Introduction part I

I am a soccer (football) fan living in Vancouver, Canada. I started watching football when I was 8 years old in Hong Kong. The 1st World Cup witnessed was World Cup 1986. Back then, I knew nothing about football. I recalled how Argentina God Maradona dominated team with super-human one-man-show display. However, I was never a fan of any particular team. How much have football evolved from a game relying on a few attacking stars back then to today's team-oriented and defensive football in which teams with great team-work and efficient tactics far superior to teams relying on individual superstars without much attention to team-work and tactics.

I started to be a serious fan around 1989 when Liverpool played in a FA Cup match when John Barnes scored a sensational free-kick. Ian Rush, John Barnes and Peter Beardsley were my heros. I have been a Liverpool fan since those glory era for LFC; sadly, that was the last time they won the league until now, 2010.

The 1st World Cup I really got crazy about was Italy World Cup 1990. I was a supporter for both Argentina and England. I also cheered for the host Italy, because I was a fan of Italian Serie A Sampdoria striking partners Vialli and Mancini. However, since Robert Baggio and Schillaci were subsequently the preferred options up-front while Vialli and Mancini were gradually pushed out of the national team, I started to dislike Italy until now! England won over fans worldwide with their impressive display with Gazza, Lineker and Platt all had excellent performance. They were unluckily lost to the eventual champion West Germany in penalty shoot-out. West Germany also beat my 2nd favorite team Argentina in the final. Admittedly, Argentina was extremely fortunate to advance to the final, I still cheered for Maradona, Canniggia and Goycoecha. One key reason why I supported such an ugly-playing team was too many people criticize them and want them to lose! I still remember the crying scene of both Gazza and Maradona. I started to hate Germany and Italy since 1990. West Germany was a worthy winner in 1990. They have the most balanced team with very good players in every position and have never produced such a powerful German team ever since. 1990 was such a colorful World Cup. The Colombia crazy GK Huiguita who loves to take on dribbling challenge against opposing striker during important macthes and Cameroon old-man Roger Milla are players that live in football fans' memory forever.

I am an enthusiastic football fan. I am a very emotional fan too. After my team eliminated from a major tournament or lost the title hope, I can be very depressed for quite a while. I can be a massive fan of England and Liverpool. At the same time, I can hate Manchester United, Italy and Germany just as much. I am a bias fan, but I can't imagine if I can be a serious fan without at least a team to root for and teams that I want them to get hammered!

I start this blog because I want to share my love of the game with every die-hard football fan worldwide.