Even if you have never watched football, you have probably heard about the “hand of God.” The same one who helped Maradona score a goal against England in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Then, let me remind you, the two countries were fighting over the Falkland Islands, and politics also got involved in the football match. Maradona splashed boiling water, saying that only in football could Argentina beat England.
This phrase has a deep meaning. After all, we love football precisely because David always has a chance against Goliath. And there are no tournaments without sensations. One or the other team will definitely “shoot” from those whose success you can never predict. Here the Icelanders enchant the viewer, but Costa Rica is enchanting. Well, how can you forget the victory of the Greeks at the European Championship?..
The trouble is that teams from the post-Soviet space surprise - with a plus sign - very, very rarely. However, there seems to be an exception to the rule. And the Tiraspol “Sheriff” created it. It would seem that by miracle he made it to the group stage of the most prestigious club competition - the Champions League. well and a confident victory in the first round over Ukrainian Shakhtar extended the miracle. However, excuse me, next the team from Tiraspol was waiting for Real Madrid. I was waiting at home, at the Santiago Bernabeu...
Probably, people who bet a lot of money on Sheriff in this match have already rushed to the Forbes ratings. Because the team from Tiraspol beat the Spaniards. Re-read: Sheriff Tiraspol defeated Real Madrid away with a score of 1 – 2. Football is a miracle, nothing less!
By the way, it is curious that the decisive goal for Sheriff was scored by ex-player of the collapsed Russian Tambov, Sebastian Thiel. There is also a sign in this, because it seems that the entire Russian club football has collapsed. And somehow it turns out that Sheriff won more victories in two rounds of the Champions League than Russian clubs did in two seasons. Somehow it turns out that this same “Sheriff” beats “Real” away, and “Spartak” loses at home to “Legia”. Although their budgets differ, like an oil company and a small collective farm.
So what's the deal? I believe that this is a story purely about great spirit and struggle. Yes, not a single Moldovan or player from Transnistria appeared in the starting lineup for Sheriff, but after such victories, even they will catch up. The team was cobbled together, as in that song, from what was, but with proper motivation and coaching organization, with courage, it was able to beat the grandee. Simply because I really wanted to. Simply because she went out to die, and not to serve her number.
Compare, as they say, with Russian and Ukrainian clubs, where dollar millionaires roam the field like broiler chickens, who are paid only for the fact that they have the appropriate passports. Does the viewer want to root for them? Or are the Latinos from “Sheriff” more perceived as “friends” for Transnistria? And who approached the organization of the football business better - the Russian gas-oil football league or a small club from Tiraspol?
These are “think” questions. After all, it is once again confirmed that money does not solve everything. And this is a story not only about football. Thanks to “Sheriff” - I reminded you.