Azzurri

Since I don't go out early mornings to watch the World Cup games, the first thing that I look for after my eyeglasses, is the TV remote control.

Checking the results of the FIFA World Cup seems to have become an automatic morning ritual and what greeted me yesterday woke me up like a double-espresso taken in one gulp.

The Azzurri have beaten the Germans and are marching on to the World Cup final match early this Monday (RP time).

While Italy's march to the championship was already shocking enough, how the Italians did it was even more shocking - two late goals in extra time.

Thanks to those goals or the prospect of a penalty shootout would have sunk the Azzurri, who alongside England now, share the distinction of being the penalty clowns of the World Cup. Italy and England have both lost a World Cup penalty shootout thrice. England's latest misadventure was when it bowed to Portugal in the quarterfinals last weekend.

Italy has actually made it to the championship of the World Cup every 12 years since 1970. The last time they were in the final was in 1994 in the United States against Brazil where a picture of Roberto Baggio kicking his penalty wide became the photo of the tournament.

The Azzurri has won the World Cup thrice. It first hoisted the trophy in 1934 and then became the first team to successfully defend the title with a victory in 1938. The third star was added to the Italian team jersey in 1982 where Dino Zoff was the star goalkeeper of the team and striker Paolo Rossi was the team's heart and soul.

In 1982, Italy defeated the West German team in the final.

Will Italy claim a fourth title? That is the big question we're also begging to find an answer to next week. But before that, we can't wait to know the outcome of the other semifinal match played early today between Portugal and 1998 champion France in Munich.

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I received e-mail from Cebu City Marriott Hotel's public relations manager, Dolly Belo, who informed me of the latest offerings that their hotel has for the World Cup fans.

I contacted Dolly last Friday to ask her if there was still room at the Palm Lounge for the Germany-Argentina game and she told me that the place was jampacked. I expect a full-house crowd also come early Monday morning.

Dolly said that patrons who will purchase P300 worth of food and drinks will get a chance to win prizes. This promo started last July 1 and will last until Monday.

For the championship match, they will be charging patrons a cover charge of P300, which is consumable for both food and drinks. This is not a bad deal considering that some establishments charge P150 for entrance alone.

If you want to watch the championship game, then better sleep at mid-afternoon on Sunday and wake up maybe around 9 pm to freshen up and head to the Marriott. The game starts at 2 am on Monday, which means we will have many zombies walking around next week.

But these will be zombies, who I'm sure had a lot of fun watching the game on wide screen television with many other fans from all nationalities.

You don't have to see your country in the World Cup to enjoy the tournament.

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USC GHS ELEMENTARY 1981: If you remember having graduated from USC GHS Elementary Department in 1981 then you are invited to join the silver jubilee reunion of the class on July 15 at the school campus.

Some names that might help you remember that you belong to this class are Cleofe Delfino, Abundia Gabutan, Jeremy Pepito, Rod Arriola, Rolando Acas, Fredrick Boholst, Lorelei de Gracia, Eileen Rizada, Carmela Costales, and Rommel Asuncion.

Well, it usually takes some of the popular people of the batch to help you remember what year you graduated, so see you there next Saturday! Registration starts at 9 am.