I watched yesterday’s World Cup final at a Northern Virginia bar, where the France supporters outnumbered the Italy supporters, but only just. It was a good-natured crowd, and the bar was filled to standing-room, but not so packed that you had to wait for a drink.
The best moment of the match was not the suspect penalty in the Italian box that allowed Zidane to put France ahead early. It was not Italy’s equalizing header. Nor was it the uncalled penalty in the second half that should have given the French another shot from the spot – its absence obviated the first-half PK that shouldn’t have been awarded, restoring justice to the game.
And it wasn’t Zidane’s badass head-butt in overtime, although the knockdown was terrific.
My favorite moment came when, during a lull in play, ABC’s cameras shifted to the stands to find Bill Clinton enjoying the match with a drink in hand. The crowd in the bar burst into applause.