Where Were You When...?

You always remember where you were when something big happens.  Argentina getting knocked out of the World Cup, for instance.  

I was on the third yellow stripe on the back of my latest cardigan when the boys in sky blue and white stripes were crying on the pitch.  France had given them something to think about.  Allez les bleus!

More drama followed a few rows later, when both Spain and Denmark were knocked out on penalties on the same day.   

The next yellow stripe marks the end of a truly classic match, when Belgium scored in the last 15 seconds of play to beat Japan 3-2.

The next match I watched was England v Colombia.  Boy, was I glad of my knitting because I could barely watch.  The Colombians were frustrated rugby players trapped in the wrong sport.  When they equalised in the 93rd minute I felt the dread rising.  When neither team scored in extra time it was unbearable, because England and penalties usually spell bad news.  I had just finished the last yellow stripe on the back, the last before the raglan shaping, and had to leave the house for a walk.

While I was out I heard cheers rising from a nearby house.  England's got one in, I thought.  Then there seemed to be a scream.  Ominous.  Then another cheer.  Another one in?  Then, oh woe, more screams.  That's it.  Rubbish result, only two in.  So I started walking home, wondering which team I might transfer my allegiance to for the rest of the competition.

When I got home my husband deadpanned me along in my misery, and then told me what had really happened.  Then it made sense - the first cheer was for England's save, and the second for the winning penalty.  Oh miracles - through to the quarter finals!  Hope is not in vain!  What else was I to do to celebrate but transfer the back onto a circular needle for the shoulder shaping and cast on the right front?

With the break between the round of 16 and the quarter finals I had knitted a few inches when the matches started again.  Then the fun started. 

Brazil scored an own goal on the Goodbye Argentina Yellow Stripe.  It was a thrilling match, with Belgium scoring a truly astonishing goal at 31 minutes, a final score of 2-1, and Brazil were out.

Then today came the nail biter, England v Sweden.  It was too hot in our front room to watch the match properly, so I just bobbed in and out to keep tabs on the action.  A very respectable 2-0 win, with some star saves from the goalkeeper.  The joy.  The relief.

Now Russia and Croatia are level at 90 minutes and about to start extra time...  The winner will play England in the semi final next week.

Yes, I'm enjoying the World Cup.  The knitting is absorbing all the tension.  If England get knocked out I am not, repeat not, going to unravel all this knitting in disgust.  I'll live with it.