Alright, let me tell you about my attempt to really dive into that Russia ball world cup back in 2018. I decided, this time, I’m gonna follow it properly, you know? Not just catch the scores.
Getting Started
First thing I did was print out the whole match schedule. Found it online, took ages to format right. Then I stuck it on the fridge. Looked impressive, right? Felt organized.
Next up, the viewing experience. I wasn’t going to just watch it on my small laptop. No sir. I rearranged the living room, moved the big comfy chair right in front of the TV. Even bought some extra snacks, the whole deal. Thought I was setting myself up for some serious football watching.
The Reality Check
Well, the first hurdle hit me quick. The time difference. Man, those game times were brutal. Some were smack in the middle of the workday, others were starting way past midnight. My plan to watch everything live? That went out the window fast. Real fast.
I tried staying up for a few late ones. Bad idea. Ended up feeling like a zombie at work the next day. My boss even asked if I was okay. Yeah, not sustainable.
Then there was the prediction thing. Got together with a few friends, we put a little money down, just for laughs, on who’d win matches. Let me tell you, my predictions were terrible. Absolutely awful.
- Picked Germany to go far? Nope, out early.
- Thought Brazil had it in the bag? Wrong again.
- Every team I felt strongly about just… fizzled out.
It became a running joke. If I picked a team, you could bet they were gonna have a bad day. My friends loved it, obviously.
What I Ended Up Doing
So, my grand plan sort of fell apart. I couldn’t watch all the games live. My predictions were a disaster. The big chart on the fridge mostly just gathered dust after the first week or so.
In the end, I mostly just caught the highlights reels online the next morning. Read some match reports. Watched the final, of course. But that whole immersive experience I planned? Didn’t quite happen.
Finished dead last in the prediction pool, by the way. Still haven’t lived that one down.
So yeah, that was my big Russia ball world cup practice. More like a practice in realizing I need sleep and I’m rubbish at guessing game outcomes. But hey, trying was… an experience, I guess.
