One of the most prestigious sporting organisations in the world graced Forsyth Barr in the past few weeks: FIFA. A look on Wikipedia might suggest that Dunedin may not have been the most successful choice of venue based on the game stats. But while numbers are boring (though maybe not as boring as Palmerston North), they only tell us so much. It is what the people say that matters.
So, what are the numbers? A total of 16 goals scored over six giving an average goals per game of 2.7. An average attendance of 12,615 - although this average drops to just 9,949 when the newly coined “Sell Out Sunday” game between the Kiwis and the Swiss is discounted. Zero knockout fixtures. Zero wins for the Ferns. One grimace emoji.
If you were fortunate enough to wander through Otago Uni Link on the 13th of July, you might have seen a FIFA World Cup stand with an opportunity to spin the wheel and have a chance at winning great riches. The only cost: your email, and all the value that may be extracted from that. For many the wait proved fruitful. A student a few leagues ahead in the queue admitted his guilt: “I spun the wheel three times, each time it landed on ‘better luck next time’; I still left with my pockets stuffed with tickets and a hideous hat upon my head”.
Japan versus Costa Rica hosted a mass of Costa Ricans who could be seen dancing and skulling beers relentlessly through half-time. The Japanese managed to drown out the Costa Rican minority with the banging of drums and orderly shouts of “Nippon!” In spite of their newly acquired Kiwi fanbase, the Costa Ricans succumbed to Japan 2-0. The stadium, although at half capacity, was jovial, with intermingling between fans of differing allegiances and ages.
However, this “friendly” match-up was trivial relative to what was at stake when the Football Ferns took on Rossocrociati (the Swiss team) in the Barr. The game was a sellout, with all of Dunedin’s population crammed in to see if the Ferns could reach the Last 16 for the first time at a FIFA World Cup. Sadly, it wasn’t to be. A possible watershed moment had passed for the Ferns. Critic Te Ārohi noted the disappointment of many fans, but also a greater sense of pride amongst those in attendance. “Many people forget that we hadn’t won a World Cup game before this tournament” a group of ultras informed me, “to win two and reach the last 16 would’ve been extraordinary”. Even some who attended with sarcasm in mind had been turned; a number of blokes confessed to Critic Te Ārohi that “the level of football was beyond what they expected”.
The people seem to have given the game a resounding thumbs up.