The Soccer Game

Two Brave Ladies
Up in Flames
Note the riot police enjoying the game
Pat and Paul
Towards the end of the game



The Europeans take soccer very seriously. Before we entered the Bosnia Turkey Match at the Olympic Stadium we were thoroughly checked. No bottles, knives, or handguns were allowed. Since no trash bins were anywhere to be seen we were encouraged to throw our empty beer bottles on the grass which looked like the city dump. With our Canadian sensibilities we all looked at each other reluctant to add to the filthy mess, but we were assured by our Bosnia friend "someone cleans it up in the morning". A separate entrance was marked for Turkey fans heavily guarded by riot Police. Even though we were seated closest to this entrance the cops would not budge even though we told them we were CANADA fans.

Upon entering the second checkpoint we were once again frisked and then stepped into what looked like a modern Colosseum of cheering, veering, swearing, and the most hardcore set of fans this side of the Adriatic. Myself and Monique looked around and realized we were 2 or 4 women in our section of thousands. We cheered right along as Bosnia scored it's first goal, but as Turkey scored the stadium was filled with anger and flares and toilet papers roles got thrown on the turf, making the masses of riot police edgy. The Plastic advertising banners began to burn up in flames, and holes were burned into the turf and quickly extinguished by the on site firemen.

Bosnia scored again, as did Turkey and everyone seemed thrilled with what was to be a tie, and then in the last 9 minutes of the game Bosnia scored once again. The crowd went wild, and everyone went home happy and safe. The atmosphere in the stadium can only be described as nuts, however, the aftermath- once the fans filled the streets, was nothing compared the the 2006 Stanley Cup finals. There were no women flashing the crowds, no men hanging from streetlights and barely any honks. Just large crowds of jovial men happy that their team was was game closer to the World Cup finals.