Coronawhat?!

Coronawhat?! This was the unanimous answer each FD gave in the post-match interview when asked about the impact of the infamous virus on their game. Fans were on the same page: there was not a single empty seat on the stands. Much to the disappointment of the many tentative first-timer fans who regarded the new epidemic as a blessing in disguise in the desperate quest for a therapeutic ticket. In fact, it is widely accepted beyond clinical evidence, that FD, either played or watched, is good for your immune system. Facing a FD on the pitch 2h non stop is a physically enduring experience as well as a mental challenge that is good for body and mind. Mens sana in corpora sano‘ was surely coined by old Romans but perhaps with a 2,000 years forward thinking…

The 3 Italians, the 3 Germans, the 1 Egyptian and 1 Indian on the pitch felt obliged to rewards spectators for such loyalty and threw everything they had into the battle for an ever vibrant 4 a side game.
With the first touch of the ball the pre-match pleasantries disappeared at once, replaced by ruvide tackles with the mud a rather friendly factor in  providing a softer landing. Animosity though did not put tactical acumen into oblivion as every move had the planning of a chess game but executed at the speed of light, especially by the Bibbed who looked like they had a plan operated with the fervour of a mission.
Such attitude resulted in them building up a quick lead with Johannes (twice), Giancarlo and Francesco with only one goal on the other front by Marco. At that point, still early in the game, a critical decision was taken to swap Johannes to recreate a new balance.The Unbibbed fans saluted the switch with a loud roar sensing the changing fortunes.

The Bibbed put up a brave face moving back into their own half to contain the assault countering with quick passes but somehow failing to finalise them. Hossam worked  tirelessly in linking the Bibbed compartments and Tony proved to be a ductile rushkeeper but the Unbibbed German core formed by Thomas, Johannes and Philipp worked like a perfectly oiled unstoppable machine whit Marco adding  flair upfront.
The Bibbed never stopped believing and were movingly close to fill the gap but each time they were confronted with a brutal response with Johannes and Marco scoring a dozen between them with the young Italian adding the cherry ? on the cake with the golden goal.

The Italians today seemed invigorated by the virus threat rather than intimidated by it, fighting every ball as the last one and always in the front line. Jokes like ‘The SAS motto is: who dares wins! The Italian Army one? Who cares who wins!’ seemed today off the mark. Curiously there were no Brits witnessing such mettle in the battle but surely with the weather getting fairer and the coronavirus hopefully abating,  they are expected to be back in force to show their trademark fighting credentials and let’s hope the MG6 is on a sunny day ?

The Man of the Match award  was always going one direction from the start but everyone was wondering whether Johannes had already hit the cap for the season: when the counting of the votes was over that became an idle issue and the jury didn’t dare altering such an overwhelming outcome.
The crowd was overjoyed to have been gifted such a pulsating morning after days of doom and gloom and tributeD both teams with a standing ovation to reward a collective victory against adversities, call it the weather, the virus or else.

People in the stands were though only the second happiest category of the day as bookmakers had been  long partying since the final whistle with champagne to reward themselves for the wise decision to put all their money on Italians scoring bundles predicting a coronavirus-induced loose marking by opponents afraid of the contagion. Ironically Italians  had to face the usual rough treatment every FD is subjected to on any given Saturday no matter what (not something you would guess from the main picture given the distance kept…). But somehow Marco, Giancarlo and Francesco scored a collective 10 goals on the day making the bookmakers’ day.

‘Good for nothing but capable of everything!’ as a labelling for Italians looked only half-appropriated on the day.