Romario: Saturday Night Soccer

The thrilling accomplishments of the prodigal Brazilian soccer striker Romario during the 1994 World Cup tournament are recounted as a medicinal antidote to Coronavirus quarantine humility.

Here's a special Coronavirus prayer centered around the sentimental and exciting world sport of soccer and how thinking about social activity can encourage positive daydreams. God bless us all,

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Romario had emerged as a world talent in modern soccer by the time the 1994 World Cup soccer tournament came. This anticipated international soccer tournament was to be held in America, and though the Americans were favoring more investments in their women's national soccer team as the new millennium steadily approached, the US men's national soccer team wanted to boast a handsome showing for the World Cup hosted in their beloved country. Romario, a highly-skilled Brazilian striker and prolific scorer, gained prominence as a standout player on the Euro-club soccer team Real Madrid and was being touted as possibly the man to watch for the entire 1994 World Cup.

Romario wasn't the singular talent, not by any means. Italy was boasting about its gifted but aging prodigy Roberto Baggio, and Argentina still hoped its aging celebrity star Diego Maradona would still produce game-winning moves. For Brazil, Romario was the obvious leader but the team also boasted a sidekick and winger player named Bebeto who'd quickly prove to be an invaluable teammate for Romario's fiery offense. Also, the Germans had sent some decent players to compete and formed a rather ambitious squad. The stage was set for this iconic 1994 World Cup, and Romario and Bebeto of Brazil continued to mow down opponents as the tournament proceeded.

While Brazil's Romario continued to shine at the 1994 World Cup, it was Roberto Baggio of Italy who'd become a 'great man' to watch as the tournament proceeded. Sure, Romario continued to be Brazil's spearing offensive warchild, but Baggio produced some fantastic footwork and magic to hoist the Italy national team to surprising glory. No one would've anticipated that a man would've offered the sufficiently magical soccer skills to challenge the dominance of Brazil's Romario, but Italy's Baggio managed to become the real candidate. In fact, Baggio managed to lead Italy all the way to the 1994 World Cup Final, where he'd finally square off against Brazil's Romario and his sidekick Bebeto.

As the 1994 World Cup Final went underway, there was little scoring but rather tedious and ambitious tug-of-war offense and defense shifts as Italy's Baggio and Brazil's Romario created field play that made this special international soccer tournament championship, hosted by the dazzled USA, a thing of tension and gripping frustrations. However, the second half proved to be completely different as striking scores from Baggio, Romario, and Bebeto culminated in an end-of-play tied score, requiring a penalty shootout to determine the real victor. Bebeto and Romario both coolly netted their soccer balls into the goal, but Baggio made a heartbreaking error, costing Italy the title. Brazil and Romario had prevailed.

So why am I relaying this sentimental 1994 World Cup soccer memory to you now, as the Coronavirus pandemic has created global quarantine requirements? I'm older now, living in the USA and staying at home to avoid social contact. I've been watching recorded and uploaded World Cup soccer games on YouTube and playing World Cup soccer video-games on my Playstation. As the world comes to terms with how to endure the horrible Coronavirus trial, I reminisce about yesteryear social activities and glories such as the 1994 World Cup in the USA and hopefully how we'll once again soon enjoy the joys of shared outdoor activity. I meditate on the splendor of Brazil's fiery Romario, the great soccer striker, and I think about how Saturday nights in the 21st Century are suddenly about quiet lyricism.

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"Money is everything" (Ecclesiastes)