Ever since I first saw Podolski play for Germany in 2006, I have been amazed by the striking similarity in physical appearance between the German player and Gagarin. For me, it is their eyes and smiles that look almost exactly the same!
The irony is that Yuri Gagarin is still remembered for his amazing personality and a very warm smile that captivated the world in 1961. A lot of actors tried playing his part in the movies that were shot about Gagarin's life after he was killed in 1968. But, finding an actor that actually looked liked Gagarin and radiated the same warm smile was next to impossible, and to this day I have yet to see a good cinematic impersonation of Gagarin.
My point? Maybe Podolski should be auditioned.
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Image by Flickr user Natahen
Today, the Russian national soccer squad lost in the second leg of the qualifiers for the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. The team lost to Slovenia -- 0-1. This means the Russian team will not be going to the World Cup championships in June of next year. And, it is something that still has not quite sunk in for many soccer fans back in Russia. The Russian-language sports channels are discussing nothing but soccer, analyzing every move that the Russian players made in that match to try to understand where the things went wrong. But, the general atmosphere is that of disbelief and confusion.
Now, soccer was always a big thing in Russia. And, I mean BIG. However, in the decade following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the level of soccer in Russia has subsided to well below average. But, the love for the beautiful game has been resurrected after a strong showing of the team at the 2008 European Championships. Out of nowhere, Russia advanced from the group stage, past the Netherlands and into the semifinals to wind up with a bronze medal in the end.
Ever since, soccer has been the nation’s obsession. Now, as Russia was trying to make it into the 2010 World Cup, the entire country was holding its breath before Wednesday’s game with Slovenians. Russians won the first game on home turf in Moscow - 2:1 last Saturday, but the victory meant nothing until the second and final match in Slovenia. But, the stars just were not aligned for the Russian team today – with two red cards, a messed up player formation and sub par fitness levels, there was little that the team and the head coach Guus Hiddink could really do.
In any case, I am already looking forward to the World Cup championships in South Africa next summer, albeit I will have one less team to cheer for.
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