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Half-time Hairdryer – 20 December 2010
The winter weather has left me stranded in the Middle East, but it’s not been all sunshine and sand
I was lucky enough to be able to spend a few days last week visiting family in the Middle East, but unfortunately my flight home coincided with the heavy snowfall back in London and I now can’t fly home until Christmas Day morning.
I don’t expect too much sympathy, especially not as the weather is definitely a lot better (mostly in the mid-20s and sunny) and we’re probably going to have the plane to ourselves by flying early Christmas Day.
I was also lucky enough to get the chance to attend the FIFA Club World Cup final, as well as see the third place play-off match.
Brazil’s Internacional and South Korea’s Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma played out an entertaining game that ended 4-2 in the third place play-off, with European champions Inter Milan coasting past Congo’s TP Mazembe, the first team from outside Europe and South America to reach the final, 3-0.
In all honesty, the match was a lot closer than the scoreline would suggest and TP Mazembe gave a good showing for the African continent.
But the real winner, in my opinion, was the Middle East, which showed it could host an enjoyable and fun sporting event with an inclusive atmosphere that put many events that I’ve attended around the UK to shame.
With Qatar winning the right to host the 2022 World Cup, I’ve certainly had some of my concerns removed, and a lack of alcohol was certainly not a problem. If anything, it actually made the event better and put the emphasis firmly on the action on the pitch, rather than on the bar, which is a stigma attached to many UK football fans.
Until next time
David Pittman, editor, SGB Sports
Email: dpittman@datateam.co.uk || Twitter: @mrdavidpittman || Skype: davidpittmanreporter
