germany 2006.

And then, up popped them, to destroy the Spanish dream... I was heartbroken and speechless after the game. I couldn't sleep. It was a terrible feeling, something worst than Liverpool's lost to Benfica in the European Cup last season. I really believe you need luck in doing anything, and the best effort doesn't usually end up with the best reward. Look at England, they played badly and their players are absolutely clueless about their duties on the pitch, but they are in the Quarter-finals... Look at Australia, they tried and tried, and in the end, what do they got? An injury time penalty conceded, and it wasn't a penalty at all! Look at Brazil, c'mon, just admit that they haven't played well all those "We only love Winners" local fans. But look at where they are now? They have beaten Ghana 3-0 but Ghana had more shots on goal and if it wasn't for their Brazilian keeper Dida, the score would have been different. In the end, who cares about the process and quality of your work when the results are the only thing that matters? It's a cruel world... Yes, nobody will care how you performed, they only care who can win at the end of the day.

What Tian Deng, rubbish! Dream on marcusxa....


Wishes don't come true and the more you love, the more hurt you will... Sometimes it makes me wonder if I should just stop supporting any football team anymore.

Probably the only thing that can brighten up my days for the rest of the World Cup is the comments made by the Spanish striker Torres during the post match interview. He said "We can go home with our heads held high because we've performed well and this is a young team with lots of quality. I'm sure the nucleus we have here can bring more joy to the fans at the next World Cup."

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 5:15 PM

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 11:23 PM

Sorry that I have not blog for a long time. World Cup is on, what to do, it seems my focus is solely on the World Cup. I guess you guys out there must be sicked and tired of listening to people talking about the World Cup. If I was to blog during the World Cup, can you imagine the content that I'm going to blog about?! NBWC (Nothing But World Cup!) LOL...I came across this joke which poke fun at the England's inability to score during the World Cup, especially that Lampar-gia (who scores for Chelsea for fun cos' he's paid more to play for them!!!) Enjoy the joke ok?!

It's just before the England v Brazil match. Ronaldinho goes into the Brazilian changing room to find all his teammates looking a bit glum.

What's up?" he asks."Well, we're having trouble getting motivated for this game. We know it's important but it's only England They're shite and we can't be bothered.

"Ronaldinho looks at them and says, "Well, I reckon I can beat them by myself... you lads go down the pub." So Ronaldinho goes out to play England by himself and the rest of the Brazilian team go off for a few jars.

After a few pints they wonder how the game is going, so they get the landlord to put the teletext on. A big cheer goes up as the screen read" Brazil 1 - England 0 (Ronaldinho 10 minutes)". He is beating England all by himself!

A few pints later and the game is forgotten until someone remembers, "It must be full time now, let's see how he got on."They put the teletext on. "Result from the Stadium ' Brazil 1 (Ronaldinho 10 minutes) - England 1(Lampard 89 minutes)."

They can't believe it, he has single-handedly got a draw against England!! They rush back to the Stadium to congratulateRonaldinho. They find him in the dressing room, still in his gear, sitting with his head in his hands.He refuses to look at them. "I've let you down, I've let you down." "Don't be daft, you got a draw against England, all by yourself. And they only scored at the very, very end!" "No, no, I have, I've let you down...I got sent off after 12 minutes....!!"

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 11:05 PM

Shebby Says It Right

There's this football pundit in ESPN who always don't make sense with what he talks. But on Saturday night, I finally heard him said something that make lots of sense and the best thing was, he insulted his own country! Watch this!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 4:09 PM

Human Nature's Flaws

Today is Pentecost Sunday. It is a day when God sends the Holy Spirit to guide us people in our daily path. It's also the Church's birthday. The Holy Spirit was send upon us and we are able to speak in different tongues. When I was in church, I was enlightened...I always seek God's help in times of trouble but I always forgot about the Holy Spirit who is always around me. It is God's advocate, it helps me to be bold enough to proclaim God's deeds of power. On this day, it marks the handing on of Jesus's ministry to the Church. To my friends who do not know much about the Church, maybe the below bible verse will make some sense to you. It's a simple verse, easy reading.



Galatians Chapter 5:19-26
What human nature does is quite plain. It shows itselfs in immoral, filthy, and indecent actions.; in worship of idols and witchcraft. People become enenmies and they fight; they become jealous, angry and ambitious. They separate into parties and groups; they are envious, get drunk, have orgies, and do other things like these. I warn you now as I have before: those who do these things will not possess the Kingdom of God.

