Spain is our World Cup Champion.
They stalked the field like a tiger in the reeds, quietly dominating opponents with a suffocating defense and an unrelenting offense. Both attributes were on display Sunday in that most American of settings- the Meadowlands of New Jersey, a place where Giants and Jets play, and the Boss sings.
By the end of the second half Spain had nineteen shots, Argentina two, and the great Messi had but one real run at the goal, as the Mighty Casey/Messi struck out.
The real star of the day was the Argentinian Goalkeeper Dibu Martinez who set a WC record for saves and kept his team in the match. There was this feeling that maybe, just maybe, Argentina - the team that had twice come back from two down to win their matches- the last being a win over our beloved England in the semi-finals- could pull it out one more time. A dashing strike from Messi, or a win during the final penalty kick stage when their goalkeeper would help them pull it out. But it was not to be. Spain kept the pressure on offense, scored during the end of the second half of extra time on a marvelous assist by Nico Williams who knocked a header backwards into the open box where a streaking Ferran Torrres, who had come off the bench, slammed it home for his first WC goal and Spain's second World Cup championship.
Meanwhile this Monday morning a centuries old tradition continued in the world's greatest democracy as Prime Minister Starmer met with the King and resigned. Then Andy Burnham was invited to the Palace for the "kissing hands ceremony" where King Charles invited Burnham to form a government. The name of the ceremony dates from when the PM kissed the hand of the Sovereign. These days a firm handshake suffices.
Burnham is the new PM and will address his nation outside of 10 Downing Street later Monday.
Meanwhile in the US, the president was roundly booed as he took the field in New Jersey to help present the World Cup trophy. Then he flew back to DC in an Airforce One plane that has no anti-missile defense systems, something the older AF One's have. In response to that story last week the current administration did what it always does- immediately subpoenaed the NY Times reporters who broke the story.
We don't have a kissing hands ceremony. We do physically attack Congress when the nut-case followers of one candidate decide not to accept the results of a presidential election. We don't have leaders who resign peacefully and are immediately replaced. We do believe (some of us, anyway) that dead dictators in Venezuela hacked our voting machines.
But to end on a positive note, the world got a great view of the basic American goodness and hospitality during the six weeks of the WC. Visitors were welcomed with open arms. The Scots drank Boston dry; the Norwegians rowed up and down escalators, and on Ocean Drive and in stadiums. And foreigners marveled over those very American traditions like Ranch Dressing on nearly everything, and shopping at Costco.
Enjoy the week. We will have details of our upcoming summer sabbatical by the end of the week.