The Beautiful Pool

Everything I know about morality and the obligations of men, I owe it to football.

― Albert Camus

People will talk about the first half of this game for 30 or 40 years’ time.  I don’t think I’ve seen anything as good. They were picking the passes, making the angles and playing it with such pace.

― Alan Hansen (Match of the Day)

This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember’d;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

― William Shakespeare (Henry V)

OK that last quote has nothing to do with soccer, but reading some of the reaction to the Spanish victory today you’d think that it was an event as singular as Agincourt. Perhaps it was.  We shall see.

The complete final pool standings are here, and 1st and 2nd prizes go to Mauricio and Sofia.

Congratulations to Mauricio C and Sofia I for their brilliant team selection.  Final prizes are:

I will do an email transfer to the email address each winner supplied with the entry forms, unless you would prefer an alternative.  Just let me know.

And finally, here are the group results.  After a strong start, the CIBC Drones fell apart at the end, finishing dead last behind the Normal People.  Kudos to the Other FI Slaves.  Now, all of you, get back to work.

That’s a wrap for the 2012 Euro Cup Pool.   I have really enjoyed organizing this, I hope it was at least a little entertaining for you.

If you want to do it all over again for the World Cup in Brazil 2014, just let me know.  The comments button below is working.  Who knows, it might be fun.