But the (Holy)Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. And those who belong to Jesus Christ have put to death their human nature with all its passions and desires. The Spirit has given us life; he must also control our lives. We must not be proud or irritate one another or be jealous of one another.

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 11:22 PM

Friday

....supposed to bring my car for servicing, but dizziness haunted me again. I fell back to my bed as soon as I stood up. Cindy took half day leave and went shopping with Cheryl. So I'm all alone at home! Wow, shiok, can have the PC all to myself! haha... Was talking to my brudder about my concern about his drinking habit these days. But darn, his "defenders" just blocked all my "strikers' shot", my "strikers" didn't even tested his "goalkeeper"! In the end, I just wanted to make it clear to him, I'm just concerned for him! Well, everything ended on a happier notes after him clarifying his present's situation.

MSN was getting too irritating, my pupils bombarded me with "Nudges" that made my dizziness even worst, so in the end, DARN! Log off lah! And off I went to manage my beloved Liverpool in FM 2006! As the clock striked 6pm, stomach was calling for food so managed to steam the otah otah that my mum bought from A'Famosa state, stir-fried some green "salary" with mock abalone! And there you go, my dinner on a Friday night! After dinner, went to pick Cindy up. She bought me 3 Goldion black socks, the texture is so smooth. Thanks Dear! But she didn't managed to get her black shoes...

Remember last year 25 May, something extraordinary happened in the middle of a Singapore's night. Liverpool fought back from 3nil down to beat Milan in the cup of all European's Mother. I got the DVD as soon as my pal KK, told me HMV is selling it. Until now, I have only catch glimpse of it. And do you know this, I have 2 of this DVD. My brudder actually ordered this from UK for me as my birthday present. Not wanting to disappoint him, I didn't mention that I already have it. Well, if he is readin this... Wala! Secret decoded! Haha...So while having my dinner, I replayed the whole miraculous night again and guess what, I was shouting and punching my fist into the air when Dudek made that save from the recently renamed "Shevskiko". The whole experience that night was replayed all over again and the emotion and passion I felt for supporting my beloved club on May 25 2005 is going to last a lifetime. The anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" never fails to send the chill down my spine, so I took the digicam and recorded the below video clip. Hope you all Reds out there will enjoy this moment over and over again!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 8:32 PM

What's He Up To?

Can someone please...please... SERIOUSLY, tell me what this fellow is doing?

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 2:49 PM

Causeway Challenge Cup 2006

31.5.06
SINGAPORE V MALAYSIA



It was a boring match, so bored that some fans among us were even cheering the Malaysian to score goal. Some were turning against our own players, which was quite disgusting. Therefore, I shouted back "C'mon, we are all Singaporeans, stop jeering our own players! If you are so good, you go down the field and replaced them! " These fans are just fairweathered fans man, they will cheer one minute, boo the next minute. C'mon, when our own Lions are not playing well, we ought to encourage them and not jeer or shout obscenity at them! If we are not behind them, then who else will be?


See, we need future generation like my pupils to be true die-hard fans of their own beloved SINGAPORE!

Ok, let me take some positives out of the game. Ahmad Latiff showed glimpes of his off the ball running and speed after almost 2 years out of the national squad.

In the 88min,He had the closest chance to win the game for us in normal regulation time.


Lionel Lewis made at least 3 crucial saves to denies the Malaysian. Malaysia, though seemingly fitter, do not really know how to attack. They were mostly restricted to long shots. And after the final whistle was blown, all the fans were taken aback when the public announcing system announced that penalties will be played to decide the winner! WHAT?! All of us were already heading for the tunnel... We thought this is the 1st leg, while the 2nd leg is in Negri Sembilan this Sat and the Cup winner will be decided on the aggregate score format?? Oh well, so we stayed on for the penalty shoot...

And below are some clips I took during the shootout... which I think was the only consolation for a dull match. Maybe, the organisers decided to have the penalty shootout at the eleventh hour due to the lacklustre match just to make us fans happy!

Lewis saved the only penalty of the night.


The final penalty taken by Singapore and finally we are the victor!

Marcus XA
YNWA @ 2:01 PM