A day of Fairytales, Nightmares and “almost there’s”
source: guardian.co.uk
The weekend demonstrates everything right, and wrong, with supporting sport. In a matter of a few hours your weekend, and much of the coming week, is made. It starts as early as Monday morning with the build up and anticipation of the coming weekends "big match" and culminates in a weekend filled with superstition and expectation.
This past weekend was no exception with the rugby World Cup coming to an exciting climax and the football world watching the Manchester derby with baited breath. 
source:arabnews.com
On the island that is New Zealand the French national team came within a Josh Strauss whisker of winning the World Cup and writing their names in the fairytale section of the back page for years to come, but in the end it wasn’t to be as the hosts and favourites New Zealand lifted the Webb Ellis trophy for the second time in its history. We will never know how they would have fared against the Springboks but there is no denying that this All Blacks team has quality and deserved their success. As for the French it was o so close but o so far they were by far the most unlikely of lads after a shaky group stage but did the necessary when their backs were against the wall and deserved every moment of their spellbinding campaign.
If the French were "almost there" and the All Blacks in a Fairytale in Auckland , spare a thought for Manchester United who must have felt like they were in a nightmare. They started their match against bitter rivals, and neighbours, Manchester City in dazzling form with silky passing and probing runs but after conceding a goal against the run of play in the 22nd minute it was all downhill. A chronically ill United midfield and a red card to Jonny Evans, coupled with a breathtaking performance from City, saw United get run over in their own backyard. 6-1 it ended, some rival fans feeling justifiably happy with sweet revenge for the way in which United demolished Chelsea and Arsenal earlier in the campaign, enough to put even the most diehard of fans in shock. Sir Alex called it his worst defeat ever but there is no doubting that this is a real wake up call to the League champions that their rivals will not roll over and play dead.
In : Football