My World Cup Story

Also referred to as "My Claim to Fame". This is easily the best story of my life.

I studied in Florence the summer of 2006 when the world cup was in Germany. Knowing this I booked a flight from Pisa to Berlin the weekend of the championship along with a hostel for saturday and sunday night. Friday night was booked so I just planned on spending the night in the airport.

I was reading at a cafe in the Pisa airport when these 3 old men sat at the table next to me. Having just bought a bunch of Italian flags and shirts they were getting all excited over the game. I smiled at one of them who started talking to me in Italian.

"Oh I'm American, I don't speak Italian" I said as he then snubbed me off as a stupid American who doesn't know anything about the world cup. Who is he to judge me... and so quickly? I then pulled out an Italian jacket I had bought to show my support for Italy during the game. The 3 old men's spirit sky rocketed when they saw it. Amazing how a little jacket can change your life.

They started talking me to all excitedly saying stuff like "France doesn't have american girls cheering for them, we are definitely going to win"

They asked me where I was going...

"I'm heading to Berlin for the game."

"Are you going to the game?"

"No, just going to cheer Italy on and party."

"Well do you want to go to the game."

My heart stopped when I heard this, could I be THAT lucky? they have an extra ticket?

"I would LOVE to go to the game. Do you have an extra ticket?"

"Well no, actually right now we only have 2 tickets, but there are 3 of us and we all want to sit together so we are going to get tickets on the black market. But we can just get 4 and all go together."

I had heard of the steep price of 5,000 Euro for a ticket to the final game on the black market... right like I had that kind of money... are you kidding? "Oh thank you, but I don't have that kind of money."

"Don't worry we have money."

Wait... did they just offer to BUY me a ticket to the championship game of the world cup... cause I think they did. Of course I just thought they were being Italian. Getting all excited over the world cup, and me, and just saying they would get me a ticket, but really had no intention. But still I wanted to keep an "in" with them... just in case. So when our flight was delayed and they invited me to have dinner with them, I gladly obliged.

During our 5 course meal (I was so full I thought I might throw up... but I kept eating cause I felt bad. How do you barely touch a meal that was bought for you?) it was announced that our flight wasn't going to get into Berlin till around 2am. So the gentlemen called their hotel to inform them they would be late. Then they politely offered their cell to me so I can call my hotel as well. "Don't want to lose your reservation" ... crap. Well this is a little bit awkward.

"Actually my hostel reservation isn't until tomorrow, I am just going to stay in the airport tonight, but thank you."

The horror on their face was epic. I swear they just stared at me wide eyed for a moment then quickly redialed on their phone. "Hello, we need to book another room"

My new friends actually paid for me to stay in my own room at the 5 star Hilton hotel in Berlin. Are you freaking kidding me? This had to be a dream.

The next morning they called me and invited me to breakfast where they brought the 4 tickets to the world cup they had just purchased on the black market. OH. MY. GOD! I AM GOING TO THE WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP!

The whole weekend they paid for me to eat at some of the nicest restaurants I have ever been too... I think I've ate enough food to last a month. They paid for me to stay at the Hilton for friday and sat... then sunday we went to stay at this freaking royal palace... formerly owned by the fredrick II, emperor of germany before world war I... then was used by roosevelt, stalin, churchill, etc. to make the treaty that ended world war II. It was funny... Sunday morning they informed me that we were going to switch hotels and on the way to the new one, one of the guys turned to me and said "You know the first emperor of Germany after World War I?"

Of course I didn't but I just said "Sure. What about him?"

"Well we are going to stay at his house."........ of course we are... ahhahahaha.... by this time I wasn't surprised. These men had been ridiculous like this the whole weekend.

And of course Sunday was the championship game between Italy and France. I can't even describe the atmosphere of the game... everyone was decked out in their countries colors... everyone was cheering and doing their teams chants. It was crazy. Then of course the game was one of the most exciting games I have ever seen... it went into overtime and then penalty kicks. Italy won in the 5th kick and the stadium went nuts. I tried to take pics of the last kick but my camera wouldnt focus cause my hands were shaking I was so nervous. The tension in the stadium during the penalty kicks was intense. and the celebration afterwards I will never forget. I really wish the US had this much pride in our soccer team. OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!!! AHHHHHH!!! I FREAKING WATCHED ITALY WIN THE CUP!!!! I felt the intensity... I saw the head-but... I heard the roar of the stadium... I WAS AT THE FREAKING WORLD CUP!!!!!

On another note.. the flight home was the absolute worst flight I have ever been on and the worst airport experience ever!! My flight was delayed like 3 hours... I was stuck in an airport with no airconditioning and no place to sit. The only good part was I met these two italian guys whom I played cards with to pass the time. (side note... aparently my italian name is gina... janelle is just too hard for them to say haha.) Then we were hearded like cattle to the plane... I really thought I was gonna die from either dehydration or heat exhaustion. Oh well who cares.. I went to the world cup finals for free!!!!!

CAMPIONE CAMPIONE... oh oh OH oh... CAMPIONE CAMPIONE... oh OH oh oh!!!!