I have never quite noticed the trend, and it took me quite a while to even figure it out myself - my preferences for soccer players are pretty distinctive.

And it took me like 16 long years to even realise it for myself!!!! And yes, the realization only hit me uhm, couple of minutes ago, and the excitement(DUH!) hit me and prompted this post.

Yes baby, I think I have a soft spot all along(you know, it is like finding your g-spot for the first time and never knew it existed?!).

A soft spot for… goalkeepers!

It all started in 1994.. when there was a flamboyant(his outfits are often.. uhm, eyecatching haha), petite keeper from Mexico, who got me rooting for Mexico back then.

Jorge Campos. He is only my height(less than 1.7m), but one of the most intriguing and agile goalkeepers ever, in my opinion. In fact, my little crush on him lasted till 1998, and by then, age was already catching up on him, and was the last time I saw actions from him in his last world cup appearances.

Jorge Campos now owns a fastfood franchise, and many didn’t know he was an established striker as well, and there were times in the 2nd half, he would change his goalkeeping gear, and play striker, with a 2nd choice keeper substituting someone else.

And then, there is my all-time Manchester United hero. Peter Schimeichel.

He is a legend. My hero. Period. His presence, his contribution. Wow. And I still replay the header he scored on youtube on and off.

Initially when Spain Vs Russia, my wifey asked me who I was rooting for, and I was quick to say Spain. She told me to support Russia cos I had just recently returned from there(which means she had bets on Russia. Haha).

I don’t mean to say this only because Spain is through, but I have always been rooting for Spain for the past 2 world cups and they have always broke my heart, badly(tsk tsk, they should know better than to break a preggie’s heart).

And I was telling everyone I was split on my decision for last night’s match, cos as much as I love Azzurri, I was hoping Spain could go further than they could.

Anyway. Now, I digress.

When Bernard, Lauren, Effy and me were playing mahjong one fine day, when Spain was playing Sweden, this was the conversation that went on.

“Ljungberg is so fucking hot. The bulge, baby! The bulge! Have you seen his bulge? Ssssss (you know, the sizzling, painful sound people tend to make?)….” cooed Effy.

“Oh God. My baby! He is soooooooooo cute. He is getting cuter with age. I mean, hello? He can be an Elfish double for LOTR!” cooed Tingy, over her baby.

The guys stared on at the 2 bimbos, and shook their heads in disbelief.

And plenty of X-rated conversations went on.

At the end of the match, Spain emerged, and I spoke like a proud mama, with hand on chest, “My baby won!”.

When the statistics came on, Effy said, “My poor baby! He ran XX km! He must be so tired!”.

If I remember correctly, Ljungberg covered the 2nd highest distance that night.
“My poor baby! He must have been so lonely, he hardly had any actions for the night.” I said with a bimbo sigh.

Spain commanded most of the game, and there were hardly any action on their half.

“Your baby defender ah?” Effy asked.

“Nope! *giggle* Goalkeeper!”

Yes darling, the guy I had once commented on his big hands. Iker Casillas.

So cute. My age you know?

Coincidentally, the time when I blogged about him back in 2004, it was a piece on my broken heart too(Italy was out of Euro, after Spain was out).

Anyway. His Dad had once predicted the results to 15 matches, and the results were enough to make him a millionaire. Casillas was the one responsible for placing the bets for the lottery, and apparently, he had not done so that time. Hahahaha. So pai kia! I like.

Remember how a few days ago I said Gianluigi Buffon is sooooo charismatically cute? But he is taken. By someone impossibly gorgeous.

Le sigh.

He looks so much older yet he is just a couple of years older than me. So charming, you know?

And I am amazed by how humble these 2 captain-goalies are. With Buffon going up to Casillas, saying “I’m not the best, you are” after their penalty shoot-out last night.

There are already constant debates on who is the best keeper between them both, and to me, it is still a very tough fight.
Cos maybe, my heart is still with the Big Dane.

Nonetheless, I wish Spain would go all the way to make up for the heartaches they caused me over the years.